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Liu P, Wu J, Ma W, Yang Y, Lv L, Cai J, Liu Z, He J, Shang Y, Li Z, Cao X. Molecular detection and characterization of Coxiella burnetii in aborted samples of livestock in China. Acta Trop 2024; 254:107163. [PMID: 38428630 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107163] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of zoonotic Q fever. Animals are the natural reservoirs of C. burnetii, and domestic livestock represent the major sources of human infection. C. burnetii infection in pregnant females may causes abortion during late pregnancy, whereby massive shedding of C. burnetii with abortion products becomes aerosolized and persists in the environment. Therefore, monitoring and surveillance of this infection in livestock is important for the prevention of the C. burnetii transmission. Previous serological surveys have shown that C. burnetii infection is endemic in livestock in China. However, few data are available on the diagnosis of C. burnetii as a cause of abortion by molecular methods in livestock. To get a better understanding of the impact of C. burnetii infection on domestic livestock in China, a real-time PCR investigation was carried out on collected samples from different domestic livestock suffering abortion during 2021-2023. A total of 338 samples collected from eight herds of five livestock species were elected. The results showed that 223 (66 %) of the collected samples were positive for C. burnetii DNA using real-time PCR. For the aborted samples, 82 % (128/15) of sheep, 81 % (34/42) of goats, 44 % (15/34) of cattle, 69 % (18/26) of camels, and 50 % (17/34) of donkeys were positive for C. burnetii. Besides, 44 % (8/18) and 4 % (1/25) of asymptomatic individuals of sheep and donkey were also positive for C. burnetii. In addition, the positive samples were further confirmed by amplification and sequencing of the C. burnetii-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (icd) gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on specific gene fragments of icd genes revealed that the obtained sequences in this study were clustered into two different groups associated with different origin of hosts and geographic regions. This is the first report confirming that C. burnetii exists in aborted samples of sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys and camels in China. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the epidemiology of this pathogen in livestock as well as the potential risks to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jinyan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Weimin Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Yamin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Lv Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jiang Cai
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Zhijie Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jijun He
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Youjun Shang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Zhaocai Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China.
| | - Xiaoan Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China.
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Bartoš O, Klimešová B, Volfová K, Chmel M, Dresler J, Pajer P, Kabíčková H, Adamík P, Modrý D, Fučíková AM, Votýpka J. Two novel Bartonella (sub)species isolated from edible dormice ( Glis glis): hints of cultivation stress-induced genomic changes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1289671. [PMID: 38033559 PMCID: PMC10684924 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1289671] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bartonelloses are neglected emerging infectious diseases caused by facultatively intracellular bacteria transmitted between vertebrate hosts by various arthropod vectors. The highest diversity of Bartonella species has been identified in rodents. Within this study we focused on the edible dormouse (Glis glis), a rodent with unique life-history traits that often enters households and whose possible role in the epidemiology of Bartonella infections had been previously unknown. We identified and cultivated two distinct Bartonella sub(species) significantly diverging from previously described species, which were characterized using growth characteristics, biochemical tests, and various molecular techniques including also proteomics. Two novel (sub)species were described: Bartonella grahamii subsp. shimonis subsp. nov. and Bartonella gliris sp. nov. We sequenced two individual strains per each described (sub)species. During exploratory genomic analyses comparing two genotypes ultimately belonging to the same species, both factually and most importantly even spatiotemporally, we noticed unexpectedly significant structural variation between them. We found that most of the detected structural variants could be explained either by prophage excision or integration. Based on a detailed study of one such event, we argue that prophage deletion represents the most probable explanation of the observed phenomena. Moreover, in one strain of Bartonella grahamii subsp. shimonis subsp. nov. we identified a deletion related to Bartonella Adhesin A, a major pathogenicity factor that modulates bacteria-host interactions. Altogether, our results suggest that even a limited number of passages induced sufficient selective pressure to promote significant changes at the level of the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oldřich Bartoš
- Military Health Institute, Military Medical Agency, Prague, Czechia
| | - Běla Klimešová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Karolina Volfová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Martin Chmel
- Military Health Institute, Military Medical Agency, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Military University Hospital Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jiří Dresler
- Military Health Institute, Military Medical Agency, Prague, Czechia
| | - Petr Pajer
- Military Health Institute, Military Medical Agency, Prague, Czechia
| | - Hana Kabíčková
- Military Health Institute, Military Medical Agency, Prague, Czechia
| | - Peter Adamík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
- Museum of Natural History, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - David Modrý
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Veterinary Sciences/CINeZ, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Jan Votýpka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
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Dolcé P, de Beaumont-Dupont A, Jutras P, Mailhot-Léonard F, Alexandra Rosca M, Aubé-Maurice J. The lower Saint Lawrence River region of Quebec, a hot spot for sheepfold-associated Q fever in Canada: Review of 258 cases. JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE CANADA = JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE L'ASSOCIATION POUR LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE ET L'INFECTIOLOGIE CANADA 2023; 8:201-213. [PMID: 38058500 PMCID: PMC10697106 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2023-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Background The lower Saint Lawrence river region (LSLRR), in Quebec, has a 10-fold higher incidence of Q fever compared to the provincial rate. This study aimed to review clinical cases and the Q fever risk exposure in this region. Methods Data were retrieved from microbiology laboratory, medical records from Rimouski Regional Hospital and Public Health reports between 1991 and 2018. They were analyzed with Epi Info 7.2.2.6. Patients with confirmed acute, probable acute, and chronic Q fever were classified using standard case definitions and mapped according to the postal code, to assess the correlation between cases and sheep distribution. Results Out of 295 cases, 258 were included (241 confirmed acute, seven probable acute, 10 chronic). Median age was 49 years, 76% were male. For acute cases, the prominent symptoms were fever (99%), headache (83%), chills (80%), sweating (72%), myalgia (69%), and fatigue (67%). Clinical presentation was mostly febrile syndrome with mild hepatitis (84%). A seasonal peak was observed from May to July (56% of acute cases). Most cases (56%) occurred within the two counties where sheep production was highest. Exposure to sheep was prominent 93%, including 64% direct contact (15% shepherds, 49% sheepfold visitors), 14% indirect contact, and 15% sheepfold neighbors. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is one of the largest retrospective studies of Q fever cases reported in Canada. Q fever in Quebec LSLRR is associated mainly with sheep exposure. Fever and hepatitis were the most common manifestations. Preventive measures should be considered in this region to protect sheepfold workers, visitors, and their neighbors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Dolcé
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Centre hospitalier régional de Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - Annie de Beaumont-Dupont
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Centre hospitalier régional de Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biology, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - Philippe Jutras
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Centre hospitalier régional de Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - Florence Mailhot-Léonard
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Centre hospitalier régional de Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maria Alexandra Rosca
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Centre hospitalier régional de Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joanne Aubé-Maurice
- Department of Public Health, CISSS du Bas-St-Laurent, Kamouraska, Quebec, Canada
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Bauer BU, Knittler MR, Andrack J, Berens C, Campe A, Christiansen B, Fasemore AM, Fischer SF, Ganter M, Körner S, Makert GR, Matthiesen S, Mertens-Scholz K, Rinkel S, Runge M, Schulze-Luehrmann J, Ulbert S, Winter F, Frangoulidis D, Lührmann A. Interdisciplinary studies on Coxiella burnetii: From molecular to cellular, to host, to one health research. Int J Med Microbiol 2023; 313:151590. [PMID: 38056089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2023.151590] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Q-GAPS (Q fever GermAn interdisciplinary Program for reSearch) consortium was launched in 2017 as a German consortium of more than 20 scientists with exceptional expertise, competence, and substantial knowledge in the field of the Q fever pathogen Coxiella (C.) burnetii. C. burnetii exemplifies as a zoonotic pathogen the challenges of zoonotic disease control and prophylaxis in human, animal, and environmental settings in a One Health approach. An interdisciplinary approach to studying the pathogen is essential to address unresolved questions about the epidemiology, immunology, pathogenesis, surveillance, and control of C. burnetii. In more than five years, Q-GAPS has provided new insights into pathogenicity and interaction with host defense mechanisms. The consortium has also investigated vaccine efficacy and application in animal reservoirs and identified expanded phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of C. burnetii and their epidemiological significance. In addition, conceptual principles for controlling, surveilling, and preventing zoonotic Q fever infections were developed and prepared for specific target groups. All findings have been continuously integrated into a Web-based, interactive, freely accessible knowledge and information platform (www.q-gaps.de), which also contains Q fever guidelines to support public health institutions in controlling and preventing Q fever. In this review, we will summarize our results and show an example of how an interdisciplinary consortium provides knowledge and better tools to control a zoonotic pathogen at the national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin U Bauer
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael R Knittler
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jennifer Andrack
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Berens
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Jena, Germany
| | - Amely Campe
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, (IBEI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bahne Christiansen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Akinyemi M Fasemore
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany; University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; ZB MED - Information Centre for Life Science, Cologne, Germany
| | - Silke F Fischer
- Landesgesundheitsamt Baden-Württemberg, Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit und Integration, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sophia Körner
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gustavo R Makert
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Svea Matthiesen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Immunology, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany
| | - Sven Rinkel
- Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Martin Runge
- Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Schulze-Luehrmann
- Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ulbert
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Fenja Winter
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, (IBEI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Frangoulidis
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany; Bundeswehr Medical Service Headquarters VI-2, Medical Intelligence & Information, Munich, Germany
| | - Anja Lührmann
- Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
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Riffaud CM, Rucks EA, Ouellette SP. Persistence of obligate intracellular pathogens: alternative strategies to overcome host-specific stresses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1185571. [PMID: 37284502 PMCID: PMC10239878 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1185571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In adapting to the intracellular niche, obligate intracellular bacteria usually undergo a reduction of genome size by eliminating genes not needed for intracellular survival. These losses can include, for example, genes involved in nutrient anabolic pathways or in stress response. Living inside a host cell offers a stable environment where intracellular bacteria can limit their exposure to extracellular effectors of the immune system and modulate or outright inhibit intracellular defense mechanisms. However, highlighting an area of vulnerability, these pathogens are dependent on the host cell for nutrients and are very sensitive to conditions that limit nutrient availability. Persistence is a common response shared by evolutionarily divergent bacteria to survive adverse conditions like nutrient deprivation. Development of persistence usually compromises successful antibiotic therapy of bacterial infections and is associated with chronic infections and long-term sequelae for the patients. During persistence, obligate intracellular pathogens are viable but not growing inside their host cell. They can survive for a long period of time such that, when the inducing stress is removed, reactivation of their growth cycles resumes. Given their reduced coding capacity, intracellular bacteria have adapted different response mechanisms. This review gives an overview of the strategies used by the obligate intracellular bacteria, where known, which, unlike model organisms such as E. coli, often lack toxin-antitoxin systems and the stringent response that have been linked to a persister phenotype and amino acid starvation states, respectively.
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Williams-Macdonald SE, Mitchell M, Frew D, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Ewing D, Golde WT, Longbottom D, Nisbet AJ, Livingstone M, Hamilton CM, Fitzgerald SF, Buus S, Bach E, Dinkla A, Roest HJ, Koets AP, McNeilly TN. Efficacy of Phase I and Phase II Coxiella burnetii Bacterin Vaccines in a Pregnant Ewe Challenge Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030511. [PMID: 36992095 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Coxiella burnetii can cause the disease Q-fever in a wide range of animal hosts. Ruminants, including sheep, are thought to play a pivotal role in the transmission of C. burnetii to humans; however, the only existing livestock vaccine, namely, Coxevac® (Ceva Animal Health Ltd., Libourne, France), a killed bacterin vaccine based on phase I C. burnetii strain Nine-Mile, is only approved for use in goats and cattle. In this study, a pregnant ewe challenge model was used to determine the protective effects of Coxevac® and an experimental bacterin vaccine based on phase II C. burnetii against C. burnetii challenge. Prior to mating, ewes (n = 20 per group) were vaccinated subcutaneously with either Coxevac®, the phase II vaccine, or were unvaccinated. A subset of pregnant ewes (n = 6) from each group was then challenged 151 days later (~100 days of gestation) with 106 infectious mouse doses of C. burnetii, Nine-Mile strain RSA493. Both vaccines provided protection against C. burnetii challenge as measured by reductions in bacterial shedding in faeces, milk and vaginal mucus, and reduced abnormal pregnancies, compared to unvaccinated controls. This work highlights that the phase I vaccine Coxevac® can protect ewes against C. burnetii infection. Furthermore, the phase II vaccine provided comparable levels of protection and may offer a safer and cost-effective alternative to the currently licensed vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mairi Mitchell
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - David Frew
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Javier Palarea-Albaladejo
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, JCMB, The King's Buildings, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - David Ewing
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, JCMB, The King's Buildings, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - William T Golde
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - David Longbottom
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Alasdair J Nisbet
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Morag Livingstone
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Clare M Hamilton
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Stephen F Fitzgerald
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Søren Buus
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emil Bach
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annemieke Dinkla
- Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik-Jan Roest
- Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ad P Koets
- Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
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Metters G, Hemsley C, Norville I, Titball R. Identification of essential genes in Coxiella burnetii. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen000944. [PMID: 36723494 PMCID: PMC9997736 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular pathogen responsible for causing Q fever in humans, a disease with varied presentations ranging from a mild flu-like sickness to a debilitating illness that can result in endocarditis. The intracellular lifestyle of C. burnetii is unique, residing in an acidic phagolysosome-like compartment within host cells. An understanding of the core molecular biology of C. burnetii will greatly increase our understanding of C. burnetii growth, survival and pathogenesis. We used transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS) to reveal C. burnetii Nine Mile Phase II genes fundamental for growth and in vitro survival. Screening a transposon library containing >10 000 unique transposon mutants revealed 512 predicted essential genes. Essential routes of synthesis were identified for the mevalonate pathway, as well as peptidoglycan and biotin synthesis. Some essential genes identified (e.g. predicted type IV secretion system effector genes) are typically considered to be associated with C. burnetii virulence, a caveat concerning the axenic media used in the study. Investigation into the conservation of the essential genes identified revealed that 78 % are conserved across all C. burnetii strains sequenced to date, which probably play critical functions. This is the first report of a whole genome transposon screen in C. burnetii that has been undertaken for the identification of essential genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgie Metters
- Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.,Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, CBR Division, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Claudia Hemsley
- Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.,Present address: Molecular Microbiology Division, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5AA, UK
| | - Isobel Norville
- Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.,Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, CBR Division, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Richard Titball
- Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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8
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Hemsley CM, Essex-Lopresti A, Chisnall T, Millar M, Neale S, Reichel R, Norville IH, Titball RW. MLVA and com1 genotyping of Coxiella burnetii in farmed ruminants in Great Britain. Vet Microbiol 2023; 277:109629. [PMID: 36535174 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever, has been shown to be endemic in Great Britain, but information on the prevailing genomic lineages or Genomic Groups (GGs) of Coxiella burnetii is limited. The aim of this study was to genotype C. burnetii isolates from infected farmed ruminants by Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) and identify their associated Genomic Group. A total of 51 Coxiella-containing abortion samples from farmed ruminants (sheep, goats, and cattle), which were collected in Great Britain during 2013-2018, were included in the study, 34 of which returned a C. burnetii MLVA genotype. All bovine samples (n = 18), 5/7 of the ovine samples, and 3/9 of the caprine samples belonged to an MLVA cluster which we could link to the MST20 genotype of GG III, whereas 6/9 of the caprine samples and 2/7 of the ovine samples belonged to MLVA clusters which we could link to the MST33 or MST32 genotypes of GG II (7 vs 1 sample(s), respectively). We also noted that the Coxiella-specific com1 gene contained unique mutations that could genomotype isolates, i.e. assign them to a Genomic Group. In conclusion, both goats and sheep in Great Britain (from 2014 onward) were found to carry the same MLVA genotypes (MST33-like; GG II) that were linked to a human Q fever outbreak in the Netherlands. This knowledge in combination with the usage of genotyping/genomotyping methods should prove useful in future surveillance programs and in the management of outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia M Hemsley
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | | | | | | | - Sue Neale
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Penrith, UK.
| | | | - Isobel H Norville
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK.
| | - Richard W Titball
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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Khademi P, Ownagh A, Mardani K, Khalili M. PCR-RFLP of Coxiella burnetii Plasmids Isolated from Raw Milk Samples in Iran. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.30699/ijmm.17.1.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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Abou Abdallah R, Million M, Delerce J, Anani H, Diop A, Caputo A, Zgheib R, Rousset E, Sidi Boumedine K, Raoult D, Fournier PE. Pangenomic analysis of Coxiella burnetii unveils new traits in genome architecture. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1022356. [PMID: 36478861 PMCID: PMC9721466 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1022356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is the etiological agent of Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis able to cause large outbreaks. The disease is polymorphic. Symptomatic primary infection is named acute Q fever and is associated with hepatitis, pneumonia, fever, and auto-immune complications while persistent focalized infections, mainly endocarditis, and vascular infections, occur in a minority of patients but are potentially lethal. In order to evaluate the genomic features, genetic diversity, evolution, as well as genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance, pathogenicity, and ability to cause outbreaks of Q fever, we performed a pangenomic analysis and genomic comparison of 75 C. burnetii strains including 63 newly sequenced genomes. Our analysis demonstrated that C. burnetii has an open pangenome, unique genes being found in many strains. In addition, pathogenicity islands were detected in all genomes. In consequence C. burnetii has a high genomic plasticity, higher than that of other intracellular bacteria. The core- and pan-genomes are made of 1,211 and 4,501 genes, respectively (ratio 0.27). The core gene-based phylogenetic analysis matched that obtained from multi-spacer typing and the distribution of plasmid types. Genomic characteristics were associated to clinical and epidemiological features. Some genotypes were associated to specific clinical forms and countries. MST1 genotype strains were associated to acute Q fever. A significant association was also found between clinical forms and plasmids. Strains harboring the QpRS plasmid were never found in acute Q fever and were only associated to persistent focalized infections. The QpDV and QpH1 plasmids were associated to acute Q fever. In addition, the Guyanese strain CB175, the most virulent strain to date, exhibited a unique MST genotype, a distinct COG profile and an important variation in gene number that may explain its unique pathogenesis. Therefore, strain-specific factors play an important role in determining the epidemiological and clinical manifestations of Q fever alongside with host-specific factors (valvular and vascular defects notably).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Abou Abdallah
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Matthieu Million
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Jeremy Delerce
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Hussein Anani
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Awa Diop
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Aurelia Caputo
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Rita Zgheib
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Elodie Rousset
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Karim Sidi Boumedine
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Animal Q Fever Unit, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre-Edouard Fournier
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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11
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Tian J, Hou X, Ge M, Xu H, Yu B, Liu J, Shao R, Holmes EC, Lei C, Shi M. The diversity and evolutionary relationships of ticks and tick-borne bacteria collected in China. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:352. [PMID: 36182913 PMCID: PMC9526939 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05485-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks (order Ixodida) are ectoparasites, vectors and reservoirs of many infectious agents affecting humans and domestic animals. However, the lack of information on tick genomic diversity leaves significant gaps in the understanding of the evolution of ticks and associated bacteria. Results We collected > 20,000 contemporary and historical (up to 60 years of preservation) tick samples representing a wide range of tick biodiversity across diverse geographic regions in China. Metagenomic sequencing was performed on individual ticks to obtain the complete or near-complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences from 46 tick species, among which mitochondrial genomes of 23 species were recovered for the first time. These new mt genomes data greatly expanded the diversity of many tick groups and revealed five cryptic species. Utilizing the same metagenomic sequence data we identified divergent and abundant bacteria in Haemaphysalis, Ixodes, Dermacentor and Carios ticks, including nine species of pathogenetic bacteria and potentially new species within the genus Borrelia. We also used these data to explore the evolutionary relationship between ticks and their associated bacteria, revealing a pattern of long-term co-divergence relationship between ticks and Rickettsia and Coxiella bacteria. Conclusions In sum, our study provides important new information on the genetic diversity of ticks based on an analysis of mitochondrial DNA as well as on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in China. It also sheds new light on the long-term evolutionary and ecological relationships between ticks and their associated bacteria. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05485-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- JunHua Tian
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430070, China.,Wuhan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430015, China
| | - Xin Hou
- School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518107, China
| | - MiHong Ge
- Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430345, China
| | - HongBin Xu
- Jiangxi Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, 330029, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Wuhan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430015, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Wuhan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430015, China
| | - RenFu Shao
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4558, Australia.,GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Life & Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - ChaoLiang Lei
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430070, China.
| | - Mang Shi
- School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518107, China.
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12
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Vellema P, Santman-Berends I, Dijkstra F, van Engelen E, Aalberts M, ter Bogt-Kappert C, van den Brom R. Dairy Sheep Played a Minor Role in the 2005-2010 Human Q Fever Outbreak in The Netherlands Compared to Dairy Goats. Pathogens 2021; 10:1579. [PMID: 34959534 PMCID: PMC8703908 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever is an almost ubiquitous zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. This organism infects several animal species, as well as humans, and domestic ruminants like cattle, sheep and goats are an important animal reservoir of C. burnetii. In 2007, a sudden rise in notified human Q fever cases occurred in The Netherlands, and by the end of 2009, more than 3500 human Q fever patients had been notified. Dairy sheep and dairy goats were suspected to play a causal role in this human Q fever outbreak, and several measures were taken, aiming at a reduction of C. burnetii shedding by infected small ruminants, in order to reduce environmental contamination and thus human exposure. One of the first measures was compulsory notification of more than five percent abortion within thirty days for dairy sheep and dairy goat farms, starting 12 June 2008. After notification, an official farm inspection took place, and laboratory investigations were performed aiming at ruling out or demonstrating a causal role of C. burnetii. These measures were effective, and the number of human Q fever cases decreased; levels are currently the same as they were prior to 2007. The effect of these measures was monitored using a bulk tank milk (BTM) PCR and an antibody ELISA. The percentage PCR positive dairy herds and flocks decreased over time, and dairy sheep flocks tested PCR positive significantly less often and became PCR negative earlier compared to dairy goat herds. Although there was no difference in the percentage of dairy goat and dairy sheep farms with a C. burnetii abortion outbreak, the total number of shedding dairy sheep was much lower than the number of shedding dairy goats. Combined with the fact that Q fever patients lived mainly in the proximity of infected dairy goat farms and that no Q fever patients could be linked directly to dairy sheep farms, although this may have happened in individual cases, we conclude that dairy sheep did not play a major role in the Dutch Q fever outbreak. BTM monitoring using both a PCR and an ELISA is essential to determine a potential C. burnetii risk, not only for The Netherlands but for other countries with small ruminant dairy industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piet Vellema
- Department of Small Ruminant Health, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (C.t.B.-K.); (R.v.d.B.)
| | - Inge Santman-Berends
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (I.S.-B.); (E.v.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Frederika Dijkstra
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Erik van Engelen
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (I.S.-B.); (E.v.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Marian Aalberts
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (I.S.-B.); (E.v.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Carlijn ter Bogt-Kappert
- Department of Small Ruminant Health, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (C.t.B.-K.); (R.v.d.B.)
| | - René van den Brom
- Department of Small Ruminant Health, Royal GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, The Netherlands; (C.t.B.-K.); (R.v.d.B.)
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13
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Aguilar-Díaz H, Quiroz-Castañeda RE, Cobaxin-Cárdenas M, Salinas-Estrella E, Amaro-Estrada I. Advances in the Study of the Tick Cattle Microbiota and the Influence on Vectorial Capacity. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:710352. [PMID: 34485437 PMCID: PMC8415903 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.710352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The information from the tick cattle microbiota suggests that the microbial populations may modulate a successful infection process of the tick-borne pathogens. Therefore, there is a need to know the microbial population and their interactions. In this mini-review, we present several examples of how microbiota regulates the survival of pathogens inside the tick and contributes to fitness, adaptation, and tick immunity, among others. The communication between the tick microbiota and the host microbiota is vital to understanding the pathogen transmission process. As part of the tick microbiota, the pathogen interacts with different microbial populations, including the microorganisms of the host microbiota. These interactions comprise a microsystem that regulates the vectorial capacity involved in tick-borne diseases. The knowledge we have about the vectorial capacity contributes to a better understanding of tick-borne pathogens. Additionally, using approaches based on multi-omics strategies applied to studying the microbiota and its microbiome allows the development of strategies to control ticks. The results derived from those studies reveal the dynamics of the microbiota and potential targets for anti-tick vaccine development. In this context, the anti-microbiota vaccines have emerged as an alternative with a good prognosis. Some strategies developed to control other arthropods vectors, such as paratransgenesis, could control ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Aguilar-Díaz
- Unidad de Artropodología del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Rosa Estela Quiroz-Castañeda
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Mayra Cobaxin-Cárdenas
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Salinas-Estrella
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Itzel Amaro-Estrada
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
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14
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Kovacs-Simon A, Metters G, Norville I, Hemsley C, Titball RW. Coxiella burnetii replicates in Galleria mellonella hemocytes and transcriptome mapping reveals in vivo regulated genes. Virulence 2021; 11:1268-1278. [PMID: 32970966 PMCID: PMC7549970 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1819111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) are susceptible to infection with C. burnetii, an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. We show that bacteria are found in hemocytes after infection, and occupy vacuoles which are morphologically similar to Coxiella-containing vacuoles seen in infected mammalian phagocytes. We characterized the infection by transcriptome profiling of bacteria isolated from the hemocytes of infected larvae and identified 46 highly upregulated genes. The encoded proteins are predicted to be involved in translation, LPS biosynthesis, biotin synthesis, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, and included a T4SS effector and 30 hypothetical proteins. Some of these genes had previously been shown to be upregulated in buffalo green monkey (BGM) cells or in mice, whilst others appear to be regulated in a host-specific manner. Altogether, our results demonstrate the value of the G. mellonella model to study intracellular growth and identify potential virulence factors of C. burnetii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kovacs-Simon
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Biosciences, University of Exeter , Exeter, UK
| | - Georgie Metters
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Biosciences, University of Exeter , Exeter, UK
| | - Isobel Norville
- CBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory , Porton Down,Salisbury, UK
| | - Claudia Hemsley
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Biosciences, University of Exeter , Exeter, UK
| | - Richard W Titball
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Biosciences, University of Exeter , Exeter, UK
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15
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Huang M, Ma J, Jiao J, Li C, Chen L, Zhu Z, Ruan F, Xing L, Zheng X, Fu M, Ma B, Gan C, Mao Y, Zhang C, Sun P, Liu X, Lin Z, Chen L, Lu Z, Zhou D, Wen B, Chen W, Xiong X, Xia J. The epidemic of Q fever in 2018 to 2019 in Zhuhai city of China determined by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009520. [PMID: 34264939 PMCID: PMC8282036 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii (Cb). From January 2018 to November 2019, plasma samples from 2,382 patients with acute fever of unknown cause at a hospital in Zhuhai city of China were tested using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Of those tested, 138 patients (5.8%) were diagnosed with Q fever based on the presence of Cb genomic DNA detected by mNGS. Among these, 78 cases (56.5%) presented from Nov 2018 to Mar 2019, suggesting an outbreak of Q fever. 55 cases with detailed clinical information that occurred during the outbreak period were used for further analysis. The vast majority of plasma samples from those Cb-mNGS-positive patients were positive in a Cb-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n = 38) and/or indirect immunofluorescence assay (n = 26). Mobile phone tracing data was used to define the area of infection during the outbreak. This suggested the probable infection source was Cb-infected goats and cattle at the only official authorized slaughterhouse in Zhuhai city. Phylogenic analysis based on genomic sequences indicated Cb strains identified in the patients, goat and cattle were formed a single branch, most closely related to the genomic group of Cb dominated by strains isolated from goats. Our study demonstrates Q fever was epidemic in 2018–2019 in Zhuhai city, and this is the first confirmed epidemic of Q fever in a contemporary city in China. Generally, the clinical diagnosis of acute Q fever, which is caused by Coxiella burnetii, is based on serologic methods that detect the presence antibodies produced by the body to fight the infection. However, the lag time between becoming infected and production of antibodies limits early diagnosis using this method. Here, we confirmed an epidemic of human Q fever in Zhuhai, a contemporary city in China, using clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and cell phone location data. Our results indicate that Cb-infected goats and cattle at the only official authorized slaughterhouse in Zhuhai were the likely infection source for the Q fever epidemic. More importantly, we demonstrate that mNGS is a useful tool for rapid and effective public health responses to acute bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Jun Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 20# Dong-Da-Jie Street, Fengtai, Beijing, China
| | - Chunna Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
| | - Luan Chen
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhongyi Zhu
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feng Ruan
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, China
| | - Li Xing
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinchun Zheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
| | - Mengjiao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 20# Dong-Da-Jie Street, Fengtai, Beijing, China
| | - Binyin Ma
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chongjie Gan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
| | - Yuanchen Mao
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chongnan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
| | - Ping Sun
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
| | - Ziliang Lin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
| | - Lu Chen
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiyu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 20# Dong-Da-Jie Street, Fengtai, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 20# Dong-Da-Jie Street, Fengtai, Beijing, China
| | - Bohai Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 20# Dong-Da-Jie Street, Fengtai, Beijing, China
| | - Weijun Chen
- BGI PathoGenesis Pharmaceutical Technology, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail: (WJC); (XLX); (JXY)
| | - Xiaolu Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 20# Dong-Da-Jie Street, Fengtai, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (WJC); (XLX); (JXY)
| | - Jinyu Xia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China
- * E-mail: (WJC); (XLX); (JXY)
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16
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Piel LMW, Durfee CJ, White SN. Proteome-wide analysis of Coxiella burnetii for conserved T-cell epitopes with presentation across multiple host species. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:296. [PMID: 34078271 PMCID: PMC8170629 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04181-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coxiella burnetii is the Gram-negative bacterium responsible for Q fever in humans and coxiellosis in domesticated agricultural animals. Previous vaccination efforts with whole cell inactivated bacteria or surface isolated proteins confer protection but can produce a reactogenic immune responses. Thereby a protective vaccine that does not cause aberrant immune reactions is required. The critical role of T-cell immunity in control of C. burnetii has been made clear, since either CD8+ or CD4+ T cells can empower clearance. The purpose of this study was to identify C. burnetii proteins bearing epitopes that interact with major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) from multiple host species (human, mouse, and cattle). Results Of the annotated 1815 proteins from the Nine Mile Phase I (RSA 493) assembly, 402 proteins were removed from analysis due to a lack of inter-isolate conservation. An additional 391 proteins were eliminated from assessment to avoid potential autoimmune responses due to the presence of host homology. We analyzed the remaining 1022 proteins for their ability to produce peptides that bind MHCI or MHCII. MHCI and MHCII predicted epitopes were filtered and compared between species yielding 777 MHCI epitopes and 453 MHCII epitopes. These epitopes were further examined for presentation by both MHCI and MHCII, and for proteins that contained multiple epitopes. There were 31 epitopes that overlapped positionally between MHCI and MHCII across host species. Of these, there were 9 epitopes represented within proteins containing ≥ 5 total epitopes, where an additional 24 proteins were also epitope dense. In all, 55 proteins were found to contain high scoring T-cell epitopes. Besides the well-studied protein Com1, most identified proteins were novel when compared to previously studied vaccine candidates. Conclusion These data represent the first proteome-wide evaluation of C. burnetii peptide epitopes. Furthermore, the inclusion of human, mouse, and bovine data capture a range of hosts for this zoonotic pathogen plus an important model organism. This work provides new vaccine targets for future vaccination efforts and enhances opportunities for selecting multiple T-cell epitope types to include within a vaccine. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-021-04181-w.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Codie J Durfee
- USDA-ARS Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Stephen N White
- USDA-ARS Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA. .,Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA. .,Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.
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17
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Correlating Genotyping Data of Coxiella burnetii with Genomic Groups. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10050604. [PMID: 34069306 PMCID: PMC8156542 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10050604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic pathogen that resides in wild and domesticated animals across the globe and causes a febrile illness, Q fever, in humans. Several distinct genetic lineages or genomic groups have been shown to exist, with evidence for different virulence potential of these lineages. Multispacer Sequence Typing (MST) and Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA) are being used to genotype strains. However, it is unclear how these typing schemes correlate with each other or with the classification into different genomic groups. Here, we created extensive databases for published MLVA and MST genotypes of C. burnetii and analysed the associated metadata, revealing associations between animal host and human disease type. We established a new classification scheme that assigns both MST and MLVA genotypes to a genomic group and which revealed additional sub-lineages in two genomic groups. Finally, we report a novel, rapid genomotyping method for assigning an isolate into a genomic group based on the Cox51 spacer sequence. We conclude that by pooling and streamlining existing datasets, associations between genotype and clinical outcome or host source were identified, which in combination with our novel genomotyping method, should enable an estimation of the disease potential of new C. burnetii isolates.
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The Coxiella burnetii QpH1 plasmid is a virulence factor for colonizing bone marrow-derived murine macrophages. J Bacteriol 2021; 203:JB.00588-20. [PMID: 33558394 PMCID: PMC8092169 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00588-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii strains carry one of four large, conserved, autonomously replicating plasmids (QpH1, QpRS, QpDV, and QpDG) or a QpRS-like chromosomally integrated sequence of unknown function. Here we report the characterization of the QpH1 plasmid of C. burnetii Nine Mile phase II by making QpH1-deficient strains. A shuttle vector pQGK containing the CBUA0036-0039a region (predicted as being required for the QpH1 maintenance) was constructed. The pQGK vector can be stably transformed into the Nine Mile II and maintained at a similar low copy like QpH1. Importantly, transformation with pQGK cured the endogenous QpH1 due to plasmid incompatibility. Compared to a Nine Mile II transformant of a RSF1010-ori based vector, the pQGK transformant shows a similar growth curve in both axenic media and Buffalo green monkey kidney cells, a variable growth defect in macrophage-like THP-1 cells depending on the origin of inoculum, and dramatically reduced ability of colonizing wild-type bone marrow-derived murine macrophages. Furthermore, we found CBUA0037-0039 ORFs are essential for plasmid maintenance, and CBUA0037-0038 ORFs account for plasmid compatibility. And plasmid-deficient C. burnetii can be isolated by using CBUA0037 or -0038 deletion vectors. Furthermore, QpH1-deficient C. burnetii strains caused a lesser extent of splenomegaly in SCID mice but, intriguingly, they had significant growth in SCID mouse-sourced macrophages. Taken together, our data suggest that QpH1 encodes factor(s) essential for colonizing murine, not human, macrophages. This study suggests a critical role of QpH1 for C. burnetii persistence in rodents and expands the toolkit for the genetic studies in C. burnetii Author summary All C. burnetii isolates carry one of four large, conserved, autonomously replicating plasmids or a plasmid-like chromosomally integrated sequence. The plasmid is a candidate virulence factor of unknown function. Here we describe the construction of novel shuttle vectors that allow making plasmid-deficient C. burnetii mutants. With this plasmid-curing approach, we characterized the role of the QpH1 plasmid in in vitro and in vivo C. burnetii infection models. We found that the plasmid plays a critical role for C. burnetii growth in murine macrophages. Our work suggests an essential role of the QpH1 plasmid for the acquisition of colonizing capability in rodents by C. burnetii This study represents a major step toward unravelling the mystery of the C. burnetii cryptic plasmids.
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Coxiella burnetii Shedding in Milk and Molecular Typing of Strains Infecting Dairy Cows in Greece. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10030287. [PMID: 33802264 PMCID: PMC7998660 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ruminants are considered the commonest animal reservoir for human infection of Coxiella burnetii, the Q fever causative agent. Considering the recently described importance of human Q fever in Greece, we aimed at providing the first comprehensive direct evidence of C. burnetii in dairy cows in Greece, including the genetic characterization of strains. The 462 examined dairy farms represented all geographical areas of Greece. One bulk tank milk sample was collected from every farm and tested for the presence of C. burnetii. Molecular genotyping of strains, performed directly on samples, revealed the existence of two separate clades characterized by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes of type 1 and type 2. The two clades were clearly distinguished in multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) by two discriminative loci: MS30 and MS28. Whereas MLVA profiles of SNP-type 2 clade were closely related to strains described in other European cattle populations, the MLVA profile observed within the SNP type 1 clade highlighted a peculiar genetic signature for Greece, related to genotypes found in sheep and goats in Europe. The shedding of C. burnetii bearing this genotype might have yet undefined human epidemiological consequences. Surveillance of the genetic distribution of C. burnetii from different sources is needed to fully understand the epidemiology of Q fever in Greece.
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Tomaiuolo S, Boarbi S, Fancello T, Michel P, Desqueper D, Grégoire F, Callens J, Fretin D, Devriendt B, Cox E, Mori M. Phylogeography of Human and Animal Coxiella burnetii Strains: Genetic Fingerprinting of Q Fever in Belgium. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:625576. [PMID: 33718257 PMCID: PMC7952626 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.625576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are the primary source for human infection, and the identification of likely contamination routes from the reservoir animals the critical point to implement control programs. This study shows that Q fever is detected in Belgium in abortion of cattle, goat and sheep at a different degree of apparent prevalence (1.93%, 9.19%, and 5.50%, respectively). In addition, and for the first time, it is detected in abortion of alpaca (Vicugna pacos), raising questions on the role of these animals as reservoirs. To determine the relationship between animal and human strains, Multiple Locus Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) (n=146), Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (n=92) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) (n=4) methods were used to characterize samples/strains during 2009-2019. Three MLVA clusters (A, B, C) subdivided in 23 subclusters (A1-A12, B1-B8, C1-C3) and 3 SNP types (SNP1, SNP2, SNP6) were identified. The SNP2 type/MLVA cluster A was the most abundant and dispersed genotype over the entire territory, but it seemed not responsible for human cases, as it was only present in animal samples. The SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C clusters were mostly found in small ruminant and human samples, with the rare possibility of spillovers in cattle. SNP1/MLVA B cluster was present in all Belgian areas, while the SNP6/MLVA C cluster appeared more concentrated in the Western provinces. A broad analysis of European MLVA profiles confirmed the host-species distribution described for Belgian samples. In silico genotyping (WGS) further identified the spacer types and the genomic groups of C. burnetii Belgian strains: cattle and goat SNP2/MLVA A isolates belonged to ST61 and genomic group III, while the goat SNP1/MLVA B strain was classified as ST33 and genomic group II. In conclusion, Q fever is widespread in all Belgian domestic ruminants and in alpaca. We determined that the public health risk in Belgium is likely linked to specific genomic groups (SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C) mostly found in small ruminant strains. Considering the concordance between Belgian and European results, these considerations could be extended to other European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tomaiuolo
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Samira Boarbi
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tiziano Fancello
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick Michel
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Damien Desqueper
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabien Grégoire
- Serology and Molecular Biology Unit, Association Régionale de Santé et d'Identification Animales (Arsia), Ciney, Belgium
| | - Jozefien Callens
- Small Ruminant Section, Dierengezondheidszorg (DGZ), Torhout, Belgium
| | - David Fretin
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert Devriendt
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Eric Cox
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Marcella Mori
- Zoonoses of Animals Unit, Veterinary Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases in Animals Scientific Directorate, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Belgian Reference Centrum for Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella, Brussels, Belgium
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Pechstein J, Schulze-Luehrmann J, Bisle S, Cantet F, Beare PA, Ölke M, Bonazzi M, Berens C, Lührmann A. The Coxiella burnetii T4SS Effector AnkF Is Important for Intracellular Replication. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:559915. [PMID: 33282747 PMCID: PMC7691251 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.559915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever. Following uptake by alveolar macrophages, the pathogen replicates in an acidic phagolysosomal vacuole, the C. burnetii-containing vacuole (CCV). Effector proteins translocated into the host cell by the type IV secretion system (T4SS) are important for the establishment of the CCV. Here we focus on the effector protein AnkF and its role in establishing the CCV. The C. burnetii AnkF knock out mutant invades host cells as efficiently as wild-type C. burnetii, but this mutant is hampered in its ability to replicate intracellularly, indicating that AnkF might be involved in the development of a replicative CCV. To unravel the underlying reason(s), we searched for AnkF interactors in host cells and identified vimentin through a yeast two-hybrid approach. While AnkF does not alter vimentin expression at the mRNA or protein levels, the presence of AnkF results in structural reorganization and vesicular co-localization with recombinant vimentin. Ectopically expressed AnkF partially accumulates around the established CCV and endogenous vimentin is recruited to the CCV in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that AnkF might attract vimentin to the CCV. However, knocking-down endogenous vimentin does not affect intracellular replication of C. burnetii. Other cytoskeletal components are recruited to the CCV and might compensate for the lack of vimentin. Taken together, AnkF is essential for the establishment of the replicative CCV, however, its mode of action is still elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Pechstein
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Schulze-Luehrmann
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Bisle
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Franck Cantet
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Paul A Beare
- Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Martha Ölke
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matteo Bonazzi
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christian Berens
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institut für Molekulare Pathogenese, Jena, Germany
| | - Anja Lührmann
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Schäfer W, Schmidt T, Cordsmeier A, Borges V, Beare PA, Pechstein J, Schulze-Luehrmann J, Holzinger J, Wagner N, Berens C, Heydel C, Gomes JP, Lührmann A. The anti-apoptotic Coxiella burnetii effector protein AnkG is a strain specific virulence factor. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15396. [PMID: 32958854 PMCID: PMC7506536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72340-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to inhibit host cell apoptosis is important for the intracellular replication of the obligate intracellular pathogen Coxiella burnetii, as it allows the completion of the lengthy bacterial replication cycle. Effector proteins injected into the host cell by the C. burnetii type IVB secretion system (T4BSS) are required for the inhibition of host cell apoptosis. AnkG is one of these anti-apoptotic effector proteins. The inhibitory effect of AnkG requires its nuclear localization, which depends on p32-dependent intracellular trafficking and importin-α1-mediated nuclear entry of AnkG. Here, we compared the sequences of ankG from 37 C. burnetii isolates and classified them in three groups based on the predicted protein size. The comparison of the three different groups allowed us to identify the first 28 amino acids as essential and sufficient for the anti-apoptotic activity of AnkG. Importantly, only the full-length protein from the first group is a bona fide effector protein injected into host cells during infection and has anti-apoptotic activity. Finally, using the Galleria mellonella infection model, we observed that AnkG from the first group has the ability to attenuate pathology during in vivo infection, as it allows survival of the larvae despite bacterial replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Schäfer
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Teresa Schmidt
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arne Cordsmeier
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vítor Borges
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paul A Beare
- Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Julian Pechstein
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Schulze-Luehrmann
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jonas Holzinger
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Wagner
- Institut für Molekulare Pathogenese, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Berens
- Institut für Molekulare Pathogenese, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Heydel
- Institut für Hygiene und Infektionskrankheiten der Tiere, Justus Liebig Universität Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 85-89, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anja Lührmann
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
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Anani H, Zgheib R, Hasni I, Raoult D, Fournier PE. Interest of bacterial pangenome analyses in clinical microbiology. Microb Pathog 2020; 149:104275. [PMID: 32562810 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Thanks to the progress and decreasing costs in genome sequencing technologies, more than 250,000 bacterial genomes are currently available in public databases, covering most, if not all, of the major human-associated phylogenetic groups of these microorganisms, pathogenic or not. In addition, for many of them, sequences from several strains of a given species are available, thus enabling to evaluate their genetic diversity and study their evolution. In addition, the significant cost reduction of bacterial whole genome sequencing as well as the rapid increase in the number of available bacterial genomes have prompted the development of pangenomic software tools. The study of bacterial pangenome has many applications in clinical microbiology. It can unveil the pathogenic potential and ability of bacteria to resist antimicrobials as well identify specific sequences and predict antigenic epitopes that allow molecular or serologic assays and vaccines to be designed. Bacterial pangenome constitutes a powerful method for understanding the history of human bacteria and relating these findings to diagnosis in clinical microbiology laboratories in order to optimize patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Anani
- Aix Marseille Univ, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Rita Zgheib
- Aix Marseille Univ, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Issam Hasni
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée-Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée-Infection, Marseille, France; Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pierre-Edouard Fournier
- Aix Marseille Univ, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Service de Santé des Armées, AP-HM, UMR Vecteurs Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
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Current status of pan-genome analysis for pathogenic bacteria. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 63:54-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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25
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Metters G, Norville IH, Titball RW, Hemsley CM. From cell culture to cynomolgus macaque: infection models show lineage-specific virulence potential of Coxiella burnetii. J Med Microbiol 2019; 68:1419-1430. [PMID: 31424378 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen that causes the zoonotic disease Q fever in humans, which can occur in either an acute or a chronic form with serious complications. The bacterium has a wide host range, including unicellular organisms, invertebrates, birds and mammals, with livestock representing the most significant reservoir for human infections. Cell culture models have been used to decipher the intracellular lifestyle of C. burnetii, and several infection models, including invertebrates, rodents and non-human primates, are being used to investigate host-pathogen interactions and to identify bacterial virulence factors and vaccine candidates. However, none of the models replicate all aspects of human disease. Furthermore, it is becoming evident that C. burnetii isolates belonging to different lineages exhibit differences in their virulence in these models. Here, we compare the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used infection models and summarize currently available data for lineage-specific virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Metters
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Isobel H Norville
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
| | - Richard W Titball
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Claudia M Hemsley
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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