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Adamczyk-Poplawska M, Bacal P, Mrozek A, Matczynska N, Piekarowicz A, Kwiatek A. Phase-variable Type I methyltransferase M.NgoAV from Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090 regulates phasevarion expression and gonococcal phenotype. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:917639. [PMID: 36267167 PMCID: PMC9577141 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.917639] [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: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The restriction-modification (RM) systems are compared to a primitive, innate, prokaryotic immune system, controlling the invasion by foreign DNA, composed of methyltransferase (MTase) and restriction endonuclease. The biological significance of RM systems extends beyond their defensive function, but the data on the regulatory role of Type I MTases are limited. We have previously characterized molecularly a non-canonical Type I RM system, NgoAV, with phase-variable specificity, encoded by Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090. In the current work, we have investigated the impact of methyltransferase NgoAV (M.NgoAV) activity on gonococcal phenotype and on epigenetic control of gene expression. For this purpose, we have constructed and studied genetic variants (concerning activity and specificity) within M.NgoAV locus. Deletion of M.NgoAV or switch of its specificity had an impact on phenotype of N. gonorrhoeae. Biofilm formation and planktonic growth, the resistance to antibiotics, which target bacterial peptidoglycan or other antimicrobials, and invasion of human epithelial host cells were affected. The expression of genes was deregulated in gonococcal cells with knockout M.NgoAV gene and the variant with new specificity. For the first time, the existence of a phasevarion (phase-variable regulon), directed by phase-variable Type I MTase, is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Adamczyk-Poplawska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- *Correspondence: Monika Adamczyk-Poplawska,
| | - Pawel Bacal
- Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Mrozek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Matczynska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Piekarowicz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kwiatek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Muchaamba F, Eshwar AK, Stevens MJA, Stephan R, Tasara T. Different Shades of Listeria monocytogenes: Strain, Serotype, and Lineage-Based Variability in Virulence and Stress Tolerance Profiles. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:792162. [PMID: 35058906 PMCID: PMC8764371 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.792162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a public health and food safety challenge due to its virulence and natural stress resistance phenotypes. The variable distribution of L. monocytogenes molecular subtypes with respect to food products and processing environments and among human and animal clinical listeriosis cases is observed. Sixty-two clinical and food-associated L. monocytogenes isolates were examined through phenome and genome analysis. Virulence assessed using a zebrafish infection model revealed serotype and genotype-specific differences in pathogenicity. Strains of genetic lineage I serotype 4b and multilocus sequence type clonal complexes CC1, CC2, CC4, and CC6 grew and survived better and were more virulent than serotype 1/2a and 1/2c lineage II, CC8, and CC9 strains. Hemolysis, phospholipase activity, and lysozyme tolerance profiles were associated with the differences observed in virulence. Osmotic stress resistance evaluation revealed serotype 4b lineage I CC2 and CC4 strains as more osmotolerant, whereas serotype 1/2c lineage II CC9 strains were more osmo-sensitive than others. Variable tolerance to the widely used quaternary ammonium compound benzalkonium chloride (BC) was observed. Some outbreak and sporadic clinical case associated strains demonstrated BC tolerance, which might have contributed to their survival and transition in the food-processing environment facilitating food product contamination and ultimately outbreaks or sporadic listeriosis cases. Genome comparison uncovered various moderate differences in virulence and stress associated genes between the strains indicating that these differences in addition to gene expression regulation variations might largely be responsible for the observed virulence and stress sensitivity phenotypic differences. Overall, our study uncovered strain and genotype-dependent variation in virulence and stress resilience among clinical and food-associated L. monocytogenes isolates with potential public health risk implications. The extensive genome and phenotypic data generated provide a basis for developing improved Listeria control strategies and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Muchaamba
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Athmanya K Eshwar
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc J A Stevens
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Taurai Tasara
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Barichello T, Iovino F. Editorial: Host-Pathogen Interaction in the Central Nervous System. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:790761. [PMID: 35004356 PMCID: PMC8740900 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.790761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Barichello
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX, United States
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Federico Iovino
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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