1
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Turner RJ. The good, the bad, and the ugly of metals as antimicrobials. Biometals 2024; 37:545-559. [PMID: 38112899 PMCID: PMC11101337 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-023-00565-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
We are now moving into the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) era where more antibiotic resistant bacteria are now the majority, a problem brought on by both misuse and over use of antibiotics. Unfortunately, the antibiotic development pipeline dwindled away over the past decades as they are not very profitable compounds for companies to develop. Regardless researchers over the past decade have made strides to explore alternative options and out of this we see revisiting historical infection control agents such as toxic metals. From this we now see a field of research exploring the efficacy of metal ions and metal complexes as antimicrobials. Such antimicrobials are delivered in a variety of forms from metal salts, alloys, metal complexes, organometallic compounds, and metal based nanomaterials and gives us the broad term metalloantimicrobials. We now see many effective formulations applied for various applications using metals as antimicrobials that are effective against drug resistant strains. The purpose of the document here is to step aside and begin a conversation on the issues of use of such toxic metal compounds against microbes. This critical opinion mini-review in no way aims to be comprehensive. The goal here is to understand the benefits of metalloantimicrobials, but also to consider strongly the disadvantages of using metals, and what are the potential consequences of misuse and overuse. We need to be conscious of the issues, to see the entire system and affect through a OneHealth vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond J Turner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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2
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Yu Y, Li YP, Ren K, Hao X, Fru EC, Rønn R, Rivera WL, Becker K, Feng R, Yang J, Rensing C. A brief history of metal recruitment in protozoan predation. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:465-476. [PMID: 38103995 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.008] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Metals and metalloids are used as weapons for predatory feeding by unicellular eukaryotes on prokaryotes. This review emphasizes the role of metal(loid) bioavailability over the course of Earth's history, coupled with eukaryogenesis and the evolution of the mitochondrion to trace the emergence and use of the metal(loid) prey-killing phagosome as a feeding strategy. Members of the genera Acanthamoeba and Dictyostelium use metals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), and possibly metalloids, to kill their bacterial prey after phagocytosis. We provide a potential timeline on when these capacities first evolved and how they correlate with perceived changes in metal(loid) bioavailability through Earth's history. The origin of phagotrophic eukaryotes must have postdated the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) in agreement with redox-dependent modification of metal(loid) bioavailability for phagotrophic poisoning. However, this predatory mechanism is predicted to have evolved much later - closer to the origin of the multicellular metazoans and the evolutionary development of the immune systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanshuang Yu
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Yuan-Ping Li
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Kexin Ren
- Aquatic EcoHealth Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xiuli Hao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ernest Chi Fru
- Centre for Geobiology and Geochemistry, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, CF10 3AT Cardiff, UK
| | - Regin Rønn
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Windell L Rivera
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
| | - Karsten Becker
- Friedrich Loeffler-Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medicine Greifswald, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Renwei Feng
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Aquatic EcoHealth Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Christopher Rensing
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China.
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3
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Contreras-Moreno FJ, Pérez J, Muñoz-Dorado J, Moraleda-Muñoz A, Marcos-Torres FJ. Myxococcus xanthus predation: an updated overview. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1339696. [PMID: 38328431 PMCID: PMC10849154 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1339696] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial predators are widely distributed across a variety of natural environments. Understanding predatory interactions is of great importance since they play a defining role in shaping microbial communities in habitats such as soils. Myxococcus xanthus is a soil-dwelling bacterial predator that can prey on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and even on eukaryotic microorganisms. This model organism has been studied for many decades for its unusual lifecycle, characterized by the formation of multicellular fruiting bodies filled with myxospores. However, less is known about its predatory behavior despite being an integral part of its lifecycle. Predation in M. xanthus is a multifactorial process that involves several mechanisms working synergistically, including motility systems to efficiently track and hunt prey, and a combination of short-range and contact-dependent mechanisms to achieve prey death and feed on them. In the short-range attack, M. xanthus is best known for the collective production of secondary metabolites and hydrolytic enzymes to kill prey and degrade cellular components. On the other hand, contact-dependent killing is a cell-to-cell process that relies on Tad-like and type III secretion systems. Furthermore, recent research has revealed that metals also play an important role during predation, either by inducing oxidative stress in the prey, or by competing for essential metals. In this paper, we review the current knowledge about M. xanthus predation, focusing on the different mechanisms used to hunt, kill, and feed on its prey, considering the most recent discoveries and the transcriptomic data available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Aurelio Moraleda-Muñoz
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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Li Y, Yu Y, Yang X, Pat-Espadas AM, Vinuesa P, Herzberg M, Chen J, Rosen BP, Feng R, Rensing C. Adaptation to metal(loid)s in strain Mucilaginibacter rubeus P2 involves novel arsenic resistance genes and mechanisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 462:132796. [PMID: 37865075 PMCID: PMC10699512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental toxi substance that affects human health. Compared to inorganic arsenicals, reduced organoarsenicals are more toxic, and some of them are recognized as antibiotics, such as methylarsenite [MAs(III)] and arsinothricin (2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylarsinoyl)butanoate, or AST). To date, organoarsenicals such as MAs(V) and roxarsone [Rox(V)] are still used in agriculture and animal husbandry. How bacteria deal with both inorganic and organoarsenic species is unclear. Recently, we identified an environmental isolate Mucilaginibacter rubeus P2 that has adapted to high arsenic and antinomy levels by triplicating an arsR-mrarsUBact-arsN-arsC-(arsRhp)-hp-acr3-mrme1Bact-mrme2Bactgene cluster. Heterologous expression of mrarsMBact, mrarsUBact, mrme1Bact and mrme2Bact, encoding putative arsenic resistance determinants, in the arsenic hypersensitive strain Escherichia coli AW3110 conferred resistance to As(III), As(V), MAs(III) or Rox(III). Our data suggest that metalloid exposure promotes plasticity in arsenic resistance systems, enhancing host organism adaptation to metalloid stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanping Li
- College of Tea and Food, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, China
| | - Yanshuang Yu
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Yang
- College of Ecology and Resource Engineering, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, China
| | - Aurora M Pat-Espadas
- CONACYT-Institute of Geology, Estación Regional del Noroeste, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Luis Donaldo Colosio s/n, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Pablo Vinuesa
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Martin Herzberg
- Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Biology/Microbiology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Barry P Rosen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Renwei Feng
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Christopher Rensing
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.
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Saibu S, Uhanie Perera I, Suzuki S, Rodó X, Fujiyoshi S, Maruyama F. Resistomes in freshwater bioaerosols and their impact on drinking and recreational water safety: A perspective. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108377. [PMID: 38103344 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are widespread environmental pollutants of biological origin that pose a significant threat to human, animal, and plant health, as well as to ecosystems. ARGs are found in soil, water, air, and waste, and several pathways for global dissemination in the environment have been described. However, studies on airborne ARG transport through atmospheric particles are limited. The ARGs in microorganisms inhabiting an environment are referred to as the "resistome". A global search was conducted of air-resistome studies by retrieving bioaerosol ARG-related papers published in the last 30 years from PubMed. We found that there is no dedicated methodology for isolating ARGs in bioaerosols; instead, conventional methods for microbial culture and metagenomic analysis are used in combination with standard aerosol sampling techniques. There is a dearth of information on the bioaerosol resistomes of freshwater environments and their impact on freshwater sources used for drinking and recreational activities. More studies of aerobiome freshwater environments are needed to ensure the safe use of water and sanitation. In this review we outline and synthesize the few studies that address the freshwater air microbiome (from tap water, bathroom showers, rivers, lakes, and swimming pools) and their resistomes, as well as the likely impacts on drinking and recreational waters. We also discuss current knowledge gaps for the freshwater airborne resistome. This review will stimulate new investigations of the atmospheric microbiome, particularly in areas where both air and water quality are of public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salametu Saibu
- Department of Microbiology, Lagos State University of Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Ishara Uhanie Perera
- Section of Microbial Genomics and Ecology, Planetary Health and Innovation Science Center (PHIS), The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, Japan
| | - Satoru Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Japan
| | - Xavier Rodó
- ICREA and CLIMA Program, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (-ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - So Fujiyoshi
- Section of Microbial Genomics and Ecology, Planetary Health and Innovation Science Center (PHIS), The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, Japan
| | - Fumito Maruyama
- Section of Microbial Genomics and Ecology, Planetary Health and Innovation Science Center (PHIS), The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, Japan.
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6
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Paul NP, Galván AE, Yoshinaga-Sakurai K, Rosen BP, Yoshinaga M. Arsenic in medicine: past, present and future. Biometals 2023; 36:283-301. [PMID: 35190937 PMCID: PMC8860286 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-022-00371-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Arsenicals are one of the oldest treatments for a variety of human disorders. Although infamous for its toxicity, arsenic is paradoxically a therapeutic agent that has been used since ancient times for the treatment of multiple diseases. The use of most arsenic-based drugs was abandoned with the discovery of antibiotics in the 1940s, but a few remained in use such as those for the treatment of trypanosomiasis. In the 1970s, arsenic trioxide, the active ingredient in a traditional Chinese medicine, was shown to produce dramatic remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia similar to the effect of all-trans retinoic acid. Since then, there has been a renewed interest in the clinical use of arsenicals. Here the ancient and modern medicinal uses of inorganic and organic arsenicals are reviewed. Included are antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic and anticancer applications. In the face of increasing antibiotic resistance and the emergence of deadly pathogens such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we propose revisiting arsenicals with proven efficacy to combat emerging pathogens. Current advances in science and technology can be employed to design newer arsenical drugs with high therapeutic index. These novel arsenicals can be used in combination with existing drugs or serve as valuable alternatives in the fight against cancer and emerging pathogens. The discovery of the pentavalent arsenic-containing antibiotic arsinothricin, which is effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens, illustrates the future potential of this new class of organoarsenical antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngozi P Paul
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Adriana E Galván
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Kunie Yoshinaga-Sakurai
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Barry P Rosen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Masafumi Yoshinaga
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
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7
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Recent progress of antibacterial hydrogels in wound dressings. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100582. [PMID: 36896416 PMCID: PMC9988584 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels are essential biomaterials due to their favorable biocompatibility, mechanical properties similar to human soft tissue extracellular matrix, and tissue repair properties. In skin wound repair, hydrogels with antibacterial functions are especially suitable for dressing applications, so novel antibacterial hydrogel wound dressings have attracted widespread attention, including the design of components, optimization of preparation methods, strategies to reduce bacterial resistance, etc. In this review, we discuss the fabrication of antibacterial hydrogel wound dressings and the challenges associated with the crosslinking methods and chemistry of the materials. We have investigated the advantages and limitations (antibacterial effects and antibacterial mechanisms) of different antibacterial components in the hydrogels to achieve good antibacterial properties, and the response of hydrogels to stimuli such as light, sound, and electricity to reduce bacterial resistance. Conclusively, we provide a systematic summary of antibacterial hydrogel wound dressings findings (crosslinking methods, antibacterial components, antibacterial methods) and an outlook on long-lasting antibacterial effects, a broader antibacterial spectrum, diversified hydrogel forms, and the future development prospects of the field.
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8
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Zhang C, Liu X, Shi LD, Li J, Xiao X, Shao Z, Dong X. Unexpected genetic and microbial diversity for arsenic cycling in deep sea cold seep sediments. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:13. [PMID: 36991068 PMCID: PMC10060404 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00382-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cold seeps, where cold hydrocarbon-rich fluid escapes from the seafloor, show strong enrichment of toxic metalloid arsenic (As). The toxicity and mobility of As can be greatly altered by microbial processes that play an important role in global As biogeochemical cycling. However, a global overview of genes and microbes involved in As transformation at seeps remains to be fully unveiled. Using 87 sediment metagenomes and 33 metatranscriptomes derived from 13 globally distributed cold seeps, we show that As detoxification genes (arsM, arsP, arsC1/arsC2, acr3) were prevalent at seeps and more phylogenetically diverse than previously expected. Asgardarchaeota and a variety of unidentified bacterial phyla (e.g. 4484-113, AABM5-125-24 and RBG-13-66-14) may also function as the key players in As transformation. The abundances of As cycling genes and the compositions of As-associated microbiome shifted across different sediment depths or types of cold seep. The energy-conserving arsenate reduction or arsenite oxidation could impact biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen, via supporting carbon fixation, hydrocarbon degradation and nitrogen fixation. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive overview of As cycling genes and microbes at As-enriched cold seeps, laying a solid foundation for further studies of As cycling in deep sea microbiome at the enzymatic and processual levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuwen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China
| | - Xinyue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Ling-Dong Shi
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiwei Li
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Xi Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zongze Shao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China.
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Peng W, Lin S, Deng Z, Liang R. Bioaugmentation removal and microbiome analysis of the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethynylestradiol from hostile conditions and environmental samples by Pseudomonas citronellolis SJTE-3. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 317:137893. [PMID: 36690257 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic estrogens are emerging environmental contaminants with great estrogenic activities and stable structures that are widespread in various ecological systems and significantly threaten the health of organisms. Pseudomonas citronellolis SJTE-3 is reported to degrade the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) efficiently in laboratory conditions. In this work, the environmental adaptability, the EE2-degrading properties, and the ecological effects of P. citronellolis SJTE-3 under different hostile conditions (heavy metals and surfactants) and various natural environment samples (solid soil, lake water, and pig manure) were studied. Strain SJTE-3 can tolerate high concentrations of Zn2+ and Cr3+, but is relatively sensitive to Cu2+. Tween 80 of low concentration can significantly promote EE2 degradation by strain SJTE-3, different from the repressing effect of Triton X-100. High concentration of Tween 80 prolonged the lagging phase of EE2-degrading process, while the final EE2 removal efficiency was improved. More importantly, strain SJTE-3 can grow normally and degrade estrogen stably in various environmental samples. Inoculation of strain SJTE-3 removed the intrinsic synthetic and natural estrogens (EE2 and estrone) in lake water samples in 4 days, and eliminated over 90% of the amended 1 mg/L EE2 in 2 days. Bioaugmentation of strain SJTE-3 in EE2-supplied solid soil and pig manure samples achieved a removal rate of over 55% and 70% of 1 mg/kg EE2 within 2 weeks. Notably, the bioaugmentation of extrinsic strain SJTE-3 had a slight influence on indigenous bacterial community in pig manure samples, and its relative abundance decreased significantly after EE2 removal. Amendment of EE2 or strain SJTE-3 in manure samples enhanced the abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, implying their potential in utilizing EE2 or its metabolites. These findings not only shed a light on the environment adaptability and degradation efficiency of strain SJTE-3, but also provide insights for bioremediation application in complex and synthetic estrogen polluted environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanli Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shuangjun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zixin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Rubing Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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10
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Huang K, Liu W, Zhao FJ. Methylarsenite is a broad-spectrum antibiotic disrupting cell wall biosynthesis and cell membrane potential. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:562-574. [PMID: 36510854 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16309] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Methylarsenite (MAs(III)), a product of arsenic biomethylation or bioreduction of methylarsenate (MAs(V)), has been proposed as a primitive antibiotic. However, the antibacterial property and the bactericidal mechanism of MAs(III) remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that MAs(III) is highly toxic to 14 strains of bacteria, especially against 9 strains of Gram-positive bacteria with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) in the sub micromolar range for Staphyloccocus aureus, Microbacterium sp., Pseudarthrobacter siccitolerans and several Bacillus species. In a co-culture of B. subtilis 168 and MAs(III)-producer Enterobacter sp. CZ-1, the later reduced non-toxic MAs(V) to highly toxic MAs(III) to kill the former and gain a competitive advantage. MAs(III) induced autolysis of B. subtilis 168. Deletion of the autolysins LytC, LytD, LytE, and LytF suppressed MAs(III)-induced autolysis in B. subtilis 168. Transcriptomic analysis showed that MAs(III) downregulated the expression of the major genes involved in the biosynthesis of the cell wall peptidoglycan. Overexpression of an UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase gene murAA alleviated MAs(III)-induced autolysis in B. subtilis 168. MAs(III) disrupted the membrane potential of B. subtilis 168 and caused severe membrane damage. The results suggest that MAs(III) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic preferentially against Gram-positive bacteria by disrupting the cell wall biosynthesis pathway and cell membrane potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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11
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Remick KA, Helmann JD. The elements of life: A biocentric tour of the periodic table. Adv Microb Physiol 2023; 82:1-127. [PMID: 36948652 PMCID: PMC10727122 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Living systems are built from a small subset of the atomic elements, including the bulk macronutrients (C,H,N,O,P,S) and ions (Mg,K,Na,Ca) together with a small but variable set of trace elements (micronutrients). Here, we provide a global survey of how chemical elements contribute to life. We define five classes of elements: those that are (i) essential for all life, (ii) essential for many organisms in all three domains of life, (iii) essential or beneficial for many organisms in at least one domain, (iv) beneficial to at least some species, and (v) of no known beneficial use. The ability of cells to sustain life when individual elements are absent or limiting relies on complex physiological and evolutionary mechanisms (elemental economy). This survey of elemental use across the tree of life is encapsulated in a web-based, interactive periodic table that summarizes the roles chemical elements in biology and highlights corresponding mechanisms of elemental economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleigh A Remick
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - John D Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States.
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12
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Wang H, Li J, Zi X, Yuan X. Comprehensive analysis of cuproptosis-related genes on bladder cancer prognosis, tumor microenvironment invasion, and drug sensitivity. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1116305. [PMID: 36895470 PMCID: PMC9989218 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1116305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cuproptosis, a newly discovered form of programmed cell death, plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of tumors. However, the role of cuproptosis in the bladder cancer tumor microenvironment remains unclear. In this study, we developed a method for predicting the prognostic outcomes and guiding the treatment selection for patients with bladder cancer. We obtained 1001 samples and survival data points from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and Gene Expression Omnibus database. Using cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) identified in previous studies, we analyzed CRG transcriptional changes and identified two molecular subtypes, namely high- and low-risk patients. The prognostic features of eight genes (PDGFRB, COMP, GREM1, FRRS1, SDHD, RARRES2, CRTAC1, and HMGCS2) were determined. The CRG molecular typing and risk scores were correlated with clinicopathological features, prognosis, tumor microenvironment cell infiltration characteristics, immune checkpoint activation, mutation burden, and chemotherapy drug sensitivity. Additionally, we constructed an accurate nomogram to improve the clinical applicability of the CRG_score. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of eight genes in bladder cancer tissues, and the results were consistent with the predicted results. These findings may help us to understand the role of cuproptosis in cancer and provide new directions for the design of personalized treatment and prediction of survival outcomes in patients with bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Wang
- Department of Urology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China.,Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Scientific Research in Urology, Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jinqiao Li
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Scientific Research in Urology, Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaolin Zi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xueli Yuan
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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13
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Zhang J, Wu YF, Tang ST, Chen J, Rosen BP, Zhao FJ. A PadR family transcriptional repressor controls transcription of a trivalent metalloid resistance operon of Azospirillum halopraeferens strain Au 4. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:5139-5150. [PMID: 35880613 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Methylarsenite [MAs(III)] is a highly toxic arsenical produced by some microbes as an antibiotic. In this study, we demonstrate that a PadR family transcriptional regulator, PadRars , from Azospirillum halopraeferens strain Au 4 directly binds to the promoter region of the arsenic resistance (ars) operon (consisting of padRars , arsV, and arsW) and represses transcription of arsV and arsW genes involved in MAs(III) resistance. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and transcriptional reporter assays showed that transcription of the ars operon is induced strongly by MAs(III) and less strongly by arsenite and antimonite. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with recombinant PadRars showed that it represses transcription of the ars operon by binding to two inverted-repeat sequences within the ars promoter. PadRars has two conserved cysteine pairs, Cys56/57 and Cys133/134; mutation of the first pair to serine abolished the transcriptional response of the ars operon to trivalent metalloids, suggesting that Cys56/57 form a binding site for trivalent metalloids. Either C133S or C134S derivative responses to MAs(III) but not As(III) or Sb(III), suggesting that it is a third ligand to trivalent metalloids. PadRars represents a new type of repressor proteins regulating transcription of an ars operon involved in the resistance to trivalent metalloids, especially MAs(III). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi-Fei Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shi-Tong Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Barry P Rosen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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14
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Tian H, He B, Yin Y, Liu L, Shi J, Hu L, Jiang G. Chemical Nature of Metals and Metal-Based Materials in Inactivation of Viruses. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12142345. [PMID: 35889570 PMCID: PMC9323642 DOI: 10.3390/nano12142345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In response to the enormous threat to human survival and development caused by the large number of viruses, it is necessary to strengthen the defense against and elimination of viruses. Metallic materials have been used against viruses for thousands of years due to their broad-spectrum antiviral properties, wide sources and excellent physicochemical properties; in particular, metal nanoparticles have advanced biomedical research. However, researchers in different fields hold dissimilar views on the antiviral mechanisms, which has slowed down the antiviral application of metal nanoparticles. As such, this review begins with an exhaustive compilation of previously published work on the antiviral capacity of metal nanoparticles and other materials. Afterwards, the discussion is centered on the antiviral mechanisms of metal nanoparticles at the biological and physicochemical levels. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the strong reducibility of metal nanoparticles may be the main reason for their efficient inactivation of viruses. We hope that this review will benefit the promotion of metal nanoparticles in the antiviral field and expedite the construction of a barrier between humans and viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haozhong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China; (H.T.); (B.H.); (Y.Y.); (L.L.); (J.S.); (G.J.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin He
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China; (H.T.); (B.H.); (Y.Y.); (L.L.); (J.S.); (G.J.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China; (H.T.); (B.H.); (Y.Y.); (L.L.); (J.S.); (G.J.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Lihong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China; (H.T.); (B.H.); (Y.Y.); (L.L.); (J.S.); (G.J.)
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China; (H.T.); (B.H.); (Y.Y.); (L.L.); (J.S.); (G.J.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Ligang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China; (H.T.); (B.H.); (Y.Y.); (L.L.); (J.S.); (G.J.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
- Correspondence: author:
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, China; (H.T.); (B.H.); (Y.Y.); (L.L.); (J.S.); (G.J.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
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15
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Viacava K, Qiao J, Janowczyk A, Poudel S, Jacquemin N, Meibom KL, Shrestha HK, Reid MC, Hettich RL, Bernier-Latmani R. Meta-omics-aided isolation of an elusive anaerobic arsenic-methylating soil bacterium. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1740-1749. [PMID: 35338334 PMCID: PMC9213503 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01220-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Soil microbiomes harbour unparalleled functional and phylogenetic diversity. However, extracting isolates with a targeted function from complex microbiomes is not straightforward, particularly if the associated phenotype does not lend itself to high-throughput screening. Here, we tackle the methylation of arsenic (As) in anoxic soils. As methylation was proposed to be catalysed by sulfate-reducing bacteria. However, to date, there are no available anaerobic isolates capable of As methylation, whether sulfate-reducing or otherwise. The isolation of such a microorganism has been thwarted by the fact that the anaerobic bacteria harbouring a functional arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase (ArsM) tested to date did not methylate As in pure culture. Additionally, fortuitous As methylation can result from the release of non-specific methyltransferases upon lysis. Thus, we combined metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics to identify the microorganisms actively methylating As in anoxic soil-derived microbial cultures. Based on the metagenome-assembled genomes of microorganisms expressing ArsM, we isolated Paraclostridium sp. strain EML, which was confirmed to actively methylate As anaerobically. This work is an example of the application of meta-omics to the isolation of elusive microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Viacava
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Soil Science Group, Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jiangtao Qiao
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Janowczyk
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Suresh Poudel
- BioSciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Nicolas Jacquemin
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Translational Bioinformatics and Statistics, Department of Oncology, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Karin Lederballe Meibom
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Him K Shrestha
- BioSciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.,Genome Science and Technology Graduate School, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Matthew C Reid
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Robert L Hettich
- BioSciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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16
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Zhang J, Li YN, Chen J, Yan Y, Rosen BP, Zhao FJ. ArsZ from Ensifer adhaerens ST2 is a novel methylarsenite oxidase. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:3013-3021. [PMID: 35355385 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Trivalent methylarsenite (MAs(III)) produced by biomethylation is more toxic than inorganic arsenite (As(III)). Hence, MAs(III) has been proposed to be a primordial antibiotic. Other bacteria evolved mechanisms to detoxify MAs(III). In this study, the molecular mechanisms of MAs(III) resistance of Ensifer adhaerens ST2 were investigated. In the chromosome of E. adhaerens ST2 is a gene encoding a protein of unknown function. Here we show that this gene, designated arsZ, encodes a novel MAs(III) oxidase that confers resistance by oxidizing highly toxic MAs(III) to relatively nontoxic MAs(V). Two other genes, arsRK, are adjacent to arsZ but are divergently encoded in the opposite direction. Heterologous expression of arsZ in Escherichia coli confers resistance to MAs(III) but not to As(III). Purified ArsZ catalyzes thioredoxin- and NAPD+ -dependent oxidation of MAs(III). Mutational analysis of ArsZ suggests that Cys59 and Cys123 are involved in oxidation of MAs(III). Expression of arsZ, arsR and arsK genes is induced by MAs(III) and As(III), and is likely controlled by the ArsR transcriptional repressor. These results demonstrate that ArsZ is a novel MAs(III) oxidase that contributes to E. adhaerens tolerance to environmental organoarsenicals. The arsZRK operon is widely present in bacteria within the Rhizobiaceae family. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yan-Ning Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199
| | - Yu Yan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Barry P Rosen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
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17
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Zhang J, Chen J, Wu YF, Liu X, Packianathan C, Nadar VS, Rosen BP, Zhao FJ. Functional characterization of the methylarsenite-inducible arsRM operon from Noviherbaspirillum denitrificans HC18. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:772-783. [PMID: 35049138 PMCID: PMC8881391 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Microbial arsenic methylation by arsenite (As(III)) S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferases (ArsMs) can produce the intermediate methylarsenite (MAs(III)), which is highly toxic and is used by some microbes as an antibiotic. Other microbes have evolved mechanisms to detoxify MAs(III). In this study, an arsRM operon was identified in the genome of an MAs(III)-methylation strain Noviherbaspirillum denitrificans HC18. The arsM gene (NdarsM) is located downstream of an open reading frame encoding an MAs(III)-responsive transcriptional regulator (NdArsR). The N. denitrificans arsRM genes are co-transcribed whose expression is significantly induced by MAs(III), likely by alleviating the repressive effect of ArsR on arsRM transcription. Both in vivo and in vitro assays showed that NdArsM methylates MAs(III) to dimethyl- and trimethyl-arsenicals but does not methylate As(III). Heterologous expression of NdarsM in arsenic-sensitive Escherichia coli AW3110 conferred resistance to MAs(III) but not As(III). NdArsM has the four conserved cysteine residues present in most ArsMs, but only two of them are essential for MAs(III) methylation. The ability to methylate MAs(III) by enzymes such as NdArsM may be an evolutionary step originated from enzymes capable of methylating As(III). This finding reveals a mechanism employed by microbes such as N. denitrificans HC18 to detoxify MAs(III) by further methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Yi-Fei Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xia Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Charles Packianathan
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Venkadesh S. Nadar
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Barry P. Rosen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA,Co-corresponding authors: Fangjie Zhao () and Barry P. Rosen ()
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China,Co-corresponding authors: Fangjie Zhao () and Barry P. Rosen ()
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18
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Glutathione is involved in the reduction of methylarsenate to generate antibiotic methylarsenite in Enterobacter sp. CZ-1. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0246721. [PMID: 35080903 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02467-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylarsenate (MAs(V)) is a product of microbial arsenic (As) biomethylation and has also been widely used as an herbicide. Some microbes are able to reduce nontoxic MAs(V) to highly toxic methylarsenite (MAs(III)) possibly as an antibiotic. The mechanism of MAs(V) reduction in microbes has not been elucidated. Here, we found that the bacterium Enterobacter sp. CZ-1 isolated from an As-contaminated paddy soil has a strong ability to reduce MAs(V) to MAs(III). Using a MAs(III)-responsive biosensor to detect MAs(V) reduction in E. coli Trans5α transformants of a genomic library of Enterobacter sp. CZ-1, we identified gshA, encoding a glutamate-cysteine ligase, as a key gene involved in MAs(V) reduction. Heterologous expression of gshA increased the biosynthesis of glutathione (GSH) and MAs(V) reduction in E. coli Trans5α. Deletion of gshA in Enterobacter sp. CZ-1 abolished its ability to synthesize GSH and decreased its MAs(V) reduction ability markedly, which could be restored by supplementation of exogenous GSH. In the presence of MAs(V), Enterobacter sp. CZ-1 was able to inhibit the growth of Bacillus subtilis 168; this ability was lost in the gshA-deleted mutant. In addition, deletion of gshA greatly decreased the reduction of arsenate to arsenite. These results indicate that GSH plays an important role in MAs(V) reduction to generate MAs(III) as an antibiotic. IMPORTANCE Arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental toxin. Some microbes detoxify inorganic arsenic through biomethylation, generating relatively nontoxic pentavalent methylated arsenicals, such as methylarsenate. Methylarsenate has also been widely used as an herbicide. Surprisingly, some microbes reduce methylarsenate to highly toxic methylarsenite possibly to use the latter as an antibiotic. How microbes reduce methylarsenate to methylarsenite is unknown. Here, we show that gshA encoding a glutamate-cysteine ligase in the glutathione biosynthesis pathway is involved in methylarsenate reduction in Enterobacter sp. CZ-1. Our study provides new insights into the crucial role of glutathione in the transformation of a common arsenic compound to a natural antibiotic.
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19
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Identification of a MarR Subfamily That Regulates Arsenic Resistance Genes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0158821. [PMID: 34613763 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01588-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, comprehensive analyses were performed to determine the function of an atypical MarR homolog in Achromobacter sp. strain As-55. Genomic analyses of Achromobacter sp. As-55 showed that this marR is located adjacent to an arsV gene. ArsV is a flavin-dependent monooxygenase that confers resistance to the antibiotic methylarsenite [MAs(III)], the organoarsenic compound roxarsone(III) [Rox(III)], and the inorganic antimonite [Sb(III)]. Similar marR genes are widely distributed in arsenic-resistant bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these MarRs are found in operons predicted to be involved in resistance to inorganic and organic arsenic species, so the subfamily was named MarRars. MarRars orthologs have three conserved cysteine residues, which are Cys36, Cys37, and Cys157 in Achromobacter sp. As-55, mutation of which compromises the response to MAs(III)/Sb(III). GFP-fluorescent biosensor assays show that AdMarRars (MarR protein of Achromobacter deleyi As-55) responds to trivalent As(III) and Sb(III) but not to pentavalent As(V) or Sb(V). The results of RT-qPCR assays show that arsV is expressed constitutively in a marR deletion mutant, indicating that marR represses transcription of arsV. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrate that AdMarRars binds to the promoters of both marR and arsV in the absence of ligands and that DNA binding is relieved upon binding of As(III) and Sb(III). Our results demonstrate that AdMarRars is a novel As(III)/Sb(III)-responsive transcriptional repressor that controls expression of arsV, which confers resistance to MAs(III), Rox(III), and Sb(III). AdMarRars and its orthologs form a subfamily of MarR proteins that regulate genes conferring resistance to arsenic-containing antibiotics. IMPORTANCE In this study, a MarR family member, AdMarRars was shown to regulate the arsV gene, which confers resistance to arsenic-containing antibiotics. It is a founding member of a distinct subfamily that we refer to as MarRars, regulating genes conferring resistance to arsenic and antimony antibiotic compounds. AdMarRars was shown to be a repressor containing conserved cysteine residues that are required to bind As(III) and Sb(III), leading to a conformational change and subsequent derepression. Here we show that members of the MarR family are involved in regulating arsenic-containing compounds.
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20
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De Francisco P, Martín-González A, Rodriguez-Martín D, Díaz S. Interactions with Arsenic: Mechanisms of Toxicity and Cellular Resistance in Eukaryotic Microorganisms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:12226. [PMID: 34831982 PMCID: PMC8618186 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is quite an abundant metalloid, with ancient origin and ubiquitous distribution, which represents a severe environmental risk and a global problem for public health. Microbial exposure to As compounds in the environment has happened since the beginning of time. Selective pressure has induced the evolution of various genetic systems conferring useful capacities in many microorganisms to detoxify and even use arsenic, as an energy source. This review summarizes the microbial impact of the As biogeochemical cycle. Moreover, the poorly known adverse effects of this element on eukaryotic microbes, as well as the As uptake and detoxification mechanisms developed by yeast and protists, are discussed. Finally, an outlook of As microbial remediation makes evident the knowledge gaps and the necessity of new approaches to mitigate this environmental challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Martín-González
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, C/José Antonio Novais, 12, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Daniel Rodriguez-Martín
- Animal Health Research Centre (CISA), National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), 28130 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Silvia Díaz
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, C/José Antonio Novais, 12, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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