1
|
Liu Y, Liang Z, Yu S, Ye Y, Lin Z. CRISPR RNA-Guided Transposases Facilitate Dispensable Gene Study in Phage. Viruses 2024; 16:422. [PMID: 38543787 PMCID: PMC10974960 DOI: 10.3390/v16030422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Phages provide a potential therapy for multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. However, a significant portion of viral genes often remains unknown, posing potential dangers. The identification of non-essential genes helps dissect and simplify phage genomes, but current methods have various limitations. In this study, we present an in vivo two-plasmid transposon insertion system to assess the importance of phage genes, which is based on the V. cholerae transposon Tn6677, encoding a nuclease-deficient type I-F CRISPR-Cas system. We first validated the system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and its phage S1. We then used the selection marker AcrVA1 to protect transposon-inserted phages from CRISPR-Cas12a and enriched the transposon-inserted phages. For a pool of selected 10 open-reading frames (2 known functional protein genes and 8 hypothetical protein genes) of phage S1, we identified 5 (2 known functional protein genes and 3 hypothetical protein genes) as indispensable genes and the remaining 5 (all hypothetical protein genes) as dispensable genes. This approach offers a convenient, site-specific method that does not depend on homologous arms and double-strand breaks (DSBs), holding promise for future applications across a broader range of phages and facilitating the identification of the importance of phage genes and the insertion of genetic cargos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Liu
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (S.Y.)
| | - Zizhen Liang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (S.Y.)
| | - Shuting Yu
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (S.Y.)
| | - Yanrui Ye
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (S.Y.)
| | - Zhanglin Lin
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (S.Y.)
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Vitt AR, Sørensen AN, Bojer MS, Bortolaia V, Sørensen MCH, Brøndsted L. Diverse bacteriophages for biocontrol of ESBL- and AmpC-β-lactamase-producing E. coli. iScience 2024; 27:108826. [PMID: 38322997 PMCID: PMC10844046 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108826] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel solutions are needed to reduce the risk of transmission of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL/AmpC E. coli) from livestock to humans. Given that phages are promising biocontrol agents, a collection of 28 phages that infect ESBL/AmpC E. coli were established. Whole genome sequencing showed that all these phages were unique and could be assigned to 15 different genera. Host range analysis showed that 82% of 198 strains, representing the genetic diversity of ESBL/AmpC E. coli, were sensitive to at least one phage. Identifying receptors used for phage binding experimentally as well as in silico predictions, allowed us to combine phages into two different cocktails with broad host range targeting diverse receptors. These phage cocktails efficiently inhibit the growth of ESBL/AmpC E. coli in vitro, thus suggesting the potential of phages as promising biocontrol agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amira R. Vitt
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anders Nørgaard Sørensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Martin S. Bojer
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Valeria Bortolaia
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Martine C. Holst Sørensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Lone Brøndsted
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ismael NM, Azzam M, Abdelmoteleb M, El-Shibiny A. Phage vB_Ec_ZCEC14 to treat antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections. Virol J 2024; 21:44. [PMID: 38365702 PMCID: PMC10873995 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02306-0] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a commensal bacterial species in the human gastrointestinal tract; however, it could be pathogenic and cause severe infections in intra and extra-intestinal sites. Uropathogenic E. coli accounts for 80-90% of urinary tract infections that can result in urosepsis and septic shock. Consequently, multidrug-resistant uropathogenic E. coli poses a considerable risk to the healthcare system worldwide. Phage therapy is demonstrated as an optimistic solution to over-the-counter antibiotics that contribute to the global issue of multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study aims to isolate a novel phage that could be implemented to cure urinary tract infections mediated by multidrug-resistant E. coli. Twenty-seven E. coli isolates were collected from patients with urinary tract infections to assess the antibacterial efficacy of phage vB_Ec_ZCEC14. Phage kinetics were encountered against the E. coli strain (EC/4), in addition to evaluating phage stability under various temperatures, pH values, and UV exposure periods. Full genome sequencing and morphological analysis were conducted for further phage characterization, which revealed that phage vB_Ec_ZCEC14 belongs to the family Straboviridae. Phage vB_Ec_ZCEC14 showed thermal tolerance at 80 ℃, pH stability between pH 3 and pH 12, and endurance to UV exposure for 45 min. The phage-host interaction results revealed that phage vB_Ec_ZCEC14 has strong and steady antibacterial action at lower concentrations (MOI 0.1). The study findings strongly indicate that phage vB_Ec_ZCEC14 holds significant promise as a potential therapeutic alternative for treatment of antibiotic-resistant uropathogenic E. coli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nedaa M Ismael
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, 12578, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Azzam
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, 12578, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Abdelmoteleb
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, 35516, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ayman El-Shibiny
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Zewail City of Science and Technology, 12578, Giza, Egypt.
- Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, 45511, Arish, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aviram N, Shilton AK, Lyn NG, Reis BS, Brivanlou A, Marraffini LA. The Cas10 nuclease activity relieves host dormancy to facilitate spacer acquisition and retention during type III-A CRISPR immunity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.11.579731. [PMID: 38405743 PMCID: PMC10888962 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.11.579731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
A hallmark of CRISPR immunity is the acquisition of short viral DNA sequences, known as spacers, that are transcribed into guide RNAs to recognize complementary sequences. The staphylococcal type III-A CRISPR-Cas system uses guide RNAs to locate viral transcripts and start a response that displays two mechanisms of immunity. When immunity is triggered by an early-expressed phage RNA, degradation of viral ssDNA can cure the host from infection. In contrast, when the RNA guide targets a late-expressed transcript, defense requires the activity of Csm6, a non-specific RNase. Here we show that Csm6 triggers a growth arrest of the host that provides immunity at the population level which hinders viral propagation to allow the replication of non-infected cells. We demonstrate that this mechanism leads to defense against not only the target phage but also other viruses present in the population that fail to replicate in the arrested cells. On the other hand, dormancy limits the acquisition and retention of spacers that trigger it. We found that the ssDNase activity of type III-A systems is required for the re-growth of a subset of the arrested cells, presumably through the degradation of the phage DNA, ending target transcription and inactivating the immune response. Altogether, our work reveals a built-in mechanism within type III-A CRISPR-Cas systems that allows the exit from dormancy needed for the subsistence of spacers that provide broad-spectrum immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naama Aviram
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Amanda K Shilton
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nia G Lyn
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Bernardo S Reis
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Amir Brivanlou
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Luciano A Marraffini
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rakesh S, Aravind L, Krishnan A. Reappraisal of the DNA phosphorothioate modification machinery: uncovering neglected functional modalities and identification of new counter-invader defense systems. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1005-1026. [PMID: 38163645 PMCID: PMC10853773 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The DndABCDE systems catalysing the unusual phosphorothioate (PT) DNA backbone modification, and the DndFGH systems, which restrict invasive DNA, have enigmatic and paradoxical features. Using comparative genomics and sequence-structure analyses, we show that the DndABCDE module is commonly functionally decoupled from the DndFGH module. However, the modification gene-neighborhoods encode other nucleases, potentially acting as the actual restriction components or suicide effectors limiting propagation of the selfish elements. The modification module's core consists of a coevolving gene-pair encoding the DNA-scanning apparatus - a DndD/CxC-clade ABC ATPase and DndE with two ribbon-helix-helix (MetJ/Arc) DNA-binding domains. Diversification of DndE's DNA-binding interface suggests a multiplicity of target specificities. Additionally, many systems feature DNA cytosine methylase genes instead of PT modification, indicating the DndDE core can recruit other nucleobase modifications. We show that DndFGH is a distinct counter-invader system with several previously uncharacterized domains, including a nucleotide kinase. These likely trigger its restriction endonuclease domain in response to multiple stimuli, like nucleotides, while blocking protective modifications by invader methylases. Remarkably, different DndH variants contain a HerA/FtsK ATPase domain acquired from multiple sources, including cellular genome-segregation systems and mobile elements. Thus, we uncovered novel HerA/FtsK-dependent defense systems that might intercept invasive DNA during replication, conjugation, or packaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siuli Rakesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Berhampur (IISER Berhampur), Berhampur 760010, India
| | - L Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Arunkumar Krishnan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Berhampur (IISER Berhampur), Berhampur 760010, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pozhydaieva N, Wolfram-Schauerte M, Keuthen H, Höfer K. The enigmatic epitranscriptome of bacteriophages: putative RNA modifications in viral infections. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102417. [PMID: 38217927 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
RNA modifications play essential roles in modulating RNA function, stability, and fate across all kingdoms of life. The entirety of the RNA modifications within a cell is defined as the epitranscriptome. While eukaryotic RNA modifications are intensively studied, understanding bacterial RNA modifications remains limited, and knowledge about bacteriophage RNA modifications is almost nonexistent. In this review, we shed light on known mechanisms of bacterial RNA modifications and propose how this knowledge might be extended to bacteriophages. We build hypotheses on enzymes potentially responsible for regulating the epitranscriptome of bacteriophages and their host. This review highlights the exciting prospects of uncovering the unexplored field of bacteriophage epitranscriptomics and its potential role to shape bacteriophage-host interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Helene Keuthen
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Höfer
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany; Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dasgupta S, Thomas JA, Ray K. Mechanism of Viral DNA Packaging in Phage T4 Using Single-Molecule Fluorescence Approaches. Viruses 2024; 16:192. [PMID: 38399968 PMCID: PMC10893049 DOI: 10.3390/v16020192] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In all tailed phages, the packaging of the double-stranded genome into the head by a terminase motor complex is an essential step in virion formation. Despite extensive research, there are still major gaps in the understanding of this highly dynamic process and the mechanisms responsible for DNA translocation. Over the last fifteen years, single-molecule fluorescence technologies have been applied to study viral nucleic acid packaging using the robust and flexible T4 in vitro packaging system in conjunction with genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses. In this review, we discuss the novel findings from these studies, including that the T4 genome was determined to be packaged as an elongated loop via the colocalization of dye-labeled DNA termini above the portal structure. Packaging efficiency of the TerL motor was shown to be inherently linked to substrate structure, with packaging stalling at DNA branches. The latter led to the design of multiple experiments whose results all support a proposed torsional compression translocation model to explain substrate packaging. Evidence of substrate compression was derived from FRET and/or smFRET measurements of stalled versus resolvase released dye-labeled Y-DNAs and other dye-labeled substrates relative to motor components. Additionally, active in vivo T4 TerS fluorescent fusion proteins facilitated the application of advanced super-resolution optical microscopy toward the visualization of the initiation of packaging. The formation of twin TerS ring complexes, each expected to be ~15 nm in diameter, supports a double protein ring-DNA synapsis model for the control of packaging initiation, a model that may help explain the variety of ring structures reported among pac site phages. The examination of the dynamics of the T4 packaging motor at the single-molecule level in these studies demonstrates the value of state-of-the-art fluorescent tools for future studies of complex viral replication mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Souradip Dasgupta
- Division of Vaccine Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Julie A. Thomas
- Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA;
| | - Krishanu Ray
- Division of Vaccine Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gunathilake KMD, Makumi A, Loignon S, Tremblay D, Labrie S, Svitek N, Moineau S. Diversity of Salmonella enterica phages isolated from chicken farms in Kenya. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0272923. [PMID: 38078723 PMCID: PMC10783031 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02729-23] [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: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica infections are one of the leading causes of diarrhoeal diseases that spread to humans from animal sources such as poultry. Hence, keeping poultry farms free of Salmonella is essential for consumer safety and for a better yield of animal products. However, the emergence of antibiotic resistance due to over usage has sped up the search for alternative biocontrol methods such as the use of bacteriophages. Isolation and characterization of novel bacteriophages are key to adapt phage-based biocontrol applications. Here, we isolated and characterized Salmonella phages from samples collected at chicken farms and slaughterhouses in Kenya. The genomic characterization of these phage isolates revealed that they belong to four ICTV (International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses) phage genera. All these phages are lytic and possibly suitable for biocontrol applications because no lysogenic genes or virulence factors were found in their genomes. Hence, we recommend further studies on these phages for their applications in Salmonella biocontrol.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K. M. Damitha Gunathilake
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec city, Quebec, Canada
| | - Angela Makumi
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stéphanie Loignon
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec city, Quebec, Canada
| | - Denise Tremblay
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec city, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Nicholas Svitek
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sylvain Moineau
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec city, Quebec, Canada
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec city, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gil J, Paulson J, Zahn H, Brown M, Nguyen MM, Erickson S. Development of a Replication-Deficient Bacteriophage Reporter Lacking an Essential Baseplate Wedge Subunit. Viruses 2023; 16:8. [PMID: 38275943 PMCID: PMC10821221 DOI: 10.3390/v16010008] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Engineered bacteriophages (phages) can be effective diagnostic reporters for detecting a variety of bacterial pathogens. Although a promising biotechnology, the large-scale use of these reporters may result in the unintentional release of genetically modified viruses. In order to limit the potential environmental impact, the ability of these phages to propagate outside the laboratory was targeted. The phage SEA1 has been previously engineered to facilitate food safety as an accurate and sensitive reporter for Salmonella contamination. In this study, homologous recombination was used to replace the expression of an essential baseplate wedge subunit (gp141) in SEA1 with a luciferase, NanoLuc®. This reporter, referred to as SEA1Δgp141.NL, demonstrated a loss of plaque formation and a failure to increase in titer following infection of Salmonella. SEA1Δgp141.NL was thus incapable of producing infectious progeny in the absence of gp141. In contrast, production of high titer stocks was possible when gp141 was artificially supplied in trans during infection. As a reporter, SEA1Δgp141.NL facilitated rapid, sensitive, and robust detection of Salmonella despite an inability to replicate. These results suggest that replication-deficient reporter phages are an effective method to obtain improved containment without sacrificing significant performance or the ease of production associated with many phage-based diagnostic methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Gil
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Los Angeles, CA 90062, USA;
| | - John Paulson
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN 55112, USA; (J.P.); (H.Z.); (M.M.N.)
| | - Henriett Zahn
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN 55112, USA; (J.P.); (H.Z.); (M.M.N.)
| | - Matthew Brown
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Burlington, NC 27215, USA;
| | - Minh M. Nguyen
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN 55112, USA; (J.P.); (H.Z.); (M.M.N.)
| | - Stephen Erickson
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, New Brighton, MN 55112, USA; (J.P.); (H.Z.); (M.M.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Xie J, Ye F, Deng X, Tang Y, Liang JY, Huang X, Sun Y, Tang H, Lei J, Zheng S, Zou Y. Circular RNA: A promising new star of vaccine. J Transl Int Med 2023; 11:372-381. [PMID: 38130633 PMCID: PMC10732498 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2023-0122] [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: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded RNAs with covalently closed structures. Owing to their not having 3' or 5' ends, circRNAs are highly durable and insusceptible to exonuclease-mediated degradation. Moreover, some circRNAs with certain structures are translatable, making them novel vaccines. Vaccines are efficient tools for immunotherapy, such as for the prevention of infectious diseases and cancer treatment. The immune system is activated during immunotherapy to fight against abnormal allies or invaders. CircRNA vaccines represent a potential new avenue in the vaccine era. Recently, several circRNA vaccines have been synthesized and tested in vitro and in vivo. Our review briefly introduces the current understanding of the biology and function of translatable circRNAs, molecular biology, synthetic methods, delivery of circRNA, and current circRNA vaccines. We also discussed the challenges and future directions in the field by summarizing the developments in circRNA vaccines in the past few years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jindong Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fengxi Ye
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xinpei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuhui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jie-Ying Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xufeng Huang
- Department of Data Science and Visualization, Faculty of Informatics, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Yuying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hailin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jinsong Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shaoquan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
- Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yutian Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou510060, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
da Silva JD, Melo LDR, Santos SB, Kropinski AM, Xisto MF, Dias RS, da Silva Paes I, Vieira MS, Soares JJF, Porcellato D, da Silva Duarte V, de Paula SO. Genomic and proteomic characterization of vB_SauM-UFV_DC4, a novel Staphylococcus jumbo phage. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:7231-7250. [PMID: 37741937 PMCID: PMC10638138 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12743-6] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most relevant mastitis pathogens in dairy cattle, and the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes presents a significant health issue in both veterinary and human fields. Among the different strategies to tackle S. aureus infection in livestock, bacteriophages have been thoroughly investigated in the last decades; however, few specimens of the so-called jumbo phages capable of infecting S. aureus have been described. Herein, we report the biological, genomic, and structural proteomic features of the jumbo phage vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 (DC4). DC4 exhibited a remarkable killing activity against S. aureus isolated from the veterinary environment and stability at alkaline conditions (pH 4 to 12). The complete genome of DC4 is 263,185 bp (GC content: 25%), encodes 263 predicted CDSs (80% without an assigned function), 1 tRNA (Phe-tRNA), multisubunit RNA polymerase, and an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. Moreover, comparative analysis revealed that DC4 can be considered a new viral species belonging to a new genus DC4 and showed a similar set of lytic proteins and depolymerase activity with closely related jumbo phages. The characterization of a new S. aureus jumbo phage increases our understanding of the diversity of this group and provides insights into the biotechnological potential of these viruses. KEY POINTS: • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 is a new viral species belonging to a new genus within the class Caudoviricetes. • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 carries a set of RNA polymerase subunits and an RNA-directed DNA polymerase. • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 and closely related jumbo phages showed a similar set of lytic proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Duarte da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Luís D R Melo
- Centre of Biological Engineering - CEB, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sílvio B Santos
- Centre of Biological Engineering - CEB, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Andrew M Kropinski
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Mariana Fonseca Xisto
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto Sousa Dias
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Isabela da Silva Paes
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Marcella Silva Vieira
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - José Júnior Ferreira Soares
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Davide Porcellato
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Vinícius da Silva Duarte
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil.
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway.
| | - Sérgio Oliveira de Paula
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Piya D, Nolan N, Moore ML, Ramirez Hernandez LA, Cress BF, Young R, Arkin AP, Mutalik VK. Systematic and scalable genome-wide essentiality mapping to identify nonessential genes in phages. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002416. [PMID: 38048319 PMCID: PMC10695390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Phages are one of the key ecological drivers of microbial community dynamics, function, and evolution. Despite their importance in bacterial ecology and evolutionary processes, phage genes are poorly characterized, hampering their usage in a variety of biotechnological applications. Methods to characterize such genes, even those critical to the phage life cycle, are labor intensive and are generally phage specific. Here, we develop a systematic gene essentiality mapping method scalable to new phage-host combinations that facilitate the identification of nonessential genes. As a proof of concept, we use an arrayed genome-wide CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) assay to map gene essentiality landscape in the canonical coliphages λ and P1. Results from a single panel of CRISPRi probes largely recapitulate the essential gene roster determined from decades of genetic analysis for lambda and provide new insights into essential and nonessential loci in P1. We present evidence of how CRISPRi polarity can lead to false positive gene essentiality assignments and recommend caution towards interpreting CRISPRi data on gene essentiality when applied to less studied phages. Finally, we show that we can engineer phages by inserting DNA barcodes into newly identified inessential regions, which will empower processes of identification, quantification, and tracking of phages in diverse applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denish Piya
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Nolan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Madeline L. Moore
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Luis A. Ramirez Hernandez
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Brady F. Cress
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ry Young
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Adam P. Arkin
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Vivek K. Mutalik
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nicastro GG, Burroughs AM, Iyer L, Aravind L. Functionally comparable but evolutionarily distinct nucleotide-targeting effectors help identify conserved paradigms across diverse immune systems. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11479-11503. [PMID: 37889040 PMCID: PMC10681802 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
While nucleic acid-targeting effectors are known to be central to biological conflicts and anti-selfish element immunity, recent findings have revealed immune effectors that target their building blocks and the cellular energy currency-free nucleotides. Through comparative genomics and sequence-structure analysis, we identified several distinct effector domains, which we named Calcineurin-CE, HD-CE, and PRTase-CE. These domains, along with specific versions of the ParB and MazG domains, are widely present in diverse prokaryotic immune systems and are predicted to degrade nucleotides by targeting phosphate or glycosidic linkages. Our findings unveil multiple potential immune systems associated with at least 17 different functional themes featuring these effectors. Some of these systems sense modified DNA/nucleotides from phages or operate downstream of novel enzymes generating signaling nucleotides. We also uncovered a class of systems utilizing HSP90- and HSP70-related modules as analogs of STAND and GTPase domains that are coupled to these nucleotide-targeting- or proteolysis-induced complex-forming effectors. While widespread in bacteria, only a limited subset of nucleotide-targeting effectors was integrated into eukaryotic immune systems, suggesting barriers to interoperability across subcellular contexts. This work establishes nucleotide-degrading effectors as an emerging immune paradigm and traces their origins back to homologous domains in housekeeping systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianlucca G Nicastro
- Computational Biology Branch, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - A Maxwell Burroughs
- Computational Biology Branch, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Lakshminarayan M Iyer
- Computational Biology Branch, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - L Aravind
- Computational Biology Branch, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Liu Y, Meng X, Zheng H, Cai L, Wei S, He M, He J, Hao Y, Ge C, Liu J, Chen F, Xu Y. A novel long-tailed myovirus represents a new T4-like cyanophage cluster. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1293846. [PMID: 38029084 PMCID: PMC10665884 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1293846] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanophages affect the abundance, diversity, metabolism, and evolution of picocyanobacteria in marine ecosystems. Here we report an estuarine Synechococcus phage, S-CREM2, which represents a novel viral genus and leads to the establishment of a new T4-like cyanophage clade named cluster C. S-CREM2 possesses the longest tail (~418 nm) among isolated cyanomyoviruses and encodes six tail-related proteins that are exclusively homologous to those predicted in the cluster C cyanophages. Furthermore, S-CREM2 may carry three regulatory proteins in the virion, which may play a crucial role in optimizing the host intracellular environment for viral replication at the initial stage of infection. The cluster C cyanophages lack auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) that are commonly found in cyanophages of the T4-like clusters A and B and encode unique AMGs like an S-type phycobilin lyase gene. A variation in the composition of tRNA and cis-regulatory RNA genes was observed between the marine and freshwater phage strains in cluster C, reflecting their different modes of coping with hosts and habitats. The cluster C cyanophages are widespread in estuarine and coastal regions and exhibit equivalent or even higher relative abundance compared to those of clusters A and B cyanophages in certain estuarine regions. The isolation of cyanophage S-CREM2 provides new insights into the phage-host interactions mediated by both newly discovered AMGs and virion-associated proteins and emphasizes the ecological significance of cluster C cyanophages in estuarine environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfang Liu
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xue Meng
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hongrui Zheng
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lanlan Cai
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shuzhen Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Minglu He
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiale He
- School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chang Ge
- School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jihua Liu
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yongle Xu
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Antonova D, Belousova VV, Zhivkoplias E, Sobinina M, Artamonova T, Vishnyakov IE, Kurdyumova I, Arseniev A, Morozova N, Severinov K, Khodorkovskii M, Yakunina MV. The Dynamics of Synthesis and Localization of Jumbo Phage RNA Polymerases inside Infected Cells. Viruses 2023; 15:2096. [PMID: 37896872 PMCID: PMC10612078 DOI: 10.3390/v15102096] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A nucleus-like structure composed of phage-encoded proteins and containing replicating viral DNA is formed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells infected by jumbo bacteriophage phiKZ. The PhiKZ genes are transcribed independently from host RNA polymerase (RNAP) by two RNAPs encoded by the phage. The virion RNAP (vRNAP) transcribes early viral genes and must be injected into the cell with phage DNA. The non-virion RNAP (nvRNAP) is composed of early gene products and transcribes late viral genes. In this work, the dynamics of phage RNAPs localization during phage phiKZ infection were studied. We provide direct evidence of PhiKZ vRNAP injection in infected cells and show that it is excluded from the phage nucleus. The nvRNAP is synthesized shortly after the onset of infection and localizes in the nucleus. We propose that spatial separation of two phage RNAPs allows coordinated expression of phage genes belonging to different temporal classes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daria Antonova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Viktoriia V. Belousova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Erik Zhivkoplias
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Mariia Sobinina
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Tatyana Artamonova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Innokentii E. Vishnyakov
- Group of Molecular Cytology of Prokaryotes and Bacterial Invasion, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia;
| | - Inna Kurdyumova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Anatoly Arseniev
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Natalia Morozova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Konstantin Severinov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Genetics National Kurchatov Center, Moscow 123182, Russia
- Waksman Institute for Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Mikhail Khodorkovskii
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Maria V. Yakunina
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Qin J, Hong Y, Morona R, Totsika M. O antigen biogenesis sensitises Escherichia coli K-12 to bile salts, providing a plausible explanation for its evolutionary loss. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010996. [PMID: 37792901 PMCID: PMC10578602 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli K-12 is a model organism for bacteriology and has served as a workhorse for molecular biology and biochemistry for over a century since its first isolation in 1922. However, Escherichia coli K-12 strains are phenotypically devoid of an O antigen (OAg) since early reports in the scientific literature. Recent studies have reported the presence of independent mutations that abolish OAg repeating-unit (RU) biogenesis in E. coli K-12 strains from the same original source, suggesting unknown evolutionary forces have selected for inactivation of OAg biogenesis during the early propagation of K-12. Here, we show for the first time that restoration of OAg in E. coli K-12 strain MG1655 synergistically sensitises bacteria to vancomycin with bile salts (VBS). Suppressor mutants surviving lethal doses of VBS primarily contained disruptions in OAg biogenesis. We present data supporting a model where the transient presence and accumulation of lipid-linked OAg intermediates in the periplasmic leaflet of the inner membrane interfere with peptidoglycan sacculus biosynthesis, causing growth defects that are synergistically enhanced by bile salts. Lastly, we demonstrate that continuous bile salt exposure of OAg-producing MG1655 in the laboratory, can recreate a scenario where OAg disruption is selected for as an evolutionary fitness benefit. Our work thus provides a plausible explanation for the long-held mystery of the selective pressure that may have led to the loss of OAg biogenesis in E. coli K-12; this opens new avenues for exploring long-standing questions on the intricate network coordinating the synthesis of different cell envelope components in Gram-negative bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jilong Qin
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yaoqin Hong
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Renato Morona
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bichet MC, Adderley J, Avellaneda-Franco L, Magnin-Bougma I, Torriero-Smith N, Gearing LJ, Deffrasnes C, David C, Pepin G, Gantier MP, Lin RCY, Patwa R, Moseley GW, Doerig C, Barr JJ. Mammalian cells internalize bacteriophages and use them as a resource to enhance cellular growth and survival. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002341. [PMID: 37883333 PMCID: PMC10602308 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing appreciation that the direct interaction between bacteriophages and the mammalian host can facilitate diverse and unexplored symbioses. Yet the impact these bacteriophages may have on mammalian cellular and immunological processes is poorly understood. Here, we applied highly purified phage T4, free from bacterial by-products and endotoxins to mammalian cells and analyzed the cellular responses using luciferase reporter and antibody microarray assays. Phage preparations were applied in vitro to either A549 lung epithelial cells, MDCK-I kidney cells, or primary mouse bone marrow derived macrophages with the phage-free supernatant serving as a comparative control. Highly purified T4 phages were rapidly internalized by mammalian cells and accumulated within macropinosomes but did not activate the inflammatory DNA response TLR9 or cGAS-STING pathways. Following 8 hours of incubation with T4 phage, whole cell lysates were analyzed via antibody microarray that detected expression and phosphorylation levels of human signaling proteins. T4 phage application led to the activation of AKT-dependent pathways, resulting in an increase in cell metabolism, survival, and actin reorganization, the last being critical for macropinocytosis and potentially regulating a positive feedback loop to drive further phage internalization. T4 phages additionally down-regulated CDK1 and its downstream effectors, leading to an inhibition of cell cycle progression and an increase in cellular growth through a prolonged G1 phase. These interactions demonstrate that highly purified T4 phages do not activate DNA-mediated inflammatory pathways but do trigger protein phosphorylation cascades that promote cellular growth and survival. We conclude that mammalian cells are internalizing bacteriophages as a resource to promote cellular growth and metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion C. Bichet
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- ACTALIA, Food Safety Department, Saint-Lô, France
- University of Lorraine, CNRS, LCPME, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Jack Adderley
- School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Linden J. Gearing
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Celine Deffrasnes
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Cassandra David
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Genevieve Pepin
- Medical Biology Department, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Michael P. Gantier
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Ruby CY Lin
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology; The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| | - Ruzeen Patwa
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Gregory W. Moseley
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Jeremy J. Barr
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Kuznetsova AA, Kuznetsov NA. Direct Enzyme Engineering of B Family DNA Polymerases for Biotechnological Approaches. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1150. [PMID: 37892880 PMCID: PMC10604792 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10101150] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA-dependent DNA polymerases have been intensively studied for more than 60 years and underlie numerous biotechnological and diagnostic applications. In vitro, DNA polymerases are used for DNA manipulations, including cloning, PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, sequencing, and others. Understanding the mechanisms of action of DNA polymerases is important for the creation of new enzymes possessing improved or modified properties. This review is focused on archaeal family B DNA polymerases. These enzymes have high fidelity and thermal stability and are finding many applications in molecular biological methods. Nevertheless, the search for and construction of new DNA polymerases with altered properties is constantly underway, including enzymes for synthetic biology. This brief review describes advances in the development of family B DNA polymerases for PCR, synthesis of xeno-nucleic acids, and reverse transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra A. Kuznetsova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS), 8 Prospekt Akad. Lavrentyeva, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nikita A. Kuznetsov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS), 8 Prospekt Akad. Lavrentyeva, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogova Str., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Yang Y, Hu Z, Kang Y, Gao J, Chen H, Liu H, Wang Y, Liu B. Phage SPO1 Protein Gp49 Is a Novel RNA Binding Protein That Is Involved in Host Iron Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14318. [PMID: 37762620 PMCID: PMC10531801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814318] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is a model organism for studying Gram-positive bacteria and serves as a cell factory in the industry for enzyme and chemical production. Additionally, it functions as a probiotic in the gastrointestinal tract, modulating the gut microbiota. Its lytic phage SPO1 is also the most studied phage among the genus Okubovrius, including Bacillus phage SPO1 and Camphawk. One of the notable features of SPO1 is the existence of a "host-takeover module", a cluster of 24 genes which occupies most of the terminal redundancy. Some of the gene products from the module have been characterized, revealing their ability to disrupt host metabolism by inhibiting DNA replication, RNA transcription, cell division, and glycolysis. However, many of the gene products which share limited similarity to known proteins remain under researched. In this study, we highlight the involvement of Gp49, a gene product from the module, in host RNA binding and heme metabolism-no observation has been reported in other phages. Gp49 folds into a structure that does not resemble any protein in the database and has a new putative RNA binding motif. The transcriptome study reveals that Gp49 primarily upregulates host heme synthesis which captures cytosolic iron to facilitate phage development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Yang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Zhenyue Hu
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Yue Kang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Juanjuan Gao
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Huan Chen
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Hui Liu
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Yawen Wang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Bing Liu
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.H.); (Y.K.); (J.G.); (H.C.); (H.L.)
- Centre for Biobank and Advanced Medical Research of Shaanxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Barth ZK, Dunham DT, Seed KD. Nuclease genes occupy boundaries of genetic exchange between bacteriophages. NAR Genom Bioinform 2023; 5:lqad076. [PMID: 37636022 PMCID: PMC10448857 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqad076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Homing endonuclease genes (HEGs) are ubiquitous selfish elements that generate targeted double-stranded DNA breaks, facilitating the recombination of the HEG DNA sequence into the break site and contributing to the evolutionary dynamics of HEG-encoding genomes. Bacteriophages (phages) are well-documented to carry HEGs, with the paramount characterization of HEGs being focused on those encoded by coliphage T4. Recently, it has been observed that the highly sampled vibriophage, ICP1, is similarly enriched with HEGs distinct from T4's. Here, we examined the HEGs encoded by ICP1 and diverse phages, proposing HEG-driven mechanisms that contribute to phage evolution. Relative to ICP1 and T4, we found a variable distribution of HEGs across phages, with HEGs frequently encoded proximal to or within essential genes. We identified large regions (> 10kb) of high nucleotide identity flanked by HEGs, deemed HEG islands, which we hypothesize to be mobilized by the activity of flanking HEGs. Finally, we found examples of domain swapping between phage-encoded HEGs and genes encoded by other phages and phage satellites. We anticipate that HEGs have a larger impact on the evolutionary trajectory of phages than previously appreciated and that future work investigating the role of HEGs in phage evolution will continue to highlight these observations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K Barth
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley. 271 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Drew T Dunham
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley. 271 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kimberley D Seed
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley. 271 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Perumal SK. A real-time fluorescent gp32 probe-based assay for monitoring single-stranded DNA-dependent DNA processing enzymes. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 35:101518. [PMID: 37534323 PMCID: PMC10391720 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101518] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) generated during DNA replication, recombination and damage repair reactions is an important intermediate and ssDNA-binding proteins that binds these intermediates coordinate various DNA metabolic processes. Mechanistic details of these ssDNA-dependent processes can be explored by monitoring the generation and consumption of ssDNA in real time. In this work, a fluorescein-labeled gp32-based sensor was employed to continuously monitor various aspects of ssDNA-dependent DNA replication and recombination processes in real time. The gp32 protein probe displayed high sensitivity and specificity to a variety of ssDNA-dependent processes of T4 phage. Several applications of the probe are illustrated here: the solution dynamics of ssDNA-binding protein, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions involving gp32 protein and its mode of interaction, ssDNA translocation and protein displacement activities of helicases, primer extension activity of DNA polymerase holoenzyme and nucleoprotein filament formation during DNA recombination. The assay has identified new protein-protein interactions of gp32 during T4 replication and recombination. The fluorescent probe described here can thus be used as a universal probe for monitoring in real time various ssDNA-dependent processes, which is based on a well-characterized and easy-to-express bacteriophage T4 gene 32 protein, gp32.
Collapse
|
22
|
Wolfram-Schauerte M, Pozhydaieva N, Grawenhoff J, Welp LM, Silbern I, Wulf A, Billau FA, Glatter T, Urlaub H, Jäschke A, Höfer K. A viral ADP-ribosyltransferase attaches RNA chains to host proteins. Nature 2023; 620:1054-1062. [PMID: 37587340 PMCID: PMC10468400 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06429-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which viruses hijack the genetic machinery of the cells they infect are of current interest. When bacteriophage T4 infects Escherichia coli, it uses three different adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosyltransferases (ARTs) to reprogram the transcriptional and translational apparatus of the host by ADP-ribosylation using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) as a substrate1,2. NAD has previously been identified as a 5' modification of cellular RNAs3-5. Here we report that the T4 ART ModB accepts not only NAD but also NAD-capped RNA (NAD-RNA) as a substrate and attaches entire RNA chains to acceptor proteins in an 'RNAylation' reaction. ModB specifically RNAylates the ribosomal proteins rS1 and rL2 at defined Arg residues, and selected E. coli and T4 phage RNAs are linked to rS1 in vivo. T4 phages that express an inactive mutant of ModB have a decreased burst size and slowed lysis of E. coli. Our findings reveal a distinct biological role for NAD-RNA, namely the activation of the RNA for enzymatic transfer to proteins. The attachment of specific RNAs to ribosomal proteins might provide a strategy for the phage to modulate the host's translation machinery. This work reveals a direct connection between RNA modification and post-translational protein modification. ARTs have important roles far beyond viral infections6, so RNAylation may have far-reaching implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maik Wolfram-Schauerte
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Julia Grawenhoff
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luisa M Welp
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ivan Silbern
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Wulf
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Franziska A Billau
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Timo Glatter
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andres Jäschke
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Katharina Höfer
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
DiPietro AG, Bryant SA, Zanger MM, Williamson KE. Understanding Viral Impacts in Soil Microbial Ecology Through the Persistence and Decay of Infectious Bacteriophages. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:276. [PMID: 37432469 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03386-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Marine bacteriophages have been well characterized in terms of decay rates, population dynamics in relation to their hosts, and their impacts on biogeochemical cycles in the global ocean. Knowledge in soil bacteriophage ecology lags considerably behind, with few studies documenting population dynamics with hosts and even fewer reporting phage decay rates. By using sterile soil or aquatic microcosms inoculated with single bacteriophage isolates, phage decay rates (loss of infectivity over time) were determined, independent of host interactions, for 5 model phage isolates. Decay rates varied by phage from 0.11-2.07% h-1 in soils to 0.07-0.28% h-1 in aquatic microcosms. For phages incubated in both soil and aquatic microcosms, the observed decay rate was consistently higher in soil microcosms than in aquatic microcosms by at least a factor of two. However, when decay rates for soil phage isolates in the present study were compared to those reported for marine and freshwater phage isolates from previous studies, the decay constants for soil phages were, on average, 4 times lower than those for aquatic phages. Slower rates of phage decay in soils indicate a lower turnover rate, which may have subsequent and potentially far-reaching impacts on virus-mediated mortality and bacterial activity. The wide range of decay rates observed in the present study and the lack of information on this critical aspect of virus-host dynamics in soil emphasizes the need for continued research in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra G DiPietro
- Biology Department, The College of William and Mary, 3037 Integrated Science Center, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
| | - Shawn A Bryant
- Biology Department, The College of William and Mary, 3037 Integrated Science Center, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
| | - Matthew M Zanger
- Biology Department, The College of William and Mary, 3037 Integrated Science Center, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
| | - Kurt E Williamson
- Biology Department, The College of William and Mary, 3037 Integrated Science Center, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Fokine A, Islam MZ, Fang Q, Chen Z, Sun L, Rao VB. Structure and Function of Hoc-A Novel Environment Sensing Device Encoded by T4 and Other Bacteriophages. Viruses 2023; 15:1517. [PMID: 37515203 PMCID: PMC10385173 DOI: 10.3390/v15071517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage T4 is decorated with 155 180 Å-long fibers of the highly antigenic outer capsid protein (Hoc). In this study, we describe a near-atomic structural model of Hoc by combining cryo-electron microscopy and AlphaFold structure predictions. It consists of a conserved C-terminal capsid-binding domain attached to a string of three variable immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains, an architecture well-preserved in hundreds of Hoc molecules found in phage genomes. Each T4-Hoc fiber attaches randomly to the center of gp23* hexameric capsomers in one of the six possible orientations, though at the vertex-proximal hexamers that deviate from 6-fold symmetry, Hoc binds in two preferred orientations related by 180° rotation. Remarkably, each Hoc fiber binds to all six subunits of the capsomer, though the interactions are greatest with three of the subunits, resulting in the off-centered attachment of the C-domain. Biochemical analyses suggest that the acidic Hoc fiber (pI, ~4-5) allows for the clustering of virions in acidic pH and dispersion in neutral/alkaline pH. Hoc appears to have evolved as a sensing device that allows the phage to navigate its movements through reversible clustering-dispersion transitions so that it reaches its destination, the host bacterium, and persists in various ecological niches such as the human/mammalian gut.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Fokine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Mohammad Zahidul Islam
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA
| | - Qianglin Fang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Zhenguo Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Venigalla B Rao
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Wang S, Sun E, Liu Y, Yin B, Zhang X, Li M, Huang Q, Tan C, Qian P, Rao VB, Tao P. Landscape of New Nuclease-Containing Antiphage Systems in Escherichia coli and the Counterdefense Roles of Bacteriophage T4 Genome Modifications. J Virol 2023; 97:e0059923. [PMID: 37306585 PMCID: PMC10308915 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00599-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Many phages, such as T4, protect their genomes against the nucleases of bacterial restriction-modification (R-M) and CRISPR-Cas systems through covalent modification of their genomes. Recent studies have revealed many novel nuclease-containing antiphage systems, raising the question of the role of phage genome modifications in countering these systems. Here, by focusing on phage T4 and its host Escherichia coli, we depicted the landscape of the new nuclease-containing systems in E. coli and demonstrated the roles of T4 genome modifications in countering these systems. Our analysis identified at least 17 nuclease-containing defense systems in E. coli, with type III Druantia being the most abundant system, followed by Zorya, Septu, Gabija, AVAST type 4, and qatABCD. Of these, 8 nuclease-containing systems were found to be active against phage T4 infection. During T4 replication in E. coli, 5-hydroxymethyl dCTP is incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA instead of dCTP. The 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (hmCs) are further modified by glycosylation to form glucosyl-5-hydroxymethylcytosine (ghmC). Our data showed that the ghmC modification of the T4 genome abolished the defense activities of Gabija, Shedu, Restriction-like, type III Druantia, and qatABCD systems. The anti-phage T4 activities of the last two systems can also be counteracted by hmC modification. Interestingly, the Restriction-like system specifically restricts phage T4 containing an hmC-modified genome. The ghmC modification cannot abolish the anti-phage T4 activities of Septu, SspBCDE, and mzaABCDE, although it reduces their efficiency. Our study reveals the multidimensional defense strategies of E. coli nuclease-containing systems and the complex roles of T4 genomic modification in countering these defense systems. IMPORTANCE Cleavage of foreign DNA is a well-known mechanism used by bacteria to protect themselves from phage infections. Two well-known bacterial defense systems, R-M and CRISPR-Cas, both contain nucleases that cleave the phage genomes through specific mechanisms. However, phages have evolved different strategies to modify their genomes to prevent cleavage. Recent studies have revealed many novel nuclease-containing antiphage systems from various bacteria and archaea. However, no studies have systematically investigated the nuclease-containing antiphage systems of a specific bacterial species. In addition, the role of phage genome modifications in countering these systems remains unknown. Here, by focusing on phage T4 and its host Escherichia coli, we depicted the landscape of the new nuclease-containing systems in E. coli using all 2,289 genomes available in NCBI. Our studies reveal the multidimensional defense strategies of E. coli nuclease-containing systems and the complex roles of genomic modification of phage T4 in countering these defense systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuangshuang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Erchao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuepeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Baoqi Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xueqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mengling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chen Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ping Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Venigalla B. Rao
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Pan Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhu J, Batra H, Ananthaswamy N, Mahalingam M, Tao P, Wu X, Guo W, Fokine A, Rao VB. Design of bacteriophage T4-based artificial viral vectors for human genome remodeling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2928. [PMID: 37253769 PMCID: PMC10229621 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38364-1] [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: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Designing artificial viral vectors (AVVs) programmed with biomolecules that can enter human cells and carry out molecular repairs will have broad applications. Here, we describe an assembly-line approach to build AVVs by engineering the well-characterized structural components of bacteriophage T4. Starting with a 120 × 86 nm capsid shell that can accommodate 171-Kbp DNA and thousands of protein copies, various combinations of biomolecules, including DNAs, proteins, RNAs, and ribonucleoproteins, are externally and internally incorporated. The nanoparticles are then coated with cationic lipid to enable efficient entry into human cells. As proof of concept, we assemble a series of AVVs designed to deliver full-length dystrophin gene or perform various molecular operations to remodel human genome, including genome editing, gene recombination, gene replacement, gene expression, and gene silencing. These large capacity, customizable, multiplex, and all-in-one phage-based AVVs represent an additional category of nanomaterial that could potentially transform gene therapies and personalized medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingen Zhu
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA
| | - Himanshu Batra
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA
| | - Neeti Ananthaswamy
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA
| | - Marthandan Mahalingam
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA
| | - Pan Tao
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA
| | - Xiaorong Wu
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA
| | - Wenzheng Guo
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA
| | - Andrei Fokine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Venigalla B Rao
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 20064, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wein T, Johnson AG, Millman A, Lange K, Yirmiya E, Hadary R, Garb J, Steinruecke F, Hill AB, Kranzusch PJ, Sorek R. CARD-like domains mediate anti-phage defense in bacterial gasdermin systems. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.28.542683. [PMID: 37398489 PMCID: PMC10312443 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.28.542683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Caspase recruitment domains (CARDs) and pyrin domains are important facilitators of inflammasome activity and pyroptosis. Upon pathogen recognition by NLR proteins, CARDs recruit and activate caspases, which, in turn, activate gasdermin pore forming proteins to and induce pyroptotic cell death. Here we show that CARD-like domains are present in defense systems that protect bacteria against phage. The bacterial CARD is essential for protease-mediated activation of certain bacterial gasdermins, which promote cell death once phage infection is recognized. We further show that multiple anti-phage defense systems utilize CARD-like domains to activate a variety of cell death effectors. We find that these systems are triggered by a conserved immune evasion protein that phages use to overcome the bacterial defense system RexAB, demonstrating that phage proteins inhibiting one defense system can activate another. We also detect a phage protein with a predicted CARD-like structure that can inhibit the CARD-containing bacterial gasdermin system. Our results suggest that CARD domains represent an ancient component of innate immune systems conserved from bacteria to humans, and that CARD-dependent activation of gasdermins is conserved in organisms across the tree of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanita Wein
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Alex G. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Ma, USA
- Deparment of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adi Millman
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Katharina Lange
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Erez Yirmiya
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Romi Hadary
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Jeremy Garb
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Felix Steinruecke
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aidan B. Hill
- Deparment of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Philip J. Kranzusch
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Ma, USA
- Deparment of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rotem Sorek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Lopez MES, Gontijo MTP, Cardoso RR, Batalha LS, Eller MR, Bazzolli DMS, Vidigal PMP, Mendonça RCS. Complete genome analysis of Tequatrovirus ufvareg1, a Tequatrovirus species inhibiting Escherichia coli O157:H7. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1178248. [PMID: 37274318 PMCID: PMC10236363 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1178248] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Bacteriophages infecting human pathogens have been considered potential biocontrol agents, and studying their genetic content is essential to their safe use in the food industry. Tequatrovirus ufvareg1 is a bacteriophage named UFV-AREG1, isolated from cowshed wastewater and previously tested for its ability to inhibit Escherichia coli O157:H7. Methods T. ufvareg1 was previously isolated using E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43895) as a bacterial host. The same strain was used for bacteriophage propagation and the one-step growth curve. The genome of the T. ufvareg1 was sequenced using 305 Illumina HiSeq, and the genome comparison was calculated by VIRIDIC and VIPTree. Results Here, we characterize its genome and compare it to other Tequatrovirus. T. ufvareg1 virions have an icosahedral head (114 x 86 nm) and a contracted tail (117 x 23 nm), with a latent period of 25 min, and an average burst size was 18 phage particles per infected E. coli cell. The genome of the bacteriophage T. ufvareg1 contains 268 coding DNA sequences (CDS) and ten tRNA genes distributed in both negative and positive strains. T. ufvareg1 genome also contains 40 promoters on its regulatory regions and two rho-independent terminators. T. ufvareg1 shares an average intergenomic similarity (VIRIDC) of 88.77% and an average genomic similarity score (VipTree) of 88.91% with eight four reference genomes for Tequatrovirus available in the NCBI RefSeq database. The pan-genomic analysis confirmed the high conservation of Tequatrovirus genomes. Among all CDS annotated in the T. ufvareg1 genome, there are 123 core genes, 38 softcore genes, 94 shell genes, and 13 cloud genes. None of 268 CDS was classified as being exclusive of T. ufvareg1. Conclusion The results in this paper, combined with other previously published findings, indicate that T. ufvareg1 bacteriophage is a potential candidate for food protection against E. coli O157:H7 in foods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryoris Elisa Soto Lopez
- Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Marco Tulio Pardini Gontijo
- Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Rodrigo Rezende Cardoso
- Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Laís Silva Batalha
- Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Monique Renon Eller
- Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Barth ZK, Dunham DT, Seed KD. Nuclease genes occupy boundaries of genetic exchange between bacteriophages. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.23.533998. [PMID: 36993569 PMCID: PMC10055350 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.533998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Homing endonuclease genes (HEGs) are ubiquitous selfish elements that generate targeted double-stranded DNA breaks, facilitating the recombination of the HEG DNA sequence into the break site and contributing to the evolutionary dynamics of HEG-encoding genomes. Bacteriophages (phages) are well-documented to carry HEGs, with the paramount characterization of HEGs being focused on those encoded by coliphage T4. Recently, it has been observed that the highly sampled vibriophage, ICP1, is similarly enriched with HEGs distinct from T4’s. Here, we examined the HEGs encoded by ICP1 and diverse phages, proposing HEG-driven mechanisms that contribute to phage evolution. Relative to ICP1 and T4, we found a variable distribution of HEGs across phages, with HEGs frequently encoded proximal to or within essential genes. We identified large regions (> 10kb) of high nucleotide identity flanked by HEGs, deemed HEG islands, which we hypothesize to be mobilized by the activity of flanking HEGs. Finally, we found examples of domain swapping between phage-encoded HEGs and genes encoded by other phages and phage satellites. We anticipate that HEGs have a larger impact on the evolutionary trajectory of phages than previously appreciated and that future work investigating the role of HEGs in phage evolution will continue to highlight these observations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K Barth
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley. 271 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Drew T Dunham
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley. 271 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kimberley D Seed
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley. 271 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Zhou Y, Zhou L, Yan S, Chen L, Krupovic M, Wang Y. Diverse viruses of marine archaea discovered using metagenomics. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:367-382. [PMID: 36385454 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
During the past decade, metagenomics became a method of choice for the discovery of novel viruses. However, host assignment for uncultured viruses remains challenging, especially for archaeal viruses, which are grossly undersampled compared to viruses of bacteria and eukaryotes. Here, we assessed the utility of CRISPR spacer targeting, tRNA gene matching and homology searches for viral signature proteins, such as major capsid proteins, for the assignment of archaeal hosts and validated these approaches on metaviromes from Yangshan Harbor (YSH). We report 35 new genomes of viruses which could be confidently assigned to hosts representing diverse lineages of marine archaea. We show that the archaeal YSH virome is highly diverse, with some viruses enriching the previously described virus groups, such as magroviruses of Marine Group II Archaea (Poseidoniales), and others representing novel groups of marine archaeal viruses. Metagenomic recruitment of Tara Oceans datasets on the YSH viral genomes demonstrated the presence of YSH Poseidoniales and Nitrososphaeria viruses in the global oceans, but also revealed the endemic YSH-specific viral lineages. Furthermore, our results highlight the relationship between the soil and marine thaumarchaeal viruses. We propose three new families within the class Caudoviricetes for the classification of the five complete viral genomes predicted to replicate in marine Poseidoniales and Nitrososphaeria, two ecologically important and widespread archaeal groups. This study illustrates the utility of viral metagenomics in exploring the archaeal virome and provides new insights into the diversity, distribution and evolution of marine archaeal viruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Liang Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuling Yan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Entwicklungsgenetik und Zellbiologie der Tiere, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lanming Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, China
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Yongjie Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Characteristics of Environmental Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca Bacteriophages and Their Therapeutic Applications. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020434. [PMID: 36839755 PMCID: PMC9960720 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020434] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae have spread globally, being responsible for the occurrence and severity of nosocomial infections. The NDM-1-kp, VIM-1 carbapenemase-producing isolates as well as extended-spectrum beta lactamase-producing (ESBL) isolates along with Klebsiella oxytoca strains have become emerging pathogens. Due to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage therapy may be a potential alternative to combat such multidrug-resistant Klebsiella strains. Here, we present the results of a long-term study on the isolation and biology of bacteriophages active against K. pneumoniae, as well as K. oxytoca strains. We evaluated biological properties, morphology, host specificity, lytic spectrum and sensitivity of these phages to chemical agents along with their life cycle parameters such as adsorption, latent period, and burst size. Phages designated by us, vB_KpnM-52N (Kpn52N) and VB_KpnM-53N (Kpn53N), demonstrated relatively broad lytic spectra among tested Klebsiella strains, high burst size, adsorption rates and stability, which makes them promising candidates for therapeutic purposes. We also examined selected Klebsiella phages from our historical collection. Notably, one phage isolated nearly 60 years ago was successfully used in purulent cerebrospinal meningitis in a new-born and has maintained lytic activity to this day. Genomic sequences of selected phages were determined and analyzed. The phages of the sequenced genomes belong to the Slopekvirus and Jiaodavirus genus, a group of phages related to T4 at the family level. They share several features of T4 making them suitable for antibacterial therapies: the obligatorily lytic lifestyle, a lack of homologs of known virulence or antibiotic resistance genes, and a battery of enzymes degrading host DNA at infection.
Collapse
|
32
|
Tang Z, Tang N, Wang X, Ren H, Zhang C, Zou L, Han L, Guo L, Liu W. Characterization of a lytic Escherichia coli phage CE1 and its potential use in therapy against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli infections. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1091442. [PMID: 36876110 PMCID: PMC9978775 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1091442] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The high incidence of Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in poultry has resulted in significant economic losses. It has become necessary to find alternatives to antibiotics due to the alarming rise in antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy has shown promising results in numerous studies. In the current study, a lytic phage vB_EcoM_CE1 (short for CE1) against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was isolated from broiler feces, showing a relatively wide host range and lysing 56.9% (33/58) of high pathogenic strains of APEC. According to morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis, phage CE1 belongs to the Tequatrovirus genus, Straboviridae family, containing an icosahedral capsid (80 ~ 100 nm in diameter) and a retractable tail (120 nm in length). This phage was stable below 60°C for 1 h over the pH range of 4 to 10. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that phage CE1 contained a linear double-stranded DNA genome spanning 167,955 bp with a GC content of 35.4%. A total of 271 ORFs and 8 tRNAs were identified. There was no evidence of virulence genes, drug-resistance genes, or lysogeny genes in the genome. The in vitro test showed high bactericidal activity of phage CE1 against E. coli at a wide range of MOIs, and good air and water disinfectant properties. Phage CE1 showed perfect protection against broilers challenged with APEC strain in vivo. This study provides some basic information for further research into treating colibacillosis, or killing E. coli in breeding environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Tang
- College of Veterinary medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ning Tang
- College of Veterinary medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xinwei Wang
- College of Veterinary medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Huiying Ren
- College of Veterinary medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Can Zhang
- College of Veterinary medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ling Zou
- College of Veterinary medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Han
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Longzong Guo
- Shandong Yisheng Livestock & Poultry Breeding Co., Ltd., Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- College of Veterinary medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yuan S, Shi J, Jiang J, Ma Y. Genome-scale top-down strategy to generate viable genome-reduced phages. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:13183-13197. [PMID: 36511873 PMCID: PMC9825161 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts have been made to reduce the genomes of living cells, but phage genome reduction remains challenging. It is of great interest to investigate whether genome reduction can make phages obtain new infectious properties. We developed a CRISPR/Cas9-based iterative phage genome reduction (CiPGr) approach and applied this to four distinct phages, thereby obtaining heterogeneous genome-reduced mutants. We isolated and sequenced 200 mutants with loss of up to 8-23% (3.3-35 kbp) of the original sequences. This allowed the identification of non-essential genes for phage propagation, although loss of these genes is mostly detrimental to phage fitness to various degrees. Notwithstanding this, mutants with higher infectious efficiency than their parental strains were characterized, indicating a trade-off between genome reduction and infectious fitness for phages. In conclusion, this study provides a foundation for future work to leverage the information generated by CiPGr in phage synthetic biology research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shengjian Yuan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Juan Shi
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jianrong Jiang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yingfei Ma
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86 755 8639 2674;
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Two Novel Yersinia pestis Bacteriophages with a Broad Host Range: Potential as Biocontrol Agents in Plague Natural Foci. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122740. [PMID: 36560744 PMCID: PMC9785759 DOI: 10.3390/v14122740] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) have been successfully used as disinfectors to kill bacteria in food and the environment and have been used medically for curing human diseases. The objective of this research was to elucidate the morphological and genomic characteristics of two novel Yersinia pestis phages, vB_YpeM_ MHS112 (MHS112) and vB_YpeM_GMS130 (GMS130), belonging to the genus Gaprivervirus, subfamily Tevenvirinae, family Myoviridae. Genome sequencing showed that the sizes of MHS112 and GMS130 were 170507 and 168552 bp, respectively. A total of 303 and 292 open reading frames with 2 tRNA and 3 tRNA were predicted in MHS112 and GMS130, respectively. The phylogenetic relationships were analysed among the two novel Y. pestis phages, phages in the genus Gaprivervirus, and several T4-like phages infecting the Yersinia genus. The bacteriophage MHS112 and GMS130 exhibited a wider lytic host spectrum and exhibited comparative temperature and pH stability. Such features signify that these phages do not need to rely on Y. pestis as their host bacteria in the ecological environment, while they could be based on more massive Enterobacteriales species to propagate and form ecological barriers against Y. pestis pathogens colonised in plague foci. Such characteristics indicated that the two phages have potential as biocontrol agents for eliminating the endemics of animal plague in natural plague foci.
Collapse
|
35
|
Bumunang EW, McAllister TA, Polo RO, Ateba CN, Stanford K, Schlechte J, Walker M, MacLean K, Niu YD. Genomic Profiling of Non-O157 Shiga Toxigenic Escherichia coli-Infecting Bacteriophages from South Africa. PHAGE (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2022; 3:221-230. [PMID: 36793886 PMCID: PMC9917312 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2022.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Non-O157 Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) are one of the most important food and waterborne pathogens worldwide. Although bacteriophages (phages) have been used for the biocontrol of these pathogens, a comprehensive understanding of the genetic characteristics and lifestyle of potentially effective candidate phages is lacking. Materials and Methods In this study, 10 non-O157-infecting phages previously isolated from feedlot cattle and dairy farms in the North-West province of South Africa were sequenced, and their genomes were analyzed. Results Comparative genomics and proteomics revealed that the phages were closely related to other E. coli-infecting Tunaviruses, Seuratviruses, Carltongylesviruses, Tequatroviruses, and Mosigviruses from the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank database. Phages lacked integrases associated with a lysogenic cycle and genes associated with antibiotic resistance and Shiga toxins. Conclusions Comparative genomic analysis identified a diversity of unique non-O157-infecting phages, which could be used to mitigate the abundance of various non-O157 STEC serogroups without safety concerns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel W. Bumunang
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Tim A. McAllister
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Rodrigo Ortega Polo
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Collins N. Ateba
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Kim Stanford
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Jared Schlechte
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Matthew Walker
- Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Kellie MacLean
- Cumming School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Yan D. Niu
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Integrated Omics Reveal Time-Resolved Insights into T4 Phage Infection of E. coli on Proteome and Transcriptome Levels. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112502. [PMID: 36423111 PMCID: PMC9697503 DOI: 10.3390/v14112502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are highly abundant viruses of bacteria. The major role of phages in shaping bacterial communities and their emerging medical potential as antibacterial agents has triggered a rebirth of phage research. To understand the molecular mechanisms by which phages hijack their host, omics technologies can provide novel insights into the organization of transcriptional and translational events occurring during the infection process. In this study, we apply transcriptomics and proteomics to characterize the temporal patterns of transcription and protein synthesis during the T4 phage infection of E. coli. We investigated the stability of E. coli-originated transcripts and proteins in the course of infection, identifying the degradation of E. coli transcripts and the preservation of the host proteome. Moreover, the correlation between the phage transcriptome and proteome reveals specific T4 phage mRNAs and proteins that are temporally decoupled, suggesting post-transcriptional and translational regulation mechanisms. This study provides the first comprehensive insights into the molecular takeover of E. coli by bacteriophage T4. This data set represents a valuable resource for future studies seeking to study molecular and regulatory events during infection. We created a user-friendly online tool, POTATO4, which is available to the scientific community and allows access to gene expression patterns for E. coli and T4 genes.
Collapse
|
37
|
Understanding Bacteriophage Tail Fiber Interaction with Host Surface Receptor: The Key “Blueprint” for Reprogramming Phage Host Range. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012146. [PMID: 36292999 PMCID: PMC9603124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages), as natural antibacterial agents, are being rediscovered because of the growing threat of multi- and pan-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens globally. However, with an estimated 1031 phages on the planet, finding the right phage to recognize a specific bacterial host is like looking for a needle in a trillion haystacks. The host range of a phage is primarily determined by phage tail fibers (or spikes), which initially mediate reversible and specific recognition and adsorption by susceptible bacteria. Recent significant advances at single-molecule and atomic levels have begun to unravel the structural organization of tail fibers and underlying mechanisms of phage–host interactions. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms and models of the tail fibers of the well-characterized T4 phage’s interaction with host surface receptors. Structure–function knowledge of tail fibers will pave the way for reprogramming phage host range and will bring future benefits through more-effective phage therapy in medicine. Furthermore, the design strategies of tail fiber engineering are briefly summarized, including machine-learning-assisted engineering inspired by the increasingly enormous amount of phage genetic information.
Collapse
|
38
|
Fang Q, Tang WC, Fokine A, Mahalingam M, Shao Q, Rossmann MG, Rao VB. Structures of a large prolate virus capsid in unexpanded and expanded states generate insights into the icosahedral virus assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203272119. [PMID: 36161892 PMCID: PMC9546572 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203272119] [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: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many icosahedral viruses assemble proteinaceous precursors called proheads or procapsids. Proheads are metastable structures that undergo a profound structural transition known as expansion that transforms an immature unexpanded head into a mature genome-packaging head. Bacteriophage T4 is a model virus, well studied genetically and biochemically, but its structure determination has been challenging because of its large size and unusually prolate-shaped, ∼1,200-Å-long and ∼860-Å-wide capsid. Here, we report the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of T4 capsid in both of its major conformational states: unexpanded at a resolution of 5.1 Å and expanded at a resolution of 3.4 Å. These are among the largest structures deposited in Protein Data Bank to date and provide insights into virus assembly, head length determination, and shell expansion. First, the structures illustrate major domain movements and ∼70% additional gain in inner capsid volume, an essential transformation to contain the entire viral genome. Second, intricate intracapsomer interactions involving a unique insertion domain dramatically change, allowing the capsid subunits to rotate and twist while the capsomers remain fastened at quasi-threefold axes. Third, high-affinity binding sites emerge for a capsid decoration protein that clamps adjacent capsomers, imparting extraordinary structural stability. Fourth, subtle conformational changes at capsomers' periphery modulate intercapsomer angles between capsomer planes that control capsid length. Finally, conformational changes were observed at the symmetry-mismatched portal vertex, which might be involved in triggering head expansion. These analyses illustrate how small changes in local capsid subunit interactions lead to profound shifts in viral capsid morphology, stability, and volume.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianglin Fang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Wei-Chun Tang
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064
| | - Andrei Fokine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Marthandan Mahalingam
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064
| | - Qianqian Shao
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Michael G. Rossmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Venigalla B. Rao
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Apprehending the NAD+–ADPr-Dependent Systems in the Virus World. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091977. [PMID: 36146784 PMCID: PMC9503650 DOI: 10.3390/v14091977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NAD+ and ADP-ribose (ADPr)-containing molecules are at the interface of virus–host conflicts across life encompassing RNA processing, restriction, lysogeny/dormancy and functional hijacking. We objectively defined the central components of the NAD+–ADPr networks involved in these conflicts and systematically surveyed 21,191 completely sequenced viral proteomes representative of all publicly available branches of the viral world to reconstruct a comprehensive picture of the viral NAD+–ADPr systems. These systems have been widely and repeatedly exploited by positive-strand RNA and DNA viruses, especially those with larger genomes and more intricate life-history strategies. We present evidence that ADP-ribosyltransferases (ARTs), ADPr-targeting Macro, NADAR and Nudix proteins are frequently packaged into virions, particularly in phages with contractile tails (Myoviruses), and deployed during infection to modify host macromolecules and counter NAD+-derived signals involved in viral restriction. Genes encoding NAD+–ADPr-utilizing domains were repeatedly exchanged between distantly related viruses, hosts and endo-parasites/symbionts, suggesting selection for them across the virus world. Contextual analysis indicates that the bacteriophage versions of ADPr-targeting domains are more likely to counter soluble ADPr derivatives, while the eukaryotic RNA viral versions might prefer macromolecular ADPr adducts. Finally, we also use comparative genomics to predict host systems involved in countering viral ADP ribosylation of host molecules.
Collapse
|
40
|
Son B, Patterson-West J, Thompson CO, Iben JR, Hinton DM. Setting Up a Better Infection: Overexpression of the Early Bacteriophage T4 Gene motB During Infection Results in a More Favorable tRNA Pool for the Phage. PHAGE (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2022; 3:141-152. [PMID: 36196375 PMCID: PMC9527043 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2022.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND : Although many bacteriophage T4 early genes are nonessential with unknown functions, they are believed to aid in the takeover of the Escherichia coli host. Understanding the functions of these genes could be helpful to develop novel antibacterial strategies. MotB, encoded by a previously uncharacterized T4 early gene, is a DNA-binding protein that compacts the host nucleoid and alters host gene expression. METHODS : MotB structure was predicted by AlphaFold 2. RNA-seq and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses were performed to determine RNA and protein changes when motB was overexpressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) ±5 min T4 infection. RESULTS : MotB structure is predicted to be a two-domain protein with N-terminal Kyprides-Onzonis-Woese and C-terminal oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-fold domains. In E. coli B, motB overexpression during infection does not affect T4 RNAs, but affects the expression of host genes, including the downregulation of 21 of the 84 chargeable host tRNAs. Many of these tRNAs are used less frequently by T4 or have a counterpart encoded within the T4 genome. The MS analyses indicate that the levels of multiple T4 proteins are changed by motB overexpression. CONCLUSION : Our results suggest that in this E. coli B host, motB is involved in establishing a more favorable tRNA pool for the phage during infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bokyung Son
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer Patterson-West
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Christine O. Thompson
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - James R. Iben
- Molecular Genomics Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Deborah M. Hinton
- Gene Expression and Regulation Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Interaction between Phage T4 Protein RIII and Host Ribosomal Protein S1 Inhibits Endoribonuclease RegB Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169483. [PMID: 36012768 PMCID: PMC9409239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169483] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lytic viruses of bacteria (bacteriophages, phages) are intracellular parasites that take over hosts' biosynthetic processes for their propagation. Most of the knowledge on the host hijacking mechanisms has come from the studies of the lytic phage T4, which infects Escherichia coli. The integrity of T4 development is achieved by strict control over the host and phage processes and by adjusting them to the changing infection conditions. In this study, using in vitro and in vivo biochemical methods, we detected the direct interaction between the T4 protein RIII and ribosomal protein S1 of the host. Protein RIII is known as a cytoplasmic antiholin, which plays a role in the lysis inhibition function of T4. However, our results show that RIII also acts as a viral effector protein mainly targeting S1 RNA-binding domains that are central for all the activities of this multifunctional protein. We confirm that the S1-RIII interaction prevents the S1-dependent activation of endoribonuclease RegB. In addition, we propose that by modulating the multiple processes mediated by S1, RIII could act as a regulator of all stages of T4 infection including the lysis inhibition state.
Collapse
|
42
|
Srikant S, Guegler CK, Laub MT. The evolution of a counter-defense mechanism in a virus constrains its host range. eLife 2022; 11:79549. [PMID: 35924892 PMCID: PMC9391042 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria use diverse immunity mechanisms to defend themselves against their viral predators, bacteriophages. In turn, phages can acquire counter-defense systems, but it remains unclear how such mechanisms arise and what factors constrain viral evolution. Here, we experimentally evolved T4 phage to overcome a phage-defensive toxin-antitoxin system, toxIN, in E. coli. Through recombination, T4 rapidly acquires segmental amplifications of a previously uncharacterized gene, now named tifA, encoding an inhibitor of the toxin, ToxN. These amplifications subsequently drive large deletions elsewhere in T4's genome to maintain a genome size compatible with capsid packaging. The deleted regions include accessory genes that help T4 overcome defense systems in alternative hosts. Thus, our results reveal a trade-off in viral evolution; the emergence of one counter-defense mechanism can lead to loss of other such mechanisms, thereby constraining host range. We propose that the accessory genomes of viruses reflect the integrated evolutionary history of the hosts they infected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Srikant
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Chantal K Guegler
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Michael T Laub
- Department of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Rao VB, Zhu J. Bacteriophage T4 as a nanovehicle for delivery of genes and therapeutics into human cells. Curr Opin Virol 2022; 55:101255. [PMID: 35952598 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2022.101255] [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: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The ability to deliver therapeutic genes and biomolecules into a human cell and restore a defective function has been the holy grail of medicine. Adeno-associated viruses and lentiviruses have been extensively used as delivery vehicles, but their capacity is limited to one (or two) gene(s). Bacteriophages are emerging as novel vehicles for gene therapy. The large 120 × 86-nm T4 capsid allows engineering of both its surface and its interior to incorporate combinations of DNAs, RNAs, proteins, and their complexes. In vitro assembly using purified components allows customization for various applications and for individualized therapies. Its large capacity, cell-targeting capability, safety, and inexpensive manufacturing could open unprecedented new possibilities for gene, cancer, and stem cell therapies. However, efficient entry into primary human cells and intracellular trafficking are significant barriers that must be overcome by gene engineering and evolution in order to translate phage-delivery technology from bench to bedside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Venigalla B Rao
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
| | - Jingen Zhu
- Bacteriophage Medical Research Center, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
By entering a reversible state of reduced metabolic activity, dormant microorganisms are able to tolerate suboptimal conditions that would otherwise reduce their fitness. Dormancy may also benefit bacteria by serving as a refuge from parasitic infections. Here, we focus on dormancy in the Bacillota, where endospore development is transcriptionally regulated by the expression of sigma factors. A disruption of this process could influence the survivorship or reproduction of phages that infect spore-forming hosts with implications for coevolutionary dynamics. We characterized the distribution of sigma factors in over 4,000 genomes of diverse phages capable of infecting hosts that span the bacterial domain. From this, we identified homologs of sporulation-specific sigma factors in phages that infect spore-forming hosts. Unlike sigma factors required for phage reproduction, we provide evidence that sporulation-like sigma factors are nonessential for lytic infection. However, when expressed in the spore-forming Bacillus subtilis, some of these phage-derived sigma factors can activate the bacterial sporulation gene network and lead to a reduction in spore yield. Our findings suggest that the acquisition of host-like transcriptional regulators may allow phages to manipulate a complex and ancient trait in one of the most abundant cell types on Earth. IMPORTANCE As obligate parasites, phages exert strong top-down pressure on host populations with eco-evolutionary implications for community dynamics and ecosystem functioning. The process of phage infection, however, is constrained by bottom-up processes that influence the energetic and nutritional status of susceptible hosts. Many phages have acquired auxiliary genes from bacteria, which can be used to exploit host metabolism with consequences for phage fitness. In this study, we demonstrate that phages infecting spore-forming bacteria carry homologs of sigma factors, which their hosts use to orchestrate gene expression during spore development. By tapping into regulatory gene networks, phages may manipulate the physiology and survival strategies of nongrowing bacteria in ways that influence host-parasite coevolution.
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
The majority of viruses within the gut are obligate bacterial viruses known as bacteriophages (phages). Their bacteriotropism underscores the study of phage ecology in the gut, where they modulate and coevolve with gut bacterial communities. Traditionally, these ecological and evolutionary questions were investigated empirically via in vitro experimental evolution and, more recently, in vivo models were adopted to account for physiologically relevant conditions of the gut. Here, we probed beyond conventional phage-bacteria coevolution to investigate potential tripartite evolutionary interactions between phages, their bacterial hosts, and the mammalian gut mucosa. To capture the role of the mammalian gut, we recapitulated a life-like gut mucosal layer using in vitro lab-on-a-chip devices (to wit, the gut-on-a-chip) and showed that the mucosal environment supports stable phage-bacteria coexistence. Next, we experimentally coevolved lytic phage populations within the gut-on-a-chip devices alongside their bacterial hosts. We found that while phages adapt to the mucosal environment via de novo mutations, genetic recombination was the key evolutionary force in driving mutational fitness. A single mutation in the phage capsid protein Hoc-known to facilitate phage adherence to mucus-caused altered phage binding to fucosylated mucin glycans. We demonstrated that the altered glycan-binding phenotype provided the evolved mutant phage a competitive fitness advantage over its ancestral wild-type phage in the gut-on-a-chip mucosal environment. Collectively, our findings revealed that phages-in addition to their evolutionary relationship with bacteria-are able to evolve in response to a mammalian-derived mucosal environment.
Collapse
|
46
|
Comparative genomics of Acinetobacter baumannii and therapeutic bacteriophages from a patient undergoing phage therapy. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3776. [PMID: 35773283 PMCID: PMC9247103 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31455-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2016, a 68-year-old patient with a disseminated multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection was successfully treated using lytic bacteriophages. Here we report the genomes of the nine phages used for treatment and three strains of A. baumannii isolated prior to and during treatment. The phages used in the initial treatment are related, T4-like myophages. Analysis of 19 A. baumannii isolates collected before and during phage treatment shows that resistance to the T4-like phages appeared two days following the start of treatment. We generate complete genomic sequences for three A. baumannii strains (TP1, TP2 and TP3) collected before and during treatment, supporting a clonal relationship. Furthermore, we use strain TP1 to select for increased resistance to five of the phages in vitro, and identify mutations that are also found in phage-insensitive isolates TP2 and TP3 (which evolved in vivo during phage treatment). These results support that in vitro investigations can produce results that are relevant to the in vivo environment.
Collapse
|
47
|
Structural organization, evolution, and distribution of viral pyrimidine dimer-DNA glycosylases. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:923-932. [DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00972-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
|
48
|
Structural and Molecular Kinetic Features of Activities of DNA Polymerases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126373. [PMID: 35742812 PMCID: PMC9224347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA polymerases catalyze DNA synthesis during the replication, repair, and recombination of DNA. Based on phylogenetic analysis and primary protein sequences, DNA polymerases have been categorized into seven families: A, B, C, D, X, Y, and RT. This review presents generalized data on the catalytic mechanism of action of DNA polymerases. The structural features of different DNA polymerase families are described in detail. The discussion highlights the kinetics and conformational dynamics of DNA polymerases from all known polymerase families during DNA synthesis.
Collapse
|
49
|
Rawashdeh O, Rawashdeh RY, Kebede T, Kapp D, Ralescu A. Bio-informatic analysis of CRISPR protospacer adjacent motifs (PAMs) in T4 genome. BMC Genom Data 2022; 23:40. [PMID: 35655130 PMCID: PMC9161530 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-022-01056-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The existence of protospacer adjacent motifs (PAMs) sequences in bacteriophage genome is critical for the recognition and function of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas (CRISPR-Cas) machinery system. We further elucidate the significance of PAMs and their function, particularly as a part of transcriptional regulatory regions in T4 bacteriophages. METHODS A scripting language was used to analyze a sequence of T4 phage genome, and a list of few selected PAMs. Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon (MWW) test was used to compare the sequence hits for the PAMs versus the hits of all the possible sequences of equal lengths. RESULTS The results of MWW test show that certain PAMs such as: 'NGG' and 'TATA' are preferably located at the core of phage promoters: around -10 position, whereas the position around -35 appears to have no detectable count variation of any of the tested PAMs. Among all tested PAMs, the following three sequences: 5'-GCTV-3', 5'-TTGAAT-3' and 5'-TTGGGT-3' have higher prevalence in essential genes. By analyzing all the possible ways of reading PAM sequences as codons for the corresponding amino acids, it was found that deduced amino acids of some PAMs have a significant tendency to prefer the surface of proteins. CONCLUSION These results provide novel insights into the location and the subsequent identification of the role of PAMs as transcriptional regulatory elements. Also, CRISPR targeting certain PAM sequences is somehow likely to be connected to the hydrophilicity (water solubility) of amino acids translated from PAM's triplets. Therefore, these amino acids are found at the interacting unit at protein-protein interfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omar Rawashdeh
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221 USA
| | - Rabeah Y. Rawashdeh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Yarmouk University, Shafiq Irshidat Street, Irbid, 21163 Jordan
| | | | | | - Anca Ralescu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221 USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Shah SB, Hill AM, Wilke CO, Hockenberry AJ. Generating dynamic gene expression patterns without the need for regulatory circuits. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268883. [PMID: 35617346 PMCID: PMC9135205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology has successfully advanced our ability to design and implement complex, time-varying genetic circuits to control the expression of recombinant proteins. However, these circuits typically require the production of regulatory genes whose only purpose is to coordinate expression of other genes. When designing very small genetic constructs, such as viral genomes, we may want to avoid introducing such auxiliary gene products while nevertheless encoding complex expression dynamics. To this end, here we demonstrate that varying only the placement and strengths of promoters, terminators, and RNase cleavage sites in a computational model of a bacteriophage genome is sufficient to achieve solutions to a variety of basic gene expression patterns. We discover these genetic solutions by computationally evolving genomes to reproduce desired gene expression time-course data. Our approach shows that non-trivial patterns can be evolved, including patterns where the relative ordering of genes by abundance changes over time. We find that some patterns are easier to evolve than others, and comparable expression patterns can be achieved via different genetic architectures. Our work opens up a novel avenue to genome engineering via fine-tuning the balance of gene expression and gene degradation rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sahil B. Shah
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Alexis M. Hill
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Claus O. Wilke
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
- * E-mail: (COW); (AJH)
| | - Adam J. Hockenberry
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
- * E-mail: (COW); (AJH)
| |
Collapse
|