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Weaver AA, Jia J, Cutri AR, Madukoma CS, Vaerewyck CM, Bohn PW, Shrout JD. Alkyl quinolones mediate heterogeneous colony biofilm architecture that improves community-level survival. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0009524. [PMID: 38564677 PMCID: PMC11025328 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00095-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial communities exhibit complex self-organization that contributes to their survival. To better understand the molecules that contribute to transforming a small number of cells into a heterogeneous surface biofilm community, we studied acellular aggregates, structures seen by light microscopy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa colony biofilms using light microscopy and chemical imaging. These structures differ from cellular aggregates, cohesive clusters of cells important for biofilm formation, in that they are visually distinct from cells using light microscopy and are reliant on metabolites for assembly. To investigate how these structures benefit a biofilm community we characterized three recurrent types of acellular aggregates with distinct geometries that were each abundant in specific areas of these biofilms. Alkyl quinolones (AQs) were essential for the formation of all aggregate types with AQ signatures outside the aggregates below the limit of detection. These acellular aggregates spatially sequester AQs and differentiate the biofilm space. However, the three types of aggregates showed differing properties in their size, associated cell death, and lipid content. The largest aggregate type co-localized with spatially confined cell death that was not mediated by Pf4 bacteriophage. Biofilms lacking AQs were absent of localized cell death but exhibited increased, homogeneously distributed cell death. Thus, these AQ-rich aggregates regulate metabolite accessibility, differentiate regions of the biofilm, and promote survival in biofilms.IMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with the ability to cause infection in the immune-compromised. It is well established that P. aeruginosa biofilms exhibit resilience that includes decreased susceptibility to antimicrobial treatment. This work examines the self-assembled heterogeneity in biofilm communities studying acellular aggregates, regions of condensed matter requiring alkyl quinolones (AQs). AQs are important to both virulence and biofilm formation. Aggregate structures described here spatially regulate the accessibility of these AQs, differentiate regions of the biofilm community, and despite their association with autolysis, correlate with improved P. aeruginosa colony biofilm survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail A. Weaver
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Jin Jia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Allison R. Cutri
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Chinedu S. Madukoma
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Catherine M. Vaerewyck
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Paul W. Bohn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Joshua D. Shrout
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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Modi M, Thambiraja M, Cherukat A, Yennamalli RM, Priyadarshini R. Structure predictions and functional insights into Amidase_3 domain containing N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidases from Deinococcus indicus DR1. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:101. [PMID: 38532329 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03225-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidases are cell wall modifying enzymes that cleave the amide bond between the sugar residues and stem peptide in peptidoglycan. Amidases play a vital role in septal cell wall cleavage and help separate daughter cells during cell division. Most amidases are zinc metalloenzymes, and E. coli cells lacking amidases grow as chains with daughter cells attached to each other. In this study, we have characterized two amidase enzymes from Deinococcus indicus DR1. D. indicus DR1 is known for its high arsenic tolerance and unique cell envelope. However, details of their cell wall biogenesis remain largely unexplored. RESULTS We have characterized two amidases Ami1Di and Ami2Di from D. indicus DR1. Both Ami1Di and Ami2Di suppress cell separation defects in E. coli amidase mutants, suggesting that these enzymes are able to cleave septal cell wall. Ami1Di and Ami2Di proteins possess the Amidase_3 catalytic domain with conserved -GHGG- motif and Zn2+ binding sites. Zn2+- binding in Ami1Di is crucial for amidase activity. AlphaFold2 structures of both Ami1Di and Ami2Di were predicted, and Ami1Di was a closer homolog to AmiA of E. coli. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that Ami1Di and Ami2Di enzymes can cleave peptidoglycan, and structural prediction studies revealed insights into the activity and regulation of these enzymes in D. indicus DR1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malvika Modi
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, 201314, India
| | - Menaka Thambiraja
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Archana Cherukat
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, 201314, India
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Rd, Winston-Salem, USA
| | - Ragothaman M Yennamalli
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Richa Priyadarshini
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, 201314, India.
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3
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Gurbatri C, Danino T. Engineering Probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 for Release of Therapeutic Nanobodies. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2748:289-305. [PMID: 38070121 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3593-3_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioengineered probiotics enable new opportunities to improve cancer treatment strategies due to their tumor-colonizing capabilities. Here, we will describe the development of a probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 platform encoding a synchronized lysis mechanism for the localized and sustained release of blocking nanobodies against immune checkpoint molecules like programmed cell death protein-ligand 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4. Specifically, we will detail the experimental protocols needed to (1) encode and validate binding of recombinantly produced checkpoint blockade nanobodies, (2) evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the probiotic platform in syngeneic tumor-bearing mice, and (3) analyze the immunophenotype of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Gurbatri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tal Danino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Gouveia A, Pinto D, Vítor JMB, São-José C. Cellular and Enzymatic Determinants Impacting the Exolytic Action of an Anti-Staphylococcal Enzybiotic. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:523. [PMID: 38203699 PMCID: PMC10778630 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysins are bacteriolytic enzymes that have been explored as potential weapons to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Despite several studies support the application of endolysins as enzybiotics, detailed knowledge on cellular and enzymatic factors affecting their lytic activity is still missing. The bacterial membrane proton motive force (PMF) and certain cell wall glycopolymers of Gram-positive bacteria have been implicated in some tolerance to endolysins. Here, we studied how the anti-staphylococcal endolysin Lys11, a modular enzyme with two catalytic domains (peptidase and amidase) and a cell binding domain (CBD11), responded to changes in the chemical and/or electric gradients of the PMF (ΔpH and Δψ, respectively). We show that simultaneous dissipation of both gradients enhances endolysin binding to cells and lytic activity. The collapse of ΔpH is preponderant in the stimulation of Lys11 lytic action, while the dissipation of Δψ is mainly associated with higher endolysin binding. Interestingly, this binding depends on the amidase domain. The peptidase domain is responsible for most of the Lys11 bacteriolytic activity. Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are confirmed as major determinants of endolysin tolerance, in part by severely hindering CBD11 binding activity. In conclusion, the PMF and WTA interfere differently with the endolysin functional domains, affecting both the binding and catalytic efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gouveia
- Phage Biology Research and Infection Control (PhaBRIC), Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.G.); (D.P.)
| | - Daniela Pinto
- Phage Biology Research and Infection Control (PhaBRIC), Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.G.); (D.P.)
| | - Jorge M. B. Vítor
- Pathogen Genome Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Carlos São-José
- Phage Biology Research and Infection Control (PhaBRIC), Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.G.); (D.P.)
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Gómez-Arrebola C, Hernandez SB, Culp EJ, Wright GD, Solano C, Cava F, Lasa I. Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility to complestatin and corbomycin depends on the VraSR two-component system. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0037023. [PMID: 37646518 PMCID: PMC10581084 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00370-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics in humans and livestock has driven the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance and has therefore prompted research on the discovery of novel antibiotics. Complestatin (Cm) and corbomycin (Cb) are glycopeptide antibiotics with an unprecedented mechanism of action that is active even against methicillin-resistant and daptomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. They bind to peptidoglycan and block the activity of peptidoglycan hydrolases required for remodeling the cell wall during growth. Bacterial signaling through two-component transduction systems (TCSs) has been associated with the development of S. aureus antimicrobial resistance. However, the role of TCSs in S. aureus susceptibility to Cm and Cb has not been previously addressed. In this study, we determined that, among all 16 S. aureus TCSs, VraSR is the only one controlling the susceptibility to Cm and Cb. Deletion of vraSR increased bacterial susceptibility to both antibiotics. Epistasis analysis with members of the vraSR regulon revealed that deletion of spdC, which encodes a membrane protein that scaffolds SagB for cleavage of peptidoglycan strands to achieve physiological length, in the vraSR mutant restored Cm and Cb susceptibility to wild-type levels. Moreover, deletion of either spdC or sagB in the wild-type strain increased resistance to both antibiotics. Further analyses revealed a significant rise in the relative amount of peptidoglycan and its total degree of cross-linkage in ΔspdC and ΔsagB mutants compared to the wild-type strain, suggesting that these changes in the cell wall provide resistance to the damaging effect of Cm and Cb. IMPORTANCE Although Staphylococcus aureus is a common colonizer of the skin and digestive tract of humans and many animals, it is also a versatile pathogen responsible for causing a wide variety and number of infections. Treatment of these infections requires the bacteria to be constantly exposed to antibiotic treatment, which facilitates the selection of antibiotic-resistant strains. The development of new antibiotics is, therefore, urgently needed. In this paper, we investigated the role of the sensory system of S. aureus in susceptibility to two new antibiotics: corbomycin and complestatin. The results shed light on the cell-wall synthesis processes that are affected by the presence of the antibiotic and the sensory system responsible for coordinating their activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Gómez-Arrebola
- Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sara B. Hernandez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth J. Culp
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, M. G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gerard D. Wright
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, M. G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cristina Solano
- Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Felipe Cava
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Iñigo Lasa
- Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
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Liu S, Wang P, Wang C, Chen J, Wang X, Hu B, Shan X. Disparate toxicity mechanisms of parabens with different alkyl chain length in freshwater biofilms: Ecological hazards associated with antibiotic resistome. Sci Total Environ 2023; 881:163168. [PMID: 37003345 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
As emerging organic pollutants, parabens are of global concern because of their ubiquitous presence and adverse effects. However, few researchers have addressed the relationship between parabens' structural features and toxicity mechanisms. This study conducted theoretical calculations and laboratory exposure experiments to uncover the toxic effects and mechanisms of parabens with different alkyl chains in freshwater biofilms. The result demonstrated that parabens' hydrophobicity and lethality increased with their alkyl-chain length, whereas the possibility of chemical reactions and reactive sites were unchanged despite the alkyl-chain length alteration. Due to the hydrophobicity variation, parabens with different alkyl-chain presented different distribution patterns in cells of freshwater biofilms and consequently induced distinct toxic effects and led to diverse cell death modes. The butylparaben with longer alkyl-chain preferred to stay in the membrane and altered membrane permeability by non-covalent interaction with phospholipid, which caused cell necrosis. The methylparaben with shorter alkyl-chain preferred to enter into the cytoplasm and influence mazE gene expression by chemically reacting with biomacromolecules, thereby triggering apoptosis. The different cell death patterns induced by parabens contributed to different ecological hazards associated with antibiotic resistome. Compared with butylparaben, methylparaben was more likely to spread ARGs among microbial communities despite its lower lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Peifang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Chao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Xun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Bin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Xiaorong Shan
- Sid and Reva Dewberry Dept. of Civil, Environmental, & Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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7
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Ikryannikova LN, Gorokhovets NV, Belykh DA, Kurbatov LK, Zamyatnin AA. Bacterial Therapy of Cancer: A Way to the Dustbin of History or to the Medicine of the Future? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119726. [PMID: 37298677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria are the constant companions of the human body throughout its life and even after its death. The history of a human disease such as cancer and the history of microorganisms, particularly bacteria, are believed to closely intertwined. This review was conceived to highlight the attempts of scientists from ancient times to the present day to discover the relationship between bacteria and the emergence or development of tumors in the human body. Challenges and achievements of 21st century science in forcing bacteria to serve for cancer treatment are considered. The future possibilities of bacterial cancer therapy, including the creation of bacterial microrobots, or "bacteriobots", are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa N Ikryannikova
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya 8/2, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Neonila V Gorokhovets
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya 8/2, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Darya A Belykh
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya 8/2, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Leonid K Kurbatov
- Orekhovich Research Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya 10/8, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey A Zamyatnin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya 8/2, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/73, 119234 Moscow, Russia
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/40, 119992 Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Center for Translation Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Ave, 354340 Sochi, Russia
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Bosnar LM, Shindler AE, Wood J, Patch C, Franks AE. Attempts to limit sporulation in the probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis BG01-4 TM through mutation accumulation and selection. Access Microbiol 2023; 5:acmi000419. [PMID: 37323944 PMCID: PMC10267654 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of bacterial spores in probiotics over viable loads of bacteria has many advantages, including the durability of spores, which allows spore-based probiotics to effectively traverse the various biochemical barriers present in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the majority of spore-based probiotics developed currently aim to treat adults, and there is a litany of differences between the adult and infant intestinal systems, including the immaturity and low microbial species diversity observed within the intestines of infants. These differences are only further exacerbated in premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and indicates that what may be appropriate for an adult or even a healthy full-term infant may not be suited for an unhealthy premature infant. Complications from using spore-based probiotics for premature infants with NEC may involve the spores remaining dormant and adhering to the intestinal epithelia, the out-competing of commensal bacteria by spores, and most importantly the innate antibiotic resistance of spores. Also, the ability of Bacillus subtilis to produce spores under duress may result in less B. subtilis perishing within the intestines and releasing membrane branched-chain fatty acids. The isolate B. subtilis BG01-4TM is a proprietary strain developed by Vernx Biotechnology through accumulating mutations within the BG01-4TM genome in a serial batch culture. Strain BG01-4TM was provided as a non-spore-forming B. subtilis , but a positive sporulation status for BG01-4TM was confirmed through in vitro testing and suggested that selection for the sporulation defective genes could occur within an environment that would select against sporulation. The durability of key sporulation genes was ratified in this study, as the ability of BG01-4TM to produce spores was not eliminated by the attempts to select against sporulation genes in BG01-4TM by the epigenetic factors of high glucose and low pH. However, a variation in the genes in isolate BG01-4-8 involved in the regulation of sporulation is believed to have occurred during the mutation selection from the parent strain BG01-4TM. An alteration in selected sporulation regulation genes is expected to have occurred from BG01-4TM to BG01-4-8, with BG01-4-8 producing spores within 24 h, ~48 h quicker than BG01-4TM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke M. Bosnar
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Anya E. Shindler
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Jennifer Wood
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Craig Patch
- School of Allied Health, Human Services, and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
- Vernx Pty Ltd, Level 17, 40 City Road, Southbank, Victoria 3066, Australia
| | - Ashley E. Franks
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Giallonardi G, Letizia M, Mellini M, Frangipani E, Halliday N, Heeb S, Cámara M, Visca P, Imperi F, Leoni L, Williams P, Rampioni G. Alkyl-quinolone-dependent quorum sensing controls prophage-mediated autolysis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa colony biofilms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1183681. [PMID: 37305419 PMCID: PMC10250642 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1183681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model quorum sensing (QS) pathogen with three interconnected QS circuits that control the production of virulence factors and antibiotic tolerant biofilms. The pqs QS system of P. aeruginosa is responsible for the biosynthesis of diverse 2-alkyl-4-quinolones (AQs), of which 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline (HHQ) and 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (PQS) function as QS signal molecules. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that HHQ and PQS influenced the expression of multiple genes via PqsR-dependent and -independent pathways whereas 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (HQNO) had no effect on P. aeruginosa transcriptome. HQNO is a cytochrome bc 1 inhibitor that causes P. aeruginosa programmed cell death and autolysis. However, P. aeruginosa pqsL mutants unable to synthesize HQNO undergo autolysis when grown as colony biofilms. The mechanism by which such autolysis occurs is not understood. Through the generation and phenotypic characterization of multiple P. aeruginosa PAO1 mutants producing altered levels of AQs in different combinations, we demonstrate that mutation of pqsL results in the accumulation of HHQ which in turn leads to Pf4 prophage activation and consequently autolysis. Notably, the effect of HHQ on Pf4 activation is not mediated via its cognate receptor PqsR. These data indicate that the synthesis of HQNO in PAO1 limits HHQ-induced autolysis mediated by Pf4 in colony biofilms. A similar phenomenon is shown to occur in P. aeruginosa cystic fibrosis (CF) isolates, in which the autolytic phenotype can be abrogated by ectopic expression of pqsL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marta Mellini
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Nigel Halliday
- National Biofilms Innovation Centre, Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephan Heeb
- National Biofilms Innovation Centre, Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel Cámara
- National Biofilms Innovation Centre, Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Visca
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Imperi
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Livia Leoni
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Paul Williams
- National Biofilms Innovation Centre, Biodiscovery Institute and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Giordano Rampioni
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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10
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Ke L, Wang J, Liu Y, Sun Z, Li Y, Xiao X. Identification of the antibacterial action mechanism of curcumin on Streptococcus mutans through transcriptome profiling. Arch Oral Biol 2023; 149:105655. [PMID: 36842372 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2023.105655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism responsible for how curcumin affects the biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). DESIGN The antibacterial activity of curcumin was evaluated by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The mass of the biofilm was measured by crystal violet staining. Transcriptome sequencing was used to obtain all the transcript information associated with the biological activity of curcumin-treated S. mutans. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine the expression levels of related biofilm formation genes. RESULTS The MIC value for curcumin was 64 μM. Curcumin inhibited the formation of a biofilm by S. mutans and degraded mature biofilms. A gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly relevant to biofilm formation. In addition, 17 significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways (p ≤ 0.01) were identified and were potentially associated with the biochemical metabolic processes of S. mutans. DEGs associated with the biofilm formation of S. mutants, including gtfB, gtfC, rgpG, spaP, spxA1, spxA2, bacA, lrgB, and gshAB. The qRT-PCR results were consistent with transcriptome sequencing that the expression levels of gtfB, gtfC, rgpG, and spaP significantly decreased in the curcumin-treated group, whereas the expression levels of spx1, spx2, bacA, lrgB, and gshAB were up-regulated. CONCLUSIONS Curcumin showed marked inhibitory effects against the formation of biofilms by S. mutans and degradation of formed biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ke
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China; Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Tumors of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yanhua Liu
- Department of clinical laboratory, Hospital of China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Zhongyi Sun
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yirong Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China; Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Tumors of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China; Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Tumors of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Wuhan, China.
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11
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Karnwal A, Kumar G, Pant G, Hossain K, Ahmad A, Alshammari MB. Perspectives on Usage of Functional Nanomaterials in Antimicrobial Therapy for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Infections. ACS Omega 2023; 8:13492-13508. [PMID: 37091369 PMCID: PMC10116640 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The clinical applications of nanotechnology are emerging as widely popular, particularly as a potential treatment approach for infectious diseases. Diseases associated with multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are a global concern of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains has increased the urgency associated with researching and developing novel bactericidal medicines or unorthodox methods capable of combating antimicrobial resistance. Nanomaterial-based treatments are promising for treating severe bacterial infections because they bypass antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Nanomaterial-based approaches, especially those that do not rely on small-molecule antimicrobials, display potential since they can bypass drug-resistant bacteria systems. Nanoparticles (NPs) are small enough to pass through the cell membranes of pathogenic bacteria and interfere with essential molecular pathways. They can also target biofilms and eliminate infections that have proven difficult to treat. In this review, we described the antibacterial mechanisms of NPs against bacteria and the parameters involved in targeting established antibiotic resistance and biofilms. Finally, yet importantly, we talked about NPs and the various ways they can be utilized, including as delivery methods, intrinsic antimicrobials, or a mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Karnwal
- Department
of Microbiology, School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Gaurav Kumar
- Department
of Microbiology, School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Gaurav Pant
- Department
of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to
be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248002, India
| | - Kaizar Hossain
- Department
of Environmental Science, Asutosh College, University of Calcutta, 92, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road, Bhowanipore, Kolkata 700026, West
Bengal, India
| | - Akil Ahmad
- Department
of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed B. Alshammari
- Department
of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
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12
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Brogan AP, Rudner DZ. Regulation of peptidoglycan hydrolases: localization, abundance, and activity. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 72:102279. [PMID: 36812681 PMCID: PMC10031507 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Most bacteria are surrounded by a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan (PG) that specifies shape and protects the cell from osmotic rupture. Growth, division, and morphogenesis are intimately linked to the synthesis of this exoskeleton but also its hydrolysis. The enzymes that cleave the PG meshwork require careful control to prevent aberrant hydrolysis and loss of envelope integrity. Bacteria employ diverse mechanisms to control the activity, localization, and abundance of these potentially autolytic enzymes. Here, we discuss four examples of how cells integrate these control mechanisms to finely tune cell wall hydrolysis. We highlight recent advances and exciting avenues for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Brogan
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Z Rudner
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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13
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Xu D, Ju X, Zhu M, Ou J, Lu G, Wan C, Li K, Jiang W, Jia X, Han Y, Tian Y, Niu Z. Surface decoration with leucine tetrapeptide: An antibacterial strategy against Gram-negative bacteria. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 641:126-34. [PMID: 36931211 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Surface-associated microbe contamination by Gram-negative bacteria poses a serious problem in medical care. Cationic peptides or polymers are the main materials used for antibacterial surface coating, but the positive charge may lead to blood coagulation. Therefore, exploiting surface coating which is free of positive charge and is effective for Gram-negative bacteria inactivation is in urgent need. In this study, inspired by the affinity between lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria and Toll-like receptors of immune cells, we develop a leucine-based tetrapeptide coating strategy for combating Gram-negative bacteria. The obtained surface has excellent bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. A 1 mm2 coated glass surface could kill > 9.9 × 104 CFU bacteria in 1 h and has nearly no damage to mammal cells. Moreover, this surface coating strategy could be applied on various surfaces like glass slices, glass capillary cavity and thermoplastic polyurethane slices. And the coated surface could largely mitigate the microbe contamination in an in vivo subcutaneous implantation. This work paves a new way for antibacterial surface-coating which is behaving no positive charge and is of great importance for biomedical devices.
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14
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Du C, Ni L, Wizi J, Sang W, Rong S, Li X, Xu C, Li Y, Chen X, Li S. The inhibition mechanism and death mode of Microcystis aeruginosa induced by the continuous pressure of artemisinin sustained-release microspheres (ASMs). ALGAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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15
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Berne C, Zappa S, Brun YV. eDNA-stimulated cell dispersion from Caulobacter crescentus biofilms upon oxygen limitation is dependent on a toxin-antitoxin system. eLife 2023; 12:80808. [PMID: 36475544 PMCID: PMC9851616 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In their natural environment, most bacteria preferentially live as complex surface-attached multicellular colonies called biofilms. Biofilms begin with a few cells adhering to a surface, where they multiply to form a mature colony. When conditions deteriorate, cells can leave the biofilm. This dispersion is thought to be an important process that modifies the overall biofilm architecture and that promotes colonization of new environments. In Caulobacter crescentus biofilms, extracellular DNA (eDNA) is released upon cell death and prevents newborn cells from joining the established biofilm. Thus, eDNA promotes the dispersal of newborn cells and the subsequent colonization of new environments. These observations suggest that eDNA is a cue for sensing detrimental environmental conditions in the biofilm. Here, we show that the toxin-antitoxin system (TAS) ParDE4 stimulates cell death in areas of a biofilm with decreased O2 availability. In conditions where O2 availability is low, eDNA concentration is correlated with cell death. Cell dispersal away from biofilms is decreased when parDE4 is deleted, probably due to the lower local eDNA concentration. Expression of parDE4 is positively regulated by O2 and the expression of this operon is decreased in biofilms where O2 availability is low. Thus, a programmed cell death mechanism using an O2-regulated TAS stimulates dispersal away from areas of a biofilm with decreased O2 availability and favors colonization of a new, more hospitable environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecile Berne
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de MontréalMontréalCanada
| | - Sébastien Zappa
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de MontréalMontréalCanada
| | - Yves V Brun
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de MontréalMontréalCanada
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16
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Peng Q, Tang X, Dong W, Sun N, Yuan W. A Review of Biofilm Formation of Staphylococcus aureus and Its Regulation Mechanism. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 12:antibiotics12010012. [PMID: 36671212 PMCID: PMC9854888 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can form biofilms in natural and clinical environments on both biotic and abiotic surfaces. The bacterial aggregates embedded in biofilms are formed by their own produced extracellular matrix. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the most common pathogens of biofilm infections. The formation of biofilm can protect bacteria from being attacked by the host immune system and antibiotics and thus bacteria can be persistent against external challenges. Therefore, clinical treatments for biofilm infections are currently encountering difficulty. To address this critical challenge, a new and effective treatment method needs to be developed. A comprehensive understanding of bacterial biofilm formation and regulation mechanisms may provide meaningful insights against antibiotic resistance due to bacterial biofilms. In this review, we discuss an overview of S. aureus biofilms including the formation process, structural and functional properties of biofilm matrix, and the mechanism regulating biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Peng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Xiaohua Tang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Wanyang Dong
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Ning Sun
- Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, China
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (W.Y.)
| | - Wenchang Yuan
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (W.Y.)
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17
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Franco D, Calabrese G, Guglielmino SPP, Conoci S. Metal-Based Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Mechanisms and Biomedical Application. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091778. [PMID: 36144380 PMCID: PMC9503339 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria has led to the search for new antibacterial agents capable of overcoming the resistance problem. In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have been increasingly used to target bacteria as an alternative to antibiotics. The most promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications are metal and metal oxide NPs, due to their intrinsic antibacterial activity. Although NPs show interesting antibacterial properties, the mechanisms underlying their action are still poorly understood, limiting their use in clinical applications. In this review, an overview of the mechanisms underlying the antibacterial activity of metal and metal oxide NPs will be provided, relating their efficacy to: (i) bacterial strain; (ii) higher microbial organizations (biofilm); (iii) and physico-chemical properties of NPs. In addition, bacterial resistance strategies will be also discussed to better evaluate the feasibility of the different treatments adopted in the clinical safety fields. Finally, a wide analysis on recent biomedical applications of metal and metal oxide NPs with antibacterial activity will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Franco
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Giovanna Calabrese
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Salvatore Pietro Paolo Guglielmino
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Sabrina Conoci
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
- Department of Chemistry ‘‘Giacomo Ciamician’’, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- LabSense Beyond Nano, URT Department of Physic, National Research Council (CNR), Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
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18
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Molinero N, Conti E, Walker AW, Margolles A, Duncan SH, Delgado S. Survival Strategies and Metabolic Interactions between Ruminococcus gauvreauii and Ruminococcoides bili, Isolated from Human Bile. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0277621. [PMID: 35863028 PMCID: PMC9431564 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02776-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the bacteria that reside in the human gallbladder and the mechanisms that allow them to survive within this harsh environment. Here we describe interactions between two strains from a human bile sample, one Ruminococcus gauvreauii (IPLA60001), belonging to the Lachnospiraceae family, and the other, designated as Ruminococcoides bili (IPLA60002T; DSM 110008) most closely related to Ruminococcus bromii within the family Ruminococcaceae. We provide evidence for bile salt resistance and sporulation for these new strains. Both differed markedly in their carbohydrate metabolism. The R. bili strain mainly metabolized resistant starches to form formate, lactate and acetate. R. gauvreauii mainly metabolized sugar alcohols, including inositol and also utilized formate to generate acetate employing the Wood Ljungdahl pathway. Amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis genomic profiles also differed markedly between the two isolates, likely contributing to their synergistic interactions, as revealed by transcriptomic analysis of cocultures. Transcriptome analysis also revealed that R. gauvreauii IPLA60001 is able to grow using the end-products of starch metabolism formed by the R. bili strain such as formate, and potentially other compounds (such as ethanolamine and inositol) possibly provided by the autolytic behavior of R. bili. IMPORTANCE Unique insights into metabolic interaction between two isolates; Ruminococcus gauvreauii IPLA60001 and Ruminococcoides bili IPLA60002, from the human gallbladder, are presented here. The R. bili strain metabolized resistant starches while R. gauvreauii failed to do so but grew well on sugar alcohols. Transcriptomic analysis of cocultures of these strains, provides new data on the physiology and ecology of two bacteria from human bile, with a particular focus on cross-feeding mechanisms. Both biliary strains displayed marked resistance to bile and possess many efflux transporters, potentially involved in bile export. However, they differ markedly in their amino acid catabolism and vitamin synthesis capabilities, a feature that is therefore likely to contribute to the strong synergistic interactions between these strains. This is therefore the first study that provides evidence for syntrophic metabolic cooperation between bacterial strains isolated from human bile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Molinero
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Dairy Research Institute of Asturias (IPLA)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Villaviciosa-Asturias, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo-Asturias, Spain
| | - Elena Conti
- Gut Health Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Alan W. Walker
- Gut Health Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Abelardo Margolles
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Dairy Research Institute of Asturias (IPLA)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Villaviciosa-Asturias, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo-Asturias, Spain
| | - Sylvia H. Duncan
- Gut Health Group, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Susana Delgado
- Functionality and Ecology of Beneficial Microbes (MicroHealth) Group, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Dairy Research Institute of Asturias (IPLA)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Villaviciosa-Asturias, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo-Asturias, Spain
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19
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Gumber HK, Louyakis AS, Sarma T, Fabijanic KI, Paul R, Mellenbruch K, Kilpatrick-liverman L. Effect of a Stannous Fluoride Dentifrice on Biofilm Composition, Gene Expression and Biomechanical Properties. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1691. [PMID: 36144293 PMCID: PMC9506307 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An in situ study was conducted to examine the mode of action of a 0.454% stannous fluoride (SnF2)-containing dentifrice in controlling the composition and properties of oral biofilm. Thirteen generally healthy individuals participated in the study. Each participant wore an intra-oral appliance over a 48-h period to measure differences in the resulting biofilm’s architecture, mechanical properties, and bacterial composition after using two different toothpaste products. In addition, metatranscriptomics analysis of supragingival plaque was conducted to identify the gene pathways influenced. The thickness and volume of the microcolonies formed when brushing with the SnF2 dentifrice were dramatically reduced compared to the control 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP)-containing toothpaste. Similarly, the biophysical and nanomechanical properties measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated a significant reduction in biofilm adhesive properties. Metatranscriptomic analysis identified pathways associated with biofilm formation, cell adhesion, quorum sensing, and N-glycosylation that are significantly downregulated with SnF2. This study provides a clinically relevant snapshot of how the use of a stabilized, SnF2 toothpaste formulation can change the spatial organization, nanomechanical, and gene expression properties of bacterial communities.
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20
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Jiang G, Ma J, Wang C, Wang Y, Laghari AA. Kinetics and mechanism analysis on self-decay of airborne bacteria:biological and physical decay under different temperature. Sci Total Environ 2022; 832:155033. [PMID: 35390386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Bioaerosol as an important medium has aroused widespread concern on its potential hazards in disease transmission and environment biosafety. However, little is known about the duration and self-decay of airborne bacteria in the atmosphere environment. Further, the self-decay process is proposed to include biological-decay and physical-decay. At present, there are many reports on the bacteria apoptosis mechanism and airborne particle migration. However, few studies focus on self-decay during the physical movement of airborne bacteria. The present study investigated self-decay laws and efficiencies of airborne bacteria in the sealed reactor under room temperature (18 ± 2 °C, RT) and low temperature (3 ± 2 °C, LT). The self-decay rate constants of 0.0089, 0.0133, 0.0092, and 0.0122 min-1 were obtained under RT-E. coli, LT-E. coli, RT-S. aureus and LT-S. aureus, respectively. There was no significant difference between the self-decay efficiency of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria under the same conditions. Nevertheless, gram-negative bacteria were more sensitive to temperature change compared with gram-positive bacteria, where the self-decay efficiency of gram-negative under LT was 49% higher than that under RT, and the value of gram-positive was 32% at the same condition. Furthermore, the laws of biological-decay and physical-decay conformed to the first-order kinetic model by theoretical derivation. Biological-decay accounted for 59.5% at RT and 88.5% at LT among self-decay, which is mainly caused by energy absorption, environmental stress, and bacterial structure changes. Physical-decay mainly caused by gravity settlement accounting for 40% at RT and 10% at LT among self-decay, approximately. Meanwhile, the influence of environmental factors on self-decay was mainly reflected in the biological-decay process. Overall, it is of great significance for clarifying the changing laws of bioaerosol and controlling the transmission of airborne bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Jiang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Jinbiao Ma
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Can Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China.
| | - Yongchao Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Azhar Ali Laghari
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China
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21
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Duarte H, Gummel J, Robles E, Berti D, Fratini E. Ultra-/Small Angle X-ray Scattering (USAXS/SAXS) and Static Light Scattering (SLS) Modeling as a Tool to Determine Structural Changes and Effect on Growth in S. epidermidis. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2022; 5:3703-3712. [PMID: 35905477 PMCID: PMC9940853 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Usually, to characterize bacterial cells' susceptibility to antimicrobials, basic microbiology techniques such as serial dilutions or disk assays are used. In this work, we present an approach focused on combining static light scattering (SLS) and ultra-/small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS/SAXS). This approach was used to support microbiology techniques, with the aim of understanding the structural changes caused to bacteria when they are exposed to different stresses like pH, oxidation, and surfactants. Using USAXS/SAXS and SLS data, we developed a detailed multiscale model for a Gram-positive bacterium, S. epidermidis, and we extracted information regarding changes in the overall size and cell thickness induced by different stresses (i.e., pH and hydrogen peroxide). Increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide leads to a progressive reduction in cell wall thickness. Moreover, the concomitant use of pH and hydrogen peroxide provides evidence for a synergy in inhibiting the S. epidermidis growth. These promising results will be used as a starting base to further investigate more complex formulations and improve/refine the data modeling of bacteria in the small angle scattering regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Duarte
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” and CSGI, University of Florence, Sesto
Fiorentino, Florence I-50019, Italy,
| | - Jeremie Gummel
- Brussels
Innovation Centre, Temselaan
100, Strombeek-bever B-1853, Belgium
| | - Eric Robles
- Household
Care Analytical, Procter & Gamble Newcastle
Innovation Centre, Newcastle NE12 9TS, United Kingdom
| | - Debora Berti
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” and CSGI, University of Florence, Sesto
Fiorentino, Florence I-50019, Italy
| | - Emiliano Fratini
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” and CSGI, University of Florence, Sesto
Fiorentino, Florence I-50019, Italy,
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22
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Sionov RV, Banerjee S, Bogomolov S, Smoum R, Mechoulam R, Steinberg D. Targeting the Achilles’ Heel of Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by the Endocannabinoid Anandamide. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147798. [PMID: 35887146 PMCID: PMC9319909 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a major health issue that requires new therapeutic approaches. Accumulating data suggest that it is possible to sensitize these bacteria to antibiotics by combining them with inhibitors targeting efflux pumps, the low-affinity penicillin-binding protein PBP2a, cell wall teichoic acid, or the cell division protein FtsZ. We have previously shown that the endocannabinoid Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine; AEA) could sensitize drug-resistant S. aureus to a variety of antibiotics, among others, through growth arrest and inhibition of drug efflux. Here, we looked at biochemical alterations caused by AEA. We observed that AEA increased the intracellular drug concentration of a fluorescent penicillin and augmented its binding to membrane proteins with concomitant altered membrane distribution of these proteins. AEA also prevented the secretion of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and reduced the cell wall teichoic acid content, both processes known to require transporter proteins. Notably, AEA was found to inhibit membrane ATPase activity that is necessary for transmembrane transport. AEA did not affect the membrane GTPase activity, and the GTPase cell division protein FtsZ formed the Z-ring of the divisome normally in the presence of AEA. Rather, AEA caused a reduction in murein hydrolase activities involved in daughter cell separation. Altogether, this study shows that AEA affects several biochemical processes that culminate in the sensitization of the drug-resistant bacteria to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronit Vogt Sionov
- Biofilm Research Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; (S.B.); (S.B.); (D.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Shreya Banerjee
- Biofilm Research Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; (S.B.); (S.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Sergei Bogomolov
- Biofilm Research Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; (S.B.); (S.B.); (D.S.)
| | - Reem Smoum
- Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; (R.S.); (R.M.)
| | - Raphael Mechoulam
- Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; (R.S.); (R.M.)
| | - Doron Steinberg
- Biofilm Research Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; (S.B.); (S.B.); (D.S.)
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Kim W, Wang Z, Kim H, Pham K, Tu Y, Townsend JP, Trail F. Transcriptional Divergence Underpinning Sexual Development in the Fungal Class Sordariomycetes. mBio 2022; 13:e0110022. [PMID: 35638737 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01100-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression divergence through evolutionary processes is thought to be important for achieving programmed development in multicellular organisms. To test this premise in filamentous fungi, we investigated transcriptional profiles of 3,942 single-copy orthologous genes (SCOGs) in five related sordariomycete species that have morphologically diverged in the formation of their flask-shaped perithecia. We compared expression of the SCOGs to inferred gene expression levels of the most recent common ancestor of the five species, ranking genes from their largest increases to smallest increases in expression during perithecial development in each of the five species. We found that a large proportion of the genes that exhibited evolved increases in gene expression were important for normal perithecial development in Fusarium graminearum. Many of these genes were previously uncharacterized, encoding hypothetical proteins without any known functional protein domains. Interestingly, the developmental stages during which aberrant knockout phenotypes appeared largely coincided with the elevated expression of the deleted genes. In addition, we identified novel genes that affected normal perithecial development in Magnaporthe oryzae and Neurospora crassa, which were functionally and transcriptionally diverged from the orthologous counterparts in F. graminearum. Furthermore, comparative analysis of developmental transcriptomes and phylostratigraphic analysis suggested that genes encoding hypothetical proteins are generally young and transcriptionally divergent between related species. This study provides tangible evidence of shifts in gene expression that led to acquisition of novel function of orthologous genes in each lineage and demonstrates that several genes with hypothetical function are crucial for shaping multicellular fruiting bodies. IMPORTANCE The fungal class Sordariomycetes includes numerous important plant and animal pathogens. It also provides model systems for studying fungal fruiting body development, as its members develop fruiting bodies with a few well-characterized tissue types on common growth media and have rich genomic resources that enable comparative and functional analyses. To understand transcriptional divergence of key developmental genes between five related sordariomycete fungi, we performed targeted knockouts of genes inferred to have evolved significant upward shifts in expression. We found that many previously uncharacterized genes play indispensable roles at different stages of fruiting body development, which have undergone transcriptional activation in specific lineages. These novel genes are predicted to be phylogenetically young and tend to be involved in lineage- or species-specific function. Transcriptional activation of genes with unknown function seems to be more frequent than ever thought, which may be crucial for rapid adaption to changing environments for successful sexual reproduction.
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Wang M, Buist G, van Dijl JM. Staphylococcus aureus cell wall maintenance - the multifaceted roles of peptidoglycan hydrolases in bacterial growth, fitness, and virulence. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6604383. [PMID: 35675307 PMCID: PMC9616470 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important human and livestock pathogen that is well-protected against environmental insults by a thick cell wall. Accordingly, the wall is a major target of present-day antimicrobial therapy. Unfortunately, S. aureus has mastered the art of antimicrobial resistance, as underscored by the global spread of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The major cell wall component is peptidoglycan. Importantly, the peptidoglycan network is not only vital for cell wall function, but it also represents a bacterial Achilles' heel. In particular, this network is continuously opened by no less than 18 different peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGHs) encoded by the S. aureus core genome, which facilitate bacterial growth and division. This focuses attention on the specific functions executed by these enzymes, their subcellular localization, their control at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, their contributions to staphylococcal virulence and their overall importance in bacterial homeostasis. As highlighted in the present review, our understanding of the different aspects of PGH function in S. aureus has been substantially increased over recent years. This is important because it opens up new possibilities to exploit PGHs as innovative targets for next-generation antimicrobials, passive or active immunization strategies, or even to engineer them into effective antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jan Maarten van Dijl
- Corresponding author: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. box 30001, HPC EB80, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands, Tel. +31-50-3615187; Fax. +31-50-3619105; E-mail:
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G C B, Sahukhal GS, Elasri MO. Delineating the Role of the msaABCR Operon in Staphylococcal Overflow Metabolism. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:914512. [PMID: 35722290 PMCID: PMC9204165 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.914512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that can infect almost every organ system, resulting in a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The msaABCR operon is an important regulator of several staphylococcal phenotypes, including biofilm development, cell wall crosslinking, antibiotic resistance, oxidative stress, and acute and chronic implant-associated osteomyelitis. Our previous study showed that, by modulating murein hydrolase activity, the msaABCR operon negatively regulates the proteases that govern cell death. Here, we report further elucidation of the mechanism of cell death, which is regulated by the msaABCR operon at the molecular level in the USA300 LAC strain. We showed that deletion of msaABCR enhances weak-acid-dependent cell death, because, in the biofilm microenvironment, this mutant strain consumes glucose and produces acetate and acetoin at higher rates than wild-type USA300 LAC strain. We proposed the increased intracellular acidification leads to increased cell death. MsaB, a dual-function transcription factor and RNA chaperone, is a negative regulator of the cidR regulon, which has been shown to play an important role in overflow metabolism and programmed cell death during biofilm development in S. aureus. We found that MsaB binds directly to the cidR promoter, which represses expression of the cidR regulon and prevents transcription of the cidABC and alsSD operons. In addition, we observed that pyruvate induced expression of the msaABCR operon (MsaB). The results reported here have enabled us to decipher the role of the msaABCR operon in staphylococcal metabolic adaption during biofilm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibek G C
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Gyan S. Sahukhal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
- *Correspondence: Gyan S. Sahukhal,
| | - Mohamed O. Elasri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
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Calcuttawala F, Shaw R, Sarbajna A, Dutta M, Sinha S, K. Das Gupta S. Apoptosis like symptoms associated with abortive infection of Mycobacterium smegmatis by mycobacteriophage D29. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0259480. [PMID: 35580120 PMCID: PMC9113562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteriophages are phages that infect mycobacteria resulting in their killing. Although lysis is the primary mechanism by which mycobacteriophages cause cell death, others such as abortive infection may also be involved. We took recourse to perform immunofluorescence and electron microscopic studies using mycobacteriophage D29 infected Mycobacterium smegmatis cells to investigate this issue. We could observe the intricate details of the infection process using these techniques such as adsorption, the phage tail penetrating the thick mycolic acid layer, formation of membrane pores, membrane blebbing, and phage release. We observed a significant increase in DNA fragmentation and membrane depolarization using cell-biological techniques symptomatic of programmed cell death (PCD). As Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) systems mediate bacterial PCD, we measured their expression profiles with and without phage infection. Of the three TAs examined, MazEF, VapBC, and phd/doc, we found that in the case of VapBC, a significant decrease in the antitoxin (VapB): toxin (VapC) ratio was observed following phage infection, implying that high VapC may have a role to play in the induction of mycobacterial apoptotic cell death following phage infection. This study indicates that D29 infection causes mycobacteria to undergo morphological and molecular changes that are hallmarks of apoptotic cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatema Calcuttawala
- Department of Microbiology, Sister Nivedita University, Kolkata, India
- * E-mail:
| | - Rahul Shaw
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Arpita Sarbajna
- Division of Electron Microscopy, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Moumita Dutta
- Division of Electron Microscopy, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
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Müh U, Ellermeier CD, Weiss DS. The WalRK Two-Component System Is Essential for Proper Cell Envelope Biogenesis in Clostridioides difficile. J Bacteriol 2022;:e0012122. [PMID: 35575581 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00121-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The WalR-WalK two-component regulatory system (TCS) is found in all Firmicutes, in which it regulates the expression of multiple genes required for remodeling the cell envelope during growth and division. Unlike most TCSs, WalRK is essential for viability, so it has attracted interest as a potential antibiotic target. In this study, we used overexpression of WalR and CRISPR interference to investigate the Wal system of Clostridioides difficile, a major cause of hospital-associated diarrhea in high-income countries. We confirmed that the wal operon is essential and identified morphological defects and cell lysis as the major terminal phenotypes of altered wal expression. We also used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify over 150 genes whose expression changes in response to WalR levels. This gene set is enriched in cell envelope genes and includes genes encoding several predicted PG hydrolases and proteins that could regulate PG hydrolase activity. A distinct feature of the C. difficile cell envelope is the presence of an S-layer, and we found that WalR affects expression of several genes which encode S-layer proteins. An unexpected finding was that some Wal-associated phenotypic defects were inverted in comparison to what has been reported for other Firmicutes. For example, downregulation of Wal signaling caused C. difficile cells to become longer rather than shorter, as in Bacillus subtilis. Likewise, downregulation of Wal rendered C. difficile more sensitive to vancomycin, whereas reduced Wal activity is linked to increased vancomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. IMPORTANCE The WalRK two-component system (TCS) is essential for coordinating synthesis and turnover of peptidoglycan in Firmicutes. We investigated the WalRK TCS in Clostridioides difficile, an important bacterial pathogen with an atypical cell envelope. We confirmed that WalRK is essential and regulates cell envelope biogenesis, although several of the phenotypic changes we observed were opposite to what has been reported for other Firmicutes. We also identified over 150 genes whose expression is controlled either directly or indirectly by WalR. Overall, our findings provide a foundation for future investigations of an important regulatory system and potential antibiotic target in C. difficile.
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Zank A, Schulte L, Brandon X, Carstensen L, Wescott A, Schwan WR. Mutations of the brpR and brpS genes affect biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus. World J Clin Infect Dis 2022; 12:20-32. [DOI: 10.5495/wjcid.v12.i1.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the United States, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) kills tens of thousands of individuals each year and the formation of a biofilm contributes to lethality. Biofilm-associated infections are hard to treat once the biofilm has formed. A new stilbene drug, labeled SK-03-92, was shown to kill S. aureus and affected transcription of two genes tied to a putative two-component system (TCS) we have named brpR (biofilm regulating protein regulator) and brpS (biofilm regulating protein sensor).
AIM To determine if BrpR and BrpS regulate biofilm formation, brpR and brpS mutants were assessed using biofilm assays compared to wild-type S. aureus.
METHODS A combination of biofilm and quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction assays were used. In addition, bioinformatic software tools were also utilized.
RESULTS Significantly more biofilm was created in the brpR and brpS mutants vs wild-type cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions showed the brpS mutant had differences in transcription of biofilm associated genes that were eight-fold higher for srtA, two-fold lower for lrgA, and 1.6-fold higher for cidA compared to wild-type. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that the S. aureus brpR/brpS TCS had homology to streptococcal late-stage competence proteins involved in cell-death, increased biofilm production, and the development of persister cells.
CONCLUSION Our study suggests that brpR/brpS is a TCS that may repress S. aureus biofilm production and be linked to late-stage competence in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Zank
- Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, United States
| | - Lillian Schulte
- Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, United States
| | - Xavier Brandon
- Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, United States
| | - Lauren Carstensen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, United States
| | - Amy Wescott
- Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, United States
| | - William R Schwan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, United States
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Naseri M, Maliha M, Dehghani M, Simon GP, Batchelor W. Rapid Detection of Gram-Positive and -Negative Bacteria in Water Samples Using Mannan-Binding Lectin-Based Visual Biosensor. ACS Sens 2022; 7:951-959. [PMID: 35290028 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c01748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne bacterial infection is a health threat worldwide, making accurate and timely bacteria detection crucial to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks. Inspired by the intrinsic capability of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) in recognizing the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), a visual biosensor is developed here for the on-site detection of both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The biosensor was synthesized by immobilization of the MBL protein onto the blue carboxyl-functionalized polystyrene microparticles (PSM), which is then used in a two-step assay to detect bacterial cells in water samples. The first step involved a 20 min incubation following the MBL-PSM and calcium chloride solution addition to the samples. The second step was to add ethanol to the resultant blue mixture and observe the color change with the naked eye after 15 min. The biosensor had a binary (all-or-none) response, which in the presence of bacterial cells kept its blue color, while in their absence the color changed from blue to colorless. Testing the water samples spiked with four Gram-negative bacteria including Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two Gram-positive bacteria of Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus showed that the biosensor could detect all tested bacteria with a concentration as low as 101.5 CFU/ml. The performance of biosensor using the water samples from a water treatment plant also confirmed its capability to detect the pathogens in real-life water samples without the need for instrumentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Naseri
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Maisha Maliha
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Mostafa Dehghani
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - George P Simon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Warren Batchelor
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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Proctor C, Garner E, Hamilton KA, Ashbolt NJ, Caverly LJ, Falkinham JO, Haas CN, Prevost M, Prevots DR, Pruden A, Raskin L, Stout J, Haig SJ. Tenets of a holistic approach to drinking water-associated pathogen research, management, and communication. Water Res 2022; 211:117997. [PMID: 34999316 PMCID: PMC8821414 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, drinking water-associated pathogens that can cause infections in immunocompromised or otherwise susceptible individuals (henceforth referred to as DWPI), sometimes referred to as opportunistic pathogens or opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, have received considerable attention. DWPI research has largely been conducted by experts focusing on specific microorganisms or within silos of expertise. The resulting mitigation approaches optimized for a single microorganism may have unintended consequences and trade-offs for other DWPI or other interests (e.g., energy costs and conservation). For example, the ecological and epidemiological issues characteristic of Legionella pneumophila diverge from those relevant for Mycobacterium avium and other nontuberculous mycobacteria. Recent advances in understanding DWPI as part of a complex microbial ecosystem inhabiting drinking water systems continues to reveal additional challenges: namely, how can all microorganisms of concern be managed simultaneously? In order to protect public health, we must take a more holistic approach in all aspects of the field, including basic research, monitoring methods, risk-based mitigation techniques, and policy. A holistic approach will (i) target multiple microorganisms simultaneously, (ii) involve experts across several disciplines, and (iii) communicate results across disciplines and more broadly, proactively addressing source water-to-customer system management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Proctor
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Emily Garner
- Wadsworth Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Kerry A Hamilton
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and The Biodesign Centre for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Nicholas J Ashbolt
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast. Queensland, Australia
| | - Lindsay J Caverly
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Charles N Haas
- Department of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michele Prevost
- Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - D Rebecca Prevots
- Epidemiology Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Amy Pruden
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Lutgarde Raskin
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Janet Stout
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, and Special Pathogens Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sarah-Jane Haig
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Krout IN, Scrimale T, Vorojekina D, Boyd ES, Rand MD. Organomercurial lyase (MerB)-mediated demethylation decreases bacterial methylmercury resistance in the absence of mercuric reductase (MerA). Appl Environ Microbiol 2022;:aem0001022. [PMID: 35138926 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00010-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mer operon encodes enzymes that transform and detoxify methylmercury (MeHg) and/or inorganic mercury (Hg(II)). Organomercurial lyase (MerB) and mercuric reductase (MerA) can act sequentially to demethylate MeHg to Hg(II) and reduce Hg(II) to volatile elemental mercury (Hg0) that can escape from the cell, conferring resistance to MeHg and Hg(II). Most identified mer operons encode either MerA and MerB in tandem or MerA alone, however, microbial genomes were recently identified that encode only MerB. Yet, the effects of potentially producing intracellular Hg(II) via demethylation of MeHg by MerB, independent of a mechanism to further detoxify or sequester the metal is not well understood. Here, we investigate MeHg biotransformation in Escherichia coli strains engineered to express MerA and MerB, together or separately, and characterize cell viability and Hg detoxification kinetics when these strains are grown in the presence of MeHg. Strains expressing only MerB are capable of demethylating MeHg to Hg(II). Compared to strains that express both MerA and MerB, strains expressing only MerB exhibit a lower minimum inhibitory concentration with MeHg exposure, which parallels a redistribution of Hg from the cell-associated fraction to the culture medium, consistent with cell lysis occurring. The data support a model whereby intracellular production of Hg(II), in the absence of reduction or other forms of demobilization, results in a greater cytotoxicity compared to the parent MeHg compound. Collectively, these results suggest that in the context of MeHg detoxification, MerB must be accompanied by an additional mechanism(s) to reduce, sequester, or re-distribute generated Hg(II). Importance: Mercury is a globally distributed pollutant that poses a risk to wildlife and human health. The toxicity of mercury is influenced largely by microbially mediated biotransformation between its organic (methylmercury) and inorganic (Hg(II) and Hg0) forms. Here we show in a relevant cellular context that the organomercurial lyase (MerB) enzyme is capable of MeHg demethylation without subsequent mercuric reductase (MerA)-mediated reduction of Hg(II). Demethylation of MeHg without subsequent Hg(II) reduction results in a greater cytotoxicity and increased cell lysis. Microbes carrying MerB alone have recently been identified but have yet to be characterized. Our results demonstrate that mer operons encoding MerB but not MerA put the cell at a disadvantage in the context of MeHg exposure, unless subsequent mechanisms of reduction or Hg(II) sequestration exist. These findings may help uncover the existence of alternative mechanisms of Hg(II) detoxification in addition to revealing the drivers of mer operon evolution.
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Gouveia A, Pinto D, Veiga H, Antunes W, Pinho MG, São-José C. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides as enhancers of the bacteriolytic action of staphylococcal phage endolysins. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1245. [PMID: 35075218 PMCID: PMC8786859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysins degrade the bacterial cell wall and are therefore considered promising antimicrobial alternatives to fight pathogens resistant to conventional antibiotics. Gram-positive bacteria are usually considered easy targets to exogenously added endolysins, since their cell walls are not shielded by an outer membrane. However, in nutrient rich environments these bacteria can also tolerate endolysin attack if they keep an energized cytoplasmic membrane. Hence, we have hypothesized that the membrane depolarizing action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), another attractive class of alternative antibacterials, could be explored to overcome bacterial tolerance to endolysins and consequently improve their antibacterial potential. Accordingly, we show that under conditions supporting bacterial growth, Staphylococcus aureus becomes much more susceptible to the bacteriolytic action of endolysins if an AMP is also present. The bactericidal gain resulting from the AMP/endolysin combined action ranged from 1 to 3 logs for different S. aureus strains, which included drug-resistant clinical isolates. In presence of an AMP, as with a reduced content of cell wall teichoic acids, higher endolysin binding to cells is observed. However, our results indicate that this higher endolysin binding alone does not fully explain the higher susceptibility of S. aureus to lysis in these conditions. Other factors possibly contributing to the increased endolysin susceptibility in presence of an AMP are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gouveia
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Pinto
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Helena Veiga
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da Républica, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Wilson Antunes
- Unidade Militar Laboratorial de Defesa Biológica e Química (UMLDBQ), Instituto Universitário Militar, Centro de Investigação da Academia Militar (CINAMIL), Av. Dr. Alfredo Bensaúde, 1849-012, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mariana G Pinho
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da Républica, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Carlos São-José
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Tesson B, Dajkovic A, Keary R, Marlière C, Dupont-Gillain CC, Carballido-López R. Magnesium rescues the morphology of Bacillus subtilis mreB mutants through its inhibitory effect on peptidoglycan hydrolases. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1137. [PMID: 35064120 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04294-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell wall homeostasis in bacteria is tightly regulated by balanced synthesis and degradation of peptidoglycan (PG), allowing cells to expand their sacculus during growth while maintaining physical integrity. In rod-shaped bacteria, actin-like MreB proteins are key players of the PG elongation machinery known as the Rod complex. In the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis depletion of the essential MreB leads to loss of rod shape and cell lysis. However, millimolar concentrations of magnesium in the growth medium rescue the viability and morphological defects of mreB mutants by an unknown mechanism. Here, we used a combination of cytological, biochemical and biophysical approaches to investigate the cell surface properties of mreB null mutant cells and the interactions of Mg2+ with the cell wall of B. subtilis. We show that ∆mreB cells have rougher and softer surfaces, and changes in PG composition indicative of increased DL- and DD-endopeptidase activities as well as increased deacetylation of the sugar moieties. Increase in DL-endopeptidase activity is mitigated by excess Mg2+ while DD-endopeptidase activity remains high. Visualization of PG degradation in pulse-chase experiments showed anisotropic PG hydrolase activity along the sidewalls of ∆mreB cells, in particular at the sites of increased cell width and bulging, while PG synthesis remained isotropic. Overall, our data support a model in which divalent cations maintain rod shape in ∆mreB cells by inhibiting PG hydrolases, possibly through the formation of crosslinks with carboxyl groups of the PG meshwork that affect the capacity of PG hydrolases to act on their substrate.
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Tímermans A, Vázquez R, Otero F, Gosálvez J, Johnston S, Fernández JL. Antibiotic toxicity on human spermatozoa assessed using the sperm DNA fragmentation dynamic assay. Andrologia 2021; 54:e14328. [PMID: 34837416 DOI: 10.1111/and.14328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) dynamic assays were piloted on 4 fresh ejaculates to examine the possible sperm toxicity of three common antibiotics, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and ampicillin, incubated at a concentration estimated to be reached in semen in vivo, and 100×, for 24 h. SDF was assessed in terms of single-strand DNA breaks (SSBs) and double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs). Low and high concentrations of ciprofloxacin and high concentration of doxycycline significantly increased the SDF rate, due to sperm containing SSBs. Ampicillin did not affect SDF dynamics at any dose. Based on these results, the effect of antibiotics on the global-SDF dynamics was further examined in 21 ejaculates assessed at 0, 4 and 6 h. Ciprofloxacin increased the rate of SDF at the low concentration in 17 from 21 subjects; the high concentration resulted in a stronger effect in all individuals. A significant increase in the rate of SDF in 17 ejaculates was also noted when spermatozoa were incubated with the high concentration of doxycycline. The dynamic SDF assay is a rapid and sensitive tool to evidence sperm toxicity. Ciprofloxacin should be avoided when it is necessary to preserve sperm quality for reproductive purposes and as additive in semen diluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Tímermans
- Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain.,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Radiobiology, Centro Oncológico de Galicia, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | - Fátima Otero
- Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain.,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Radiobiology, Centro Oncológico de Galicia, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Jaime Gosálvez
- Genetics Unit, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephen Johnston
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - José Luis Fernández
- Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain.,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Radiobiology, Centro Oncológico de Galicia, A Coruña, Spain
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Kumar N, Mittal A, Yadav M, Sharma S, Kumar T, Chakraborty R, Sengupta S, Chauhan NS. Photocatalytic TiO 2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite induces Bacillus subtilis cell death by disrupting its metabolism and membrane integrity. Indian J Microbiol 2021; 61:487-496. [PMID: 34744204 DOI: 10.1007/s12088-021-00973-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely characterized for its application in clinical diagnostics, therapeutics, cosmetics, nutrition, and environment management. Despite enormous potential, its dependence on ultraviolet (UV) light for photocatalytic activity limits its commercialization. Accordingly in the present study, a photo catalytically superior ternary complex of TiO2 with Cadmium sulfide/Zinc sulfide (CdS/ZnS) has been synthesized, as well as, characterized for photo-induced antimicrobial activity. The band gap of crystalline TiO2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite has been reduced (2.26 eV) and nanocomposite has shown the optimal photo-activation at 590 nm. TiO2 nanocomposite has significant bactericidal activity in visible light (P < 0.01). Exposure of the TiO2 nanocomposite affected the cellular metabolism by altering the 1681 metabolic features (P < 0.001) culminating in poor cellular survivability. Additionally, photo-induced reactive oxygen species generation through nanocomposite disrupts the microbial cellular structure. The present study synthesized photocatalytic nanocomposite as well as unveiled the holistic cellular effect of theTiO2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite. Additionally, the present study also indicated the potential application of TiO2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite for sustainable environment management, therapeutics, and various industries. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-021-00973-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana India
| | - Anuj Mittal
- Department of Chemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana India
| | - Monika Yadav
- Department of Biochemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana India
| | - Shankar Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana India
| | - Tarun Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana India
| | - Rahul Chakraborty
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
| | - Shantanu Sengupta
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
| | - Nar Singh Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana India
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Leroy S, Lebert I, Andant C, Micheau P, Talon R. Investigating Extracellular DNA Release in Staphylococcus xylosus Biofilm In Vitro. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2192. [PMID: 34835318 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus xylosus forms biofilm embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix. As extracellular DNA (eDNA) resulting from cell lysis has been found in several staphylococcal biofilms, we investigated S. xylosus biofilm in vitro by a microscopic approach and identified the mechanisms involved in cell lysis by a transcriptomic approach. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analyses of the biofilms, together with DNA staining and DNase treatment, revealed that eDNA constituted an important component of the matrix. This eDNA resulted from cell lysis by two mechanisms, overexpression of phage-related genes and of cidABC encoding a holin protein that is an effector of murein hydrolase activity. This lysis might furnish nutrients for the remaining cells as highlighted by genes overexpressed in nucleotide salvage, in amino sugar catabolism and in inorganic ion transports. Several genes involved in DNA/RNA repair and genes encoding proteases and chaperones involved in protein turnover were up-regulated. Furthermore, S. xylosus perceived osmotic and oxidative stresses and responded by up-regulating genes involved in osmoprotectant synthesis and in detoxification. This study provides new insight into the physiology of S. xylosus in biofilm.
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Silva Dias BH, Jung SH, Castro Oliveira JV, Ryu CM. C4 Bacterial Volatiles Improve Plant Health. Pathogens 2021; 10:682. [PMID: 34072921 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with plant roots can trigger plant growth promotion and induced systemic resistance. Several bacterial determinants including cell-wall components and secreted compounds have been identified to date. Here, we review a group of low-molecular-weight volatile compounds released by PGPR, which improve plant health, mostly by protecting plants against pathogen attack under greenhouse and field conditions. We particularly focus on C4 bacterial volatile compounds (BVCs), such as 2,3-butanediol and acetoin, which have been shown to activate the plant immune response and to promote plant growth at the molecular level as well as in large-scale field applications. We also disc/ uss the potential applications, metabolic engineering, and large-scale fermentation of C4 BVCs. The C4 bacterial volatiles act as airborne signals and therefore represent a new type of biocontrol agent. Further advances in the encapsulation procedure, together with the development of standards and guidelines, will promote the application of C4 volatiles in the field.
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Kasperkiewicz K, Major R, Sypien A, Kot M, Dyner M, Major Ł, Byrski A, Kopernik M, Lackner JM. Antibacterial Optimization of Highly Deformed Titanium Alloys for Spinal Implants. Molecules 2021; 26:3145. [PMID: 34074062 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of the work was to develop materials dedicated to spine surgery that minimized the potential for infection originating from the transfer of bacteria during long surgeries. The bacteria form biofilms, causing implant loosening, pain and finally, a risk of paralysis for patients. Our strategy focused both on improvement of antibacterial properties against bacteria adhesion and on wear and corrosion resistance of tools for spine surgery. Further, a ~35% decrease in implant and tool dimensions was expected by introducing ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for less-invasive surgeries. The tested materials, in the form of thin, multi-layered coatings, showed nanocrystalline microstructures. Performed direct-cytotoxicity studies (including lactate dehydrogenase activity measurement) showed that there was a low probability of adverse effects on surrounding SAOS-2 (Homo sapiens bone osteosarcoma) cells. The microbiological studies (e.g., ISO 22196 contact tests) showed that implanting Ag nanoparticles into Ti/TixN coatings inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus cells and reduced their adhesion to the material surface. These findings suggest that Ag-nanoparticles present in implant coatings may potentially minimize infection risk and lower inherent stress.
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Rogowska A, Railean-Plugaru V, Pomastowski P, Walczak-Skierska J, Król-Górniak A, Gołębiowski A, Buszewski B. The Study on Molecular Profile Changes of Pathogens via Zinc Nanocomposites Immobilization Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5395. [PMID: 34065496 PMCID: PMC8160681 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The most critical group of all includes multidrug resistant bacteria that pose a particular threat in hospitals, as they can cause severe and often deadly infections. Modern medicine still faces the difficult task of developing new agents for the effective control of bacterial-based diseases. The targeted administration of nanoparticles can enhance the efficiency of conventional pharmaceutical agents. However, the interpretation of interfaces' interactions between nanoparticles and biological systems still remains a challenge for researchers. In fact, the current research presents a strategy for using ZnO NPs immobilization with ampicillin and tetracycline. Firstly, the study provides the mechanism of the ampicillin and tetracycline binding on the surface of ZnO NPs. Secondly, it examines the effect of non-immobilized ZnO NPs, immobilized with ampicillin (ZnONPs/AMP) and tetracycline (ZnONPs/TET), on the cells' metabolism and morphology, based on the protein and lipid profiles. A sorption kinetics study showed that the antibiotics binding on the surface of ZnONPs depend on their structure. The efficiency of the process was definitely higher in the case of ampicillin. In addition, flow cytometry results showed that immobilized nanoparticles present a different mechanism of action. Moreover, according to the MALDI approach, the antibacterial activity mechanism of the investigated ZnO complexes is mainly based on the destruction of cell membrane integrity by lipids and proteins, which is necessary for proper cell function. Additionally, it was noticed that some of the identified changes indicate the activation of defense mechanisms by cells, leading to a decrease in the permeability of a cell's external barriers or the synthesis of repair proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Rogowska
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (A.R.); (V.R.-P.); (P.P.); (A.K.-G.); (A.G.)
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
| | - Viorica Railean-Plugaru
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (A.R.); (V.R.-P.); (P.P.); (A.K.-G.); (A.G.)
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
| | - Paweł Pomastowski
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (A.R.); (V.R.-P.); (P.P.); (A.K.-G.); (A.G.)
| | - Justyna Walczak-Skierska
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
| | - Anna Król-Górniak
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (A.R.); (V.R.-P.); (P.P.); (A.K.-G.); (A.G.)
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
| | - Adrian Gołębiowski
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (A.R.); (V.R.-P.); (P.P.); (A.K.-G.); (A.G.)
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
| | - Bogusław Buszewski
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (A.R.); (V.R.-P.); (P.P.); (A.K.-G.); (A.G.)
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
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Zimmerman T, Ibrahim SA. Autolysis and Cell Death Is Affected by pH in L. reuteri DSM 20016 Cells. Foods 2021; 10:foods10051026. [PMID: 34065120 PMCID: PMC8150876 DOI: 10.3390/foods10051026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A key obstacle to the successful delivery of a probiotic to the consumer is maintaining viability of the live cells during storage, a challenge for the beneficial Lactibacillus reuteri. Three processes play a role in the reduction of viability: autolysis, cell death, and cell weakening. Using a phosphate induction model of autolysis, the initial aim of this project was to discover novel molecular determinants of autolysis in L. reuteri, with the long -term goal of elucidating new strategies for increasing viability. We employed a 2D Native/SDS-Page method to monitor changes in protein expression over time; however, the result was that excess phosphate did not induce noticeable changes in expression patterns. On the other hand, we found that pH affects both the rate of total viability and autolysis, as seen with other species of LAB. In addition, we found that the phosphate model of autolysis may not be sufficient to explain how autolysis is triggered in L. reuteri. Two parameters appear to modulate the pH in media containing L. reuteri cells: overall buffering capacity and the presence of a carbon source. Ultimately, phosphate sources appear to facilitate autolysis by maintaining pH in the media via a higher buffering capacity. In addition, the alkaline sugar free almond drink appears to be a promising possible preservative for L. reuteri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahl Zimmerman
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-336-285-4863; Fax: +1-336-334-7239
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Piacenza E, Presentato A, Ferrante F, Cavallaro G, Alduina R, Chillura Martino DF. Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles: A Fine Characterization to Unveil Their Thermodynamic Stability. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2021; 11:nano11051195. [PMID: 34062748 PMCID: PMC8147324 DOI: 10.3390/nano11051195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Among the plethora of available metal(loid) nanomaterials (NMs), those containing selenium are interesting from an applicative perspective, due to their high biocompatibility. Microorganisms capable of coping with toxic Se-oxyanions generate mostly Se nanoparticles (SeNPs), representing an ideal and green alternative over the chemogenic synthesis to obtain thermodynamically stable NMs. However, their structural characterization, in terms of biomolecules and interactions stabilizing the biogenic colloidal solution, is still a black hole that impairs the exploitation of biogenic SeNP full potential. Here, spherical and thermodynamically stable SeNPs were produced by a metal(loid) tolerant Micrococcus sp. Structural characterization obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that these SeNPs were surrounded by an organic material that contributed the most to their electrosteric stabilization, as indicated by Zeta (ζ) potential measurements. Proteins were strongly adsorbed on the SeNP surface, while lipids, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids more loosely interacted with SeNMs as highlighted by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and overall supported by multivariate statistical analysis. Nevertheless, all these contributors were fundamental to maintain SeNPs stable, as, upon washing, the NM-containing extract showed the arising of aggregated SeNPs alongside Se nanorods (SeNRs). Besides, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation unveiled how thiol-containing molecules appeared to play a role in SeO32− bioreduction, stress oxidative response, and SeNP stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Piacenza
- Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (R.A.); (D.F.C.M.)
- Correspondence: (E.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Alessandro Presentato
- Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (R.A.); (D.F.C.M.)
- Correspondence: (E.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Francesco Ferrante
- Department of Physics and Chemistry “Emilio Segrè” (DIFC), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (F.F.); (G.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Cavallaro
- Department of Physics and Chemistry “Emilio Segrè” (DIFC), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (F.F.); (G.C.)
| | - Rosa Alduina
- Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (R.A.); (D.F.C.M.)
| | - Delia F. Chillura Martino
- Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (R.A.); (D.F.C.M.)
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Cui L, Zhang C, Li Z, Xian T, Wang L, Zhang Z, Zhu G, Peng X. Two plastidic glycolate/glycerate translocator 1 isoforms function together to transport photorespiratory glycolate and glycerate in rice chloroplasts. J Exp Bot 2021; 72:2584-2599. [PMID: 33483723 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The photorespiratory pathway is highly compartmentalized. As such, metabolite shuttles between organelles are critical to ensure efficient photorespiratory carbon flux. Arabidopsis plastidic glycolate/glycerate translocator 1 (PLGG1) has been reported as a key chloroplastic glycolate/glycerate transporter. Two homologous genes, OsPLGG1a and OsPLGG1b, have been identified in the rice genome, although their distinct functions and relationships remain unknown. Herein, our analysis of exogenous expression in oocytes and yeast shows that both OsPLGG1a and OsPLGG1b have the ability to transport glycolate and glycerate. Furthermore, we demonstrate in planta that the perturbation of OsPLGG1a or OsPLGG1b expression leads to extensive accumulation of photorespiratory metabolites, especially glycolate and glycerate. Under ambient CO2 conditions, loss-of-function osplgg1a or osplgg1b mutant plants exhibited significant decreases in photosynthesis efficiency, starch accumulation, plant height, and crop productivity. These morphological defects were almost entirely recovered when the mutant plants were grown under elevated CO2 conditions. In contrast to osplgg1a, osplgg1b mutant alleles produced a mild photorespiratory phenotype and had reduced accumulation of photorespiratory metabolites. Subcellular localization analysis showed that OsPLGG1a and OsPLGG1b are located in the inner and outer membranes of the chloroplast envelope, respectively. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that OsPLGG1a and OsPLGG1b have a direct interaction. Our results indicate that both OsPLGG1a and OsPLGG1b are chloroplastic glycolate/glycerate transporters required for photorespiratory metabolism and plant growth, and that they may function as a singular complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuanling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhichao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tuxiu Xian
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Limin Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhisheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guohui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinxiang Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Takenaka T, Sakamoto W, Takahashi S, Shimada N, Maruyama A. Spatially regulated activation of membrane fusogenic peptides with chaperone-like ionic copolymers. J Control Release 2021; 330:463-469. [PMID: 33359738 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Controlled or targeted membrane lysis induced by cascades of assembly and activation of biomolecules on membrane surfaces is important in programmed cell death and host defense systems. In a previous study, we reported that an ionic graft copolymer with a polycation backbone and water-soluble graft chains, poly(allylamine)-graft-dextran (PAA-g-Dex) chaperoned folding and assembly of E5, a membrane-destructive peptide derived from influenza hemagglutinin, to its increase membrane-disruptive activity. In this study, we modified the copolymer with long acyl chains, which resulted in delivery of the copolymer to membrane surfaces of liposomes and living cells. The liposomes with PAA-g-Dex functionalized with stearic acid (PAA-g-Dex-SA) on their surfaces underwent vesicle-to-sheet conversion upon addition of E5, whereas control liposomes did not. E5 also induced selective lysis of cells incubated with PAA-g-Dex-SA. The spatially specific activation of E5 on target membrane surfaces driven by self-assembly of copolymer and activation of E5 should find application in lipid-based delivery devices and cell-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoka Takenaka
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57, Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Wakako Sakamoto
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57, Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Shutaro Takahashi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57, Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Naohiko Shimada
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57, Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Atsushi Maruyama
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57, Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
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Pessione E. The Less Expensive Choice: Bacterial Strategies to Achieve Successful and Sustainable Reciprocal Interactions. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:571417. [PMID: 33584557 PMCID: PMC7873842 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.571417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria, the first organisms that appeared on Earth, continue to play a central role in ensuring life on the planet, both as biogeochemical agents and as higher organisms' symbionts. In the last decades, they have been employed both as bioremediation agents for cleaning polluted sites and as bioconversion effectors for obtaining a variety of products from wastes (including eco-friendly plastics and green energies). However, some recent reports suggest that bacterial biodiversity can be negatively affected by the present environmental crisis (global warming, soil desertification, and ocean acidification). This review analyzes the behaviors positively selected by evolution that render bacteria good models of sustainable practices (urgent in these times of climate change and scarcity of resources). Actually, bacteria display a tendency to optimize rather than maximize, to economize energy and building blocks (by using the same molecule for performing multiple functions), and to recycle and share metabolites, and these are winning strategies when dealing with sustainability. Furthermore, their ability to establish successful reciprocal relationships by means of anticipation, collective actions, and cooperation can also constitute an example highlighting how evolutionary selection favors behaviors that can be strategic to contain the present environmental crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Pessione
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy
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Noël A, Garnier A, Clément M, Rouaud I, Sauvager A, Bousarghin L, Vásquez-Ocmín P, Maciuk A, Tomasi S. Lichen-associated bacteria transform antibacterial usnic acid to products of lower antibiotic activity. Phytochemistry 2021; 181:112535. [PMID: 33099225 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lichens are specific symbiotic organisms harboring various microorganisms in addition to the two classic partners (algae or cyanobacterium and fungus). Although lichens produce many antibiotic compounds such as (+)-usnic acid, their associated microorganisms possess the ability to colonize an environment where antibiosis exists. Here, we have studied the behavior of several lichen-associated bacterial strains in the presence of (+)-usnic acid, a known antibiotic lichen compound. The effect of this compound was firstly evaluated on the growth and metabolism of three bacteria, thus showing its ability to inhibit Gram-positive bacteria. This inhibition was not thwarted with the usnic acid producer strain Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus. The biotransformation of this lichen metabolite was also studied. An ethanolamine derivative of (+)-usnic acid with low antibiotic activity was highlighted with chemical profiling, using HPLC-UV combined with low resolution mass spectrometry. These findings highlight the way in which some strains develop resistance mechanisms. A methylated derivative of (+)-usnic acid was annotated using the molecular networking method, thus showing the interest of this computer-based approach in biotransformation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Noël
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR - UMR 6226, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Latifa Bousarghin
- INSERM, Univ. Rennes, INRA, CHU Rennes, Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), UMR-1241, Biosit, MRic/ISFR, Rennes, France
| | | | - Alexandre Maciuk
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, 92290, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Sophie Tomasi
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR - UMR 6226, F-35000, Rennes, France.
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Zhang J, Xu X, Li X, Chen X, Zhou C, Liu Y, Li Y, Lu F. Reducing the cell lysis to enhance yield of acid-stable alpha amylase by deletion of multiple peptidoglycan hydrolase-related genes in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 167:777-786. [PMID: 33278447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.11.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a major industrial host for extracellular protein production, with great potential in the enzyme industry. However, the strain has accelerated the autolysis drawback in the process of secreting extracellular enzymes, which can significantly lower the density of cells and decrease the product yield. To identify target genes, we employed comparative transcriptome sequencing and KEGG analysis to indicate the increased expression of peptidoglycan hydrolase-regulated genes from the exponential phase to the apoptotic phase of growth; this was further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. By deleting lytD, lytE, and sigD genes, cell lysis was reduced and the production of acid-stable Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase was enhanced. After 36 h of culture, multiple deletion mutant BA ΔSDE had significantly more viable cells compared to the control strain BA Δupp, and flow cytometry analysis indicated that 48.43% and 64.03% of the cells were lysed in cultures of BA ΔSDE and BA Δupp, respectively. In a 2-L fed-batch fermenter, viable cell number of the triple deletion mutant BA ΔSDE increased by 2.79 Log/cfu/mL, and the activity of acid-stable alpha-amylase increased by 48.4%, compared to BA Δupp. Systematic multiple peptidoglycan hydrolases deletion relieved the autolysis and increased the production of industrial enzymes, and provided a useful strategy for guiding efforts to manipulate the genomes of other B. amyloliquefaciens used for chassis host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China
| | - Xiaojian Xu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China
| | - Xinyue Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China
| | - Xuejia Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China
| | - Cuixia Zhou
- School of Biology and Brewing Engineering, Taishan University, Taian 271018, PR China
| | - Yihan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
| | - Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
| | - Fuping Lu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
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Mackenzie JS, Lamprecht DA, Asmal R, Adamson JH, Borah K, Beste DJV, Lee BS, Pethe K, Rousseau S, Krieger I, Sacchettini JC, Glasgow JN, Steyn AJC. Bedaquiline reprograms central metabolism to reveal glycolytic vulnerability in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6092. [PMID: 33257709 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19959-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The approval of bedaquiline (BDQ) for the treatment of tuberculosis has generated substantial interest in inhibiting energy metabolism as a therapeutic paradigm. However, it is not known precisely how BDQ triggers cell death in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Using 13C isotopomer analysis, we show that BDQ-treated Mtb redirects central carbon metabolism to induce a metabolically vulnerable state susceptible to genetic disruption of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Metabolic flux profiles indicate that BDQ-treated Mtb is dependent on glycolysis for ATP production, operates a bifurcated TCA cycle by increasing flux through the glyoxylate shunt, and requires enzymes of the anaplerotic node and methylcitrate cycle. Targeting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) with BDQ and simultaneously inhibiting substrate level phosphorylation via genetic disruption of glycolysis leads to rapid sterilization. Our findings provide insight into the metabolic mechanism of BDQ-induced cell death and establish a paradigm for the development of combination therapies that target OXPHOS and glycolysis.
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Li S, Jiang W, Zheng C, Shao D, Liu Y, Huang S, Han J, Ding J, Tao Y, Li M. Oral delivery of bacteria: Basic principles and biomedical applications. J Control Release 2020; 327:801-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Abstract
During the past 85 years of antibiotic use, we have learned a great deal about how these ‘miracle’ drugs work. We know the molecular structures and interactions of these drugs and their targets and the effects on the structure, physiology and replication of bacteria. Collectively, we know a great deal about these proximate mechanisms of action for virtually all antibiotics in current use. What we do not know is the ultimate mechanism of action; that is, how these drugs irreversibly terminate the ‘individuality’ of bacterial cells by removing barriers to the external world (cell envelopes) or by destroying their genetic identity (DNA). Antibiotics have many different ‘mechanisms of action’ that converge to irreversible lethal effects. In this Perspective, we consider what our knowledge of the proximate mechanisms of action of antibiotics and the pharmacodynamics of their interaction with bacteria tell us about the ultimate mechanisms by which these antibiotics kill bacteria. We know a lot about antibiotics and their targets; however, how antibiotics actually kill bacteria is not entirely clear and is up for debate. In this Perspective, Baquero and Levin reflect on this ultimate action of antibiotics and consider different mechanisms and modulating factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Baquero
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Bruce R Levin
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Yasir M, Dutta D, Kumar N, Willcox MDP. Interaction of the surface bound antimicrobial peptides melimine and Mel4 with Staphylococcus aureus. Biofouling 2020; 36:1019-1030. [PMID: 33161763 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2020.1843638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Melimine and Mel4 are cationic antimicrobial peptides which can resist biofilm development once bound to biomaterials. The aim of the current study was to determine the mode of action of bound melimine and Mel4 against S. aureus. The peptides were covalently attached to glass using an azidobenzoic acid linker. The amount of attached peptides was confirmed by XPS and amino acid analysis and their covalent attachment by SDS extraction. The release of autolysins after interaction of S. aureus with immobilized peptides was determined in cell free supernatants. The interaction of immobilized peptides with lipoteichoic acid was confirmed by ELISA. Membrane damage by surface bound peptides was assessed using DiSC(3)-5 (membrane potential sensitive), Syto-9 (membrane permeable) and PI (membrane impermeable) dyes with fluorescence microscopy. Release of ATP and nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) was measured in the surrounding fluid. Attachment of the peptides resulted in increased N% for melimine (5.4 ± 1.8%) and for Mel4 (4.8 ± 1.8%). The concentrations of immobilised amino acids were 0.297 nmole for melimine and 0.358 nmole for Mel4. SDS extraction released < 15% of peptides from the glass. The immobilized peptides bound ≥ 4 times more LTA than control surfaces. More autolysins (8 ± 2%; p = 0.026) were released from Mel4 than melimine or control surfaces. Membrane depolarization occurred at 15 min and was associated with a reduction in bacterial viability ≥ 37% for both peptides (p < 0.001). Disruption of the membrane potential resulted in loss of ATP from melimine (0.9 ± 0.4 nM) or Mel4 (0.6 ± 0.3 nM) coated surfaces compared to control (p < 0.001). Melimine coatings yielded 27 ± 11% (p = 0.026) and Mel4 gave 17 ± 12% (p = 0.150) PI stained cells after 4 h. DNA/RNA was released only by melimine coatings (2.1 ± 0.1 times; p = 0.011) compared to process control at 6 h. Both bound peptides resulted in the release of ATP, but only melimine released DNA/RNA while Mel4-coating resulted in the release of autolysins. Since the mode of action of melimine and Mel4 relate to the cell surface, they have potential for the development of infection-resistant implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Yasir
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Debarun Dutta
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Optometry and Vision Science, Optometry School, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Naresh Kumar
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark D P Willcox
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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