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Gálvez-Silva M, Arros P, Berríos-Pastén C, Villamil A, Rodas PI, Araya I, Iglesias R, Araya P, Hormazábal JC, Bohle C, Chen Y, Gan YH, Chávez FP, Lagos R, Marcoleta AE. Carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent ST23 Klebsiella pneumoniae with a highly transmissible dual-carbapenemase plasmid in Chile. Biol Res 2024; 57:7. [PMID: 38475927 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00485-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The convergence of hypervirulence and carbapenem resistance in the bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a critical global health concern. Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) strains, frequently from sequence type 23 (ST23) and having a K1 capsule, have been associated with severe community-acquired invasive infections. Although hvKp were initially restricted to Southeast Asia and primarily antibiotic-sensitive, carbapenem-resistant hvKp infections are reported worldwide. Here, within the carbapenemase production Enterobacterales surveillance system headed by the Chilean Public Health Institute, we describe the isolation in Chile of a high-risk ST23 dual-carbapenemase-producing hvKp strain, which carbapenemase genes are encoded in a single conjugative plasmid. RESULTS Phenotypic and molecular tests of this strain revealed an extensive resistance to at least 15 antibiotic classes and the production of KPC-2 and VIM-1 carbapenemases. Unexpectedly, this isolate lacked hypermucoviscosity, challenging this commonly used hvKp identification criteria. Complete genome sequencing and analysis confirmed the K1 capsular type, the KpVP-1 virulence plasmid, and the GIE492 and ICEKp10 genomic islands carrying virulence factors strongly associated with hvKp. Although this isolate belonged to the globally disseminated hvKp clonal group CG23-I, it is unique, as it formed a clade apart from a previously reported Chilean ST23 hvKp isolate and acquired an IncN KPC-2 plasmid highly disseminated in South America (absent in other hvKp genomes), but now including a class-I integron carrying blaVIM-1 and other resistance genes. Notably, this isolate was able to conjugate the double carbapenemase plasmid to an E. coli recipient, conferring resistance to 1st -5th generation cephalosporins (including combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors), penicillins, monobactams, and carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS We reported the isolation in Chile of high-risk carbapenem-resistant hvKp carrying a highly transmissible conjugative plasmid encoding KPC-2 and VIM-1 carbapenemases, conferring resistance to most beta-lactams. Furthermore, the lack of hypermucoviscosity argues against this trait as a reliable hvKp marker. These findings highlight the rapid evolution towards multi-drug resistance of hvKp in Chile and globally, as well as the importance of conjugative plasmids and other mobile genetic elements in this convergence. In this regard, genomic approaches provide valuable support to monitor and obtain essential information on these priority pathogens and mobile elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Gálvez-Silva
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile Las Palmeras, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 3425, Chile
| | - Patricio Arros
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile Las Palmeras, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 3425, Chile
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile Las Palmeras, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 3425, Chile
| | - Aura Villamil
- Instituto de Salud Pública Marathon, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 1000, Chile
| | - Paula I Rodas
- Instituto de Salud Pública Marathon, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 1000, Chile
| | - Ingrid Araya
- Instituto de Salud Pública Marathon, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 1000, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Iglesias
- Instituto de Salud Pública Marathon, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 1000, Chile
| | - Pamela Araya
- Instituto de Salud Pública Marathon, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 1000, Chile
| | | | | | - Yahua Chen
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Francisco P Chávez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile Las Palmeras, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 3425, Chile
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile Las Palmeras, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 3425, Chile
| | - Andrés E Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile Las Palmeras, Ñuñoa, Santiago, 3425, Chile.
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2
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Rojas D, Marcoleta AE, Gálvez-Silva M, Varas MA, Díaz M, Hernández M, Vargas C, Nourdin-Galindo G, Koch E, Saldivia P, Vielma J, Gan YH, Chen Y, Guiliani N, Chávez FP. Inorganic Polyphosphate Affects Biofilm Assembly, Capsule Formation, and Virulence of Hypervirulent ST23 Klebsiella pneumoniae. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:606-623. [PMID: 38205780 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) strains poses a significant threat to public health due to high mortality rates and propensity to cause severe community-acquired infections in healthy individuals. The ability to form biofilms and produce a protective capsule contributes to its enhanced virulence and is a significant challenge to effective antibiotic treatment. Polyphosphate kinase 1 (PPK1) is an enzyme responsible for inorganic polyphosphate synthesis and plays a vital role in regulating various physiological processes in bacteria. In this study, we investigated the impact of polyP metabolism on the biofilm and capsule formation and virulence traits in hvKP using Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba as a model host. We found that the PPK1 null mutant was impaired in biofilm and capsule formation and showed attenuated virulence in D. discoideum compared to the wild-type strain. We performed a proteomic analysis to gain further insights into the underlying molecular mechanism. The results revealed that the PPK1 mutant had a differential expression of proteins involved in capsule synthesis (Wzi-Ugd), biofilm formation (MrkC-D-H), synthesis of the colibactin genotoxin precursor (ClbB), as well as proteins associated with the synthesis and modification of lipid A (ArnB-LpxC-PagP). These proteomic findings corroborate the phenotypic observations and indicate that the PPK1 mutation is associated with impaired biofilm and capsule formation and attenuated virulence in hvKP. Overall, our study highlights the importance of polyP synthesis in regulating extracellular biomolecules and virulence in K. pneumoniae and provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for treating K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rojas
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Andrés E Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Matías Gálvez-Silva
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Macarena A Varas
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Mauricio Díaz
- Laboratorio de Comunicación Microbiana, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Mauricio Hernández
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
| | - Cristian Vargas
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
| | | | - Elard Koch
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
| | - Pablo Saldivia
- División Biotecnología, Instituto Melisa, San Pedro de la Paz CP 9660000, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción CP 4070389, Chile
| | - Jorge Vielma
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore CP 119077, Singapore
| | - Yahua Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore CP 119077, Singapore
| | - Nicolás Guiliani
- Laboratorio de Comunicación Microbiana, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
| | - Francisco P Chávez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago CP 7800003, Chile
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Ilyas M, Purkait D, Atmakuri K. Genomic islands and their role in fitness traits of two key sepsis-causing bacterial pathogens. Brief Funct Genomics 2024; 23:55-68. [PMID: 36528816 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elac051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
To survive and establish a niche for themselves, bacteria constantly evolve. Toward that, they not only insert point mutations and promote illegitimate recombinations within their genomes but also insert pieces of 'foreign' deoxyribonucleic acid, which are commonly referred to as 'genomic islands' (GEIs). The GEIs come in several forms, structures and types, often providing a fitness advantage to the harboring bacterium. In pathogenic bacteria, some GEIs may enhance virulence, thus altering disease burden, morbidity and mortality. Hence, delineating (i) the GEIs framework, (ii) their encoded functions, (iii) the triggers that help them move, (iv) the mechanisms they exploit to move among bacteria and (v) identification of their natural reservoirs will aid in superior tackling of several bacterial diseases, including sepsis. Given the vast array of comparative genomics data, in this short review, we provide an overview of the GEIs, their types and the compositions therein, especially highlighting GEIs harbored by two important pathogens, viz. Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which prominently trigger sepsis in low- and middle-income countries. Our efforts help shed some light on the challenges these pathogens pose when equipped with GEIs. We hope that this review will provoke intense research into understanding GEIs, the cues that drive their mobility across bacteria and the ways and means to prevent their transfer, especially across pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Ilyas
- Bacterial Pathogenesis Lab, Infection and Immunity Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
| | - Dyuti Purkait
- Bacterial Pathogenesis Lab, Infection and Immunity Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
| | - Krishnamohan Atmakuri
- Bacterial Pathogenesis Lab, Infection and Immunity Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
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Tan YH, Arros P, Berríos-Pastén C, Wijaya I, Chu WHW, Chen Y, Cheam G, Mohamed Naim AN, Marcoleta AE, Ravikrishnan A, Nagarajan N, Lagos R, Gan YH. Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae employs genomic island encoded toxins against bacterial competitors in the gut. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae054. [PMID: 38547398 PMCID: PMC11020217 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae054] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The hypervirulent lineages of Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKp) cause invasive infections such as Klebsiella-liver abscess. Invasive infection often occurs after initial colonization of the host gastrointestinal tract by HvKp. Over 80% of HvKp isolates belong to the clonal group 23 sublineage I that has acquired genomic islands (GIs) GIE492 and ICEKp10. Our analysis of 12 361 K. pneumoniae genomes revealed that GIs GIE492 and ICEKp10 are co-associated with the CG23-I and CG10118 HvKp lineages. GIE492 and ICEKp10 enable HvKp to make a functional bacteriocin microcin E492 (mccE492) and the genotoxin colibactin, respectively. We discovered that GIE492 and ICEKp10 play cooperative roles and enhance gastrointestinal colonization by HvKp. Colibactin is the primary driver of this effect, modifying gut microbiome diversity. Our in vitro assays demonstrate that colibactin and mccE492 kill or inhibit a range of Gram-negative Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli strains, including Gram-positive bacteria, sometimes cooperatively. Moreover, mccE492 and colibactin kill human anaerobic gut commensals that are similar to the taxa found altered by colibactin in the mouse intestines. Our findings suggest that GIs GIE492 and ICEKp10 enable HvKp to kill several commensal bacterial taxa during interspecies interactions in the gut. Thus, acquisition of GIE492 and ICEKp10 could enable better carriage in host populations and explain the dominance of the CG23-I HvKp lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Han Tan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Patricio Arros
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Indrik Wijaya
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wilson H W Chu
- National Public Health Laboratory, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, 16 Jln Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308442, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yahua Chen
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
| | - Guoxiang Cheam
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ahmad Nazri Mohamed Naim
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Andrés E Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Aarthi Ravikrishnan
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Niranjan Nagarajan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yunn-Hwen Gan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4, Level 2, Singapore 117545, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD7, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117596, Republic of Singapore
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5
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Piña-Iturbe A, Hoppe-Elsholz G, Suazo ID, Kalergis AM, Bueno SM. Subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations promote the excision of a genomic island carried by the globally spread carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 258. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001138. [PMID: 38079200 PMCID: PMC10763509 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The ICEKp258.2 genomic island (GI) has been proposed as an important factor for the emergence and success of the globally spread carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type (ST) 258. However, a characterization of this horizontally acquired element is lacking. Using bioinformatic and experimental approaches, we found that ICEKp258.2 is not confined to ST258 and ST512, but also carried by ST3795 strains and emergent invasive multidrug-resistant pathogens from ST1519. We also identified several ICEKp258.2-like GIs spread among different K. pneumoniae STs, other Klebsiella species and even other pathogen genera, uncovering horizontal gene transfer events between different STs and bacterial genera. Also, the comparative and phylogenetic analyses of the ICEKp258.2-like GIs revealed that the most closely related ICEKp258.2-like GIs were harboured by ST11 strains. Importantly, we found that subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics used in treating K. pneumoniae infections can induce the excision of this GI and modulate its gene expression. Our findings provide the basis for the study of ICEKp258.2 and its role in the success of K. pneumoniae ST258. They also highlight the potential role of antibiotics in the spread of ICEKp258.2-like GIs among bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Piña-Iturbe
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Present address: Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía y Sistemas Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Guillermo Hoppe-Elsholz
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Isidora D. Suazo
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330023, Chile
| | - Susan M. Bueno
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
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Aguilera P, Berríos-Pastén C, Veloso M, Gálvez-Silva M, Turbant F, Lagos R, Wien F, Arluison V, Marcoleta AE. The Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-Gallate (EGCG) Interferes with Microcin E492 Amyloid Formation. Molecules 2023; 28:7262. [PMID: 37959682 PMCID: PMC10648153 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Microcin E492 (MccE492) is an antimicrobial peptide and proposed virulence factor produced by some Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, which, under certain conditions, form amyloid fibers, leading to the loss of its antibacterial activity. Although this protein has been characterized as a model functional amyloid, the secondary structure transitions behind its formation, and the possible effect of molecules that inhibit this process, have not been investigated. In this study, we examined the ability of the green tea flavonoid epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to interfere with MccE492 amyloid formation. Aggregation kinetics followed by thioflavin T binding were used to monitor amyloid formation in the presence or absence of EGCG. Additionally, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the secondary structure, thermal stability, and morphology of microcin E492 fibers. Our results showed that EGCG significantly inhibited the formation of the MccE492 amyloid, resulting in mainly amorphous aggregates and small oligomers. However, these aggregates retained part of the β-sheet SRCD signal and a high resistance to heat denaturation, suggesting that the aggregation process is sequestered or deviated at some stage but not completely prevented. Thus, EGCG is an interesting inhibitor of the amyloid formation of MccE492 and other bacterial amyloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Aguilera
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (M.V.); (M.G.-S.); (R.L.)
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (M.V.); (M.G.-S.); (R.L.)
| | - Marcelo Veloso
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (M.V.); (M.G.-S.); (R.L.)
| | - Matías Gálvez-Silva
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (M.V.); (M.G.-S.); (R.L.)
| | - Florian Turbant
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L’Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin BP48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; (F.T.); (F.W.)
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, CEA, CNRS UMR12, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (M.V.); (M.G.-S.); (R.L.)
| | - Frank Wien
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L’Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin BP48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; (F.T.); (F.W.)
| | - Veronique Arluison
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, CEA, CNRS UMR12, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- UFR Sciences du Vivant, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Andrés E. Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425 Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (M.V.); (M.G.-S.); (R.L.)
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7
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Dai P, Hu D. The making of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. J Clin Lab Anal 2022; 36:e24743. [PMID: 36347819 PMCID: PMC9757020 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a notorious bacterium in clinical practice. Virulence, carbapenem-resistance and their convergence among K. pneumoniae are extensively discussed in this article. Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (HvKP) has spread from the Asian Pacific Rim to the world, inducing various invasive infections, such as pyogenic liver abscess, endophthalmitis, and meningitis. Furthermore, HvKP has acquired more and more drug resistance. Among multidrug-resistant HvKP, hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (Hv-CRKP), and carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (CR-HvKP) are both devastating for their extreme drug resistance and virulence. The hypervirulence of HvKP is primarily attributed to hypercapsule, macromolecular exopolysaccharides, or excessive siderophores, although it has many other factors, for example, lipopolysaccharides, fimbriae, and porins. In contrast with classical determination of HvKP, that is, animal lethality test, molecular determination could be an optional and practical method after improvement. HvKP, including Hv-CRKP and CR-HvKP, has been progressing. R-M and CRISPR-Cas systems may play pivotal roles in such evolutions. Hv-CRKP and CR-HvKP, in particular the former, should be of severe concern due to their being more and more prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piaopiao Dai
- Department of Laboratory MedicineTaizhou Municipal HospitalTaizhouChina
| | - Dakang Hu
- Department of Laboratory MedicineTaizhou Municipal HospitalTaizhouChina
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Parker JK, Davies BW. Microcins reveal natural mechanisms of bacterial manipulation to inform therapeutic development. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168:001175. [PMID: 35438625 PMCID: PMC10233263 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Microcins are an understudied and poorly characterized class of antimicrobial peptides. Despite the existence of only 15 examples, all identified from the Enterobacteriaceae, microcins display diversity in sequence, structure, target cell uptake, cytotoxic mechanism of action and target specificity. Collectively, these features describe some of the unique means nature has contrived for molecules to cross the 'impermeable' barrier of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane and inflict cytotoxic effects. Microcins appear to be widely dispersed among different species and in different environments, where they function in regulating microbial communities in diverse ways, including through competition. Growing evidence suggests that microcins may be adapted for therapeutic uses such as antimicrobial drugs, microbiome modulators or facilitators of peptide uptake into cells. Advancing our biological, ecological and biochemical understanding of the roles of microcins in bacterial interactions, and learning how to regulate and modify microcin activity, is essential to enable such therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bryan William Davies
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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9
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Alekseeva AE, Brusnigina NF, Gordinskaya NA, Makhova MA, Kolesnikova EA. Molecular genetic characteristics of resistome and virulome of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strains. Klin Lab Diagn 2022; 67:186-192. [PMID: 35320636 DOI: 10.51620/0869-2084-2022-67-3-186-192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The characteristics of resistome and virulome structure of four carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strains are present in the work. Two strains belonged to the sequence-type ST395, one strain - ST2262, one strain - to the new sequence-type 5816. The genes of fimbriae, enterobactin, beta-lactamase SHV type, resistance to fosfomycin fosA and transport of fluoroquinolones oqxAB in all Klebsiella strains chromosome structure were identified. The determinants of yersineobactin and aerobactin are enriched the virulome of ST395 NNKP315 and NNKP343 strains. The aerobactin genes are located on IncHI1B plasmids (IncHI1B/FIB) which highly homologous to the virulence pLVPK and pK2044 plasmids. IncR, IncL, IncQ plasmids carrying blaOXA-48, blaCTX-M-15, blaOXA-1, blaTEM-1, qnrS1, tetA, sul1, dfrA1, aac(6 ')-Ib-cr, catA1, catB3 etc. were identified in these strains. As a result of in silico analysis, an assumption about the localization of the blaOXA-48 in the structure of the IncHI1B plasmid of NNKP315 strain was made. This plasmid also contains the aminoglycosidases genes inserted into a class 1 integron In822. The mutations were found in the porin proteins OmpK35, OmpK36 and OmpK37 genes, which increases the carbapenem resistance. The virulome of NNKP16 (ST2262) strain additionally includes of the iron utilization system kfuABC chromosomal genes, and the virulome of NNKP15 (ST5816) strain contains of the capsular polysaccharide kvgAS and microcin E492 genes. Additional determinants of resistance were not identified in the resistome structure of K. pneumoniae NNKP16 and only the blaCTX-M-15 gene was found in the NNKP15 strain. The absence of acquired resistance genes seems to be due to the presence of the type I-E CRISPR-Cas system. Multiple drug resistance of the studied strains is associated with mutations identified in the gene structure of porin proteins OmpK36 and OmpK37, as well as the activity of efflux systems. It was showed the stop codon formation in the nucleotide sequence of the regulatory gene ramR to both strains, which can potentially provide overexpression of AcrAB efflux proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Alekseeva
- Nizhny Novgorod scientific and research institute of epidemiology and microbiology name acad. I.N. Blokhina of the Rospotrebnadzor
| | - N F Brusnigina
- Nizhny Novgorod scientific and research institute of epidemiology and microbiology name acad. I.N. Blokhina of the Rospotrebnadzor
| | - N A Gordinskaya
- Nizhny Novgorod scientific and research institute of epidemiology and microbiology name acad. I.N. Blokhina of the Rospotrebnadzor
| | - M A Makhova
- Nizhny Novgorod scientific and research institute of epidemiology and microbiology name acad. I.N. Blokhina of the Rospotrebnadzor
| | - E A Kolesnikova
- Nizhny Novgorod scientific and research institute of epidemiology and microbiology name acad. I.N. Blokhina of the Rospotrebnadzor
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10
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Bioinformatic and experimental characterization of SEN1998: a conserved gene carried by the Enterobacteriaceae-associated ROD21-like family of genomic islands. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2435. [PMID: 35165310 PMCID: PMC8844411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06183-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic islands (GIs) are horizontally transferred elements that shape bacterial genomes and contributes to the adaptation to different environments. Some GIs encode an integrase and a recombination directionality factor (RDF), which are the molecular GI-encoded machinery that promotes the island excision from the chromosome, the first step for the spread of GIs by horizontal transfer. Although less studied, this process can also play a role in the virulence of bacterial pathogens. While the excision of GIs is thought to be similar to that observed in bacteriophages, this mechanism has been only studied in a few families of islands. Here, we aimed to gain a better understanding of the factors involved in the excision of ROD21 a pathogenicity island of the food-borne pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and the most studied member of the recently described Enterobacteriaceae-associated ROD21-like family of GIs. Using bioinformatic and experimental approaches, we characterized the conserved gene SEN1998, showing that it encodes a protein with the features of an RDF that binds to the regulatory regions involved in the excision of ROD21. While deletion or overexpression of SEN1998 did not alter the expression of the integrase-encoding gene SEN1970, a slight but significant trend was observed in the excision of the island. Surprisingly, we found that the expression of both genes, SEN1998 and SEN1970, were negatively correlated to the excision of ROD21 which showed a growth phase-dependent pattern. Our findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding the excision of GIs, providing insights about ROD21 and the recently described EARL family of genomic islands.
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11
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De Koster S, Rodriguez Ruiz JP, Rajakani SG, Lammens C, Glupczynski Y, Goossens H, Xavier BB. Diversity in the Characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST101 of Human, Environmental, and Animal Origin. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:838207. [PMID: 35222344 PMCID: PMC8866942 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.838207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Klebsiella pneumoniae ST101 is an emerging high-risk clone which exhibits extensive drug resistance. Bacterial strains residing in multiple hosts show unique signatures related to host adaptation. In this study, we assess the genetic relationship of K. pneumoniae ST101 isolated from hospital samples, the environment, community, and livestock using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Materials and Methods We selected ten K. pneumoniae ST101 strains from hospitalized patients in Italy (n = 3) (2014) and Spain (n = 5) (2015–2016) as well as Belgian livestock animals (n = 2) (2017–2018). WGS was performed with 2 × 250 bp paired-end sequencing (Nextera XT) sample preparation kit and MiSeq (Illumina Inc.). Long-read sequencing (Pacbio Sequel I) was used to sequence the two livestock strains and three Italian hospital-associated strains. Furthermore, a public ST101 sequence collection of 586 strains (566 hospital-associated strains, 12 environmental strains, six strains from healthy individuals, one food-associated strain and one pig strain) was obtained. BacPipe and Kleborate were used to conduct genome analysis. ISFinder was used to find IS elements, and PHASTER was utilized to identify prophages. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to illustrate genetic relatedness. Results Hospital-associated K. pneumoniae ST101 showed higher resistance scores than non-clinical isolates from healthy individuals, the environment, food and livestock (1.85 ± 0.72 in hospital-associated isolates vs. 1.14 ± 1.13 in non-clinical isolates, p < 0.01). Importantly, the lack of integrative conjugative elements ICEKp bearing iron-scavenging yersiniabactin siderophores (ybt) in livestock-associated strains suggests a lower pathogenicity potential than hospital-associated strains. Mobile genetic elements (MGE) appear to be an important source of diversity in K. pneumoniae ST101 strains from different origins, with a highly stable genome and few recombination events outside the prophage-containing regions. Core genome MLST based analysis revealed a distinct genetic clustering between human and livestock-associated isolates. Conclusion The study of K. pneumoniae ST101 hospital-associated and strains from healthy individuals and animals revealed a genetic diversity between these two groups, allowing us to identify the presence of yersiniabactin siderophores in hospital-associated isolates. Resistance and virulence levels in livestock-associated strains were considerably lower than hospital-associated strains, implying that the public health risk remains low. The introduction of an ICEKp into animal strains, on the other hand, might pose a public threat over time.
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12
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Bibbolino G, Di Lella FM, Oliva A, Lichtner M, Del Borgo C, Raponi G, Trancassini M, Mengoni F, Arcari G, Antonelli G, Carattoli A. Molecular epidemiology of NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli high-risk clones identified in two Italian hospitals in 2017-2019. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 100:115399. [PMID: 34030105 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Between November 2018 and October 2019, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carrying New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) caused one of the largest and persistent outbreaks occurred in Italy and intensified surveillance measures have been taken in all Italian hospitals. In this study we analyzed NDM-5- producing Escherichia coli identified in 2 hospitals of the Lazio region in Italy. Epidemiological and microbiological data demonstrated that in 2018-2019 the NDM-5-producing high-risk E. coli ST167 clone circulated in patients from both hospitals. In 2019, another NDM-5-producing E. coli clone, identified by MLST as ST617 was introduced in one of the 2 hospitals and caused an outbreak. This study describes an application of genomics as a useful method to discern endemic and outbreak clones when applied to strains of the same species (E. coli) with the same resistance determinant (NDM-5) and the relevance of screening patients admitted in critical units for carbapenemase producers to prevent outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bibbolino
- Dept. Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Oliva
- Dept. of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Dept. of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Infectious Disease Unit, SM Goretti Hospital, Latina, Italy
| | | | - Giammarco Raponi
- Dept. of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Trancassini
- Dept. of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Mengoni
- Dept. of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Arcari
- Dept. Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Dept. Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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13
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Liu M, Li X, Xie Y, Bi D, Sun J, Li J, Tai C, Deng Z, Ou HY. ICEberg 2.0: an updated database of bacterial integrative and conjugative elements. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:D660-D665. [PMID: 30407568 PMCID: PMC6323972 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 276] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
ICEberg 2.0 (http://db-mml.sjtu.edu.cn/ICEberg/) is an updated database that provides comprehensive information about bacterial integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). Compared with the previous version, three major improvements were made. First, with the aid of text mining and manual curation, it now recorded the details of 1032 ICEs, including 270 with experimental supports and 762 from bioinformatics prediction. Second, as increasing evidence has shown that ICEs frequently mobilize the so-called ‘hitchhikers’, such as integrative and mobilizable elements (IMEs) and cis-mobilizable elements (CIMEs), 83 known transfer interactions between 49 IMEs and 7 CIMEs with 19 ICEs taken from the literature were included and illustrated with visually intuitive directed graphs. An expanded collection of 260 chromosome-borne IMEs and 235 CIMEs was also added. At last, ICEberg 2.0 provides an online tool ICEfinder to predict ICEs or IMEs in bacterial genome sequences. It combines a similarity search for the integrase, relaxase and/or type IV secretion system and the co-localization of these corresponding homologous genes. With the recent updates, ICEberg 2.0 might provide better support for understanding the biological traits of ICEs, especially as their interaction with cognate mobilizable elements may further promote horizontal gene flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaobin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yingzhou Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Dexi Bi
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Jingyong Sun
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jun Li
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Cui Tai
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Zixin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Hong-Yu Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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14
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Kang H, Zheng W, Kong Z, Jiang F, Gu B, Ma P, Ma X. Disease burden and molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia infection in a tertiary hospital in China. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:605. [PMID: 32566631 PMCID: PMC7290562 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2020.03.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has become an urgent global public health issue, but its distribution has obvious regional differences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patient-based disease burden and molecular epidemiology of CRKP infections in a tertiary hospital in northern Jiangsu Province in China. Methods A retrospective, epidemiological survey of CRKP infections in our hospital from January to December 2016 was conducted to collect clinical and epidemiologic data. Non-duplicated clinical CRKP isolates were collected for the resistance-associated genes and clonal correlation analysis by PCR, sequencing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Results 252 CRKP infection cases were collected, and the annual CRKP infection incidence of the hospital during 2016 was 14.64 per 10,000 hospital discharges (252/172,112*10,000) and 13.78 per 100,000 patient days (252/1,829,190*100,000). The patient-based disease burden concentrated on antimicrobial exposure history (133/224, 59.37%)-the most dominant STs. KPC-2 (120/128, 93.8%) was the predominant carbapenemase and ST11 (98/128, 76.5%) was the dominant STs. One isolate was detected with harboring bla KPC-2 and bla MCR-1 simultaneously. Conclusions Patient-based disease burden and KPC-2-producing ST11 Klebsiella pneumonia caused in higher CRKP incidence in the hospital. The emergence of CRKP with bla KPC-2 and bla MCR-1 should be of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiquan Kang
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- Department of Hospital-Acquired Infection Control, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Ziyan Kong
- Medical Technology School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Fei Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - Bing Gu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China.,Medical Technology School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China.,Medical Technology School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
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15
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Garcia-Fernandez A, Villa L, Bibbolino G, Bressan A, Trancassini M, Pietropaolo V, Venditti M, Antonelli G, Carattoli A. Novel Insights and Features of the NDM-5-Producing Escherichia coli Sequence Type 167 High-Risk Clone. mSphere 2020; 5:e00269-20. [PMID: 32350092 PMCID: PMC7193042 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00269-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli sequence type 167 (ST167), producing the metallo beta-lactamase NDM-5, has been isolated as a colonizer of patients recovered at the University Hospital Policlinico Umberto I of Rome. Phylogenesis and comparative analysis of the genomes of these strains were performed against 343 ST167 genomes available from the EnteroBase database. These analyses revealed that resistance plasmids, integrative conjugative elements (ICEs), carrying the yersiniabactin virulence trait and capsular synthesis gene clusters had variable compositions and distributions within different strains of the ST167 clone. A novel capsular synthesis gene cluster, highly similar to the K48 cluster previously described only for Klebsiella pneumoniae, was identified in phylogenetically related strains of the ST167 clone.IMPORTANCE Global dissemination of some E. coli high-risk clones has been described in the last decades. The most widespread was the ST131 clone, associated with extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. Genomics of ST131 demonstrated that one clade within the ST emerged in the early 2000s, followed by a rapid, global expansion. The E. coli ST167 clone is emerging throughout the world, being frequently reported for its association with carbapenem resistance. Our study shows that virulence features are differently represented within the ST167 population. One clade shows the K48 capsular synthesis gene cluster of K. pneumoniae, not previously described for E. coli, and is populated by NDM-5-producing strains. The combination of resistance and virulence may sustain the global expansion of this specific ST167 clade.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Villa
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Bibbolino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessia Bressan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Trancassini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Venditti
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Antonelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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16
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Varas MA, Muñoz-Montecinos C, Kallens V, Simon V, Allende ML, Marcoleta AE, Lagos R. Exploiting Zebrafish Xenografts for Testing the in vivo Antitumorigenic Activity of Microcin E492 Against Human Colorectal Cancer Cells. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:405. [PMID: 32265865 PMCID: PMC7096547 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the approaches to address cancer treatment is to develop new drugs not only to obtain compounds with less side effects, but also to have a broader set of alternatives to tackle the resistant forms of this pathology. In this regard, growing evidence supports the use of bacteria-derived peptides such as bacteriocins, which have emerged as promising anti-cancer molecules. In addition to test the activity of these molecules on cancer cells in culture, their in vivo antitumorigenic properties must be validated in animal models. Although the standard approach for such assays employs experiments in nude mice, at the initial stages of testing, the use of high-throughput animal models would permit rapid proof-of-concept experiments, screening a high number of compounds, and thus increasing the possibilities of finding new anti-cancer molecules. A validated and promising alternative animal model are zebrafish larvae harboring xenografts of human cancer cells. Here, we addressed the anti-cancer properties of the antibacterial peptide microcin E492 (MccE492), a bacteriocin produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae, showing that this peptide has a marked cytotoxic effect on human colorectal cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, we developed a zebrafish xenograft model using these cells to test the antitumor effect of MccE492 in vivo, demonstrating that intratumor injection of this peptide significantly reduced the tumor cell mass. Our results provide, for the first time, evidence of the in vivo antitumoral properties of a bacteriocin tested in an animal model. This evidence strongly supports the potential of this bacteriocin for the development of novel anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena A Varas
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Muñoz-Montecinos
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Violeta Kallens
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valeska Simon
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel L Allende
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrés E Marcoleta
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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17
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Choby JE, Howard-Anderson J, Weiss DS. Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae - clinical and molecular perspectives. J Intern Med 2020; 287:283-300. [PMID: 31677303 PMCID: PMC7057273 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) has emerged as a concerning global pathogen. hvKp is more virulent than classical K. pneumoniae (cKp) and capable of causing community-acquired infections, often in healthy individuals. hvKp is carried in the gastrointestinal tract, which contributes to its spread in the community and healthcare settings. First recognized in Asia, hvKp arose as a leading cause of pyogenic liver abscesses. In the decades since, hvKp has spread globally and causes a variety of infections. In addition to liver abscesses, hvKp is distinct from cKp in its ability to metastasize to distant sites, including most commonly the eye, lung and central nervous system (CNS). hvKp has also been implicated in primary extrahepatic infections including bacteremia, pneumonia and soft tissue infections. The genetic determinants of hypervirulence are often found on large virulence plasmids as well as chromosomal mobile genetic elements which can be used as biomarkers to distinguish hvKp from cKp clinical isolates. These distinct virulence determinants of hvKp include up to four siderophore systems for iron acquisition, increased capsule production, K1 and K2 capsule types, and the colibactin toxin. Additionally, hvKp strains demonstrate hypermucoviscosity, a phenotypic description of hvKp in laboratory conditions that has become a distinguishing feature of many hypervirulent isolates. Alarmingly, multidrug-resistant hypervirulent strains have emerged, creating a new challenge in combating this already dangerous pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Choby
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J Howard-Anderson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - D S Weiss
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Research Service, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA
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18
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Horizontally Acquired Homologs of Xenogeneic Silencers: Modulators of Gene Expression Encoded by Plasmids, Phages and Genomic Islands. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11020142. [PMID: 32013150 PMCID: PMC7074111 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Acquisition of mobile elements by horizontal gene transfer can play a major role in bacterial adaptation and genome evolution by providing traits that contribute to bacterial fitness. However, gaining foreign DNA can also impose significant fitness costs to the host bacteria and can even produce detrimental effects. The efficiency of horizontal acquisition of DNA is thought to be improved by the activity of xenogeneic silencers. These molecules are a functionally related group of proteins that possess affinity for the acquired DNA. Binding of xenogeneic silencers suppresses the otherwise uncontrolled expression of genes from the newly acquired nucleic acid, facilitating their integration to the bacterial regulatory networks. Even when the genes encoding for xenogeneic silencers are part of the core genome, homologs encoded by horizontally acquired elements have also been identified and studied. In this article, we discuss the current knowledge about horizontally acquired xenogeneic silencer homologs, focusing on those encoded by genomic islands, highlighting their distribution and the major traits that allow these proteins to become part of the host regulatory networks.
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Emergence of an NDM-5-Producing Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 35 Strain with Chromosomal Integration of an Integrative and Conjugative Element, ICE Kp1. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 64:AAC.01675-19. [PMID: 31611359 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01675-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report an NDM-5-producing sequence type 35 (ST35) hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, isolated from the blood of a male patient. It showed a remarkable resistance to serum killing and neutrophil phagocytosis and high virulence in a mouse peritonitis infection model. Instead of carrying a pLVPK-like virulence plasmid, chromosomal integration of ICEKp1 (∼76 kb) was identified in a specific asparagine-tRNA gene, harboring the iron acquisition system salmochelin genes (iroBCDN), a yersiniabactin gene, and a variant of the rmpA gene.
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20
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Pathogenicity island excision during an infection by Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is required for crossing the intestinal epithelial barrier in mice to cause systemic infection. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008152. [PMID: 31800631 PMCID: PMC6968874 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenicity island excision is a phenomenon that occurs in several Salmonella enterica serovars and other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. ROD21 is an excisable pathogenicity island found in the chromosome of S. Enteritidis, S. Dublin and S. Typhi among others, which contain several genes encoding virulence-associated proteins. Excision of ROD21 may play a role in the ability of S. Enteritidis to cause a systemic infection in mice. Our previous studies have shown that Salmonella strains unable to excise ROD21 display a reduced ability to colonize the liver and spleen. In this work, we determined the kinetics of ROD21 excision in vivo in C57BL/6 mice and its effect on virulence. We quantified bacterial burden and excision frequency in different portions of the digestive tract and internal organs throughout the infection. We observed that the frequency of ROD21 excision was significantly increased in the bacterial population colonizing mesenteric lymph nodes at early stages of the infective cycle, before 48 hours post-infection. In contrast, excision frequency remained very low in the liver and spleen at these stages. Interestingly, excision increased drastically after 48 h post infection, when intestinal re-infection and mortality begun. Moreover, we observed that the inability to excise ROD21 had a negative effect on S. Enteritidis capacity to translocate from the intestine to deeper organs, which correlates with an abnormal transcription of invA in the S. Enteritidis strain unable to excise ROD21. These results suggest that excision of ROD21 is a genetic mechanism required by S. Enteritidis to produce a successful invasion of the intestinal epithelium, a step required to generate systemic infection in mice. Salmonella is a bacterial genus that causes foodborne illnesses worldwide. The ability of Salmonella to cause disease is related to the presence of Pathogenicity Islands (PAIs), which are clusters of genes within the bacterial chromosome that are involved in virulence. Interestingly, some PAIs excise and re-integrate into the bacterial chromosome, which is a process probably involved in the capacity of Salmonella to cause infection in their hosts. Here we show that the excision of Region of Difference 21 (ROD21), one of the excisable PAIs within the genome of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, occurs with high frequency in the mesenteric lymph node at early stages of infection, suggesting that excision is required by S. Enteritidis to reach this organ from the intestinal tract. Accordingly, S. Enteritidis strains unable to excise ROD21 are unable to invade intestinal host cells, delaying the infective cycle and showing attenuated virulence. We propose that ROD21 excision in vivo is required by S. Enteritidis to cross the intestinal barrier, a fundamental step to further colonize deep organs, due to modulation of virulence genes transcription. Thus, ROD21 excision may play an important role in the capacity of the bacteria to cause a successful systemic infection in the mouse. Our data suggest that the excision of PAIs is a mechanism used by Salmonella and probably other Gram-negative enterobacteria to modulate the expression of virulence genes and may provide insights to design novel therapies to control the infection caused by these pathogens.
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21
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Abstract
Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) is an evolving pathotype that is more virulent than classical K. pneumoniae (cKp). hvKp usually infects individuals from the community, who are often healthy. Infections are more common in the Asian Pacific Rim but are occurring globally. hvKp infection frequently presents at multiple sites or subsequently metastatically spreads, often requiring source control. hvKp has an increased ability to cause central nervous system infection and endophthalmitis, which require rapid recognition and site-specific treatment. The genetic factors that confer hvKp's hypervirulent phenotype are present on a large virulence plasmid and perhaps integrative conjugal elements. Increased capsule production and aerobactin production are established hvKp-specific virulence factors. Similar to cKp, hvKp strains are becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobials via acquisition of mobile elements carrying resistance determinants, and new hvKp strains emerge when extensively drug-resistant cKp strains acquire hvKp-specific virulence determinants, resulting in nosocomial infection. Presently, clinical laboratories are unable to differentiate cKp from hvKp, but recently, several biomarkers and quantitative siderophore production have been shown to accurately predict hvKp strains, which could lead to the development of a diagnostic test for use by clinical laboratories for optimal patient care and for use in epidemiologic surveillance and research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Russo
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- The Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Candace M Marr
- Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
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22
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Donà V, Scheidegger M, Pires J, Furrer H, Atkinson A, Babouee Flury B. Gradual in vitro Evolution of Cefepime Resistance in an ST131 Escherichia coli Strain Expressing a Plasmid-Encoded CMY-2 β-Lactamase. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1311. [PMID: 31244817 PMCID: PMC6581752 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In a previous report, a clinical ST131 Escherichia coli isolate (Ec-1),producing a plasmid-encoded AmpC β-lactamase CMY-2, evolved in vivo under cefepime (FEP) treatment to the FEP-resistant Ec-2 strain expressing an extended-spectrum β-lactamase CMY-33. To compare factors responsible for in vitro and in vivo FEP resistance, we reproduced in vitro FEP resistance evolution in Ec-1. Methods FEP-resistant mutants were generated by subjecting Ec-1 (FEP MIC = 0.125 mg/L) to sub-inhibitory concentrations of FEP. MICs were obtained by broth microdilution or Etest. Strains were sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq platform. Transcriptional levels and plasmid copy numbers were determined by real-time PCR. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were extracted and separated by SDS-PAGE. Growth kinetics was evaluated by measuring OD450. Results The CMY-2 expressed by Ec-1 evolved to a CMY-69 (strain EC-4) by an Ala294Pro substitution after 24 passages. After 30 passages, the FEP MIC increased to 256 mg/L (strain EC-32). SDS PAGE did not reveal any lack of OMPs in the mutant strains. However, blaCMY transcription levels were up to 14-times higher than in Ec-1, which was partially explained by mutations in the upstream region of repA resulting in a higher copy number of the blaCMY-harboring IncI1 plasmid. All mutants showed a slight growth defect but no significant difference in relative growth rates compared to Ec-1. Conclusion In vitro sub-inhibitory concentrations of FEP resulted in the selection of resistance mutations altering the H-10 helix of the CMY-2 and increasing the plasmid copy number. Appropriate dosing strategies may help preventing resistance evolution during treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Donà
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - João Pires
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hansjakob Furrer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Atkinson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Baharak Babouee Flury
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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23
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Shanmugam N, Baker MODG, Ball SR, Steain M, Pham CLL, Sunde M. Microbial functional amyloids serve diverse purposes for structure, adhesion and defence. Biophys Rev 2019; 11:287-302. [PMID: 31049855 PMCID: PMC6557962 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-019-00526-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional amyloid state of proteins has in recent years garnered much attention for its role in serving crucial and diverse biological roles. Amyloid is a protein fold characterised by fibrillar morphology, binding of the amyloid-specific dyes Thioflavin T and Congo Red, insolubility and underlying cross-β structure. Amyloids were initially characterised as an aberrant protein fold associated with mammalian disease. However, in the last two decades, functional amyloids have been described in almost all biological systems, from viruses, to bacteria and archaea, to humans. Understanding the structure and role of these amyloids elucidates novel and potentially ancient mechanisms of protein function throughout nature. Many of these microbial functional amyloids are utilised by pathogens for invasion and maintenance of infection. As such, they offer novel avenues for therapies. This review examines the structure and mechanism of known microbial functional amyloids, with a particular focus on the pathogenicity conferred by the production of these structures and the strategies utilised by microbes to interfere with host amyloid structures. The biological importance of microbial amyloid assemblies is highlighted by their ubiquity and diverse functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirukshan Shanmugam
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Sydney Nano, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Max O D G Baker
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Sydney Nano, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Sarah R Ball
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Sydney Nano, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Megan Steain
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Chi L L Pham
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Sydney Nano, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Margaret Sunde
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Sydney Nano, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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24
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Marcoleta AE, Gutiérrez-Cortez S, Hurtado F, Argandoña Y, Corsini G, Monasterio O, Lagos R. The Ferric uptake regulator (Fur) and iron availability control the production and maturation of the antibacterial peptide microcin E492. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200835. [PMID: 30071030 PMCID: PMC6071977 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Microcin E492 is a pore-forming bacteriocin with toxic activity against Enterobacteriaceae, which undergoes amyloid aggregation as a mechanism to regulate its toxicity. To be active, it requires the posttranslational attachment to the C-terminus of a glycosylated enterochelin derivative (salmochelin), a process carried out by the proteins MceC, MceI and MceJ encoded in the MccE492 gene cluster. Both microcin E492 and salmochelin have a proposed role in the virulence of the bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. Besides, enterochelin is produced as a response to low iron availability and its synthesis is controlled by the global iron regulator Fur. Since the production of active microcin E492 depends on enterochelin biosynthesis, both processes could be coordinately regulated. In this work, we investigated the role of Fur in the expression of the microcin E492 maturation genes mceCJI. mceC was not regulated by Fur as it occurs with its homolog iroB in Salmonella enterica. We demonstrated that mceJI along with the previously uncharacterized gene mceX are transcribed as a single mRNA, and that Fur binds in vivo to a Fur box located upstream of the mceX-mceJI unit. Also, we established that the expression of these genes decreased in a condition of high iron availability, while this effect is abrogated in a Δfur background. Furthermore, our results indicated that MceX acts as a negative regulator of microcin E492 structural gene expression, coupling its synthesis to the iron-dependent regulatory circuit. Consequently, fur or mceX overexpression led to a significant decrease in the antibacterial activity of cells producing microcin E492. Altogether these results show that both the expression of microcin E492 maturation genes mceJI, and MceX the negative regulator of microcin E492 synthesis, are coordinated with the enterochelin production by Fur, depending on the iron levels in the medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés E. Marcoleta
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (RL); (AEM)
| | - Sergio Gutiérrez-Cortez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Hurtado
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yerko Argandoña
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gino Corsini
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago, Chile
| | - Octavio Monasterio
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (RL); (AEM)
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25
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Lam MMC, Wick RR, Wyres KL, Gorrie CL, Judd LM, Jenney AWJ, Brisse S, Holt KE. Genetic diversity, mobilisation and spread of the yersiniabactin-encoding mobile element ICEKp in Klebsiella pneumoniae populations. Microb Genom 2018; 4. [PMID: 29985125 PMCID: PMC6202445 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that frequently transfer within and between bacterial species play a critical role in bacterial evolution, and often carry key accessory genes that associate with a bacteria’s ability to cause disease. MGEs carrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and/or virulence determinants are common in the opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae, which is a leading cause of highly drug-resistant infections in hospitals. Well-characterised virulence determinants in K. pneumoniae include the polyketide synthesis loci ybt and clb (also known as pks), encoding the iron-scavenging siderophore yersiniabactin and genotoxin colibactin, respectively. These loci are located within an MGE called ICEKp, which is the most common virulence-associated MGE of K. pneumoniae, providing a mechanism for these virulence factors to spread within the population. Here we apply population genomics to investigate the prevalence, evolution and mobility of ybt and clb in K. pneumoniae populations through comparative analysis of 2498 whole-genome sequences. The ybt locus was detected in 40 % of K. pneumoniae genomes, particularly amongst those associated with invasive infections. We identified 17 distinct ybt lineages and 3 clb lineages, each associated with one of 14 different structural variants of ICEKp. Comparison with the wider population of the family Enterobacteriaceae revealed occasional ICEKp acquisition by other members. The clb locus was present in 14 % of all K. pneumoniae and 38.4 % of ybt+ genomes. Hundreds of independent ICEKp integration events were detected affecting hundreds of phylogenetically distinct K. pneumoniae lineages, including at least 19 in the globally-disseminated carbapenem-resistant clone CG258. A novel plasmid-encoded form of ybt was also identified, representing a new mechanism for ybt dispersal in K. pneumoniae populations. These data indicate that MGEs carrying ybt and clb circulate freely in the K. pneumoniae population, including among multidrug-resistant strains, and should be considered a target for genomic surveillance along with AMR determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M C Lam
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ryan R Wick
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelly L Wyres
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claire L Gorrie
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louise M Judd
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam W J Jenney
- 2Department Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Unit, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sylvain Brisse
- 3Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
| | - Kathryn E Holt
- 4London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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26
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Marcoleta AE, Varas MA, Ortiz-Severín J, Vásquez L, Berríos-Pastén C, Sabag AV, Chávez FP, Allende ML, Santiviago CA, Monasterio O, Lagos R. Evaluating Different Virulence Traits of Klebsiella pneumoniae Using Dictyostelium discoideum and Zebrafish Larvae as Host Models. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:30. [PMID: 29479519 PMCID: PMC5811510 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiresistant and invasive hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae strains have become one of the most urgent bacterial pathogen threats. Recent analyses revealed a high genomic plasticity of this species, harboring a variety of mobile genetic elements associated with virulent strains, encoding proteins of unknown function whose possible role in pathogenesis have not been addressed. K. pneumoniae virulence has been studied mainly in animal models such as mice and pigs, however, practical, financial, ethical and methodological issues limit the use of mammal hosts. Consequently, the development of simple and cost-effective experimental approaches with alternative host models is needed. In this work we described the use of both, the social amoeba and professional phagocyte Dictyostelium discoideum and the fish Danio rerio (zebrafish) as surrogate host models to study K. pneumoniae virulence. We compared three K. pneumoniae clinical isolates evaluating their resistance to phagocytosis, intracellular survival, lethality, intestinal colonization, and innate immune cells recruitment. Optical transparency of both host models permitted studying the infective process in vivo, following the Klebsiella-host interactions through live-cell imaging. We demonstrated that K. pneumoniae RYC492, but not the multiresistant strains 700603 and BAA-1705, is virulent to both host models and elicits a strong immune response. Moreover, this strain showed a high resistance to phagocytosis by D. discoideum, an increased ability to form biofilms and a more prominent and irregular capsule. Besides, the strain 700603 showed the unique ability to replicate inside amoeba cells. Genomic comparison of the K. pneumoniae strains showed that the RYC492 strain has a higher overall content of virulence factors although no specific genes could be linked to its phagocytosis resistance, nor to the intracellular survival observed for the 700603 strain. Our results indicate that both zebrafish and D. discoideum are advantageous host models to study different traits of K. pneumoniae that are associated with virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés E Marcoleta
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Macarena A Varas
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Ortiz-Severín
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Leonardo Vásquez
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea V Sabag
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco P Chávez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel L Allende
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro FONDAP de Regulación del Genoma, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos A Santiviago
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Octavio Monasterio
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rosalba Lagos
- Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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27
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The Obscure World of Integrative and Mobilizable Elements, Highly Widespread Elements that Pirate Bacterial Conjugative Systems. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8110337. [PMID: 29165361 PMCID: PMC5704250 DOI: 10.3390/genes8110337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Conjugation is a key mechanism of bacterial evolution that involves mobile genetic elements. Recent findings indicated that the main actors of conjugative transfer are not the well-known conjugative or mobilizable plasmids but are the integrated elements. This paper reviews current knowledge on “integrative and mobilizable elements” (IMEs) that have recently been shown to be highly diverse and highly widespread but are still rarely described. IMEs encode their own excision and integration and use the conjugation machinery of unrelated co-resident conjugative element for their own transfer. Recent studies revealed a much more complex and much more diverse lifecycle than initially thought. Besides their main transmission as integrated elements, IMEs probably use plasmid-like strategies to ensure their maintenance after excision. Their interaction with conjugative elements reveals not only harmless hitchhikers but also hunters that use conjugative elements as target for their integration or harmful parasites that subvert the conjugative apparatus of incoming elements to invade cells that harbor them. IMEs carry genes conferring various functions, such as resistance to antibiotics, that can enhance the fitness of their hosts and that contribute to their maintenance in bacterial populations. Taken as a whole, IMEs are probably major contributors to bacterial evolution.
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28
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Villa L, Feudi C, Fortini D, Brisse S, Passet V, Bonura C, Endimiani A, Mammina C, Ocampo AM, Jimenez JN, Doumith M, Woodford N, Hopkins K, Carattoli A. Diversity, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance of the KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST307 clone. Microb Genom 2017; 3:e000110. [PMID: 28785421 PMCID: PMC5506382 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The global spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) has been mainly associated with the dissemination of high-risk clones. In the last decade, hospital outbreaks involving KPC-producing K. pneumoniae have been predominantly attributed to isolates belonging to clonal group (CG) 258. However, results of recent epidemiological analysis indicate that KPC-producing sequence type (ST) 307, is emerging in different parts of the world and is a candidate to become a prevalent high-risk clone in the near future. Here we show that the ST307 genome encodes genetic features that may provide an advantage in adaptation to the hospital environment and the human host. Sequence analysis revealed novel plasmid-located virulence factors, including a cluster for glycogen synthesis. Glycogen production is considered to be one of the possible adaptive responses to long-term survival and growth in environments outside the host. Chromosomally-encoded virulence traits in the clone comprised fimbriae, an integrative conjugative element carrying the yersiniabactin siderophore, and two different capsular loci. Compared with the ST258 clone, capsulated ST307 isolates showed higher resistance to complement-mediated killing. The acquired genetic features identified in the genome of this new emerging clone may contribute to increased persistence of ST307 in the hospital environment and shed light on its potential epidemiological success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrea Endimiani
- 4Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Ana Maria Ocampo
- 5Grupo de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Escuela de Microbiología Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Judy Natalia Jimenez
- 5Grupo de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Escuela de Microbiología Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Michel Doumith
- 6Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Neil Woodford
- 6Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Katie Hopkins
- 6Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
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29
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Comparative Genome Analyses of Vibrio anguillarum Strains Reveal a Link with Pathogenicity Traits. mSystems 2017; 2:mSystems00001-17. [PMID: 28293680 PMCID: PMC5347184 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00001-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Comparative genome analysis of strains of a pathogenic bacterial species can be a powerful tool to discover acquisition of mobile genetic elements related to virulence. Here, we compared 28 V. anguillarum strains that differed in virulence in fish larval models. By pan-genome analyses, we found that six of nine highly virulent strains had a unique core and accessory genome. In contrast, V. anguillarum strains that were medium to nonvirulent had low genomic diversity. Integration of genomic and phenotypic features provides insights into the evolution of V. anguillarum and can also be important for survey and diagnostic purposes. Vibrio anguillarum is a marine bacterium that can cause vibriosis in many fish and shellfish species, leading to high mortalities and economic losses in aquaculture. Although putative virulence factors have been identified, the mechanism of pathogenesis of V. anguillarum is not fully understood. Here, we analyzed whole-genome sequences of a collection of V. anguillarum strains and compared them to virulence of the strains as determined in larval challenge assays. Previously identified virulence factors were globally distributed among the strains, with some genetic diversity. However, the pan-genome revealed that six out of nine high-virulence strains possessed a unique accessory genome that was attributed to pathogenic genomic islands, prophage-like elements, virulence factors, and a new set of gene clusters involved in biosynthesis, modification, and transport of polysaccharides. In contrast, V. anguillarum strains that were medium to nonvirulent had a high degree of genomic homogeneity. Finally, we found that a phylogeny based on the core genomes clustered the strains with moderate to no virulence, while six out of nine high-virulence strains represented phylogenetically separate clusters. Hence, we suggest a link between genotype and virulence characteristics of Vibrio anguillarum, which can be used to unravel the molecular evolution of V. anguillarum and can also be important from survey and diagnostic perspectives. IMPORTANCE Comparative genome analysis of strains of a pathogenic bacterial species can be a powerful tool to discover acquisition of mobile genetic elements related to virulence. Here, we compared 28 V. anguillarum strains that differed in virulence in fish larval models. By pan-genome analyses, we found that six of nine highly virulent strains had a unique core and accessory genome. In contrast, V. anguillarum strains that were medium to nonvirulent had low genomic diversity. Integration of genomic and phenotypic features provides insights into the evolution of V. anguillarum and can also be important for survey and diagnostic purposes.
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