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Senavirathna I, Jayasundara D, Warnasekara J, Matthias MA, Vinetz JM, Agampodi S. Complete genome sequences of twelve strains of Leptospira interrogans isolated from humans in Sri Lanka. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 113:105462. [PMID: 37301334 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105462] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis, a major zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. is recognized globally as an emerging zoonotic disease. Whole-genome sequencing reveals hidden messages about Leptospira's pathogenesis. We used Single Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing to obtain complete genome sequences of twelve L. interrogans isolates from febrile patients from Sri Lanka for a comparative whole genome sequencing study. The sequence data generated 12 genomes with a coverage greater than X600 with sizes ranging from 4.62 Mb to 5.16 Mb, and a G + C content ranging from 35.00% to 35.42%. The total number of coding sequences predicted by the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) genome assembly platform ranged from 3845 to 4621 for the twelve strains. Leptospira serogroup with similar-sized LPS biosynthetic loci that belonged to the same clade had a close relationship in the phylogenetic analysis. Nonetheless, variations in the genes encoding sugar biosynthesis were found in the serovar determinant region (rfb locus). Type I and Type III CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) systems were found in all of the strains. Genome BLAST Distance Phylogeny of these sequences allowed for detailed genomic strain typing. These findings may help us better understand the pathogenesis, develop a tools for early diagnosis, comparative genomic analysis and evolution of Leptospira.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indika Senavirathna
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.
| | - Dinesha Jayasundara
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
| | - Janith Warnasekara
- Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka; Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
| | - Michael A Matthias
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Suneth Agampodi
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Pětrošová H, Mikhael A, Culos S, Giraud-Gatineau A, Gomez AM, Sherman ME, Ernst RK, Cameron CE, Picardeau M, Goodlett DR. Lipid A structural diversity among members of the genus Leptospira. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1181034. [PMID: 37303810 PMCID: PMC10248169 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1181034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid A is the hydrophobic component of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and an activator of the host immune system. Bacteria modify their lipid A structure to adapt to the surrounding environment and, in some cases, to evade recognition by host immune cells. In this study, lipid A structural diversity within the Leptospira genus was explored. The individual Leptospira species have dramatically different pathogenic potential that ranges from non-infectious to life-threatening disease (leptospirosis). Ten distinct lipid A profiles, denoted L1-L10, were discovered across 31 Leptospira reference species, laying a foundation for lipid A-based molecular typing. Tandem MS analysis revealed structural features of Leptospira membrane lipids that might alter recognition of its lipid A by the host innate immune receptors. Results of this study will aid development of strategies to improve diagnosis and surveillance of leptospirosis, as well as guide functional studies on Leptospira lipid A activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Pětrošová
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- University of Victoria Genome British Columbia Proteomics Center, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Abanoub Mikhael
- University of Victoria Genome British Columbia Proteomics Center, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sophie Culos
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | | | - Alloysius M. Gomez
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Matthew E. Sherman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Caroline E. Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Mathieu Picardeau
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Biology of Spirochetes Unit, Paris, France
| | - David R. Goodlett
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- University of Victoria Genome British Columbia Proteomics Center, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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3
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Vieira DS, Chaurasia R, Vinetz JM. Comparison of the PF07598-Encoded Virulence-Modifying Proteins of L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 8:tropicalmed8010014. [PMID: 36668921 PMCID: PMC9863803 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8010014] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease, with increasing frequency and severity of outbreaks, a changing epidemiology of populations at risk, and the emergence of new strains, serovars, serogroups, and species. Virulence-modifying (VM) proteins encoded by the PF07598 gene family are hypothesized to be Leptospira-secreted exotoxins that mediate the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of severe and fatal leptospirosis. If confirmed experimentally, this concept could revolutionize the treatment, diagnosis, prognosis, and vaccine-mediated prevention of leptospirosis by enabling a novel array of targeted interventions. VM proteins, as with other bacterial-secreted protein exotoxins, mediate their virulence effects by attaching to eukaryotic cells, competing with other microorganisms for limited resources in environmental niches, directly intoxicating target cells, and disrupting their function in the mammalian host. In contrast with the most pathogenic group of Lept ospira, particularly L. interrogans, whose genomes contain 12-15 PF07598 paralogs, strains of the livestock and human pathogen L. borgpetersenii have two PF07598 paralogs. Given the possible non-environmentally mediated transmission of some L. borgpetersenii strains and the much smaller number of VM proteins in this species, their role in infection and disease may well differ from other leptospiral species. Comparison of VM proteins from different clades of pathogenic Leptospira may deepen our understanding of leptospirosis's pathogenesis, leading to novel approaches to ameliorating Leptospira infection in humans and animals.
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New Genetic Variants of Leptospira spp Characterized by MLST from Peruvian Isolates. J Trop Med 2022; 2022:4184326. [PMID: 36249734 PMCID: PMC9553527 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4184326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the genus Leptospira, presenting complex and dynamic epidemiology. To determine the genetic variability and its phylogenetic relationship of Leptospira spp isolates from three sources in Iquitos (Peruvian Amazon) from 2002 to 2013, seven MLST genes were analyzed to obtain the Sequence Type (ST) and these sequences were concatenated for phylogenetic analysis. The genetic relationship between STs was determined with the goeBURST algorithm and genetic diversity was determined using DnaSP. Of 51 isolates, 48 were pathogenic belonging to five different species: Leptospira interrogans Nascimento 2004, Leptospira santarosai Feil 2004, Leptospira noguchii Haake 2021, Leptospira borgpetersenii Levett 2021, and Leptospira kirschneri Levett 2021. Of 20 STs identified, 60% corresponded to new genotypes circulating only in Peru. The genotypes ST17, ST37, and ST301 were recorded in rodents and humans. A high intraspecific genetic diversity was demonstrated in L. noguchi. The goeBURST analysis revealed three clonal complexes (CCs) and 16 singletons. The STs were found to show high genetic variability and phylogenetic and goeBURST analysis determined that the genotypes found did not form specific groups according to the source of infection or origin, which confirms the zoonotic potential of these STs in an area highly endemic for leptospirosis.
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Olo Ndela E, Enault F, Toussaint A. Transposable Prophages in Leptospira: An Ancient, Now Diverse, Group Predominant in Causative Agents of Weil's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13434. [PMID: 34948244 PMCID: PMC8705779 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The virome associated with the corkscrew shaped bacterium Leptospira, responsible for Weil's disease, is scarcely known, and genetic tools available for these bacteria remain limited. To reduce these two issues, potential transposable prophages were searched in Leptospiraceae genomes. The 236 predicted transposable prophages were particularly abundant in the most pathogenic leptospiral clade, being potentially involved in the acquisition of virulent traits. According to genomic similarities and phylogenies, these prophages are distantly related to known transposable phages and are organized into six groups, one of them encompassing prophages with unusual TA-TA ends. Interestingly, structural and transposition proteins reconstruct different relationships between groups, suggesting ancestral recombinations. Based on the baseplate phylogeny, two large clades emerge, with specific gene-contents and high sequence divergence reflecting their ancient origin. Despite their high divergence, the size and overall genomic organization of all prophages are very conserved, a testimony to the highly constrained nature of their genomes. Finally, similarities between these prophages and the three known non-transposable phages infecting L. biflexa, suggest gene transfer between different Caudovirales inside their leptospiral host, and the possibility to use some of the transposable prophages in that model strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Olo Ndela
- Laboratoire Microorganismes: Genome Environment (LMGE), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France;
| | - François Enault
- Laboratoire Microorganismes: Genome Environment (LMGE), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France;
| | - Ariane Toussaint
- Microbiologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Université Libre de Bruxelles, IBMM-DBM, 12 Rue des Professeurs Jeneer et Brachet, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium;
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Caimi K, Ruybal P. Leptospira spp., a genus in the stage of diversity and genomic data expansion. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 81:104241. [PMID: 32061688 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a widespread global zoonotic bacterial disease with a noteworthy human-animal-ecosystem interface. The disease presents different clinical manifestations and a high mortality and morbidity rates in humans and animals throughout the world. Characterization and correct classification of Leptospira isolates is essential for a better understanding the epidemiological properties of the disease. In the last ten years, molecular typing tools have been developed and applied to this field. These methods together with the availability of hundreds of new whole genome sequences that belong to known and new described species are shaping the understanding and structure of the entire genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Caimi
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABiMo), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - P Ruybal
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Paraguay 2155 Piso: 12, CABA 1121, Argentina
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Zhang R, Zhou W, Ye Q, Song S, Wang Y, Xu Y, Zeng L. Comparative genomic analysis of Chinese human leptospirosis vaccine strain and circulating isolate. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 16:1345-1353. [PMID: 32045318 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1720439] [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: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
LEPTOSPIRA INTERROGANS serogroup Canicola is one of the most important pathogens causing leptospirosis and is used as a vaccine strain of the current Chinese human leptospirosis vaccine. To characterize leptospiral pathogens, L. interrogans serogroup Canicola vaccine strain 611 and circulating isolate LJ178 from different hosts at different periods were sequenced using a combined strategy of Illumina X10 and PacBio technologies, and a comprehensive comparative analysis with other published Leptospira strains was conducted in this study. High levels of genomic similarities were observed between vaccine strain 611 and circulating isolate LJ178; both had two circular chromosomes and two circular extrachromosomal replicons. Compared with the strain 611 genome, 132 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 92 indels were found in strain LJ178. The larger lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis locus of serogroup Canicola was identified in both genomes. The phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequences revealed that serogroup Canicola was not restricted to a specific host or geographic location, suggesting adaptive evolution associated with the ecologic diversity. In summary, our findings provide insights into a better molecular understanding of the component strains of human leptospirosis vaccine in China. Furthermore, these data detail the genetic composition and evolutionary relatedness of Leptospira strains that pose a health risk to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruipeng Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University , Nanchang, People's Republic of China.,Scholl of Medicine, Nanchang University , Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenkai Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University , Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Ye
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes of Food and Drug Control , Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Sichao Song
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai , Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuezhu Wang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai , Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinghua Xu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes of Food and Drug Control , Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingbing Zeng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University , Nanchang, People's Republic of China
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8
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Abstract
This chapter covers the progress made in the Leptospira field since the application of mutagenesis techniques and how they have allowed the study of virulence factors and, more generally, the biology of Leptospira. The last decade has seen advances in our ability to perform molecular genetic analysis of Leptospira. Major achievements include the generation of large collections of mutant strains and the construction of replicative plasmids, enabling complementation of mutations. However, there are still no practical tools for routine genetic manipulation of pathogenic Leptospira strains, slowing down advances in pathogenesis research. This review summarizes the status of the molecular genetic toolbox for Leptospira species and highlights new challenges in the nascent field of Leptospira genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Picardeau
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue Du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France.
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9
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Widiyanti D, Djannatun T, Astuti IIP, Maharsi ED. Leptospira detection in flood-prone environment of Jakarta, Indonesia. Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 66:597-602. [PMID: 31173480 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The study about Leptospira, particularly pathogenic strain, was conducted in the flood-prone area in the Special Capital Region of Jakarta. The aim of this study was to discover and identify the serovars of pathogenic Leptospira in the environment, which might infect human during flooding. Seventy-three samples, consisted of 36 samples of environmental water and 37 samples of soil, were collected from 5 districts of Jakarta. Their pH was measured, and the samples were then cultured in a modified Korthof's medium with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) addition. Polymerase chain reaction, targeted on 23S rDNA (rrl), FlaB and LipL32 genes, was performed to identify Leptospira genus and differentiate the pathogenic. Identification of the pathogenic Leptospira was done utilising DNA sequencing. Seven samples showed amplification of rrl-gene. flaB and lipl32-PCR assay indicated one positive amplification band, each. Confirmation of flaB and lipl32 amplicons by DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis showed flaB amplicon (G1B; GenBank accession number MK006031.1) had 94% similarity with L. licerasiae (LC005426.1), while lipl32 amplicon was not identified as lipl32 of Leptospira. Based on those results, one intermediate pathogenic and six saprophytic Leptospira were obtained from the environment in Jakarta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Widiyanti
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, YARSI University, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Titiek Djannatun
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, YARSI University, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Eri Dian Maharsi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, YARSI University, Jakarta, Indonesia
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10
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In Silico Analysis of Genetic VapC Profiles from the Toxin-Antitoxin Type II VapBC Modules among Pathogenic, Intermediate, and Non-Pathogenic Leptospira. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7020056. [PMID: 30791633 PMCID: PMC6406750 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7020056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira spp. is the etiological agent of leptospirosis. The high diversity among Leptospira species provides an array to look for important mediators involved in pathogenesis. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems represent an important survival mechanism on stress conditions. vapBC modules have been found in nearly one thousand genomes corresponding to about 40% of known TAs. In the present study, we investigated TA profiles of some strains of Leptospira using a TA database and compared them through protein alignment of VapC toxin sequences among Leptospira spp. genomes. Our analysis identified significant differences in the number of putative vapBC modules distributed in pathogenic, saprophytic, and intermediate strains: four in L. interrogans, three in L. borgpetersenii, eight in L. biflexa, and 15 in L. licerasiae. The VapC toxins show low identity among amino acid sequences within the species. Some VapC toxins appear to be exclusively conserved in unique species, others appear to be conserved among pathogenic or saprophytic strains, and some appear to be distributed randomly. The data shown here indicate that these modules evolved in a very complex manner, which highlights the strong need to identify and characterize new TAs as well as to understand their regulation networks and the possible roles of TA systems in pathogenic bacteria.
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Characterization of LE3 and LE4, the only lytic phages known to infect the spirochete Leptospira. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11781. [PMID: 30082683 PMCID: PMC6078989 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29983-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospira is a phylogenetically unique group of bacteria, and includes the causative agents of leptospirosis, the most globally prevalent zoonosis. Bacteriophages in Leptospira are largely unexplored. To date, a genomic sequence is available for only one temperate leptophage called LE1. Here, we sequenced and analysed the first genomes of the lytic phages LE3 and LE4 that can infect the saprophyte Leptospira biflexa using the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen as receptor. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the 48-kb LE3 and LE4 genomes are similar and contain 62% genes whose function cannot be predicted. Mass spectrometry led to the identification of 21 and 23 phage proteins in LE3 and LE4, respectively. However we did not identify significant similarities with other phage genomes. A search for prophages close to LE4 in the Leptospira genomes allowed for the identification of a related plasmid in L. interrogans and a prophage-like region in the draft genome of a clinical isolate of L. mayottensis. Long-read whole genome sequencing of the L. mayottensis revealed that the genome contained a LE4 phage-like circular plasmid. Further isolation and genomic comparison of leptophages should reveal their role in the genetic evolution of Leptospira.
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12
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Fernandez C, Lubar AA, Vinetz JM, Matthias MA. Experimental Infection of Rattus norvegicus by the Group II Intermediate Pathogen, Leptospira licerasiae. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018; 99:275-280. [PMID: 29943708 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospira licerasiae serovar Varillal, a group II intermediate pathogen species/serovar discovered in the Peruvian Amazon city of Iquitos, is commonly recognized in this region by sera from humans (at least 40% seroprevalence) without a known clinical history of leptospirosis. This high frequency of human seroreactivity remains unexplained. To test the hypothesis that the oral route of infection might explain the high rate of human seroreactivity against L. licerasiae, an experimental infection model using Rattus norvegicus was developed, given that rats were one of the original reservoir hosts identified as being colonized by this leptospire. Sprague-Dawley rats were experimentally exposed via mucosa, direct gastric gavage, or parenteral inoculation with nine different isolates of L. licerasiae originally isolated from Peruvian humans, peridomiciliary rodents, and wildlife. As shown by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of kidney tissue, Leptospira infection via these routes of infection was equally successful. Importantly, the data show that L. licerasiae infects R. norvegicus via the oral route, leading to renal colonization. Not only do these findings confirm the infectiousness of group II Leptospira, but also they underscore the potential importance of oral as well as mucosal and transcutaneous routes of Leptospira infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Fernandez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Aristea A Lubar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt", Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California.,Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Michael A Matthias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
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13
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Jorge S, Kremer FS, Oliveira NRD, Navarro GDOSV, Guimarães AM, Sanchez CD, Woloski RDDS, Ridieri KF, Campos VF, Pinto LDS, Dellagostin OA. Whole-genome sequencing of Leptospira interrogans from southern Brazil: genetic features of a highly virulent strain. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018; 113:80-86. [PMID: 29236923 PMCID: PMC5722262 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760170130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease. It is caused by
infection with pathogenic Leptospira species, of which over
300 serovars have been described. The accurate identification of the
causative Leptospira spp. is required to ascertain the
pathogenic status of the local isolates. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to obtain the complete genome sequence of a virulent
Leptospira interrogans strain isolated from southern
Brazil and to describe its genetic features. METHODS The whole genome was sequenced by next-generation sequencing (Ion Torrent).
The genome was assembled, scaffolded, annotated, and manually reviewed.
Mutations were identified based on a variant calling analysis using the
genome of L. interrogans strain Fiocruz L1-130 as a
reference. FINDINGS The entire genome had an average GC content of 35%. The variant calling
analysis identified 119 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), from which
30 led to a missense mutation. The structural analyses identified potential
evidence of genomic inversions, translocations, and deletions in both the
chromosomes. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The genome properties provide comprehensive information about the local
isolates of Leptospira spp., and thereby, could facilitate
the identification of new targets for the development of diagnostic kits and
vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Jorge
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Karine Forster Ridieri
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Vinícius Farias Campos
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Luciano da Silva Pinto
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
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14
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Ghazaei C. Pathogenic Leptospira: Advances in understanding the molecular pathogenesis and virulence. Open Vet J 2018; 8:13-24. [PMID: 29445617 PMCID: PMC5806663 DOI: 10.4314/ovj.v8i1.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a common zoonotic disease has emerged as a major public health problem, with developing countries bearing disproportionate burdens. Although the diverse range of clinical manifestations of the leptospirosis in humans is widely documented, the mechanisms through which the pathogen causes disease remain undetermined. In addition, leptospirosis is a much-neglected life-threatening disease although it is one of the most important zoonoses occurring in a diverse range of epidemiological distribution. Recent advances in molecular profiling of pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira have improved our understanding of the evolutionary factors that determine virulence and mechanisms that the bacteria employ to survive. However, a major impediment to the formulation of intervention strategies has been the limited understanding of the disease determinants. Consequently, the association of the biological mechanisms to the pathogenesis of Leptospira, as well as the functions of numerous essential virulence factors still remain implicit. This review examines recent advances in genetic screening technologies, the underlying microbiological processes, the virulence factors and associated molecular mechanisms driving pathogenesis of Leptospira species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciamak Ghazaei
- Department of Microbiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, P.O. Box 179, Ardabil, Iran
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15
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Beriwal S, Padhiyar N, Bhatt D, Pandit PD, Ansari A, Lata KS, Saiyed ZM, Vaghasia V, Sharma P, Bhairappanavar SB, Soni S, Das J. LeptoDB: an integrated database of genomics and proteomics resource of Leptospira. Database (Oxford) 2018; 2018:5037030. [PMID: 29905762 PMCID: PMC6007218 DOI: 10.1093/database/bay057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal zoo-anthroponosis caused by pathogenic species of Leptospira belonging to the family of Leptospiraceae, with a worldwide distribution and effect, in terms of its burden and risk to human health. The 'LeptoDB' is a single window dedicated architecture (5 948 311 entries), modeled using heterogeneous data as a core resource for global Leptospira species. LeptoDB facilitates well-structured knowledge of genomics, proteomics and therapeutic aspects with more than 500 assemblies including 17 complete and 496 draft genomes encoding 1.7 million proteins for 23 Leptospira species with more than 250 serovars comprising pathogenic, intermediate and saprophytic strains. Also, it seeks to be a dynamic compendium for therapeutically essential components such as epitope, primers, CRISPR/Cas9 and putative drug targets. Integration of JBrowse provides elaborated locus centric description of sequence or contig. Jmol for structural visualization of protein structures, MUSCLE for interactive multiple sequence alignment annotation and analysis. The data on genomic islands will definitely provide an understanding of virulence and pathogenicity. Phylogenetics analysis integrated suggests the evolutionary division of strains. Easily accessible on a public web server, we anticipate wide use of this metadata on Leptospira for the development of potential therapeutics.Database URL: http://leptonet.org.in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Beriwal
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Nikhil Padhiyar
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Deven Bhatt
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Prabhakar D Pandit
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Afzal Ansari
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Kumari Snehkant Lata
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Zuber M Saiyed
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Vibhisha Vaghasia
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Shivarudrappa B Bhairappanavar
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Subhash Soni
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
| | - Jayashankar Das
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011, India
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16
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Dierks J, Servies T, Do T. A Study on the Leptospirosis Outbreak Among US Marine Trainees in Okinawa, Japan☆. Mil Med 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usx013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joy Dierks
- Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, U.S. Navy, 7700 Arlington Blvd, Suite 5113, Falls Church, VA 22042-5113
| | - Tammy Servies
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Tai Do
- Naval Hospital Okinawa, PSC 482 Box 1600 FPO AP, Okinawa 96362-1600, Japan
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17
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Vk C, Ty L, Wf L, Ywy WS, An S, S Z, A M. Leptospirosis in human: Biomarkers in host immune responses. Microbiol Res 2017; 207:108-115. [PMID: 29458845 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis remains one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, which accounts for high morbidity and mortality globally. Leptospiral infections are often found in tropical and subtropical regions, with people exposed to contaminated environments or animal reservoirs are at high risk of getting the infection. Leptospirosis has a wide range of clinical manifestations with non-specific signs and symptoms and often misdiagnosed with other acute febrile illnesses at early stage of infection. Despite being one of the leading causes of zoonotic morbidity worldwide, there is still a gap between pathogenesis and human immune responses during leptospiral infection. It still remains obscure whether the severity of the infection is caused by the pathogenic properties of the Leptospira itself, or it is a consequence of imbalance host immune factors. Hence, in this review, we seek to summarize the past and present milestone findings on the biomarkers of host immune response aspects during human leptospiral infection, including cytokine and other immune mediators. A profound understanding of the interlink between virulence factors and host immune responses during human leptospirosis is imperative to identify potential biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic applications as well as designing novel immunotherapeutic strategies in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin Vk
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Lee Ty
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; School of Foundation Studies, Perdana University, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia.
| | - Lim Wf
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute (iPROMISE), Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Wan Shahriman Ywy
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Selangor Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Syafinaz An
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Zamberi S
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Maha A
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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18
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Caimi K, Repetto SA, Varni V, Ruybal P. Leptospira species molecular epidemiology in the genomic era. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 54:478-485. [PMID: 28818623 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease which global burden is increasing often related to climatic change. Hundreds of whole genome sequences from worldwide isolates of Leptospira spp. are available nowadays, together with online tools that permit to assign MLST sequence types (STs) directly from raw sequence data. In this work we have applied R7L-MLST to near 500 genomes and strains collection globally distributed. All 10 pathogenic species as well as intermediate were typed using this MLST scheme. The correlation observed between STs and serogroups in our previous work, is still satisfied with this higher dataset sustaining the implementation of MLST to assist serological classification as a complementary approach. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences from R7-MLST loci allowed us to resolve taxonomic inconsistencies but also showed that events such as recombination, gene conversion or lateral gene transfer played an important role in the evolution of Leptospira genus. Whole genome sequencing allows us to contribute with suitable epidemiologic information useful to apply in the design of control strategies and also in diagnostic methods for this illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Caimi
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Instituto de Biotecnología, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S A Repetto
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V Varni
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Instituto de Biotecnología, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P Ruybal
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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19
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Nally JE, Grassmann AA, Planchon S, Sergeant K, Renaut J, Seshu J, McBride AJ, Caimano MJ. Pathogenic Leptospires Modulate Protein Expression and Post-translational Modifications in Response to Mammalian Host Signals. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:362. [PMID: 28848720 PMCID: PMC5553009 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic species of Leptospira cause leptospirosis, a bacterial zoonotic disease with a global distribution affecting over one million people annually. Reservoir hosts of leptospirosis, including rodents, dogs, and cattle, exhibit little to no signs of disease but shed large numbers of organisms in their urine. Transmission occurs when mucosal surfaces or abraded skin come into contact with infected urine or urine-contaminated water or soil. Whilst little is known about how Leptospira adapt to and persist within a reservoir host, in vitro studies suggest that leptospires alter their transcriptomic and proteomic profiles in response to environmental signals encountered during mammalian infection. We applied the dialysis membrane chamber (DMC) peritoneal implant model to compare the whole cell proteome of in vivo derived leptospires with that of leptospires cultivated in vitro at 30°C and 37°C by 2-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE). Of 1,735 protein spots aligned across 9 2-D DIGE gels, 202 protein spots were differentially expressed (p < 0.05, fold change >1.25 or < −1.25) across all three conditions. Differentially expressed proteins were excised for identification by mass spectrometry. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD006995. The greatest differences were detected when DMC-cultivated leptospires were compared with IV30- or IV37-cultivated leptospires, including the increased expression of multiple isoforms of Loa22, a known virulence factor. Unexpectedly, 20 protein isoforms of LipL32 and 7 isoforms of LipL41 were uniformly identified by DIGE as differentially expressed, suggesting that unique post-translational modifications (PTMs) are operative in response to mammalian host conditions. To test this hypothesis, a rat model of persistent renal colonization was used to isolate leptospires directly from the urine of experimentally infected rats. Comparison of urinary derived leptospires to IV30 leptospires by 2-D immunoblotting confirmed that modification of proteins with trimethyllysine and acetyllysine occurs to a different degree in response to mammalian host signals encountered during persistent renal colonization. These results provide novel insights into differential protein and PTMs present in response to mammalian host signals which can be used to further define the unique equilibrium that exists between pathogenic leptospires and their reservoir host of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarlath E Nally
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research, National Animal Disease Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceAmes, IA, United States
| | - Andre A Grassmann
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Center, Federal University of PelotasPelotas, Brazil.,Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health CenterFarmington, CT, United States
| | - Sébastien Planchon
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and TechnologyBelvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Kjell Sergeant
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and TechnologyBelvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Jenny Renaut
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and TechnologyBelvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Janakiram Seshu
- Department of Biology, University of Texas San AntoniaSan Antonia, TX, United States
| | - Alan J McBride
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Center, Federal University of PelotasPelotas, Brazil.,Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of HealthSalvador, Brazil
| | - Melissa J Caimano
- Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health CenterFarmington, CT, United States
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20
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Diniz S, Sandes S, Bomfim M, Santos P, Cruz F, Moreira T, Carvalho M, Cisalpino P, Moreira EA. Culture and molecular identification of microorganisms from Digital Dermatitis lesions in dairy cattle: Leptospira, an unexpected finding. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-9365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is an infectious and contagious disease characterized by ulcerative and proliferative lesions affecting the skin on the bulbs of the heel or the interdigital cleft in dairy cattle, often associated with lameness. Evidences on the etiology of BDD indicate that it is multifactorial, involving environmental factors and multiple bacterial colonization. We isolated and identified microorganisms from BDD biopsy samples obtained from five Holstein Friesian and two Jersey cows by cultivation and molecular identification of bacterial isolates using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. We identified six bacterial species: Spirochetes as Treponema pedis and Leptospira broomi/L. fainei, L. licerasiae/L. wolffii; Corynebacterium appendicis, Cupriavidus gilardii and Enterococcus casseliflavus/E. gallinarum. It was quite surprising to have isolated and identified Leptospira species in three out of seven cultures, from different individual cows and two different farms. The species identified belong to the intermediate pathogenic clade, which is a group found to cause human and animal disease. Our findings indicate the need to further investigate the association of Leptospira of intermediate pathogenicity with BDD lesions and whether its presence would have any veterinary and medical significance both in Leptospirosis and with the pathogenesis of BDD lesions, especially in tropical countries
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Diniz
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - P.C. Santos
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - F.D. Cruz
- Associação dos Criadores de Gado Jersey de Minas Gerais, Brazil
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21
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Xu Y, Zheng H, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zhang J, Li Z, Cui S, Xin X, Ye Q, Chang YF, Wang J. Genomic Analysis of a New Serovar of Leptospira weilii Serogroup Manhao. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:149. [PMID: 28210253 PMCID: PMC5288384 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp., is recognized as an important emerging zoonotic disease throughout the world. In this study, multiple approaches were used to characterize the recently discovered serovar Heyan strain L231. This strain can infect guinea pigs and belonged to the pathogenic species L. weilii. Genome sequencing analysis revealed the draft genome of 4.2 M bp with a G+C content of 40.67% for strain L231, and a total of 4,794 ORFs were identified. The strain L231 genome was found to have a larger LPS biosynthesis locus than that of strains L. interrogans serovar Lai and L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjobovis. Phylogenomic reconstructions showed that the evolutionary position of L. weilii serovar Heyan was different from that of other serovars from serogroup Manhao. These findings may lead us to a better understanding of Leptospira pathogenesis and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghua Xu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
| | - Huajun Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, IRD, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China; Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech ParkShanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
| | - Yuezhu Wang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Shanghai, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
| | - Shenghui Cui
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofang Xin
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Ye
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
| | - Yung-Fu Chang
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca NY, USA
| | - Junzhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control Beijing, China
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22
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Zhukova A, Fernandes LG, Hugon P, Pappas CJ, Sismeiro O, Coppée JY, Becavin C, Malabat C, Eshghi A, Zhang JJ, Yang FX, Picardeau M. Genome-Wide Transcriptional Start Site Mapping and sRNA Identification in the Pathogen Leptospira interrogans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:10. [PMID: 28154810 PMCID: PMC5243855 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospira are emerging zoonotic pathogens transmitted from animals to humans typically through contaminated environmental sources of water and soil. Regulatory pathways of pathogenic Leptospira spp. underlying the adaptive response to different hosts and environmental conditions remains elusive. In this study, we provide the first global Transcriptional Start Site (TSS) map of a Leptospira species. RNA was obtained from the pathogen Leptospira interrogans grown at 30°C (optimal in vitro temperature) and 37°C (host temperature) and selectively enriched for 5′ ends of native transcripts. A total of 2865 and 2866 primary TSS (pTSS) were predicted in the genome of L. interrogans at 30 and 37°C, respectively. The majority of the pTSSs were located between 0 and 10 nucleotides from the translational start site, suggesting that leaderless transcripts are a common feature of the leptospiral translational landscape. Comparative differential RNA-sequencing (dRNA-seq) analysis revealed conservation of most pTSS at 30 and 37°C. Promoter prediction algorithms allow the identification of the binding sites of the alternative sigma factor sigma 54. However, other motifs were not identified indicating that Leptospira consensus promoter sequences are inherently different from the Escherichia coli model. RNA sequencing also identified 277 and 226 putative small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) at 30 and 37°C, respectively, including eight validated sRNAs by Northern blots. These results provide the first global view of TSS and the repertoire of sRNAs in L. interrogans. These data will establish a foundation for future experimental work on gene regulation under various environmental conditions including those in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zhukova
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, C3BI Paris, France
| | | | - Perrine Hugon
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, Institut PasteurParis, France; Mutualized Microbiology Platform, Institut Pasteur, Pasteur International Bioresources NetworkParis, France
| | - Christopher J Pappas
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, Institut PasteurParis, France; Department of Biology, Manhattanville CollegePurchase, NY, USA
| | - Odile Sismeiro
- CITECH, Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Transcriptome et Epigenome, Pole Biomics - CITECH Paris, France
| | - Jean-Yves Coppée
- CITECH, Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Transcriptome et Epigenome, Pole Biomics - CITECH Paris, France
| | - Christophe Becavin
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, C3BI Paris, France
| | - Christophe Malabat
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, C3BI Paris, France
| | - Azad Eshghi
- Biology of Spirochetes Unit, Institut Pasteur Paris, France
| | - Jun-Jie Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Frank X Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, IN, USA
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23
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Dellagostin OA, Grassmann AA, Rizzi C, Schuch RA, Jorge S, Oliveira TL, McBride AJA, Hartwig DD. Reverse Vaccinology: An Approach for Identifying Leptospiral Vaccine Candidates. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18010158. [PMID: 28098813 PMCID: PMC5297791 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18010158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a major public health problem with an incidence of over one million human cases each year. It is a globally distributed, zoonotic disease and is associated with significant economic losses in farm animals. Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. that can infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Given the inability to control the cycle of transmission among animals and humans, there is an urgent demand for a new vaccine. Inactivated whole-cell vaccines (bacterins) are routinely used in livestock and domestic animals, however, protection is serovar-restricted and short-term only. To overcome these limitations, efforts have focused on the development of recombinant vaccines, with partial success. Reverse vaccinology (RV) has been successfully applied to many infectious diseases. A growing number of leptospiral genome sequences are now available in public databases, providing an opportunity to search for prospective vaccine antigens using RV. Several promising leptospiral antigens were identified using this approach, although only a few have been characterized and evaluated in animal models. In this review, we summarize the use of RV for leptospirosis and discuss the need for potential improvements for the successful development of a new vaccine towards reducing the burden of human and animal leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odir A Dellagostin
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
| | - André A Grassmann
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
| | - Caroline Rizzi
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo A Schuch
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
| | - Sérgio Jorge
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
| | - Thais L Oliveira
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
| | - Alan J A McBride
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
| | - Daiane D Hartwig
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas RS 96100-000, Brazil.
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24
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Buyuktimkin B, Saier MH. Comparative analyses of transport proteins encoded within the genomes of Leptospira species. Microb Pathog 2016; 98:118-31. [PMID: 27296707 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Select species of the bacterial genus Leptospira are causative agents of leptospirosis, an emerging global zoonosis affecting nearly one million people worldwide annually. We examined two Leptospira pathogens, Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai str. 56601 and Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis str. L550, as well as the free-living leptospiral saprophyte, Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc str. 'Patoc 1 (Ames)'. The transport proteins of these leptospires were identified and compared using bioinformatics to gain an appreciation for which proteins may be related to pathogenesis and saprophytism. L. biflexa possesses a disproportionately high number of secondary carriers for metabolite uptake and environmental adaptability as well as an increased number of inorganic cation transporters providing ionic homeostasis and effective osmoregulation in a rapidly changing environment. L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii possess far fewer transporters, but those that they all have are remarkably similar, with near-equivalent representation in most transporter families. These two Leptospira pathogens also possess intact sphingomyelinases, holins, and virulence-related outer membrane porins. These virulence-related factors, in conjunction with decreased transporter substrate versatility, indicate that pathogenicity arose in Leptospira correlating to progressively narrowing ecological niches and the emergence of a limited set of proteins responsible for host invasion. The variability of host tropism and mortality rates by infectious leptospires suggests that small differences in individual sets of proteins play important physiological and pathological roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Buyuktimkin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA
| | - Milton H Saier
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA.
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Molecular Characterization of Leptospira spp. in Environmental Samples from North-Eastern Malaysia Revealed a Pathogenic Strain, Leptospira alstonii. J Trop Med 2016; 2016:2060241. [PMID: 27127522 PMCID: PMC4834157 DOI: 10.1155/2016/2060241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the environment poses threats to human health. The aim of this study was to detect and characterize Leptospira spp. from environmental samples. A total of 144 samples comprised of 72 soil and 72 water samples were collected from markets and recreational areas in a north-eastern state in Malaysia. Samples were cultured on Ellinghausen and McCullough modified by Johnson and Harris media. Leptospires were positive in 22.9% (n = 33) of the isolates. Based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA, a pathogenic leptospire, Leptospira alstonii (n = 1/33), was identified in 3% of the isolates followed by intermediate leptospire (L. wolffii, n = 1/33, and L. licerasiae, n = 7/33) and nonpathogenic leptospire, L. meyeri (n = 22/33) in 24.2% and 66.7%, respectively. This study demonstrates the presence of a clinically significant pathogenic L. alstonii in the environments which could pose health risks to the occupants and visitors.
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Whole genome sequencing revealed host adaptation-focused genomic plasticity of pathogenic Leptospira. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20020. [PMID: 26833181 PMCID: PMC4735792 DOI: 10.1038/srep20020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp., has recently been recognized as an emerging infectious disease worldwide. Despite its severity and global importance, knowledge about the molecular pathogenesis and virulence evolution of Leptospira spp. remains limited. Here we sequenced and analyzed 102 isolates representing global sources. A high genomic variability were observed among different Leptospira species, which was attributed to massive gene gain and loss events allowing for adaptation to specific niche conditions and changing host environments. Horizontal gene transfer and gene duplication allowed the stepwise acquisition of virulence factors in pathogenic Leptospira evolved from a recent common ancestor. More importantly, the abundant expansion of specific virulence-related protein families, such as metalloproteases-associated paralogs, were exclusively identified in pathogenic species, reflecting the importance of these protein families in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis. Our observations also indicated that positive selection played a crucial role on this bacteria adaptation to hosts. These novel findings may lead to greater understanding of the global diversity and virulence evolution of Leptospira spp.
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Fouts DE, Matthias MA, Adhikarla H, Adler B, Amorim-Santos L, Berg DE, Bulach D, Buschiazzo A, Chang YF, Galloway RL, Haake DA, Haft DH, Hartskeerl R, Ko AI, Levett PN, Matsunaga J, Mechaly AE, Monk JM, Nascimento ALT, Nelson KE, Palsson B, Peacock SJ, Picardeau M, Ricaldi JN, Thaipandungpanit J, Wunder EA, Yang XF, Zhang JJ, Vinetz JM. What Makes a Bacterial Species Pathogenic?:Comparative Genomic Analysis of the Genus Leptospira. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004403. [PMID: 26890609 PMCID: PMC4758666 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, is a globally widespread, neglected and emerging zoonotic disease. While whole genome analysis of individual pathogenic, intermediately pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira species has been reported, comprehensive cross-species genomic comparison of all known species of infectious and non-infectious Leptospira, with the goal of identifying genes related to pathogenesis and mammalian host adaptation, remains a key gap in the field. Infectious Leptospira, comprised of pathogenic and intermediately pathogenic Leptospira, evolutionarily diverged from non-infectious, saprophytic Leptospira, as demonstrated by the following computational biology analyses: 1) the definitive taxonomy and evolutionary relatedness among all known Leptospira species; 2) genomically-predicted metabolic reconstructions that indicate novel adaptation of infectious Leptospira to mammals, including sialic acid biosynthesis, pathogen-specific porphyrin metabolism and the first-time demonstration of cobalamin (B12) autotrophy as a bacterial virulence factor; 3) CRISPR/Cas systems demonstrated only to be present in pathogenic Leptospira, suggesting a potential mechanism for this clade's refractoriness to gene targeting; 4) finding Leptospira pathogen-specific specialized protein secretion systems; 5) novel virulence-related genes/gene families such as the Virulence Modifying (VM) (PF07598 paralogs) proteins and pathogen-specific adhesins; 6) discovery of novel, pathogen-specific protein modification and secretion mechanisms including unique lipoprotein signal peptide motifs, Sec-independent twin arginine protein secretion motifs, and the absence of certain canonical signal recognition particle proteins from all Leptospira; and 7) and demonstration of infectious Leptospira-specific signal-responsive gene expression, motility and chemotaxis systems. By identifying large scale changes in infectious (pathogenic and intermediately pathogenic) vs. non-infectious Leptospira, this work provides new insights into the evolution of a genus of bacterial pathogens. This work will be a comprehensive roadmap for understanding leptospirosis pathogenesis. More generally, it provides new insights into mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens adapt to mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick E. Fouts
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Matthias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Haritha Adhikarla
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ben Adler
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Luciane Amorim-Santos
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/MS, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Douglas E. Berg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Dieter Bulach
- Victorian Bioinformatics Consortium, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alejandro Buschiazzo
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Laboratory of Molecular and Structural Microbiology, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Paris, France
| | - Yung-Fu Chang
- Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Renee L. Galloway
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DHHS, CDC, OID, NCEZID, DHCPP, BSPB), Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - David A. Haake
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel H. Haft
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rudy Hartskeerl
- WHO/FAO/OIE and National Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, KIT Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Albert I. Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/MS, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Paul N. Levett
- Government of Saskatchewan, Disease Control Laboratory Regina, Canada
| | - James Matsunaga
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Ariel E. Mechaly
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Laboratory of Molecular and Structural Microbiology, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jonathan M. Monk
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ana L. T. Nascimento
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Programa Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Karen E. Nelson
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bernhard Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Sharon J. Peacock
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mathieu Picardeau
- Institut Pasteur, Biology of Spirochetes Unit, National Reference Centre and WHO Collaborating Center for Leptospirosis, Paris, France
| | - Jessica N. Ricaldi
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt; Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidd Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Elsio A. Wunder
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/MS, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - X. Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jun-Jie Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Joseph M. Vinetz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt; Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidd Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Instituto de Medicina “Alexander von Humboldt,” Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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Chiani Y, Jacob P, Varni V, Landolt N, Schmeling MF, Pujato N, Caimi K, Vanasco B. Isolation and clinical sample typing of human leptospirosis cases in Argentina. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 37:245-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Lehmann JS, Corey VC, Ricaldi JN, Vinetz JM, Winzeler EA, Matthias MA. Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing Shows Selection on Leptospira Regulatory Proteins During in vitro Culture Attenuation. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 94:302-313. [PMID: 26711524 PMCID: PMC4751964 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is the most common zoonotic disease worldwide with an estimated 500,000 severe cases reported annually, and case fatality rates of 12–25%, due primarily to acute kidney and lung injuries. Despite its prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying leptospirosis pathogenesis remain poorly understood. To identify virulence-related genes in Leptospira interrogans, we delineated cumulative genome changes that occurred during serial in vitro passage of a highly virulent strain of L. interrogans serovar Lai into a nearly avirulent isogenic derivative. Comparison of protein coding and computationally predicted noncoding RNA (ncRNA) genes between these two polyclonal strains identified 15 nonsynonymous single nucleotide variant (nsSNV) alleles that increased in frequency and 19 that decreased, whereas no changes in allelic frequency were observed among the ncRNA genes. Some of the nsSNV alleles were in six genes shown previously to be transcriptionally upregulated during exposure to in vivo-like conditions. Five of these nsSNVs were in evolutionarily conserved positions in genes related to signal transduction and metabolism. Frequency changes of minor nsSNV alleles identified in this study likely contributed to the loss of virulence during serial in vitro culture. The identification of new virulence-associated genes should spur additional experimental inquiry into their potential role in Leptospira pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Michael A. Matthias
- *Address correspondence to Michael A. Matthias, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, BRF 2, Room 4A15, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760. E-mail:
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30
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Fernandes LG, Siqueira GH, Teixeira ARF, Silva LP, Figueredo JM, Cosate MR, Vieira ML, Nascimento ALTO. Leptospira spp.: Novel insights into host-pathogen interactions. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2015; 176:50-7. [PMID: 26727033 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. It is an important infectious disease that affects humans and animals. The disease causes economic losses as it affects livestock, with decreased milk production and death. Our group is investigating the genome sequences of L. interrogans targeting surface-exposed proteins because, due to their location, these proteins are capable to interact with several host components that could allow establishment of the infection. These interactions may involve adhesion of the bacteria to extracellular matrix (ECM) components and, hence, help bacterial colonization. The bacteria could also react with the host fibrinolytic system and/or with the coagulation cascade components, such as, plasminogen (PLG) and fibrinogen (Fg), respectively. The binding with the first system generates plasmin (PLA), increasing the proteolytic power of the bacteria, while the second interferes with clotting in a thrombin-catalyzed reaction, which may promote hemorrhage foci and increase bacterial dissemination. Interaction with the complement system negative regulators may help bacteria to evade the host immune system, facilitating the invasion. This work compiles the main described leptospiral proteins that could act as adhesins, as PLG and fibrinogen receptors and as complement regulator binding proteins. We present models in which we suggest possible mechanisms of how leptospires might colonize and invade host tissues, causing the disease. Understanding leptospiral pathogenesis will help to identify antigen candidates that would contribute to the development of more effective vaccines and diagnostic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis G Fernandes
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela H Siqueira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline R F Teixeira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucas P Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jupciana M Figueredo
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria R Cosate
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Monica L Vieira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana L T O Nascimento
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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31
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Multiple Posttranslational Modifications of Leptospira biflexa Proteins as Revealed by Proteomic Analysis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 82:1183-1195. [PMID: 26655756 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03056-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The saprophyte Leptospira biflexa is an excellent model for studying the physiology of the medically important Leptospira genus, the pathogenic members of which are more recalcitrant to genetic manipulation and have significantly slower in vitro growth. However, relatively little is known regarding the proteome of L. biflexa, limiting its utility as a model for some studies. Therefore, we have generated a proteomic map of both soluble and membrane-associated proteins of L. biflexa during exponential growth and in stationary phase. Using these data, we identified abundantly produced proteins in each cellular fraction and quantified the transcript levels from a subset of these genes using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). These proteins should prove useful as cellular markers and as controls for gene expression studies. We also observed a significant number of L. biflexa membrane-associated proteins with multiple isoforms, each having unique isoelectric focusing points. L. biflexa cell lysates were examined for several posttranslational modifications suggested by the protein patterns. Methylation and acetylation of lysine residues were predominately observed in the proteins of the membrane-associated fraction, while phosphorylation was detected mainly among soluble proteins. These three posttranslational modification systems appear to be conserved between the free-living species L. biflexa and the pathogenic species Leptospira interrogans, suggesting an important physiological advantage despite the varied life cycles of the different species.
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32
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Oliveira TL, Grassmann AA, Schuch RA, Seixas Neto ACP, Mendonça M, Hartwig DD, McBride AJA, Dellagostin OA. Evaluation of the Leptospira interrogans Outer Membrane Protein OmpL37 as a Vaccine Candidate. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142821. [PMID: 26588685 PMCID: PMC4654524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of potential vaccine candidates against leptospirosis remains a challenge. However, one such candidate is OmpL37, a potentially surface-exposed antigen that has the highest elastin-binding ability described to date, suggesting that it plays an important role in host colonization. In order to evaluate OmpL37's ability to induce a protective immune response, prime-boost, DNA and subunit vaccine strategies were tested in the hamster model of lethal leptospirosis. The humoral immune response was evaluated using an indirect ELISA test, and the cytokine profile in whole blood was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Unlike the DNA vaccine, the administration of recombinant OmpL37 induced a strong IgG antibody response. When individually administrated, both formulations stimulated a TNF-α mediated inflammatory response. However, none of the OmpL37 formulations or vaccination strategies induced protective immunity. Further studies are required towards the identification of new vaccine targets against leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Larré Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - André Alex Grassmann
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Andrade Schuch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Amilton Clair Pinto Seixas Neto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Mendonça
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Daiane Drawanz Hartwig
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Alan John Alexander McBride
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Odir Antônio Dellagostin
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Wang Y, Zhuang X, Zhong Y, Zhang C, Zhang Y, Zeng L, Zhu Y, He P, Dong K, Pal U, Guo X, Qin J. Distribution of Plasmids in Distinct Leptospira Pathogenic Species. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004220. [PMID: 26555137 PMCID: PMC4640553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira, is a worldwide zoonotic infection. The genus Leptospira includes at least 21 species clustered into three groups--pathogens, non-pathogens, and intermediates--based on 16S rRNA phylogeny. Research on Leptospira is difficult due to slow growth and poor transformability of the pathogens. Recent identification of extrachromosomal elements besides the two chromosomes in L. interrogans has provided new insight into genome complexity of the genus Leptospira. The large size, low copy number, and high similarity of the sequence of these extrachromosomal elements with the chromosomes present challenges in isolating and detecting them without careful genome assembly. In this study, two extrachromosomal elements were identified in L. borgpetersenii serovar Ballum strain 56604 through whole genome assembly combined with S1 nuclease digestion following pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE) analysis. Further, extrachromosomal elements in additional 15 Chinese epidemic strains of Leptospira, comprising L. borgpetersenii, L. weilii, and L. interrogans, were successfully separated and identified, independent of genome sequence data. Southern blot hybridization with extrachromosomal element-specific probes, designated as lcp1, lcp2 and lcp3-rep, further confirmed their occurrences as extrachromosomal elements. In total, 24 plasmids were detected in 13 out of 15 tested strains, among which 11 can hybridize with the lcp1-rep probe and 11 with the lcp2-rep probe, whereas two can hybridize with the lcp3-rep probe. None of them are likely to be species-specific. Blastp search of the lcp1, lcp2, and lcp3-rep genes with a nonredundant protein database of Leptospira species genomes showed that their homologous sequences are widely distributed among clades of pathogens but not non-pathogens or intermediates. These results suggest that the plasmids are widely distributed in Leptospira species, and further elucidation of their biological significance might contribute to our understanding of biology and infectivity of pathogenic spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhuo Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuran Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Zhong
- Computational Biology Department, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Cuicai Zhang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ICDC, CCDC), Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingbing Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yongzhang Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping He
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Dong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (UP); (XG); (JQ)
| | - Xiaokui Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (UP); (XG); (JQ)
| | - Jinhong Qin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institutes of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (UP); (XG); (JQ)
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Martins-Pinheiro M, Schons-Fonseca L, da Silva JB, Domingos RH, Momo LHS, Simões ACQ, Ho PL, da Costa RMA. Genomic survey and expression analysis of DNA repair genes in the genus Leptospira. Mol Genet Genomics 2015; 291:703-22. [PMID: 26527082 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-015-1135-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis with important economic and public health consequences and is caused by pathogenic leptospires. The genus Leptospira belongs to the order Spirochaetales and comprises saprophytic (L. biflexa), pathogenic (L. interrogans) and host-dependent (L. borgpetersenii) members. Here, we present an in silico search for DNA repair pathways in Leptospira spp. The relevance of such DNA repair pathways was assessed through the identification of mRNA levels of some genes during infection in animal model and after exposition to spleen cells. The search was performed by comparison of available Leptospira spp. genomes in public databases with known DNA repair-related genes. Leptospires exhibit some distinct and unexpected characteristics, for instance the existence of a redundant mechanism for repairing a chemically diverse spectrum of alkylated nucleobases, a new mutS-like gene and a new shorter version of uvrD. Leptospira spp. shares some characteristics from Gram-positive, as the presence of PcrA, two RecQ paralogs and two SSB proteins; the latter is considered a feature shared by naturally competent bacteria. We did not find a significant reduction in the number of DNA repair-related genes in both pathogenic and host-dependent species. Pathogenic leptospires were enriched for genes dedicated to base excision repair and non-homologous end joining. Their evolutionary history reveals a remarkable importance of lateral gene transfer events for the evolution of the genus. Up-regulation of specific DNA repair genes, including components of SOS regulon, during infection in animal model validates the critical role of DNA repair mechanisms for the complex interplay between host/pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinalva Martins-Pinheiro
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil.,Departamento de Engenharia Química, Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciane Schons-Fonseca
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Josefa B da Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Renan H Domingos
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Carolina Quirino Simões
- Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, 09210-170, Brazil
| | - Paulo Lee Ho
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Renata M A da Costa
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, 09210-170, Brazil.
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Patra KP, Choudhury B, Matthias MM, Baga S, Bandyopadhya K, Vinetz JM. Comparative analysis of lipopolysaccharides of pathogenic and intermediately pathogenic Leptospira species. BMC Microbiol 2015; 15:244. [PMID: 26518696 PMCID: PMC4628369 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0581-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are complex, amphipathic biomolecules that constitute the major surface component of Gram-negative bacteria. Leptospira, unlike other human-pathogenic spirochetes, produce LPS, which is fundamental to the taxonomy of the genus, involved in host-adaption and also the target of diagnostic antibodies. Despite its significance, little is known of Leptospira LPS composition and carbohydrate structure among different serovars. Results LPS from Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain L1-130, a pathogenic species, and L. licerasiae serovar Varillal strain VAR 010, an intermediately pathogenic species, were studied. LPS prepared from aqueous and phenol phases were analyzed separately. L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni has additional sugars not found in L. licerasiae serovar Varillal, including fucose (2.7 %), a high amount of GlcNAc (12.3 %), and two different types of dideoxy HexNAc. SDS-PAGE indicated that L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni LPS had a far higher molecular weight and complexity than that of L. licerasiae serovar Varillal. Chemical composition showed that L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni LPS has an extended O-antigenic polysaccharide consisting of sugars, not present in L. licerasiae serovar Varillal. Arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and L-glycero-D-mannoheptose were detected in both the species. Fatty acid analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed the presence of hydroxypalmitate (3-OH-C16:0) only in L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. Negative staining electron microscopic examination of LPS showed different filamentous morphologies in L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni vs. L. licerasiae serovar Varillal. Conclusions This comparative biochemical analysis of pathogenic and intermediately pathogenic Leptospira LPS reveals important carbohydrate and lipid differences that underlie future work in understanding the mechanisms of host-adaptation, pathogenicity and vaccine development in leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailash P Patra
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Research Facility, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, BRF 2, Room 5220, La Jolla, 92093-0760, California, USA.
| | - Biswa Choudhury
- Glycotechnology Core Resources, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, BRF 2, Room 4243, La Jolla, 92093-0687, California, USA.
| | - Michael M Matthias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Research Facility, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, BRF 2, Room 5220, La Jolla, 92093-0760, California, USA.
| | - Sheyenne Baga
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Research Facility, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, BRF 2, Room 5220, La Jolla, 92093-0760, California, USA.
| | - Keya Bandyopadhya
- Glycotechnology Core Resources, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, BRF 2, Room 4243, La Jolla, 92093-0687, California, USA.
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Research Facility, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, BRF 2, Room 5220, La Jolla, 92093-0760, California, USA.
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Buyuktimkin B, Saier MH. Comparative genomic analyses of transport proteins encoded within the genomes of Leptospira species. Microb Pathog 2015; 88:52-64. [PMID: 26247102 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Select species of the bacterial genus Leptospira are causative agents of leptospirosis, an emerging global zoonosis affecting nearly one million people worldwide annually. We examined two Leptospira pathogens, Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai str. 56601 and Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis str. L550, as well as the free-living leptospiral saprophyte, Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc str. 'Patoc 1 (Ames)'. The transport proteins of these leptospires were identified and compared using bioinformatics to gain an appreciation for which proteins may be related to pathogenesis and saprophytism. L. biflexa possesses a disproportionately high number of secondary carriers for metabolite uptake and environmental adaptability as well as an increased number of inorganic cation transporters providing ionic homeostasis and effective osmoregulation in a rapidly changing environment. L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii possess far fewer transporters, but those that they have are remarkably similar, with near-equivalent representation in most transporter families. These two Leptospira pathogens also possess intact sphingomyelinases, holins, and virulence-related outer membrane porins. These virulence-related factors, in conjunction with decreased transporter substrate versatility, indicate that pathogenicity was accompanied by progressively narrowing ecological niches and the emergence of a limited set of proteins responsible for host invasion. The variability of host tropism and mortality rates by infectious leptospires suggests that small differences in individual sets of proteins play important physiological and pathological roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Buyuktimkin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA
| | - Milton H Saier
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA.
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Backstedt BT, Buyuktanir O, Lindow J, Wunder EA, Reis MG, Usmani-Brown S, Ledizet M, Ko A, Pal U. Efficient Detection of Pathogenic Leptospires Using 16S Ribosomal RNA. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128913. [PMID: 26091292 PMCID: PMC4474562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira species cause a prevalent yet neglected zoonotic disease with mild to life-threatening complications in a variety of susceptible animals and humans. Diagnosis of leptospirosis, which primarily relies on antiquated serotyping methods, is particularly challenging due to presentation of non-specific symptoms shared by other febrile illnesses, often leading to misdiagnosis. Initiation of antimicrobial therapy during early infection to prevent more serious complications of disseminated infection is often not performed because of a lack of efficient diagnostic tests. Here we report that specific regions of leptospiral 16S ribosomal RNA molecules constitute a novel and efficient diagnostic target for PCR-based detection of pathogenic Leptospira serovars. Our diagnostic test using spiked human blood was at least 100-fold more sensitive than corresponding leptospiral DNA-based quantitative PCR assays, targeting the same 16S nucleotide sequence in the RNA and DNA molecules. The sensitivity and specificity of our RNA assay against laboratory-confirmed human leptospirosis clinical samples were 64% and 100%, respectively, which was superior then an established parallel DNA detection assay. Remarkably, we discovered that 16S transcripts remain appreciably stable ex vivo, including untreated and stored human blood samples, further highlighting their use for clinical detection of L. interrogans. Together, these studies underscore a novel utility of RNA targets, specifically 16S rRNA, for development of PCR-based modalities for diagnosis of human leptospirosis, and also may serve as paradigm for detection of additional bacterial pathogens for which early diagnosis is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian T. Backstedt
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ozlem Buyuktanir
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Janet Lindow
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Elsio A. Wunder
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Mitermayer G. Reis
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Michel Ledizet
- L2 Diagnostics, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Albert Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
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Teixeira AF, de Morais ZM, Kirchgatter K, Romero EC, Vasconcellos SA, Nascimento ALTO. Features of two new proteins with OmpA-like domains identified in the genome sequences of Leptospira interrogans. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122762. [PMID: 25849456 PMCID: PMC4388678 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an acute febrile disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. It is considered an important re-emerging infectious disease that affects humans worldwide. The knowledge about the mechanisms by which pathogenic leptospires invade and colonize the host remains limited since very few virulence factors contributing to the pathogenesis of the disease have been identified. Here, we report the identification and characterization of two new leptospiral proteins with OmpA-like domains. The recombinant proteins, which exhibit extracellular matrix-binding properties, are called Lsa46 - LIC13479 and Lsa77 - LIC10050 (Leptospiral surface adhesins of 46 and 77 kDa, respectively). Attachment of Lsa46 and Lsa77 to laminin was specific, dose dependent and saturable, with KD values of 24.3 ± 17.0 and 53.0 ± 17.5 nM, respectively. Lsa46 and Lsa77 also bind plasma fibronectin, and both adhesins are plasminogen (PLG)-interacting proteins, capable of generating plasmin (PLA) and as such, increase the proteolytic ability of leptospires. The proteins corresponding to Lsa46 and Lsa77 are present in virulent L. interrogans L1-130 and in saprophyte L. biflexa Patoc 1 strains, as detected by immunofluorescence. The adhesins are recognized by human leptospirosis serum samples at the onset and convalescent phases of the disease, suggesting that they are expressed during infection. Taken together, our data could offer valuable information to the understanding of leptospiral pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline F. Teixeira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia,Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Zenaide M. de Morais
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Nucleo de Estudos em Malária, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias - Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliete C. Romero
- Centro de Bacteriologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvio A. Vasconcellos
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Lucia T. O. Nascimento
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia,Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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39
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Domingos RF, Fernandes LG, Romero EC, de Morais ZM, Vasconcellos SA, Nascimento ALTO. Novel Leptospira interrogans protein Lsa32 is expressed during infection and binds laminin and plasminogen. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2015; 161:851-64. [PMID: 25627443 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira is the aetiological agent of leptospirosis, a life-threatening disease of human and veterinary concern. The quest for novel antigens that could mediate host-pathogen interactions is being pursued. Owing to their location, these antigens have the potential to elicit numerous activities, including immune response and adhesion. This study focuses on a hypothetical protein of Leptospira, encoded by the gene LIC11089, and its three derived fragments: the N-terminal, intermediate and C terminus regions. The gene coding for the full-length protein and fragments was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(SI) strain by using the expression vector pAE. The recombinant protein and fragments tagged with hexahistidine at the N terminus were purified by metal affinity chromatography. The leptospiral full-length protein, named Lsa32 (leptospiral surface adhesin, 32 kDa), adheres to laminin, with the C terminus region being responsible for this interaction. Lsa32 binds to plasminogen in a dose-dependent fashion, generating plasmin when an activator is provided. Moreover, antibodies present in leptospirosis serum samples were able to recognize Lsa32. Lsa32 is most likely a new surface protein of Leptospira, as revealed by proteinase K susceptibility. Altogether, our data suggest that this multifaceted protein is expressed during infection and may play a role in host-L. interrogans interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renan F Domingos
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Programa Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luis G Fernandes
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Programa Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliete C Romero
- Divisão de Biologia Medica, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Zenaide M de Morais
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Professor Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvio A Vasconcellos
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Professor Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana L T O Nascimento
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Programa Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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40
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Abstract
Recent advances in molecular genetics, such as the ability to construct defined mutants, have allowed the study of virulence factors and more generally the biology in Leptospira. However, pathogenic leptospires remain much less easily transformable than the saprophyte L. biflexa and further development and improvement of genetic tools are required. Here, we review tools that have been used to genetically manipulate Leptospira. We also describe the major advances achieved in both genomics and postgenomics technologies, including transcriptomics and proteomics.
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41
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Abstract
Members of the family Leptospiraceae are thin, spiral, highly motile bacteria that are best visualized by darkfield microscopy. These characteristics are shared with other members of the Order Spirochaetales, but few additional parallels exist among spirochetes. This chapter describes basal features of Leptospira Leptospira that are central to survival and, in the case of pathogenic leptospiral species, intimately linked with pathogenesis, including its morphology, characteristic motility, and unusual metabolism. This chapter also describes the general methodology and critical requirements for in vitro cultivation and storage of Leptospira within a laboratory setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, Canada,
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42
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Evolution of the RNase P RNA structural domain in Leptospira spp. Res Microbiol 2014; 165:813-25. [PMID: 25463388 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Revised: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We have employed the RNase P RNA (RPR) gene, which is present as single copy in chromosome I of Leptospira spp. to investigate the phylogeny of structural domains present in the RNA subunit of the tRNA processing enzyme, RNase P. RPR gene sequences of 150 strains derived from NCBI database along with sequences determined from 8 reference strains were examined to fathom strain specific structural differences present in leptospiral RPR. Sequence variations in the RPR gene impacted on the configuration of loops, stems and bulges found in the RPR highlighting species and strain specific structural motifs. In vitro transcribed leptospiral RPR ribozymes are demonstrated to process pre-tRNA into mature tRNA in consonance with the positioning of Leptospira in the taxonomic domain of bacteria. RPR sequence datasets used to construct a phylogenetic tree exemplified the segregation of strains into their respective lineages with a (re)speciation of strain SH 9 to Leptospira borgpetersenii, strains Fiocruz LV 3954 and Fiocruz LV 4135 to Leptospira santarosai, strain CBC 613 to Leptospira kirschneri and strain HAI 1536 to Leptospira noguchii. Furthermore, it allowed characterization of an isolate P2653, presumptively characterized as either serovar Hebdomadis, Kremastos or Longnan to Leptospira weilii, serovar Longnan.
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Potential impact on kidney infection: a whole-genome analysis of Leptospira santarosai serovar Shermani. Emerg Microbes Infect 2014; 3:e82. [PMID: 26038504 PMCID: PMC4274889 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2014.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Revised: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Leptospira santarosai serovar Shermani is the most frequently encountered
serovar, and it causes leptospirosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis in Taiwan. This
study aims to complete the genome sequence of L. santarosai serovar Shermani
and analyze the transcriptional responses of L. santarosai serovar Shermani
to renal tubular cells. To assemble this highly repetitive genome, we combined reads
that were generated from four next-generation sequencing platforms by using hybrid
assembly approaches to finish two-chromosome contiguous sequences without gaps by
validating the data with optical restriction maps and Sanger sequencing. Whole-genome
comparison studies revealed a 28-kb region containing genes that encode transposases
and hypothetical proteins in L. santarosai serovar Shermani, but this region
is absent in other pathogenic Leptospira spp. We found that lipoprotein gene
expression in both L. santarosai serovar Shermani and L.
interrogans serovar Copenhageni were upregulated upon interaction with renal
tubular cells, and LSS19962, a L. santarosai serovar Shermani-specific gene
within a 28-kb region that encodes hypothetical proteins, was upregulated in L.
santarosai serovar Shermani-infected renal tubular cells. Lipoprotein
expression during leptospiral infection might facilitate the interactions of
leptospires within kidneys. The availability of the whole-genome sequence of L.
santarosai serovar Shermani would make it the first completed sequence of
this species, and its comparison with that of other Leptospira spp. may
provide invaluable information for further studies in leptospiral pathogenesis.
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Petrakovsky J, Bianchi A, Fisun H, Nájera-Aguilar P, Pereira MM. Animal leptospirosis in Latin America and the Caribbean countries: reported outbreaks and literature review (2002-2014). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 11:10770-89. [PMID: 25325360 PMCID: PMC4211005 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph111010770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease whose transmission is linked through multiple factors in the animal-human-ecosystem interface. The data on leptospirosis reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries/sovereign territories from 2005-2011 were mapped, showing a wide distribution of outbreaks in the region. Tropical terrestrial biomes are the predominate ecosystems showing reports of outbreaks. Climatic and ecological factors were relevant to the occurrence of epidemic outbreaks. The available scientific information from 2002-2014 was summarized to obtain a general overview and identify key issues related to the One Health approach. The primary serological test used for diagnosis and for conducting surveys was the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Reports regarding the isolation and typing of leptospires were scattered and limited to data from a few countries, but their results revealed considerable biodiversity at the species and serovar levels. A total of six out of 11 currently named pathogenic species were found in the region. There was also high diversity of animal species showing evidence of infection by leptospires, including rodents, pets, livestock and wild animals. Prevention and control measures for leptospirosis should consider issues of animal and human health in the context of ecosystems, the territorial land borders of countries and trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Petrakovsky
- The National Reference Laboratory of World Organization for Animal Health, National Service of Agrifood Health and Quality (SENASA), Buenos Aires, CP C1063ACD, Argentina; E-Mails: (J.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Alejandra Bianchi
- The National Reference Laboratory of World Organization for Animal Health, National Service of Agrifood Health and Quality (SENASA), Buenos Aires, CP C1063ACD, Argentina; E-Mails: (J.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Helen Fisun
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO, 525, 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20037, USA; E-Mails: (H.F.); (P.N.-A.)
| | - Patricia Nájera-Aguilar
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO, 525, 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20037, USA; E-Mails: (H.F.); (P.N.-A.)
| | - Martha Maria Pereira
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute/FIOCRUZ, WHO Collaborating Centre for Leptospirosis, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, Brazil
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +55-21-2562-1610
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Bourhy P, Collet L, Brisse S, Picardeau M. Leptospira mayottensis sp. nov., a pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira isolated from humans. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2014; 64:4061-4067. [PMID: 25249563 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.066597-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A group of strains representing species of the genus Leptospira, isolated from patients with leptospirosis in Mayotte (Indian Ocean), were previously found to be considerably divergent from other known species of the genus Leptospira. This was inferred from sequence analysis of rrs (16S rRNA) and other genetic loci and suggests that they belong to a novel species. Two strains from each serogroup currently identified within this novel species were studied. Spirochaete, aerobic, motile, helix-shaped strains grew well at 30-37 °C, but not at 13 °C or in the presence of 8-azaguanine. Draft genomes of the strains were also analysed to study the DNA relatedness with other species of the genus Leptospira. The new isolates formed a distinct clade, which was most closely related to Leptospira borgpetersenii, in multilocus sequence analysis using concatenated sequences of the genes rpoB, recA, fusA, gyrB, leuS and sucA. Analysis of average nucleotide identity and genome-to-genome distances, which have recently been proposed as reliable substitutes for classical DNA-DNA hybridization, further confirmed that these isolates should be classified as representatives of a novel species. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 39.5 mol%. These isolates are considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Leptospira mayottensis sp. nov. is proposed, with 200901116(T) ( = CIP 110703(T) = DSM 28999(T)) as the type strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Bourhy
- Institut Pasteur, Biology of Spirochetes Unit, National Reference Centre and WHO Collaborating Center for Leptospirosis, Paris, France
| | - Louis Collet
- Hospital Centre of Mayotte (CHM), Mayotte, France
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- CNRS, UMR 3525, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Picardeau
- Institut Pasteur, Biology of Spirochetes Unit, National Reference Centre and WHO Collaborating Center for Leptospirosis, Paris, France
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46
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Oliveira R, Domingos RF, de Morais ZM, Vasconcellos SA, Alves IJ, Romero EC, Nascimento ALTO. Intermediate and C-terminal regions of leptospiral adhesin Lsa66 are responsible for binding with plasminogen and extracellular matrix components. J Med Microbiol 2014; 63:1119-1130. [PMID: 24928214 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.078378-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, a worldwide zoonotic infection, is an important human and veterinary health problem. We have previously identified a leptospiral multipurpose adhesin, Lsa66, capable of binding extracellular matrix (ECM) components and plasminogen (PLG). In this work, we report the cloning, expression, purification and characterization of three fragments derived from the full-length Lsa66: N-terminal, intermediate and C-terminal regions. We employed Escherichia coli BL21-SI as expression cells. The recombinant fragments tagged with N-terminal His6 were purified by metal-charged chromatography to major protein bands that were recognized by anti-His-tag mAbs. The recombinant fragments were evaluated for their capacity to attach to ECM components and to PLG. The intermediate region bound to laminin, plasma fibronectin and PLG. Laminin also bound to the C-terminal region. Antibodies in leptospirosis-positive serum samples recognized Lsa66, being the immune epitopes located at the N-terminal and intermediate fragments. The data confirm that Lsa66 is expressed during infection and that this protein might have a role in bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosane Oliveira
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Renan F Domingos
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Zenaide M de Morais
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvio A Vasconcellos
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ivy J Alves
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Laboratório Regional de Santos, Núcleo de Ciências Biomédicas, Rua Silva Jardim, 90, 11015-020, Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliete C Romero
- Centro de Bacteriologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr Arnaldo, 355, 01246-902 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana L T O Nascimento
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Lehmann JS, Matthias MA, Vinetz JM, Fouts DE. Leptospiral pathogenomics. Pathogens 2014; 3:280-308. [PMID: 25437801 PMCID: PMC4243447 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens3020280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2014] [Revised: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic spirochetes belonging to the genus Leptospira, is a zoonosis with important impacts on human and animal health worldwide. Research on the mechanisms of Leptospira pathogenesis has been hindered due to slow growth of infectious strains, poor transformability, and a paucity of genetic tools. As a result of second generation sequencing technologies, there has been an acceleration of leptospiral genome sequencing efforts in the past decade, which has enabled a concomitant increase in functional genomics analyses of Leptospira pathogenesis. A pathogenomics approach, by coupling of pan-genomic analysis of multiple isolates with sequencing of experimentally attenuated highly pathogenic Leptospira, has resulted in the functional inference of virulence factors. The global Leptospira Genome Project supported by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to which key scientific contributions have been made from the international leptospirosis research community has provided a new roadmap for comprehensive studies of Leptospira and leptospirosis well into the future. This review describes functional genomics approaches to apply the data generated by the Leptospira Genome Project towards deepening our knowledge of virulence factors of Leptospira using the emerging discipline of pathogenomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Lehmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0741, USA.
| | - Michael A Matthias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0741, USA.
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0741, USA.
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48
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A model system for studying the transcriptomic and physiological changes associated with mammalian host-adaptation by Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004004. [PMID: 24626166 PMCID: PMC3953431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, an emerging zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution, is caused by spirochetes belonging to the genus Leptospira. More than 500,000 cases of severe leptospirosis are reported annually, with >10% of these being fatal. Leptospires can survive for weeks in suitably moist conditions before encountering a new host. Reservoir hosts, typically rodents, exhibit little to no signs of disease but shed large numbers of organisms in their urine. Transmission occurs when mucosal surfaces or abraded skin come into contact with infected urine or urine-contaminated water or soil. In humans, leptospires can cause a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic or mild fever to severe icteric (Weil's) disease and pulmonary haemorrhage. Currently, little is known about how Leptospira persist within a reservoir host. Prior in vitro studies have suggested that leptospires alter their transcriptomic and proteomic profiles in response to environmental signals encountered during mammalian infection. However, no study has examined gene expression by leptospires within a mammalian host-adapted state. To obtain a more faithful representation of how leptospires respond to host-derived signals, we used RNA-Seq to compare the transcriptome of L. interrogans cultivated within dialysis membrane chambers (DMCs) implanted into the peritoneal cavities of rats with that of organisms grown in vitro. In addition to determining the relative expression levels of “core” housekeeping genes under both growth conditions, we identified 166 genes that are differentially-expressed by L. interrogans in vivo. Our analyses highlight physiological aspects of host adaptation by leptospires relating to heme uptake and utilization. We also identified 11 novel non-coding transcripts that are candidate small regulatory RNAs. The DMC model provides a facile system for studying the transcriptional and antigenic changes associated with mammalian host-adaption, selection of targets for mutagenesis, and the identification of previously unrecognized virulence determinants. Leptospirosis, a global disease caused by the unusual bacterium Leptospira, is transmitted from animals to humans. Pathogenic species of Leptospira are excreted in urine from infected animals and can continue to survive in suitable environments before coming into contact with a new reservoir or accidental host. Leptospires have an inherent ability to survive a wide range of conditions encountered in nature during transmission and within mammals. However, we know very little about the regulatory pathways and gene products that promote mammalian host adaptation and enable leptospires to establish infection. In this study, we used a novel system whereby leptospires are cultivated in dialysis membrane chambers implanted into the peritoneal cavities of rats to compare the gene expression profiles of mammalian host-adapted and in vitro-cultivated organisms. In addition to providing a facile system for studying the transcriptional and physiologic changes leptospires undergo during mammalian infection, our data provide a rational basis for selecting new targets for mutagenesis.
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Lehmann JS, Fouts DE, Haft DH, Cannella AP, Ricaldi JN, Brinkac L, Harkins D, Durkin S, Sanka R, Sutton G, Moreno A, Vinetz JM, Matthias MA. Pathogenomic inference of virulence-associated genes in Leptospira interrogans. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2468. [PMID: 24098822 PMCID: PMC3789758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a globally important, neglected zoonotic infection caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Since genetic transformation remains technically limited for pathogenic Leptospira, a systems biology pathogenomic approach was used to infer leptospiral virulence genes by whole genome comparison of culture-attenuated Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai with its virulent, isogenic parent. Among the 11 pathogen-specific protein-coding genes in which non-synonymous mutations were found, a putative soluble adenylate cyclase with host cell cAMP-elevating activity, and two members of a previously unstudied ∼15 member paralogous gene family of unknown function were identified. This gene family was also uniquely found in the alpha-proteobacteria Bartonella bacilliformis and Bartonella australis that are geographically restricted to the Andes and Australia, respectively. How the pathogenic Leptospira and these two Bartonella species came to share this expanded gene family remains an evolutionary mystery. In vivo expression analyses demonstrated up-regulation of 10/11 Leptospira genes identified in the attenuation screen, and profound in vivo, tissue-specific up-regulation by members of the paralogous gene family, suggesting a direct role in virulence and host-pathogen interactions. The pathogenomic experimental design here is generalizable as a functional systems biology approach to studying bacterial pathogenesis and virulence and should encourage similar experimental studies of other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Lehmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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Rapid tests for diagnosis of leptospirosis: current tools and emerging technologies. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2013; 78:1-8. [PMID: 24207075 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Revised: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis with a worldwide distribution but is more commonly found in impoverished populations in developing countries and tropical regions with frequent flooding. The rapid detection of leptospirosis is a critical step to effectively manage the disease and to control outbreaks in both human and animal populations. Therefore, there is a need for accurate and rapid diagnostic tests and appropriate surveillance and alert systems to identify outbreaks. This review describes current in-house methods and commercialized tests for the rapid diagnosis of acute leptospirosis. It focuses on diagnostic tests that can be performed with minimal training and limited equipment in less-developed and newly industrialized countries, particularly in resource-limited settings and with results in minutes to less than 4 hours. We also describe recent technological advances in the field of diagnostic tests that could allow for the development of innovative rapid tests in the near future.
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