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Yin W, Wan M, Zhang Y, Meng H, Pan Z, Jiao X, Gu D. Role of the TPR family protein VPA1365 in regulating type III secretion system 2 and virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2025; 91:e0220124. [PMID: 40130841 PMCID: PMC12016518 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02201-24] [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: 11/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2025] [Indexed: 03/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a notable seafood-borne pathogen capable of colonizing the intestines of hosts and inducing acute gastroenteritis. The intestinal colonization and enterotoxicity of V. parahaemolyticus are highly reliant on the type III secretion system 2 (T3SS2), encoded within the pathogenicity island (Vp-PAI). The expression of Vp-PAI is strictly regulated by bile acid signals and transcriptional regulators VtrA/VtrB. In this study, we identified a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) family protein named VPA1365, which regulates the expression of T3SS2 and is indispensable for the intestinal colonization of V. parahaemolyticus. The expression and secretion of the T3SS2-dependent protein VopD2 were significantly reduced in Δvpa1365 compared to that of the wild type (WT), suggesting that VPA1365 positively regulates the function of T3SS2. Further research indicated that VPA1365 directly binds to the promoters of vtrA, thereby increasing the expression levels of T3SS2-associated genes. Additionally, the deletion of vpa1365 markedly reduced the cytotoxicity, adhesion ability, biofilm formation, and hemolytic activity of V. parahaemolyticus. VPA1365 was found to control the expression levels of these virulence-associated genes by binding to the promoters of scrG, pilA, and mshA. In a zebrafish infection model, the Δvpa1365 infected groups demonstrated a higher survival rate compared to the zebrafish infected with WT. In conclusion, this study identified a TPR family protein VPA1365, which regulates the expression levels of T3SS2 and virulence-associated genes in V. parahaemolyticus, further broadening our understanding of its virulence factors. IMPORTANCE The type III secretion system 2 (T3SS2) is of crucial significance for the pathogenicity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus; nevertheless, the biological functions of many genes within the T3SS2 gene cluster and the transcriptional regulatory network of T3SS2 remain ambiguous. In this study, we identified VPA1365, a tetratricopeptide repeat family regulator encoded in the T3SS2 gene cluster, which differs from other known T3SS2 regulatory factors, such as OmpR, ToxR, or LysR family proteins. VPA1365 not only positively regulated the expression and secretion of T3SS2-related proteins but also enhanced the virulence in infant rabbits and zebrafish. Moreover, we identified several novel functions of VPA1365, such as its contribution to hemolytic activity, biofilm formation, cytotoxicity, and adhesion ability, uncovering its global physiological role in V. parahaemolyticus. The putative VPA1365-binding site was predicted and identified through the MEME-Suite tool and electrophoretic mobility shift analysis. Collectively, these results broaden our understanding of the regulatory pathways of T3SS2 and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenliang Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengyan Wan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Youkun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongmei Meng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiming Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinan Jiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dan Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Zhang M, Zhu Y, Li X, Luo X, Sun H, Xiong S, Lu R, Zhang Y. GepA, a GGDEF-EAL protein, regulates biofilm formation and swimming motility in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Arch Microbiol 2025; 207:99. [PMID: 40119885 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-025-04282-7] [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: 01/14/2025] [Revised: 02/05/2025] [Accepted: 02/21/2025] [Indexed: 03/25/2025]
Abstract
Cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a second messenger that regulates multiple bacterial behaviors. It is synthesized by diguanylate cyclase (DGC) with the GGDEF domain, and degraded by phosphodiesterase (PDE) with the EAL or HD-GYP domain. The GepA (VP0117) protein in Vibrio parahaemolyticus contains both GGDEF and EAL domains, but its role remains unknown. This study found that deletion of the EAL domain or both the GGDEF and EAL domains in GepA increased intracellular c-di-GMP levels, enhanced biofilm formation, and inhibited polar flagellum-mediated swimming motility. Deletion of only the GGDEF domain had no such effects. Additionally, removing the EAL domain or both the GGDEF and EAL domains increased cpsA expression and decreased polar flagellar gene expression, while deleting the GGDEF domain alone had no impact on these genes. Overexpression of GepA or a GepA variant with a mutated GGDEF domain reduced biofilm formation but increased swimming motility. However, overexpression of GepA with a mutated EAL domain did not produce the expected phenotypic changes. In summary, GepA functions as a PDE to degrade c-di-GMP, thereby suppressing biofilm formation and enhancing swimming motility in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yurui Zhu
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuhui Xiong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China.
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Lydick VN, Mass S, Pepin R, Podicheti R, Klempic E, Rusch DB, Ushijima B, Brown LC, Salomon D, van Kessel JC. Quorum sensing regulates virulence factors in the coral pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2025; 91:e0114324. [PMID: 39812412 PMCID: PMC11837519 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01143-24] [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: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 11/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025] Open
Abstract
The bacterial pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus causes disease in coral species worldwide. The mechanisms of V. coralliilyticus coral colonization, coral microbiome interactions, and virulence factor production are understudied. In other model Vibrio species, virulence factors like biofilm formation, toxin secretion, and protease production are controlled through a density-dependent communication system called quorum sensing (QS). Comparative genomics indicated that V. coralliilyticus genomes share high sequence identity for most of the QS signaling and regulatory components identified in other Vibrio species. Here, we identify an active QS signaling pathway in two V. coralliilyticus strains with distinct infection etiologies: type strain BAA-450 and coral isolate OCN008. In V. coralliilyticus, the inter-species AI-2 autoinducer signaling pathway in both strains controls expression of the master QS transcription factor and LuxR/HapR homolog VcpR to regulate >300 genes, including protease production, biofilm formation, and two conserved type VI secretion systems (T6SSs). Activation of T6SS1 by QS results in the secretion of effectors and enables interbacterial competition and killing of prey bacteria. We conclude that the QS system in V. coralliilyticus is functional and controls the expression of genes involved in relevant bacterial behaviors typically associated with host infection.IMPORTANCEVibrio coralliilyticus infects many marine organisms, including multiple species of corals, and is a primary causative agent of tissue loss diseases and bacterial-induced bleaching. Here, we investigated a common cell-cell communication mechanism called quorum sensing, which is known to be intimately connected to virulence in other Vibrio species. Our genetic and chemical studies of V. coralliilyticus quorum sensing uncovered an active pathway that directly regulates the following key virulence factors: proteases, biofilms, and secretion systems. These findings connect bacterial signaling in communities to the infection of corals, which may lead to novel treatments and earlier diagnoses of coral diseases in reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shir Mass
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Robert Pepin
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Ram Podicheti
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Emra Klempic
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Douglas B. Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Blake Ushijima
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
| | - Laura C. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Dor Salomon
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Ni B, Tian Z, Chang J, Zhou Y, Li X, Zhang M, Li W, Zhang N, Luo X, Zhang Y, Lu R. AcsS inhibits the hemolytic activity and thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) gene expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Can J Microbiol 2025; 71:1-6. [PMID: 39536299 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2024-0114] [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: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus produces a key virulent factor known as thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH). TDH exhibits diverse biological activities, including hemolytic activity. The β-type hemolysis observed on Wagatsuma agar due to TDH is recognized as the Kanagawa phenomenon (KP). The tdh2 gene is primarily responsible for TDH production and the associated KP. AcsS was originally identified as an activator of swimming and swarming motility in V. parahaemolyticus. However, its potential roles in other cellular pathways remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of AcsS on the hemolytic activity and tdh2 expression in V. parahaemolyticus using phenotypic tests for KP, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, LacZ fusion, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The data showed that V. parahaemolyticus hemolytic activity and tdh2 transcription were under the negative control of AcsS. Additionally, in-vitro binding assays revealed that His-AcsS could not bind to the regulatory DNA region of tdh2. However, overexpression of AcsS in an Escherichia coli strain suppressed the expression of tdh2. Collectively, these results suggested that AcsS suppresses the hemolytic activity of V. parahaemolyticus through the downregulation of tdh2 transcription. The data enhanced our understanding of the regulatory networks governing tdh2 expression and the roles of AcsS in this bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Ni
- Department of laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhukang Tian
- Department of laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
- Health Commission of Qinghai Province, Xining 810008, Qinghai, China
| | - Jingyang Chang
- Department of laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yining Zhou
- Department of laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wanpeng Li
- Department of laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
- Health Commission of Qinghai Province, Xining 810008, Qinghai, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong 226006, Jiangsu, China
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5
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Liu H, Lei H, Cao J, Xie Z, Shi Y, Zhao Y. AcfA Regulates the Virulence and Cell Envelope Stress Response of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Microorganisms 2024; 13:7. [PMID: 39858775 PMCID: PMC11767970 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13010007] [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: 11/06/2024] [Revised: 12/16/2024] [Accepted: 12/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a ubiquitous inhabitant of estuarine and marine environments that causes vibriosis in aquatic animals and food poisoning in humans. Accessory colonizing factor (ACF) is employed by Vibrio to assist in the colonization and invasion of host cells leading to subsequent illnesses. In this work, ΔacfA, an in-frame deletion mutant strain lacking the 4th to the 645th nucleotides of the open reading frame (ORF) of the acfA gene, and the complementary strain acfA+ were constructed to decipher the function of AcfA in V. parahaemolyticus. The deletion of acfA had no effect on bacterial growth but resulted in a significant reduction in biofilm formation, hemolytic activity, mucus adhesion, and the accumulated mortality of zebrafish, compared to the wild-type strain and the complementary strain acfA+. Additionally, AcfA was involved in adapting to stressors, such as H2O2, EDTA, and acid, in V. parahaemolyticus. Furthermore, RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis was conducted to identify global gene transcription alterations resulting from deletion of the acfA gene. A total of 416 differentially expressed genes were identified in the ΔacfA vs. wild-type comparison, with 238 up-regulated genes and 178 down-regulated genes. The expression of genes associated with the type III secretion system, type VI secretion system, and oligopeptide permeases system were significantly reduced, and yet the expression of genes associated with cell envelope biosynthesis and response regulation system were enhanced dramatically in the absence of the acfA gene compared to the wild-type strain. These findings suggest that AcfA may play a role in the overall success of pathogenesis and the cell envelope stress response of V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
- Shaanxi Research Institute of Agriculture Products Processing Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
| | - Huayu Lei
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
| | - Juanjuan Cao
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
| | - Zhaobang Xie
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
| | - Yile Shi
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
| | - Yanni Zhao
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
- Shaanxi Research Institute of Agriculture Products Processing Technology, No. 6 Xuefu Road, Xi’an 710021, China
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Ge Q, Gao M, Li X, Zhong X, Zhang X, Zhou X, Yang M. Vibrio parahaemolyticus Down-Regulates the Intracellular c-di-GMP Level to Promote Swarming Motility by Sensing Surface. Curr Microbiol 2024; 82:32. [PMID: 39652219 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-04006-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 11/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2025]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a significant food-borne pathogen that causes economic and public health problems worldwide, can produce two types of flagella, the single polar flagellum responsible for swimming in a liquid environment and the lateral flagella (laf) that enable the bacteria to swarm on the tops of solid surfaces. The polar flagellar genes are expressed either in liquid or on a surface, however, laf genes would only be activated by surface sensing. In this study, the molecular mechanism of surface sensing activating laf gene expression in V. parahaemolyticus was investigated. We found that the c-di-GMP concentration for liquid-grown cells was higher than the concentration for surface-grown cells and laf gene expression could be activated without touching surface if the intracellular level of c-di-GMP was decreased by overexpressing the scrABC operon in the wild-type strain. Surface sensing inhibits the transcription of those c-di-GMP-metabolizing enzymes which could negatively regulate swarming, and enhances those which could positively regulate swarming. Surface sensing also enhances the activity of quorum sensing (QS) of V. parahaemolyticus which plays an important role in regulating the transcription of components of the c-di-GMP network. Combined, the data indicate that V. parahaemolyticus enhances QS by surface sensing to down-regulate the intracellular level of c-di-GMP which results in producing the lateral flagella and swarming on a surface. What we found in this study suggests an important signal transduction pathway of regulating swarming motility by surface sensing in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Ge
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology On Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology On Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoran Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology On Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology On Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xianfu Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology On Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology On Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Menghua Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology On Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
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Luo X, Zhang M, Zhang Y, Li X, Lu R. Phenotypic changes and gene expression profiles of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in response to low concentrations of ampicillin. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2024; 77:823-836. [PMID: 39322835 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-024-00772-w] [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: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of seafood-associated gastroenteritis and possesses intrinsic resistance to ampicillin. While ampicillin can trigger transcriptional responses of global genes, the behavioral and molecular changes that occur in V. parahaemolyticus when exposed to ampicillin are not fully understood. In this work, we investigated the effects of low concentrations of ampicillin on the physiology and gene expression of V. parahaemolyticus by combining phenotypic assays and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. Our results showed that the growth of V. parahaemolyticus were notably delayed, and both motility and c-di-GMP production were significantly inhibited in the response to low concentrations of ampicillin stress. In contrast, biofilm formation by V. parahaemolyticus was enhanced by exposure to low concentrations of ampicillin. However, low concentrations of ampicillin had no effect on the cytotoxicity or adherence activity of V. parahaemolyticus. The RNA-seq data revealed that a low concentration of ampicillin significantly affected the expression levels of 676 genes, including those involved in antibiotic resistance, virulence, biofilm formation, and regulation. This work contributes to our understanding of how V. parahaemolyticus alters its behavior and gene expression in response to ampicillin exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
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Isenberg RY, Mandel MJ. Cyclic Diguanylate in the Wild: Roles During Plant and Animal Colonization. Annu Rev Microbiol 2024; 78:533-551. [PMID: 39270684 PMCID: PMC11578789 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041522-101729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a near-ubiquitous signaling molecule that regulates the motility-to-sessility transition in many bacterial species. Among the phenotypes influenced by c-di-GMP are biofilm formation, motility, cell cycle, and virulence. The hallmark phenotypes regulated by c-di-GMP-biofilm formation and motility-are key determinants of host-bacterial interactions. A large body of research has identified the roles of c-di-GMP in regulating phenotypes in culture. While numerous studies have investigated roles for c-di-GMP during the establishment and maintenance of pathogenic host-bacterial associations, considerably less attention has been devoted to defining the roles of c-di-GMP during beneficial and commensal associations. This review describes the known roles of c-di-GMP in regulating phenotypes that contribute to host colonization, with a focus on knowledge gaps and future prospects for examining c-di-GMP during beneficial colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Y Isenberg
- Current affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA;
| | - Mark J Mandel
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA;
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Santoriello FJ, Bassler BL. The LuxO-OpaR quorum-sensing cascade differentially controls Vibriophage VP882 lysis-lysogeny decision making in liquid and on surfaces. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011243. [PMID: 39078816 PMCID: PMC11315295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of cell-to-cell communication that bacteria use to synchronize collective behaviors. QS relies on the production, release, and group-wide detection of extracellular signaling molecules called autoinducers. Vibrios use two QS systems: the LuxO-OpaR circuit and the VqmA-VqmR circuit. Both QS circuits control group behaviors including biofilm formation and surface motility. The Vibrio parahaemolyticus temperate phage φVP882 encodes a VqmA homolog (called VqmAφ). When VqmAφ is produced by φVP882 lysogens, it binds to the host-produced autoinducer called DPO and launches the φVP882 lytic cascade. This activity times induction of lysis with high host cell density and presumably promotes maximal phage transmission to new cells. Here, we explore whether, in addition to induction from lysogeny, QS controls the initial establishment of lysogeny by φVP882 in naïve host cells. Using mutagenesis, phage infection assays, and phenotypic analyses, we show that φVP882 connects its initial lysis-lysogeny decision to both host cell density and whether the host resides in liquid or on a surface. Host cells in the low-cell-density QS state primarily undergo lysogenic conversion. The QS regulator LuxO~P promotes φVP882 lysogenic conversion of low-cell-density planktonic host cells. By contrast, the ScrABC surface-sensing system regulates lysogenic conversion of low-cell-density surface-associated host cells. ScrABC controls the abundance of the second messenger molecule cyclic diguanylate, which in turn, modulates motility. The scrABC operon is only expressed when its QS repressor, OpaR, is absent. Thus, at low cell density, QS-dependent derepression of scrABC drives lysogenic conversion in surface-associated host cells. These results demonstrate that φVP882 integrates cues from multiple sensory pathways into its lifestyle decision making upon infection of a new host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis J. Santoriello
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Bonnie L. Bassler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
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Huang Q, Zhang M, Zhang Y, Li X, Luo X, Ji S, Lu R. IcmF2 of the type VI secretion system 2 plays a role in biofilm formation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:321. [PMID: 38907796 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04060-x] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus possesses two distinct type VI secretion systems (T6SS), namely T6SS1 and T6SS2. T6SS1 is predominantly responsible for adhesion to Caco-2 and HeLa cells and for the antibacterial activity of V. parahaemolyticus, while T6SS2 mainly contributes to HeLa cell adhesion. However, it remains unclear whether the T6SS systems have other physiological roles in V. parahaemolyticus. In this study, we demonstrated that the deletion of icmF2, a structural gene of T6SS2, reduced the biofilm formation capacity of V. parahaemolyticus under low salt conditions, which was also influenced by the incubation time. Nonetheless, the deletion of icmF2 did not affect the biofilm formation capacity in marine-like growth conditions, nor did it impact the flagella-driven swimming and swarming motility of V. parahaemolyticus. IcmF2 was found to promote the production of the main components of the biofilm matrix, including extracellular DNA (eDNA) and extracellular proteins, and cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) in V. parahaemolyticus. Additionally, IcmF2 positively influenced the transcription of cpsA, mfpA, and several genes involved in c-di-GMP metabolism, including scrJ, scrL, vopY, tpdA, gefA, and scrG. Conversely, the transcription of scrA was negatively impacted by IcmF2. Therefore, IcmF2-dependent biofilm formation was mediated through its effects on the production of eDNA, extracellular proteins, and c-di-GMP, as well as its impact on the transcription of cpsA, mfpA, and genes associated with c-di-GMP metabolism. This study confirmed new physiological roles for IcmF2 in promoting biofilm formation and c-di-GMP production in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglian Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qidong People's Hospital, Qidong, Jiangsu, 226200, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226006, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226006, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226006, China.
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226006, China
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226006, China
| | - Shenjie Ji
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qidong People's Hospital, Qidong, Jiangsu, 226200, China.
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226006, China.
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11
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Li X, Chang J, Zhang M, Zhou Y, Zhang T, Zhang Y, Lu R. The effect of environmental calcium on gene expression, biofilm formation and virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1340429. [PMID: 38881663 PMCID: PMC11176486 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1340429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) can regulate the swarming motility and virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus BB22. However, the effects of Ca2+ on the physiology of V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633, whose genomic composition is quite different with that of BB22, have not been investigated. In this study, the results of phenotypic assays showed that the biofilm formation, c-di-GMP production, swimming motility, zebrafish survival rate, cytoxicity against HeLa cells, and adherence activity to HeLa cells of V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633 were significantly enhanced by Ca2+. However, Ca2+ had no effect on the growth, swarming motility, capsular polysaccharide (CPS) phase variation and hemolytic activity. The RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) assay disclosed 459 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to Ca2+, including biofilm formation-associated genes and those encode virulence factors and putative regulators. DEGs involved in polar flagellum and T3SS1 were upregulated, whereas majority of those involved in regulatory functions and c-di-GMP metabolism were downregulated. The work helps us understand how Ca2+ affects the behavior and gene expression of V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Jingyang Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, China
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Yining Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, China
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, China
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12
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Cheng JH, Du R, Sun DW. Regulating bacterial biofilms in food and biomedicine: unraveling mechanisms and Innovating strategies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2024; 65:1894-1910. [PMID: 38384205 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2312539] [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: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilm has brought a lot of intractable problems in food and biomedicine areas. Conventional biofilm control mainly focuses on inactivation and removal of biofilm. However, with robust construction and enhanced resistance, the established biofilm is extremely difficult to eradicate. According to the mechanism of biofilm development, biofilm formation can be modulated by intervening in the key factors and regulatory systems. Therefore, regulation of biofilm formation has been proposed as an alternative way for effective biofilm control. This review aims to provide insights into the regulation of biofilm formation in food and biomedicine. The underlying mechanisms for early-stage biofilm establishment are summarized based on the key factors and correlated regulatory networks. Recent developments and applications of novel regulatory strategies such as anti/pro-biofilm agents, nanomaterials, functionalized surface materials and physical strategies are also discussed. The current review indicates that these innovative methods have contributed to effective biofilm control in a smart, safe and eco-friendly way. However, standard methodology for regulating biofilm formation in practical use is still missing. As biofilm formation in real-world systems could be far more complicated, further studies and interdisciplinary collaboration are still needed for simulation and experiments in the industry and other open systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Hu Cheng
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Academy of Contemporary Food Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, China
- Engineering and Technological Research Centre of Guangdong Province on Intelligent Sensing and Process Control of Cold Chain Foods, & Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Cold Chain Logistics Equipment for Agricultural Products, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rong Du
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Academy of Contemporary Food Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, China
- Engineering and Technological Research Centre of Guangdong Province on Intelligent Sensing and Process Control of Cold Chain Foods, & Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Cold Chain Logistics Equipment for Agricultural Products, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, China
| | - Da-Wen Sun
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Academy of Contemporary Food Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, China
- Engineering and Technological Research Centre of Guangdong Province on Intelligent Sensing and Process Control of Cold Chain Foods, & Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Cold Chain Logistics Equipment for Agricultural Products, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, China
- Food Refrigeration and Computerized Food Technology (FRCFT), Agriculture and Food Science Centre, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Bai X, Chen X, Zhang D, Liu X, Li J. Targeted phytogenic compounds against Vibrio parahaemolyticus biofilms. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2024; 65:1761-1772. [PMID: 38189321 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2299949] [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: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
As one of main culprit of seafood-associated human illness, Vibrio parahaemolyticus can readily accumulate on biotic or abiotic surfaces to form biofilms in the seafood processing environment. Biofilm formation on various surfaces can provide a protective barrier for viable bacterial cells that are resistant to most traditional bacteriostatic measures. This underscores the necessity and urgency of developing effective alternative strategies to control V. parahaemolyticus biofilms. Plants have always provided an extensive and infinite source of biologically active compounds for "green" antibiofilm agents. This review summarizes recent developments in promising multitargeted phytogenic compounds against V. parahaemolyticus biofilms. This review provides valuable insights into potential research targets that can be pursued further to identify potent natural antibiofilm agents in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Bai
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Defu Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Xuefei Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Jianrong Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University, Jinzhou, China
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14
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Zhang Y, Zhang T, Qiu Y, Zhang M, Lu X, Yang W, Hu L, Zhou D, Gao B, Lu R. Transcriptomic Profiles of Vibrio parahaemolyticus During Biofilm Formation. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:371. [PMID: 37838636 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03425-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the leading cause of bacterial seafood-associated gastroenteritis, can form biofilms. In this work, the gene expression profiles of V. parahaemolyticus during biofilm formation were investigated by transcriptome sequencing. A total of 183, 503, and 729 genes were significantly differentially expressed in the bacterial cells at 12, 24 and 48 h, respectively, compared with that at 6 h. Of these, 92 genes were consistently activated or repressed from 6 to 48 h. The genes involved in polar flagellum, chemotaxis, mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin type IV pili, capsular polysaccharide, type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1), T3SS2, thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH), type VI secretion system 1 (T6SS1) and T6SS2 were downregulated, whereas those involved in V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity island (Vp-PAI) (except for T3SS2 and TDH) and membrane fusion proteins were upregulated. Three extracellular protease genes (vppC, prtA and VPA1071) and a dozen of outer membrane protein encoding genes were also significantly differentially expressed during biofilm formation. In addition, five putative c-di-GMP metabolism-associated genes were significantly differentially expressed, which may account for the drop in c-di-GMP levels after the beginning of biofilm formation. Moreover, many putative regulatory genes were significantly differentially expressed, and more than 1000 putative small non-coding RNAs were detected, suggesting that biofilm formation was tightly regulated by complex regulatory networks. The data provided a global view of gene expression profiles during biofilm formation, showing that the significantly differentially expressed genes were involved in multiple cellular pathways, including virulence, biofilm formation, metabolism, and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Qiu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiuhui Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Wenhui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Lingfei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Bo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, 226006, Jiangsu, China.
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15
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Zhang M, Cai L, Luo X, Li X, Zhang T, Wu F, Zhang Y, Lu R. Effect of sublethal dose of chloramphenicol on biofilm formation and virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1275441. [PMID: 37822746 PMCID: PMC10562556 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1275441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates are generally very sensitive to chloramphenicol. However, it is usually necessary to transfer a plasmid carrying a chloramphenicol resistance gene into V. parahaemolyticus to investigate the function of a specific gene, and the effects of chloramphenicol on bacterial physiology have not been investigated. In this work, the effects of sublethal dose of chloramphenicol on V. parahaemolyticus were investigated by combined utilization of various phenotypic assays and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The results showed that the growth rate, biofilm formation capcity, c-di-GMP synthesis, motility, cytoxicity and adherence activity of V. parahaemolyticus were remarkably downregulated by the sublethal dose of chloramphenicol. The RNA-seq data revealed that the expression levels of 650 genes were significantly differentially expressed in the response to chloramphenicol stress, including antibiotic resistance genes, major virulence genes, biofilm-associated genes and putative regulatory genes. Majority of genes involved in the synthesis of polar flagellum, exopolysaccharide (EPS), mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin type IV pilus (MSHA), type III secretion systems (T3SS1 and T3SS2) and type VI secretion system 2 (T6SS2) were downregulated by the sublethal dose of chloramphenicol. Five putative c-di-GMP metabolism genes were significantly differentially expressed, which may be the reason for the decrease in intracellular c-di-GMP levels in the response of chloramphenicol stress. In addition, 23 genes encoding putative regulators were also significantly differentially expressed, suggesting that these regulators may be involved in the resistance of V. parahaemolyticus to chloramphenicol stress. This work helps us to understand how chloramphenicol effect on the physiology of V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Liyan Cai
- Physical Examination Center, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Fei Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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Liu F, Wang F, Yuan Y, Li X, Zhong X, Yang M. Quorum sensing signal synthases enhance Vibrio parahaemolyticus swarming motility. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:241-257. [PMID: 37330634 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a significant food-borne pathogen that is found in diverse aquatic habitats. Quorum sensing (QS), a signaling system for cell-cell communication, plays an important role in V. parahaemolyticus persistence. We characterized the function of three V. parahaemolyticus QS signal synthases, CqsAvp , LuxMvp , and LuxSvp , and show that they are essential to activate QS and regulate swarming. We found that CqsAvp , LuxMvp , and LuxSvp activate a QS bioluminescence reporter through OpaR. However, V. parahaemolyticus exhibits swarming defects in the absence of CqsAvp , LuxMvp , and LuxSvp , but not OpaR. The swarming defect of this synthase mutant (termed Δ3AI) was recovered by overexpressing either LuxOvp D47A , a mimic of dephosphorylated LuxOvp mutant, or the scrABC operon. CqsAvp , LuxMvp , and LuxSvp inhibit lateral flagellar (laf) gene expression by inhibiting the phosphorylation of LuxOvp and the expression of scrABC. Phosphorylated LuxOvp enhances laf gene expression in a mechanism that involves modulating c-di-GMP levels. However, enhancing swarming requires phosphorylated and dephosphorylated LuxOvp which is regulated by the QS signals that are synthesized by CqsAvp , LuxMvp , and LuxSvp . The data presented here suggest an important strategy of swarming regulation by the integration of QS and c-di-GMP signaling pathways in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuwen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yixuan Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Menghua Yang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, China
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17
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Zamorano-Sánchez D, Alejandre-Sixtos JE, Arredondo-Hernández A, Martínez-Méndez R. OpaR Exerts a Dynamic Control over c-di-GMP Homeostasis and cpsA Expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus through Its Regulation of ScrC and the Trigger Phosphodiesterase TpdA. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0087223. [PMID: 37199626 PMCID: PMC10269520 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00872-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The second messenger cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) plays a central role in controlling decision-making processes that are vitally important for the environmental survival of the human pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The mechanisms by which c-di-GMP levels and biofilm formation are dynamically controlled in V. parahaemolyticus are poorly understood. Here, we report the involvement of OpaR in controlling c-di-GMP metabolism and its effects on the expression of the trigger phosphodiesterase (PDE) TpdA and the biofilm-matrix related gene cpsA. Our results revealed that OpaR negatively modulates the expression of tpdA by maintaining a baseline level of c-di-GMP. The OpaR-regulated PDEs ScrC, ScrG, and VP0117 enable the upregulation of tpdA, to different degrees, in the absence of OpaR. We also found that TpdA plays the dominant role in c-di-GMP degradation under planktonic conditions compared to the other OpaR-regulated PDEs. In cells growing on solid medium, we observed that the role of the dominant c-di-GMP degrader alternates between ScrC and TpdA. We also report contrasting effects of the absence of OpaR on cpsA expression in cells growing on solid media compared to cells forming biofilms over glass. These results suggest that OpaR can act as a double-edged sword to control cpsA expression and perhaps biofilm development in response to poorly understood environmental factors. Finally, using an in-silico analysis, we indicate outlets of the OpaR regulatory module that can impact decision making during the motile-to-sessile transition in V. parahaemolyticus. IMPORTANCE The second messenger c-di-GMP is extensively used by bacterial cells to control crucial social adaptations such as biofilm formation. Here, we explore the role of the quorum-sensing regulator OpaR, from the human pathogen V. parahaemolyticus, on the dynamic control of c-di-GMP signaling and biofilm-matrix production. We found that OpaR is crucial to c-di-GMP homeostasis in cells growing on Lysogeny Broth agar and that the OpaR-regulated PDEs TpdA and ScrC alternate in the dominant role over time. Furthermore, OpaR plays contrasting roles in controlling the expression of the biofilm-related gene cpsA on different surfaces and growth conditions. This dual role has not been reported for orthologues of OpaR, such as HapR from Vibrio cholerae. It is important to investigate the origins and consequences of the differences in c-di-GMP signaling between closely and distantly related pathogens to better understand pathogenic bacterial behavior and its evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Zamorano-Sánchez
- Programa de Microbiología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jesús E. Alejandre-Sixtos
- Programa de Microbiología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Adilene Arredondo-Hernández
- Programa de Microbiología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Raquel Martínez-Méndez
- Programa de Microbiología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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Gavilan RG, Caro-Castro J, Blondel CJ, Martinez-Urtaza J. Vibrio parahaemolyticus Epidemiology and Pathogenesis: Novel Insights on an Emerging Foodborne Pathogen. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1404:233-251. [PMID: 36792879 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-22997-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The epidemiological dynamics of V. parahaemolyticus´ infections have been characterized by the abrupt appearance of outbreaks in remote areas where these diseases had not been previously detected, without knowing the routes of entry of the pathogens in the new area. However, there are recent studies that show the link between the appearance of epidemic outbreaks of Vibrio and environmental factors such as oceanic transport of warm waters, which has provided a possible mechanism for the dispersion of Vibrio diseases globally. Despite this evidence, there is little information on the possible routes of entry and transport of infectious agents from endemic countries to the entire world. In this sense, the recent advances in genomic sequencing tools are making it possible to infer possible biogeographical patterns of diverse pathogens with relevance in public health like V. parahaemolyticus. In this chapter, we will address several general aspects about V. parahaemolyticus, including their microbiological and genetic detection, main virulence factors, and the epidemiology of genotypes involved in foodborne outbreaks globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronnie G Gavilan
- Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru. .,Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Lima, Peru.
| | | | - Carlos J Blondel
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaime Martinez-Urtaza
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Zhang M, Xue X, Li X, Wu Q, Zhang T, Yang W, Hu L, Zhou D, Lu R, Zhang Y. QsvR and OpaR coordinately repress biofilm formation by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1079653. [PMID: 36846774 PMCID: PMC9948739 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1079653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Mature biofilm formation by Vibrio parahaemolyticus requires exopolysaccharide (EPS), type IV pili, and capsular polysaccharide (CPS). Production of each is strictly regulated by various control pathways including quorum sensing (QS) and bis-(3'-5')-cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP). QsvR, an AraC-type regulator, integrates into the QS regulatory cascade via direct control of the transcription of the master QS regulators, AphA and OpaR. Deletion of qsvR in wild-type or opaR mutant backgrounds altered the biofilm formation by V. parahaemolyticus, suggesting that QsvR may coordinate with OpaR to control biofilm formation. Herein, we demonstrated both QsvR and OpaR repressed biofilm-associated phenotypes, c-di-GMP metabolism, and the formation of V. parahaemolyticus translucent (TR) colonies. QsvR restored the biofilm-associated phenotypic changes caused by opaR mutation, and vice versa. In addition, QsvR and OpaR worked coordinately to regulate the transcription of EPS-associated genes, type IV pili genes, CPS genes and c-di-GMP metabolism-related genes. These results demonstrated how QsvR works with the QS system to regulate biofilm formation by precisely controlling the transcription of multiple biofilm formation-associated genes in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingfan Xue
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qimin Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenhui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Lingfei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China,Dongsheng Zhou, ✉
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,Renfei Lu, ✉
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,*Correspondence: Yiquan Zhang, ✉
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Zhang Y, Xue X, Sun F, Li X, Zhang M, Wu Q, Zhang T, Luo X, Lu R. Quorum sensing and QsvR tightly control the transcription of vpa0607 encoding an active RNase II-type protein in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1123524. [PMID: 36744098 PMCID: PMC9894610 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1123524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Gram-negative, halophilic bacterium, is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans. AphA and OpaR are the master quorum sensing (QS) regulators operating at low cell density (LCD) and high cell density (HCD), respectively. QsvR is an AraC-type protein that integrates into the QS system to control gene expression by directly controlling the transcription of aphA and opaR. However, the regulation of QsvR itself remains unclear to date. In this study, we show that vpa0607 and qsvR are transcribed as an operon, vpa0607-qsvR. AphA indirectly activates the transcription of vpa0607 at LCD, whereas OpaR and QsvR directly repress vpa0607 transcription at HCD, leading to the highest expression levels of vpa0607 occurs at LCD. Moreover, VPA0607 acts as an active RNase II-type protein in V. parahaemolyticus and feedback inhibits the expression of QsvR at the post-transcriptional level. Taken together, this work deepens our understanding of the regulation of QsvR and enriches the integration mechanisms of QsvR with the QS system in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingfan Xue
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fengjun Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qimin Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China,*Correspondence: Renfei Lu,
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Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a causative agent of seafood-associated gastroenteritis, undergoes opaque-translucent (OP-TR) colony switching associated with capsular polysaccharide (CPS) production. Here, we showed that V. parahaemolyticus was also able to naturally and reversibly switch between wrinkly and smooth phenotypes. More than 1,000 genes were significantly differentially expressed during colony morphology switching, including the major virulence gene loci and key biofilm-related genes. The genes responsible for type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1), type VI secretion systems (T6SS1 and T6SS2), and flagellar synthesis were downregulated in the wrinkly spreader phenotype, whereas genes located on the pathogenicity island Vp-PAI and those responsible for chitin-regulated pili (ChiRP) and Syp exopolysaccharide synthesis were upregulated. In addition, we showed that the wrinkly spreader grew faster, had greater motility and biofilm capacities, and produced more c-di-GMP than the smooth type. A dozen genes potentially associated with c-di-GMP metabolism were shown to be significantly differentially expressed, which may account for the differences in c-di-GMP levels between the two phenotypes. Most importantly, dozens of putative regulators were significantly differentially expressed, and hundreds of noncoding RNAs were detected during colony morphology switching, indicating that phenotype switching is strictly regulated by a complex molecular regulatory network in V. parahaemolyticus. Taken together, the presented work highlighted the gene expression profiles related to wrinkly-smooth switching, showing that the significantly differentially expressed genes were involved in various biological behaviors, including virulence factor production, biofilm formation, metabolism, adaptation, and colonization. IMPORTANCE We showed that Vibrio parahaemolyticus was able to naturally and reversibly switch between wrinkly and smooth phenotypes and disclosed the gene expression profiles related to wrinkly-smooth switching, showing that the significantly differentially expressed genes between the two colony morphology phenotypes were involved in various biological behaviors, including virulence factor production, biofilm formation, metabolism, adaptation, and colonization.
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Gene Regulatory Network of the Noncoding RNA Qrr5 Involved in the Cytotoxicity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus during Infection. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102084. [PMID: 36296357 PMCID: PMC9610228 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria are important regulatory molecules for controlling virulence. In Vibrio spp., Qrr sRNAs are critical for quorum-sensing pathways and regulating the release of some virulence factors. However, the detailed role of Qrr sRNAs in the virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a Vibrio sRNA Qrr5 that positively regulates cytotoxicity and adherence in Caco-2 cells by primarily regulating the T3SS1 gene cluster. A number of 185, 586, 355, and 74 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) detected at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h post-infection, respectively, were mainly associated with ABC transporters and two-component system pathways. The DEGs exhibited a dynamic change in expression at various time points post-infection owing to the deletion of Qrr5. Accordingly, 17 related genes were identified in the co-expression network, and their interaction with Qrr5 was determined based on weighted co-expression network analysis during infection. Taken together, our results provide a comprehensive transcriptome profile of V. parahaemolyticus during infection in Caco-2 cells.
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Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from stool specimens of diarrhea patients in Nantong, Jiangsu, China during 2018–2020. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273700. [PMID: 36018831 PMCID: PMC9416985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of acute seafood-associated gastroenteritis worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of virulence genes, biofilm formation, motor capacities and antimicrobial resistance profile of V. parahaemolyticus isolates isolated from clinical samples in Nantong during 2018–2020. Sixty-six V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from stool specimens of diarrheal patients were examined. The PCR results showed that there were two tdh+trh+ isolates, four tdh-trh- isolates and sixty tdh+trh- isolates, accounting for 3.0%, 6.1% and 90.9%, respectively. All the tdh carrying isolates manifested the positive reactions for the Kanagawa phenomenon (KP) test. Most of the isolates harbored at least one of the specific DNA markers of ‘pandemic group’ strains, suggesting that the dominant isolates of V. parahaemolyticus in Nantong might belong to the new O3: K6 or its serovariants. All tdh+ isolates possessed the Vp-PAI genes, but no tdh-trh- isolates carried the T3SS2 genes. All isolates were biofilm producers and had relatively strong motor capacities. In addition, the V. parahaemolyticus isolates were resistant to ampicillin (98.5%), cefuroxime (75.6%), cefepime (66.7%), piperacillin (59.1%) and ampicillin/sulbactam (50.0%), but sensitive to ciprofloxacin (100.0%), levofloxacin (100.0%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (98.5%), gentamicin (98.5%), amikacin (97%), meropenem (71.2%), and ceftazidime (56.1%). Multidrug-resistant isolates in clinical might be related to the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in aquaculture.
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Liu PX, Zhang XY, Wang Q, Li YY, Sun WD, Qi Y, Zhou K, Han XG, Chen ZG, Fang WH, Jiang W. Biological and transcriptional studies reveal VmeL is involved in motility, biofilm formation and virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:976334. [PMID: 36016795 PMCID: PMC9397117 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.976334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine pathogen thought to be the leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis globally, urgently requiring efficient management methods. V. parahaemolyticus encodes 12 resistance/nodulation/division (RND) efflux systems. However, research on these systems is still in its infancy. In this study, we discovered that the inactivation of VmeL, a membrane fusion protein within the RND efflux systems, led to reduction of the ability of biofilm formation. Further results displayed that the decreased capacity of Congo red binding and the colony of ΔvmeL is more translucent compared with wild type strains, suggested reduced biofilm formation due to decreased production of biofilm exopolysaccharide upon vmeL deletion. In addition, the deletion of vmeL abolished surface swarming and swimming motility of V. parahaemolyticus. Additionally, deletion of vmeL weakened the cytotoxicity of V. parahaemolyticus towards HeLa cells, and impaired its virulence in a murine intraperitoneal infection assay. Finally, through RNA-sequencing, we ascertained that there were 716 upregulated genes and 247 downregulated genes in ΔvmeL strain. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that quorum sensing, bacterial secretion systems, ATP-binding cassette transporters, and various amino acid metabolism pathways were altered due to the inactivation of vmeL. qRT-PCR further confirmed that genes accountable to the type III secretion system (T3SS1) and lateral flagella were negatively affected by vmeL deletion. Taken together, our results suggest that VmeL plays an important role in pathogenicity, making it a good target for managing infection with V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-xuan Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-yun Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Quan Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Yang-yang Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-dong Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Qi
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Zhou
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People’s Hospital), Shenzhen, China
| | - Xian-gan Han
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Zhao-guo Chen
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-huan Fang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Jiang,
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Homma M, Kojima S. Roles of the second messenger c‐di‐GMP in bacteria: Focusing on the topics of flagellar regulation and
Vibrio
spp. Genes Cells 2022; 27:157-172. [PMID: 35073606 PMCID: PMC9303241 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Typical second messengers include cyclic AMP (cAMP), cyclic GMP (cGMP), and inositol phosphate. In bacteria, cyclic diguanylate (c‐di‐GMP), which is not used in animals, is widely used as a second messenger for environmental responses. Initially found as a regulator of cellulose synthesis, this small molecule is known to be widely present in bacteria. A wide variety of synthesis and degradation enzymes for c‐di‐GMP exist, and the activities of effector proteins are regulated by changing the cellular c‐di‐GMP concentration in response to the environment. It has been shown well that c‐di‐GMP plays an essential role in pathogenic cycle and is involved in flagellar motility in Vibrio cholerae. In this review, we aim to explain the direct or indirect regulatory mechanisms of c‐di‐GMP in bacteria, focusing on the study of c‐di‐GMP in Vibrio spp. and in flagella, which are our research subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michio Homma
- Division of Biological Science Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
| | - Seiji Kojima
- Division of Biological Science Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
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H-NOX proteins in the virulence of pathogenic bacteria. Biosci Rep 2021; 42:230559. [PMID: 34939646 PMCID: PMC8738867 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20212014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a toxic gas encountered by bacteria as a product of their own metabolism or as a result of a host immune response. Non-toxic concentrations of NO have been shown to initiate changes in bacterial behaviors such as the transition between planktonic and biofilm-associated lifestyles. The heme nitric oxide/oxygen binding proteins (H-NOX) are a widespread family of bacterial heme-based NO sensors that regulate biofilm formation in response to NO. The presence of H-NOX in several human pathogens combined with the importance of planktonic–biofilm transitions to virulence suggests that H-NOX sensing may be an important virulence factor in these organisms. Here we review the recent data on H-NOX NO signaling pathways with an emphasis on H-NOX homologs from pathogens and commensal organisms. The current state of the field is somewhat ambiguous regarding the role of H-NOX in pathogenesis. However, it is clear that H-NOX regulates biofilm in response to environmental factors and may promote persistence in the environments that serve as reservoirs for these pathogens. Finally, the evidence that large subgroups of H-NOX proteins may sense environmental signals besides NO is discussed within the context of a phylogenetic analysis of this large and diverse family.
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Shen Z, Liu Y, Chen L. Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Potentially Virulent Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Drinking Water and Commonly Consumed Aquatic Products by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification. Pathogens 2021; 11:10. [PMID: 35055958 PMCID: PMC8781264 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus can cause acute gastroenteritis, wound infection, and septicemia in humans. In this study, a simple, specific, and user-friendly diagnostic tool was developed for the first time for the qualitative and quantitative detection of toxins and infection process-associated genes opaR, vpadF, tlh, and ureC in V. parahaemolyticus using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. Three pairs of specific inner, outer, and loop primers were designed for targeting each of these genes, and the results showed no cross-reaction with the other common Vibrios and non-Vibrios pathogenic bacteria. Positive results in the one-step LAMP reaction (at 65 °C for 45 min) were identified by a change to light green and the emission of bright green fluorescence under visible light and UV light (302 nm), respectively. The lowest limit of detection (LOD) for the target genes ranged from 1.46 × 10-5 to 1.85 × 10-3 ng/reaction (25 µL) for the genomic DNA, and from 1.03 × 10-2 to 1.73 × 100 CFU/reaction (25 µL) for the cell culture of V. parahaemolyticus. The usefulness of the developed method was demonstrated by the fact that the bacterium could be detected in water from various sources and commonly consumed aquatic product samples. The presence of opaR and tlh genes in the Parabramis pekinensis intestine indicated a risk of potentially virulent V. parahaemolyticus in the fish.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lanming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; (Z.S.); (Y.L.)
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Li X, Sun J, Zhang M, Xue X, Wu Q, Yang W, Yin Z, Zhou D, Lu R, Zhang Y. The Effect of Salinity on Biofilm Formation and c-di-GMP Production in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Curr Microbiol 2021; 79:25. [PMID: 34905101 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02723-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a moderately halophilic, salt-requiring organism that exhibits optimal growth at approximately 3% salt. Thus, salinity stress is one of the most important stimuli during its lifecycle. The bacterium possesses a strong ability to form biofilms on surfaces, which are thought to be involved in protecting it from adverse environmental conditions. In the present study, salinity-dependent biofilm formation by V. parahaemolyticus was investigated by combining crystal violet staining, colony morphology, intracellular c-di-GMP quantification and quantitative PCR. The results showed that biofilm formation by V. parahaemolyticus was significantly enhanced in low salinity growth conditions and was affected by incubation time. In addition, low salinity reduced intracellular c-di-GMP degradation in V. parahaemolyticus. Transcription of genes encoding ScrABC and ScrG proteins, which are involved in intracellular c-di-GMP metabolism, was inhibited by low salinity growth conditions. Thus, reduced intracellular c-di-GMP degradation in V. parahaemolyticus in low salinity growth conditions may be mediated by repression of scrG and scrABC transcription. Taken together, these results demonstrated for the first time that salinity regulates biofilm formation and c-di-GMP production in V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, 212006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junfang Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, 212006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingfan Xue
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qimin Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, 212006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenhui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Zhe Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Renfei Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, 212006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yiquan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nantong Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, 212006, Jiangsu, China. .,School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China.
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Regulatory small RNA, Qrr2 is expressed independently of sigma factor-54 and can function as the sole Qrr sRNA to control quorum sensing in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. J Bacteriol 2021; 204:e0035021. [PMID: 34633869 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00350-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cells alter gene expression in response to changes in population density in a process called quorum sensing (QS). In Vibrio harveyi, LuxO, a low cell density activator of sigma factor-54 (RpoN), is required for transcription of five non-coding regulatory sRNAs, Qrr1-Qrr5, which each repress translation of the master QS regulator LuxR. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the leading cause of bacterial seafood-borne gastroenteritis, also contains five Qrr sRNAs that control OpaR (the LuxR homolog), controlling capsule polysaccharide (CPS), motility, and metabolism. We show that in a ΔluxO deletion mutant, opaR was de-repressed and CPS and biofilm were produced. However, in a ΔrpoN mutant, opaR was repressed, no CPS was produced, and less biofilm production was observed compared to wild type. To determine why opaR was repressed, expression analysis in ΔluxO showed all five qrr genes were repressed, while in ΔrpoN the qrr2 gene was significantly de-repressed. Reporter assays and mutant analysis showed Qrr2 sRNA can act alone to control OpaR. Bioinformatics analysis identified a sigma-70 (RpoD) -35 -10 promoter overlapping the canonical sigma-54 (RpoN) -24 -12 promoter in the qrr2 regulatory region. The qrr2 sigma-70 promoter element was also present in additional Vibrio species indicating it is widespread. Mutagenesis of the sigma-70 -10 promoter site in the ΔrpoN mutant background, resulted in repression of qrr2. Analysis of qrr quadruple deletion mutants, in which only a single qrr gene is present, showed that only Qrr2 sRNA can act independently to regulate opaR. Mutant and expression data also demonstrated that RpoN and the global regulator, Fis, act additively to repress qrr2. Our data has uncovered a new mechanism of qrr expression and shows that Qrr2 sRNA is sufficient for OpaR regulation. Importance The quorum sensing non-coding sRNAs are present in all Vibrio species but vary in number and regulatory roles among species. In the Harveyi clade, all species contain five qrr genes, and in V. harveyi these are transcribed by sigma-54 and are additive in function. In the Cholerae clade, four qrr genes are present, and in V. cholerae the qrr genes are redundant in function. In V. parahaemolyticus, qrr2 is controlled by two overlapping promoters. In an rpoN mutant, qrr2 is transcribed from a sigma-70 promoter that is present in all V. parahaemolyticus strains and in other species of the Harveyi clade suggesting a conserved mechanism of regulation. Qrr2 sRNA can function as the sole Qrr sRNA to control OpaR.
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