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Faith DR, Kinnersley M, Brooks DM, Drecktrah D, Hall LS, Luo E, Santiago-Frangos A, Wachter J, Samuels DS, Secor PR. Characterization and genomic analysis of the Lyme disease spirochete bacteriophage ϕBB-1. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012122. [PMID: 38558079 PMCID: PMC11008901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012122] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi. Borrelia species have highly fragmented genomes composed of a linear chromosome and a constellation of linear and circular plasmids some of which are required throughout the enzootic cycle. Included in this plasmid repertoire by almost all Lyme disease spirochetes are the 32-kb circular plasmid cp32 prophages that are capable of lytic replication to produce infectious virions called ϕBB-1. While the B. burgdorferi genome contains evidence of horizontal transfer, the mechanisms of gene transfer between strains remain unclear. While we know that ϕBB-1 transduces cp32 and shuttle vector DNA during in vitro cultivation, the extent of ϕBB-1 DNA transfer is not clear. Herein, we use proteomics and long-read sequencing to further characterize ϕBB-1 virions. Our studies identified the cp32 pac region and revealed that ϕBB-1 packages linear cp32s via a headful mechanism with preferential packaging of plasmids containing the cp32 pac region. Additionally, we find ϕBB-1 packages fragments of the linear chromosome and full-length plasmids including lp54, cp26, and others. Furthermore, sequencing of ϕBB-1 packaged DNA allowed us to resolve the covalently closed hairpin telomeres for the linear B. burgdorferi chromosome and most linear plasmids in strain CA-11.2A. Collectively, our results shed light on the biology of the ubiquitous ϕBB-1 phage and further implicates ϕBB-1 in the generalized transduction of diverse genes and the maintenance of genetic diversity in Lyme disease spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominick R. Faith
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Margie Kinnersley
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Diane M. Brooks
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Dan Drecktrah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Laura S. Hall
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Eric Luo
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Andrew Santiago-Frangos
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jenny Wachter
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - D. Scott Samuels
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Patrick R. Secor
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
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Faith DR, Kinnersley M, Brooks DM, Drecktrah D, Hall LS, Luo E, Santiago-Frangos A, Wachter J, Samuels DS, Secor PR. Characterization and genomic analysis of the Lyme disease spirochete bacteriophage ϕBB-1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.08.574763. [PMID: 38260690 PMCID: PMC10802411 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi. Borrelia species have highly fragmented genomes composed of a linear chromosome and a constellation of linear and circular plasmids some of which are required throughout the enzootic cycle. Included in this plasmid repertoire by almost all Lyme disease spirochetes are the 32-kb circular plasmid cp32 prophages that are capable of lytic replication to produce infectious virions called ϕBB-1. While the B. burgdorferi genome contains evidence of horizontal transfer, the mechanisms of gene transfer between strains remain unclear. While we know that ϕBB-1 transduces cp32 and shuttle vector DNA during in vitro cultivation, the extent of ϕBB-1 DNA transfer is not clear. Herein, we use proteomics and long-read sequencing to further characterize ϕBB-1 virions. Our studies identified the cp32 pac region and revealed that ϕBB-1 packages linear cp32s via a headful mechanism with preferentially packaging of plasmids containing the cp32 pac region. Additionally, we find ϕBB-1 packages fragments of the linear chromosome and full-length plasmids including lp54, cp26, and others. Furthermore, sequencing of ϕBB-1 packaged DNA allowed us to resolve the covalently closed hairpin telomeres for the linear B. burgdorferi chromosome and most linear plasmids in strain CA-11.2A. Collectively, our results shed light on the biology of the ubiquitous ϕBB-1 phage and further implicates ϕBB-1 in the generalized transduction of diverse genes and the maintenance of genetic diversity in Lyme disease spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominick R. Faith
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Margie Kinnersley
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Diane M. Brooks
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Dan Drecktrah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Laura S. Hall
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Eric Luo
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Jenny Wachter
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - D. Scott Samuels
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Patrick R. Secor
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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Golovchenko M, Opelka J, Vancova M, Sehadova H, Kralikova V, Dobias M, Raska M, Krupka M, Sloupenska K, Rudenko N. Concurrent Infection of the Human Brain with Multiple Borrelia Species. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16906. [PMID: 38069228 PMCID: PMC10707132 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) spirochetes are well known to be able to disseminate into the tissues of infected hosts, including humans. The diverse strategies used by spirochetes to avoid the host immune system and persist in the host include active immune suppression, induction of immune tolerance, phase and antigenic variation, intracellular seclusion, changing of morphological and physiological state in varying environments, formation of biofilms and persistent forms, and, importantly, incursion into immune-privileged sites such as the brain. Invasion of immune-privileged sites allows the spirochetes to not only escape from the host immune system but can also reduce the efficacy of antibiotic therapy. Here we present a case of the detection of spirochetal DNA in multiple loci in a LD patient's post-mortem brain. The presence of co-infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia garinii in this LD patient's brain was confirmed by PCR. Even though both spirochete species were simultaneously present in human brain tissue, the brain regions where the two species were detected were different and non-overlapping. The presence of atypical spirochete morphology was noted by immunohistochemistry of the brain samples. Atypical morphology was also found in the tissues of experimentally infected mice, which were used as a control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryna Golovchenko
- Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;
| | - Jakub Opelka
- Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (J.O.); (H.S.)
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Vancova
- Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Sehadova
- Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (J.O.); (H.S.)
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Kralikova
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law, University Hospital Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (V.K.); (M.D.)
| | - Martin Dobias
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law, University Hospital Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (V.K.); (M.D.)
| | - Milan Raska
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
| | - Michal Krupka
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (M.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Kristyna Sloupenska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (M.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Natalie Rudenko
- Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;
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Rosche KL, Hurtado J, Fisk EA, Vosbigian KA, Warren AL, Sidak-Loftis LC, Wright SJ, Ramirez-Zepp E, Park JM, Shaw DK. PERK-mediated antioxidant response is key for pathogen persistence in ticks. mSphere 2023; 8:e0032123. [PMID: 37733353 PMCID: PMC10597351 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00321-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A crucial phase in the life cycle of tick-borne pathogens is the time spent colonizing and persisting within the arthropod. Tick immunity is emerging as a key force shaping how transmissible pathogens interact with the vector. How pathogens remain in the tick despite immunological pressure remains unknown. In persistently infected Ixodes scapularis, we found that Borrelia burgdorferi (causative agent of Lyme disease) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis) activate a cellular stress pathway mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum receptor PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) and the central regulatory molecule eIF2α. Disabling the PERK pathway through pharmacological inhibition and RNA interference (RNAi) significantly decreased microbial numbers. In vivo RNAi of the PERK pathway not only reduced the number of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi colonizing larvae after a bloodmeal but also significantly reduced the number of bacteria that survive the molt. An investigation into PERK pathway-regulated targets revealed that A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi induce activity of the antioxidant response regulator, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Tick cells deficient for nrf2 expression or PERK signaling showed accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in addition to reduced microbial survival. Supplementation with antioxidants rescued the microbicidal phenotype caused by blocking the PERK pathway. Altogether, our study demonstrates that the Ixodes PERK pathway is activated by transmissible microbes and facilitates persistence in the arthropod by potentiating an Nrf2-regulated antioxidant environment. IMPORTANCE Recent advances demonstrate that the tick immune system recognizes and limits the pathogens they transmit. Innate immune mediators such as antimicrobial peptides and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species are produced and restrict microbial survival. It is currently unclear how pathogens remain in the tick, despite this immune assault. We found that an antioxidant response controlled by the PERK branch of the unfolded protein response is activated in ticks that are persistently infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) or Anaplasma phagocytophilum (granulocytic anaplasmosis). The PERK pathway induces the antioxidant response transcription factor, Nrf2, which coordinates a gene network that ultimately neutralizes reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Interfering with this signaling cascade in ticks causes a significant decline in pathogen numbers. Given that innate immune products can cause collateral damage to host tissues, we speculate that this is an arthropod-driven response aimed at minimizing damage to "self" that also inadvertently benefits the pathogen. Collectively, our findings shed light on the mechanistic push and pull between tick immunity and pathogen persistence within the arthropod vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L. Rosche
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Joanna Hurtado
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Elis A. Fisk
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Kaylee A. Vosbigian
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Ashley L. Warren
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Lindsay C. Sidak-Loftis
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Sarah J. Wright
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Elisabeth Ramirez-Zepp
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Jason M. Park
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Dana K. Shaw
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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