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Sulaiman JE, Thompson J, Cheung PLK, Qian Y, Mill J, James I, Im H, Vivas EI, Simcox J, Venturelli OS. Phocaeicola vulgatus shapes the long-term growth dynamics and evolutionary adaptations of Clostridioides difficile. Cell Host Microbe 2025; 33:42-58.e10. [PMID: 39730002 PMCID: PMC11852276 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.12.001] [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] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 10/14/2024] [Accepted: 12/02/2024] [Indexed: 12/29/2024]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile can transiently or persistently colonize the human gut, posing a risk for infections. This colonization is influenced by complex molecular and ecological interactions with the human gut microbiota. By investigating C. difficile dynamics in human gut communities over hundreds of generations, we show patterns of stable coexistence, instability, or competitive exclusion. Lowering carbohydrate concentrations shifted a community containing C. difficile and the prevalent human gut symbiont Phocaeicola vulgatus from competitive exclusion to coexistence, facilitated by increased cross-feeding. In this environment, two key mutations in C. difficile altered its metabolic niche from proline to glucose utilization. These metabolic changes in C. difficile substantially impacted gut microbiota inter-species interactions and reduced disease severity in mice. In sum, interactions with P. vulgatus are crucial in shaping the long-term growth dynamics and evolutionary adaptations of C. difficile, offering key insights for developing anti-C. difficile strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy Evan Sulaiman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jaron Thompson
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Pak Lun Kevin Cheung
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Yili Qian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jericha Mill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Isabella James
- Integrated Program in Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Hanhyeok Im
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eugenio I Vivas
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Gnotobiotic Animal Core Facility, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Judith Simcox
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ophelia S Venturelli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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2
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Mortzfeld BM, Bhattarai SK, Bucci V. Novel class IIb microcins show activity against Gram-negative ESKAPE and plant pathogens. eLife 2024; 13:RP102912. [PMID: 39660611 PMCID: PMC11634061 DOI: 10.7554/elife.102912] [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: 12/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Interspecies interactions involving direct competition via bacteriocin production play a vital role in shaping ecological dynamics within microbial ecosystems. For instance, the ribosomally produced siderophore bacteriocins, known as class IIb microcins, affect the colonization of host-associated pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae species. Notably, to date, only five of these antimicrobials have been identified, all derived from specific Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. We hypothesized that class IIb microcin production extends beyond these specific compounds and organisms. With a customized informatics-driven approach, screening bacterial genomes in public databases with BLAST and manual curation, we have discovered 12 previously unknown class IIb microcins in seven additional Enterobacteriaceae species, encompassing phytopathogens and environmental isolates. We introduce three novel clades of microcins (MccW, MccX, and MccZ), while also identifying eight new variants of the five known class IIb microcins. To validate their antimicrobial potential, we heterologously expressed these microcins in E. coli and demonstrated efficacy against a variety of bacterial isolates, including plant pathogens from the genera Brenneria, Gibbsiella, and Rahnella. Two newly discovered microcins exhibit activity against Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens, i.e., Acinetobacter baumannii or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, providing the first evidence that class IIb microcins can target bacteria outside of the Enterobacteriaceae family. This study underscores that class IIb microcin genes are more prevalent in the microbial world than previously recognized and that synthetic hybrid microcins can be a viable tool to target clinically relevant drug-resistant pathogens. Our findings hold significant promise for the development of innovative engineered live biotherapeutic products tailored to combat these resilient bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt M Mortzfeld
- Program in Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Shakti K Bhattarai
- Program in Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Vanni Bucci
- Program in Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Program in Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
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3
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Alonso-Vásquez T, Giovannini M, Garbini GL, Dziurzynski M, Bacci G, Coppini E, Fibbi D, Fondi M. An ecological and stochastic perspective on persisters resuscitation. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 27:1-9. [PMID: 39760074 PMCID: PMC11697298 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 12/02/2024] [Accepted: 12/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2025] Open
Abstract
Resistance, tolerance, and persistence to antibiotics have mainly been studied at the level of a single microbial isolate. However, in recent years it has become evident that microbial interactions play a role in determining the success of antibiotic treatments, in particular by influencing the occurrence of persistence and tolerance within a population. Additionally, the challenge of resuscitation (the capability of a population to revive after antibiotic exposure) and pathogen clearance are strongly linked to the small size of the surviving population and to the presence of fluctuations in cell counts. Indeed, while large population dynamics can be considered deterministic, small populations are influenced by stochastic processes, making their behaviour less predictable. Our study argues that microbe-microbe interactions within a community affect the mode, tempo, and success of persister resuscitation and that these are further influenced by noise. To this aim, we developed a theoretical model of a three-member microbial community and analysed the role of cell-to-cell interactions on pathogen clearance, using both deterministic and stochastic simulations. Our findings highlight the importance of ecological interactions and population size fluctuations (and hence the underlying cellular mechanisms) in determining the resilience of microbial populations following antibiotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Alonso-Vásquez
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Michele Giovannini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Garbini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Mikolaj Dziurzynski
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bacci
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Ester Coppini
- G.I.D.A. SpA, Via Baciacavallo 36, Prato, 59100, Italy
| | | | - Marco Fondi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
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4
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Chen P, Sebastian EA, Karna SLR, Leung KP. Development of a Stringent Ex Vivo-Burned Porcine Skin Wound Model to Screen Topical Antimicrobial Agents. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:1159. [PMID: 39766550 PMCID: PMC11672622 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13121159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2024] [Revised: 11/18/2024] [Accepted: 11/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Background: Due to rising antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, there is a pressing need to screen approved drugs for repurposing and to develop new antibiotics for controlling infections. Current in vitro and ex vivo models have mostly been unsuccessful in establishing in vivo relevance. In this study, we developed a stringent ex vivo-burned porcine skin model with high in vivo relevance to screen topical antimicrobials. Methods: A 3 cm-diameter thermal injury was created on non-sterilized porcine skin using a pressure-monitored and temperature-controlled burn device. Commensals were determined pre- and post-burn. The burn wound was inoculated with a target pathogen, and efficacies of Silvadene, Flammacerium, Sulfamylon, and Mupirocin were determined. The in vivo relevance of this platform was evaluated by comparing the ex vivo treatment effects to available in vivo treatment outcomes (from our laboratory and published reports) against selective burn pathogens. Results: Approximately 1% of the commensals survived the skin burn, and these commensals in the burn wounds affected the treatment outcomes in the ex vivo screening platform. When tested against six pathogens, both Silvadene and Flammacerium treatment exhibited ~1-3 log reduction in viable counts. Sulfamylon and Mupirocin exhibited higher efficacy than both Silvadene and Flammacerium against Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, respectively. The ex vivo treatment outcomes of Silvadene and Flammacerium against Pseudomonas were highly comparable to the outcomes of the in vivo (rats). Conclusions: The ex vivo model developed in our lab is a stringent and effective platform for antimicrobial activity screening. The outcome obtained from this ex vivo model is highly relevant to in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kai P. Leung
- Combat Wound Care Group, CRT 4, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX 78234, USA; (P.C.); (E.A.S.); (S.L.R.K.)
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5
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Mortzfeld BM, Bhattarai SK, Bucci V. Expanding the toolbox: Novel class IIb microcins show activity against Gram-negative ESKAPE and plant pathogens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.05.570296. [PMID: 39253482 PMCID: PMC11383050 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.570296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Interspecies interactions involving direct competition via bacteriocin production play a vital role in shaping ecological dynamics within microbial ecosystems. For instance, the ribosomally-produced siderophore bacteriocins, known as class IIb microcins, affect the colonization of host-associated pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae species. Notably, to date, only five of these antimicrobials have been identified, all derived from specific Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. We hypothesized that class IIb microcin production extends beyond these specific compounds and organisms. With a customized informatics-driven approach, screening bacterial genomes in public databases with BLAST and manual curation, we have discovered twelve previously unknown class IIb microcins in seven additional Enterobacteriaceae species, encompassing phytopathogens and environmental isolates. We introduce three novel clades of microcins (MccW, MccX, and MccZ), while also identifying eight new variants of the five known class IIb microcins. To validate their antimicrobial potential, we heterologously expressed these microcins in E. coli and demonstrated efficacy against a variety of bacterial isolates, including plant pathogens from the genera Brenneria, Gibbsiella, and Rahnella . Two newly discovered microcins exhibit activity against Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens, i.e. Acinetobacter baumannii or Pseudomonas aeruginosa , providing the first evidence that class IIb microcins can target bacteria outside of the Enterobacteriaceae family. This study underscores that class IIb microcin genes are more prevalent in the microbial world than previously recognized and that synthetic hybrid microcins can be a viable tool to target clinically relevant drug-resistant pathogens. Our findings hold significant promise for the development of innovative engineered live biotherapeutic products tailored to combat these resilient bacteria.
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6
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Sulaiman JE, Thompson J, Cheung PLK, Qian Y, Mill J, James I, Vivas EI, Simcox J, Venturelli O. Human gut microbiota interactions shape the long-term growth dynamics and evolutionary adaptations of Clostridioides difficile. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.15.603560. [PMID: 39071283 PMCID: PMC11275832 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.15.603560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile can transiently or persistently colonize the human gut, posing a risk factor for infections. This colonization is influenced by complex molecular and ecological interactions with human gut microbiota. By investigating C. difficile dynamics in human gut communities over hundreds of generations, we show patterns of stable coexistence, instability, or competitive exclusion. Lowering carbohydrate concentration shifted a community containing C. difficile and the prevalent human gut symbiont Phocaeicola vulgatus from competitive exclusion to coexistence, facilitated by increased cross-feeding. In this environment, C. difficile adapted via single-point mutations in key metabolic genes, altering its metabolic niche from proline to glucose utilization. These metabolic changes substantially impacted inter-species interactions and reduced disease severity in the mammalian gut. In sum, human gut microbiota interactions are crucial in shaping the long-term growth dynamics and evolutionary adaptations of C. difficile, offering key insights for developing anti-C. difficile strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy Evan Sulaiman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jaron Thompson
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Yili Qian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jericha Mill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Isabella James
- Integrated Program in Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Eugenio I. Vivas
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Gnotobiotic Animal Core Facility, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Judith Simcox
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ophelia Venturelli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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7
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Meroz N, Livny T, Friedman J. Quantifying microbial interactions: concepts, caveats, and applications. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 80:102511. [PMID: 39002491 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Microbial communities are fundamental to every ecosystem on Earth and hold great potential for biotechnological applications. However, their complex nature hampers our ability to study and understand them. A common strategy to tackle this complexity is to abstract the community into a network of interactions between its members - a phenomenological description that captures the overall effects of various chemical and physical mechanisms that underpin these relationships. This approach has proven useful for numerous applications in microbial ecology, including predicting community dynamics and stability and understanding community assembly and evolution. However, care is required in quantifying and interpreting interactions. Here, we clarify the concept of an interaction and discuss when interaction measurements are useful despite their context-dependent nature. Furthermore, we categorize different approaches for quantifying interactions, highlighting the research objectives each approach is best suited for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nittay Meroz
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hebrew University, Rehovot
| | - Tal Livny
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hebrew University, Rehovot; Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot
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8
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Widder S, Carmody LA, Opron K, Kalikin LM, Caverly LJ, LiPuma JJ. Microbial community organization designates distinct pulmonary exacerbation types and predicts treatment outcome in cystic fibrosis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4889. [PMID: 38849369 PMCID: PMC11161516 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49150-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Polymicrobial infection of the airways is a hallmark of obstructive lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) in these conditions are associated with accelerated lung function decline and higher mortality rates. Understanding PEx ecology is challenged by high inter-patient variability in airway microbial community profiles. We analyze bacterial communities in 880 CF sputum samples collected during an observational prospective cohort study and develop microbiome descriptors to model community reorganization prior to and during 18 PEx. We identify two microbial dysbiosis regimes with opposing ecology and dynamics. Pathogen-governed PEx show hierarchical community reorganization and reduced diversity, whereas anaerobic bloom PEx display stochasticity and increased diversity. A simulation of antimicrobial treatment predicts better efficacy for hierarchically organized communities. This link between PEx, microbiome organization, and treatment success advances the development of personalized clinical management in CF and, potentially, other obstructive lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Widder
- Department of Medicine 1, Research Division Infection Biology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Lisa A Carmody
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kristopher Opron
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Linda M Kalikin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Lindsay J Caverly
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - John J LiPuma
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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9
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Widder S, Carmody L, Opron K, Kalikin L, Caverly L, LiPuma J. Microbial community organization designates distinct pulmonary exacerbation types and predicts treatment outcome in cystic fibrosis. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4128740. [PMID: 38562856 PMCID: PMC10984025 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4128740/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Polymicrobial infection of the airways is a hallmark of obstructive lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) in these conditions are associated with accelerated lung function decline and higher mortality rates. An understanding of the microbial underpinnings of PEx is challenged by high inter-patient variability in airway microbial community profiles. We analyzed bacterial communities in 880 CF sputum samples and developed microbiome descriptors to model community reorganization prior to and during 18 PEx. We identified two microbial dysbiosis regimes with opposing ecology and dynamics. Pathogen-governed PEx showed hierarchical community reorganization and reduced diversity, whereas anaerobic bloom PEx displayed stochasticity and increased diversity. A simulation of antimicrobial treatment predicted better efficacy for hierarchically organized communities. This link between PEx type, microbiome organization, and treatment success advances the development of personalized clinical management in CF and, potentially, other obstructive lung diseases.
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10
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Pensinger DA, Dobrila HA, Stevenson DM, Hryckowian ND, Amador-Noguez D, Hryckowian AJ. Exogenous butyrate inhibits butyrogenic metabolism and alters virulence phenotypes in Clostridioides difficile. mBio 2024; 15:e0253523. [PMID: 38289141 PMCID: PMC10936429 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02535-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome engenders colonization resistance against the diarrheal pathogen Clostridioides difficile, but the molecular basis of this colonization resistance is incompletely understood. A prominent class of gut microbiome-produced metabolites important for colonization resistance against C. difficile is short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In particular, one SCFA (butyrate) decreases the fitness of C. difficile in vitro and is correlated with C. difficile-inhospitable gut environments, both in mice and in humans. Here, we demonstrate that butyrate-dependent growth inhibition in C. difficile occurs under conditions where C. difficile also produces butyrate as a metabolic end product. Furthermore, we show that exogenous butyrate is internalized into C. difficile cells and is incorporated into intracellular CoA pools where it is metabolized in a reverse (energetically unfavorable) direction to crotonyl-CoA and (S)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and/or 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. This internalization of butyrate and reverse metabolic flow of a butyrogenic pathway(s) in C. difficile coincides with alterations in toxin release and sporulation. Together, this work highlights butyrate as a marker of a C. difficile-inhospitable environment to which C. difficile responds by releasing its diarrheagenic toxins and producing environmentally resistant spores necessary for transmission between hosts. These findings provide foundational data for understanding the molecular and genetic basis of how C. difficile growth is inhibited by butyrate and how butyrate alters C. difficile virulence in the face of a highly competitive and dynamic gut environment.IMPORTANCEThe gut microbiome engenders colonization resistance against the diarrheal pathogen Clostridioides difficile, but the molecular basis of this colonization resistance is incompletely understood, which hinders the development of novel therapeutic interventions for C. difficile infection (CDI). We investigated how C. difficile responds to butyrate, an end-product of gut microbiome community metabolism which inhibits C. difficile growth. We show that exogenously produced butyrate is internalized into C. difficile, which inhibits C. difficile growth by interfering with its own butyrate production. This growth inhibition coincides with increased toxin release from C. difficile cells and the production of environmentally resistant spores necessary for transmission between hosts. Future work to disentangle the molecular mechanisms underlying these growth and virulence phenotypes will likely lead to new strategies to restrict C. difficile growth in the gut and minimize its pathogenesis during CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Pensinger
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Horia A. Dobrila
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David M. Stevenson
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nicole D. Hryckowian
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel Amador-Noguez
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrew J. Hryckowian
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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11
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Xiong X, Othmer HG, Harcombe WR. Emergent antibiotic persistence in a spatially structured synthetic microbial mutualism. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae075. [PMID: 38691424 PMCID: PMC11104777 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae075] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic persistence (heterotolerance) allows a subpopulation of bacteria to survive antibiotic-induced killing and contributes to the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Although bacteria typically live in microbial communities with complex ecological interactions, little is known about how microbial ecology affects antibiotic persistence. Here, we demonstrated within a synthetic two-species microbial mutualism of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica that the combination of cross-feeding and community spatial structure can emergently cause high antibiotic persistence in bacteria by increasing the cell-to-cell heterogeneity. Tracking ampicillin-induced death for bacteria on agar surfaces, we found that E. coli forms up to 55 times more antibiotic persisters in the cross-feeding coculture than in monoculture. This high persistence could not be explained solely by the presence of S. enterica, the presence of cross-feeding, average nutrient starvation, or spontaneous resistant mutations. Time-series fluorescent microscopy revealed increased cell-to-cell variation in E. coli lag time in the mutualistic co-culture. Furthermore, we discovered that an E. coli cell can survive antibiotic killing if the nearby S. enterica cells on which it relies die first. In conclusion, we showed that the high antibiotic persistence phenotype can be an emergent phenomenon caused by a combination of cross-feeding and spatial structure. Our work highlights the importance of considering spatially structured interactions during antibiotic treatment and understanding microbial community resilience more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyi Xiong
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
- Division of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN 55454, United States
| | - Hans G Othmer
- School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - William R Harcombe
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
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12
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Yang J, Rui W, Zhong S, Li X, Liu W, Meng L, Li Y, Huang H. Symbiotic biofilms formed by Clostridioides difficile and bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in the presence of vancomycin. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2390133. [PMID: 39132815 PMCID: PMC11321409 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2390133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Vancomycin (VAN) treatment in Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) suffers from a relatively high rate of recurrence, with a variety of reasons behind this, including biofilm-induced recurrent infections. C. difficile can form monophyletic or symbiotic biofilms with other microbes in the gut, and these biofilms protect C. difficile from being killed by antibiotics. In this study, we analyzed the ecological relationship between Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and C. difficile and their formation of symbiotic biofilm in the VAN environment. The production of symbiotic biofilm formed by C. difficile and B. thetaiotaomicron was higher than that of C. difficile and B. thetaiotaomicron alone in the VAN environment. In symbiotic biofilms, C. difficile was characterized by increased production of the toxin protein TcdA and TcdB, up-regulation of the expression levels of the virulence genes tcdA and tcdB, enhanced bacterial cell swimming motility and c-di-GMP content, and increased adhesion to Caco-2 cells. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) results indicated that the symbiotic biofilm was elevated in thickness, dense, and had an increased amount of mixed bacteria, while the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe and plate colony counting results further indicated that the symbiotic biofilm had a significant increase in the amount of C. difficile cells, and was able to better tolerate the killing of the simulated intestinal fluid. Taken together, C. difficile and B. thetaiotaomicron become collaborative in the VAN environment, and targeted deletion or attenuation of host gut B. thetaiotaomicron content may improve the actual efficacy of VAN in CDI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingpeng Yang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen Rui
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | - Saiwei Zhong
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoqian Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenzheng Liu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingtong Meng
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanan Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
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Pensinger DA, Dobrila HA, Stevenson DM, Davis NM, Amador-Noguez D, Hryckowian AJ. Exogenous butyrate inhibits butyrogenic metabolism and alters expression of virulence genes in Clostridioides difficile. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.06.548018. [PMID: 37461482 PMCID: PMC10350080 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.06.548018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiome engenders colonization resistance against the diarrheal pathogen Clostridioides difficile but the molecular basis of this colonization resistance is incompletely understood. A prominent class of gut microbiome-produced metabolites important for colonization resistance against C. difficile is short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In particular, one SCFA (butyrate) decreases the fitness of C. difficile in vitro and is correlated with C. difficile-inhospitable gut environments, both in mice and in humans. Here, we demonstrate that butyrate-dependent growth inhibition in C. difficile occurs under conditions where C. difficile also produces butyrate as a metabolic end product. Furthermore, we show that exogenous butyrate is internalized into C. difficile cells, is incorporated into intracellular CoA pools where it is metabolized in a reverse (energetically unfavorable) direction to crotonyl-CoA and (S)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and/or 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. This internalization of butyrate and reverse metabolic flow of butyrogenic pathway(s) in C. difficile coincides with alterations in toxin production and sporulation. Together, this work highlights butyrate as a signal of a C. difficile inhospitable environment to which C. difficile responds by producing its diarrheagenic toxins and producing environmentally-resistant spores necessary for transmission between hosts. These findings provide foundational data for understanding the molecular and genetic basis of how C. difficile growth is inhibited by butyrate and how butyrate serves as a signal to alter C. difficile virulence in the face of a highly competitive and dynamic gut environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Pensinger
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Horia A. Dobrila
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David M. Stevenson
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nicole M. Davis
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Andrew J. Hryckowian
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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