Comparative analysis of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli surface proteome by tandem mass-spectrometry of artificially induced outer membrane vesicles

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the major cause of urinary tract infections. For successful colonisation of the urinary tract, UPEC employ multiple surface-exposed or secreted virulence factors, including adhesins and iron uptake systems. Whilst individual UPEC strains and their virulence factors have been the focus of extensive research, there have been no outer membrane (OM) proteomic studies based on large clinical UPEC collections, primarily due to limitations of traditional methods. In this study, a high-throughput method based on tandem mass-spectrometry of EDTA heat-induced outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) was developed for the characterisation of the UPEC surface-associated proteome. The method was applied to compare the OM proteome of fifty-four UPEC isolates, resulting in the identification of 8789 proteins, consisting of 619 unique proteins, which were subsequently interrogated for their subcellular origin, prevalence and homology to characterised virulence factors. Multiple distinct virulence-associated proteins were identified, including two novel putative iron uptake proteins, an uncharacterised type of chaperone-usher fimbriae and various highly prevalent hypothetical proteins. Our results give fundamental insight into the physiology of UPEC and provide a framework for understanding the composition of the UPEC OM proteome.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

In this study a high-throughput method based on tandem mass-spectrometry of EDTA heat-induced outer membrane vesicles was used to define the outer membrane proteome of a large uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) collection. Our results provide an inventory of proteins expressed on the surface of UPEC, and provide a framework for understanding the composition of the UPEC OM proteome. The method enables the rapid characterisation of the E. coli surface proteome and could easily be applied to the large-scale outer membrane protein profiling of other Gram-negative bacteria.

Manipulation of innate immunity by a bacterial secreted peptide: lantibiotic nisin Z is selectively immunomodulatory

Innate immunity is triggered by a variety of bacterial molecules, resulting in both protective and potentially harmful pro-inflammatory responses. Further, innate immunity also provides a mechanism for the maintenance of homeostasis between the host immune system and symbiotic or non-pathogenic microorganisms. However, the bacterial factors that mediate these protective effects have been incompletely defined. Here, it was demonstrated that the lantiobiotic nisin Z is able to modulate host immune responses and mediate protective host immunity. Nisin Z induced the secretion of the chemokines MCP-1, IL-8 and Gro-α, and significantly reduced TNF-α induction in response to bacterial LPS in human PBMC. The results correlated with the ability of nisin Z to confer protection against both the Gram-positive organism Staphylococcus aureus, and the Gram-negatives Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium and Escherichia coli in murine challenge models. Mechanistic studies revealed that nisin Z modulates host immunity through similar mechanisms as natural host defense peptides, engaging multiple signal transduction pathways and growth factor receptors. The results presented herein demonstrate that, in addition to nisin Z, other bacterial cationic peptides and, in particular, the lantibiotics, could represent a new class of secreted bacterial molecule with immunomodulatory activities.

Characterization of EhaJ, a New Autotransporter Protein from Enterohemorrhagic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are diarrheagenic pathotypes of E. coli that cause gastrointestinal disease with the potential for life-threatening sequelae. While certain EHEC and EPEC virulence mechanisms have been extensively studied, the factors that mediate host colonization remain to be properly defined. Previously, we identified four genes (ehaA, ehaB, ehaC, and ehaD) from the prototypic EHEC strain EDL933 that encode for proteins that belong to the autotransporter (AT) family. Here we have examined the prevalence of these genes, as well as several other AT-encoding genes, in a collection of EHEC and EPEC strains. We show that the complement of AT-encoding genes in EHEC and EPEC strains is variable, with some AT-encoding genes being highly prevalent. One previously uncharacterized AT-encoding gene, which we have termed ehaJ, was identified in 12/44 (27%) of EHEC and 2/20 (10%) of EPEC strains. The ehaJ gene lies immediately adjacent to a gene encoding a putative glycosyltransferase (referred to as egtA). Western blot analysis using an EhaJ-specific antibody indicated that EhaJ is glycosylated by EgtA. Expression of EhaJ in a recombinant E. coli strain, revealed EhaJ is located at the cell surface and in the presence of the egtA glycosyltransferase gene mediates strong biofilm formation in microtiter plate and flow cell assays. EhaJ also mediated adherence to a range of extracellular matrix proteins, however this occurred independent of glycosylation. We also demonstrate that EhaJ is expressed in a wild-type EPEC strain following in vitro growth. However, deletion of ehaJ did not significantly alter its adherence or biofilm properties. In summary, EhaJ is a new glycosylated AT protein from EPEC and EHEC. Further studies are required to elucidate the function of EhaJ in colonization and virulence.

Mucosal immunization with the Moraxella Catarrhalis porin m35 induces enhanced bacterial clearance from the lung: a possible role for opsonophagocytosis

Moraxella catarrhalis is a significant cause of respiratory tract infection against which a vaccine is sought. Several outer membrane proteins are currently under investigation as potential vaccine antigens, including the porin M35. We have previously shown that the third external loop of M35 was immunodominant over the remainder of the protein for antibody produced in mice against the refolded recombinant protein. However, as this loop is predicted to fold inside the porin channel we also predicted that it would not be accessible to these antibodies when M35 is expressed on the surface of the bacteria in its native conformation. This study investigated the functional activity of antibodies against M35 and those specific for the loop 3 region of M35 in vitro and in vivo. Antisera from mice immunized with M35 or the loop 3-deletion, M35loop3(-), recombinant proteins were not bactericidal but did have enhanced opsonic activity, whereas antibodies raised against the loop 3 peptide were not opsoniszing indicating that the immunodominant loop 3 of M35 was not accessible to antibody as we had previously predicted. Mucosal immunization with M35, M35 that had an antigenically altered loop 3 [M35(ID78)] and M35loop3(-) enhanced the clearance of M. catarrhalis from the lungs of mice challenged with live M. catarrhalis. The in vivo clearance of bacteria in the mice with the M35-derived protein constructs correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with the opsonic activity assessed an in vitro opsonophagocytosis assay. This study has demonstrated that the immunodominant B-cell epitope to loop 3 of the M. catarrhalis outer membrane protein M35 is not associated with immune protection and that M35-specific antibodies are not bactericidal but are opsoniszing. The opsoniszing activity correlated with in vivo clearance of the bacteria suggesting that opsoniszing antibody may be a good correlate of immune protection.

Synthetic cationic peptide IDR-1002 provides protection against bacterial infections through chemokine induction and enhanced leukocyte recruitment

With the rapid rise in the incidence of multidrug resistant infections, there is substantial interest in host defense peptides as templates for production of new antimicrobial therapeutics. Natural peptides are multifunctional mediators of the innate immune response, with some direct antimicrobial activity and diverse immunomodulatory properties. We have previously developed an innate defense regulator (IDR) 1, with protective activity against bacterial infection mediated entirely through its effects on the immunity of the host, as a novel approach to anti-infective therapy. In this study, an immunomodulatory peptide IDR-1002 was selected from a library of bactenecin derivatives based on its substantially more potent ability to induce chemokines in human PBMCs. The enhanced chemokine induction activity of the peptide in vitro correlated with stronger protective activity in vivo in the Staphylococcus aureus-invasive infection model, with a >5-fold reduction in the protective dose in direct comparison with IDR-1. IDR-1002 also afforded protection against the Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Escherichia coli. Chemokine induction by IDR-1002 was found to be mediated through a Gi-coupled receptor and the PI3K, NF-kappaB, and MAPK signaling pathways. The protective activity of the peptide was associated with in vivo augmentation of chemokine production and recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes to the site of infection. These results highlight the importance of the chemokine induction activity of host defense peptides and demonstrate that the optimization of the ex vivo chemokine-induction properties of peptides is a promising method for the rational development of immunomodulatory IDR peptides with enhanced anti-infective activity.

Potential of immunomodulatory host defense peptides as novel anti-infectives

A fundamentally new strategy for the treatment of infectious disease is the modulation of host immune responses to enhance clearance of infectious agents and reduce tissue damage due to inflammation. Antimicrobial host defense peptides have been investigated for their potential as a new class of antimicrobial drugs. Recently their immunomodulatory activities have begun to be appreciated. Modulation of innate immunity by synthetic variants of host defense peptides, called innate defense regulators (IDRs), is protective without direct antimicrobial action. We discuss the potential and current limitations in exploiting the immunomodulatory activity of IDRs as a novel anti-infective pathway. IDRs show significant promise and current research is uncovering mechanistic information that will aid in the future development of IDRs for clinical use.

Immunomodulatory activity of synthetic innate defence regulators (IDRs) (134.45)

Cationic host defence (antimicrobial) peptides, e.g. cathelicidin LL-37, have a variety of immunomodulatory activities that favour the safe resolution of infections. We have studied novel synthetic cationic innate defence regulator peptides that are not directly antimicrobial but are anti-infective in vivo, due to modulation of innate immunity. A range of peptides derived from the small bovine peptide bactenecin were screened for immunomodulatory activities in vitro; e.g. promotion of chemokine production and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since innate immunity is complex, involving &gt;1,500 gene products, a systems biology approach was utilized to characterize peptide modulation of innate immunity, including analysis of receptors, signalling pathways, transcription factors and downstream genes. To permit visualization and bioinformatic analysis of complex events, an innate immunity database (www.innatedb.ca), a network visualization tool (Cerebral) and downstream analysis tools (e.g. pathway overrepresentation analysis) were developed and provided insight into how this selective modulation occurs. In vivo data indicate that these activities provide protection in animal model infections of Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial infections as well as severe malaria. Thus IDRs have great potential for use as novel anti-infective agents.

Supported by Genome BC, FNIH and CIHR.

Moraxella catarrhalis M35 is a general porin that is important for growth under nutrient-limiting conditions and in the nasopharynges of mice

Moraxella catarrhalis is a gram-negative respiratory pathogen that is an important causative agent for otitis media and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We have previously predicted the outer membrane protein M35 to be a general porin, and in the current study, we have investigated the function of M35 and its importance for survival of M. catarrhalis in vivo. Lipid bilayer experiments reveal that refolded M35 functions as a channel that is typical of gram-negative bacterial porins. M35 forms wide and water-filled channels with a single-channel conductance of about 1.25 nS in 1 M KCl solution and has only a small selectivity for cations over anions. When the in vitro growth characteristics of two M35 deletion mutant strains of M. catarrhalis were compared to the wild-type parent isolates, the growth of the mutant strains was inhibited only under nutrient-poor conditions. This growth defect could be eliminated by additional glutamic acid, but not additional aspartic acid, glycine, sucrose, or glucose. The mutant strains compensated for the lack of M35 by enhancing their uptake of glutamic acid, and this enhanced rate of glutamic acid uptake was attributed to the compensatory upregulation of a protein of approximately 40 kDa. M35 was also found to be essential for nasal colonization of mice, demonstrating that its presence is essential for survival of M. catarrhalis in vivo. These results suggest that M35 is a general porin that is necessary for the uptake of important energy sources by M. catarrhalis and that it is likely that M35 is an essential functional protein for in vivo colonization.

Characterization of a novel porin protein from Moraxella catarrhalis and identification of an immunodominant surface loop

Moraxella catarrhalis is a gram-negative bacterium that is mainly responsible for respiratory tract infections. In this study we report a novel outer membrane protein (OMP), designated M35, with a molecular mass of 36.1 kDa. This protein was structurally homologous to classic gram-negative porins, such as OMP C from Escherichia coli and OMP K36 from Klebsiella pneumoniae, with a predicted structure of 8 surface loops and 16 antiparallel beta-sheets. The DNA sequences of the genes from 18 diverse clinical isolates showed that the gene was highly conserved (99.6 to 100% of nucleotides), with only one isolate (ID78LN266) having base variations that resulted in amino acid substitutions. Electrophoresis and analysis of recognition of the protein using mouse anti-M35 sera showed that M35 was expressed on the bacterial surface and constitutively expressed across M. catarrhalis isolates, with only ID78LN266 showing poor antibody recognition. Our results showed that the single amino acid mutation in loop 3 significantly affected antibody recognition, indicating that loop 3 appeared to contain an immunodominant B-cell epitope. The antibody specificity to loop 3 may be a potential mechanism for evasion of host immune responses targeted to M35, since loop 3 should theoretically orientate into the porin channel. Thus, M35 is a highly conserved, surface-expressed protein that is of significance for its potential functional role as an M. catarrhalis porin and is of interest as a vaccine candidate.

X-ray survival as Gompertz growth in number killed

X-ray and age-dependent survival studies both involve increasing numbers of deaths in proportion to the destructive force implicit in the independent variable, which is radiation dose in the former and the ravages of time in the latter. Ordinarily modelled by entirely different but often unsatisfactory equations, these similar situations can both be represented by a Gompertz growth model in which the dependent variable is number dead rather than number of survivors. The present paper applies the model to X-ray survival curves. Two free parameters suffice for a curve in which the log survival terminates in a straight line. In those instances in which the slope of the log plot becomes increasingly steep, an exponential term is required to account for the disproportionate increase in X-ray sensitivity. Examples are shown of the fit to a variety of data.

Gompertz growth in number dead confirms medflies and nematodes show excess oldster survival

A recent report (Easton, 1995) showed that, at least for Mediterranean fruit flies, a Gompertz growth equation based on the increase in number of individuals that die is a better predictor of survival data than is the classical Gompertz survivorship model based on the decrease in number that survive (analysis of medfly data of Carey et al., 1992). In the growth model, the rate of increase of the number dead (i.e., the death rate) decreases exponentially with age. The poor fit of the classical model predicts "excess survival" of older members, but, when the scale of the better-fitting growth model is increased 2400x, such excess is now also evident as a small but distinctly separate cohort of the medfly subjects. The smaller population appears to be about 0.01% of the larger, and the death rate decreases about one-fourth as fast. Survival of the nematode C. elegans (Brooks et al., 1994) is also better predicted by the growth model, which also shows excess survival of the worms at great age.

Muscle chamber with strain gauge adapted for isotonic/isometric recording

Simple devices are described that can facilitate student experiments on mechanical and electrical aspects of muscle contraction, for example, of isolated preparations such as frog gastrocnemius and sartorius muscles and gut. The system includes a general-purpose preparation bath that was previously described for electrophysiological observations with suction electrodes [D.M. Easton. Am.J. Physiol. 265 (Adv. Physiol.Educ. 10): S35-S46, 1993]. A tower installed in the bath allows the muscle to be oriented vertically but completely submerged in a limited volume. Recording of isotonic contraction, which is the more familiar behavior of skeletal muscle, is made convenient by an accessory to convert the commonly available Statham force transducer to isometric recording. Phenomena not conveniently accessible by isometric recording, such as muscle work, and also the length-tension relation, not ordinarily observed for isotonic contraction, can be demonstrated.

Simple, inexpensive suction electrode system for the student physiology laboratory

A versatile, inexpensive, easily constructed suction electrode system is described that can be used for routine exercises by the student on, or for demonstrations of, the electrophysiology of frog sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius and sartorius muscles. A disposable plastic syringe and a disposable pipette with Ag-AgCl wire comprise the suction electrode. Six readily manipulable electrodes are installed in the walls of the Plexiglas preparation bath, and an arbitrary number of additional "free" electrodes can be placed where desired. An optional small chamber, formed from a disposable plastic culture dish and Gootch rubber tubing, provides for "barrier" recording within the larger chamber. Interpretations are given of the electrical responses of nerve and muscle in terms of longitudinal currents along the preparation within the suction electrode tubes.

Mathematical model of cardiac mechanogram rhythmicity (based on mollusc heart)

1. The time course of force development by the heart is modelled by Gompertz kinetics from the product of two terms: a cumulative increase in relative number of activated "contractile units", and an exponential decrease in contractile force. 2. For each beat, an "initial condition" is specified by an "intrinsic tension" parameter, and a specific rate of change of tension; cardioactive agents change these specifications. 3. Depending on parameter values, heartbeats are predicted that are constant, or in which the frequency, amplitude and baseline tension are appropriate to inhibited or augmented cardiac activity.

Prediction of X-ray induced mitotic delay and recovery of G2 cells

A mathematical model is presented that predicts the delay of mitosis caused by X-irradiation of an asynchronous, exponentially growing cell culture (data of Schneiderman & Schneiderman, 1984). In the model, based on Gompertz kinetics, the driving function to generate the curves is a simple exponential decay expression. For the delayed mitotic progress curves, this function characterizes the distribution of the time required for cells to enter mitosis.

Temperature-induced changes in fatty acid composition of myelinated and non-myelinated axon phospholipids

The olfactory (non-myelinated) and trigeminal (myelinated) nerve axons of garfish show changes in phospholipid fatty acid composition when these fish are acclimated to temperatures ranging from 11 to 35 degrees C. Myelinated and non-myelinated nerve axons show similar changes in the percent saturated, percent 16-carbon, percent 18-carbon, and percent 20-carbon-and-greater unsaturated fatty acids. The observed changes in phospholipid fatty acid composition fit a linear regression model suggesting a gradual change in axonal phospholipid fatty acid composition with temperature. The temperature-induced changes in garfish nerve phospholipid fatty acid composition are consistent with the general observation of increased saturated fatty acid residues in plasma membrane phospholipids of organisms acclimated to higher environmental temperatures. The garfish data are similar to data previously obtained for goldfish tissues and Tetrahymena.

A screening programme for congenital hypothyroidism: preliminary results

Highly sensitive and precise radioimmunoassays for thyroxine (T4) and thyrotropin (TSH) in dried blood spots on filter paper cards have been developed and are used to screen newborn infants for congenital hypothyroidism. Blood spot TSH levels are measured in samples for which blood spot T4 levels fall in the lower 10 to 15 percent. There was a low recall rate of approximately one infant in every 550 screened. During a 17-month period 5225 infants have been screened for congenital hypothyroidism and two cretins have been detected. Due to very early diagnosis, both infants were commenced on T4 replacement therapy before the age of three weeks.

Exponentiated exponential model (Gompertz kinetics) of Na+ and K+ conductance changes in squid giant axon

The conductance changes, gK(t) and gNa(t), of squid giant axon under voltage clamp (Hodgkin and Huxley, 1952) may be modeled by exponentiated exponential functions (Gompertz kinetics) from any holding potential VO to any membrane clamp potential V. The equation constants are set by the membrane potential V, and include, for any voltage step in the case of gK, the initial conductance, gO, the asymptote conductance g, and rate constant k: gK = g exp(-be-kt) where b = 1n g/gO. Equations of similar form relate g and k to the voltage V, and govern the corresponding parameters of the gNa system. For the gNa, the fast phase y = y exp (-be-kt) is cut down in proportion to a slow process p = (1 - p)e-k't + p, and thus gNa = py. The expo-exponential functions involve fewer constants than the Hodgkin-Huxley model. In particular, the role of the n, m, h parameters appears to be filled largely by 1n (g/gO) in the case of gK and by 1n (y/yO) in the case of gNa. Membrane action potentials during current clamp may be computed from the conductances generated by use of the appropriate differential forms of the equations; diverse other membrane behaviors may be predicted.

Temperature and impulse velocity in giant axon of squid Loligo pealei

Impulse propagation velocity as a function of temperature in the range 5--20degreesC was obtained by external recording from the giant axon of Loligo pealei. The stellar nerve was set into a chamber allowing continuous superfusion, temperature control, and double recording of the impulse. Velocity was calculated from the interval between the spike peaks. The Q10 of velocity was about 1.8. At all temperatures, the velocity increased with time so that only data obtained during the 1st h or 2 could be generally considered to be comparable. Impulse block occurred below --3.4degreesC, in contrast to the giant axon of L. vulgaris, which blocks at about 0degreeC, but at the higher range of temperatures, the velocity in the L. pealei axons was not as well sustained as in those of L. vulgaris. The expected impulse velocity was calculated from Huxley's stability function f(beta) by approximating that function to a fourth-order polynominal and by substituting into it suitable ratios of available Q10 values relating to membrane conductance, ionic current, capacitance, and axoplasmic resistance. The calculation provided an improved fit to published experimental data on L. vulgaris. The difference in slope of the log velocity versus temperature plots, between the presumably warm acclimatized L. vulgaris and the cold-acclimatized L. pealei, was present in both experimental and calculated curves.

Cor pulmonale in the Pierre Robin syndrome

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Outbreak of meningococcal disease in Devon

In a recent outbreak of 31 cases of meningococcal disease in Devon there were six deaths. Several patients had an unusual rash as the presenting feature and there was an unusually high incidence of complications, affecting the central nervous system, joints, and the heart among other sites.

Garfish olfactory nerve: easily accessible source of numerous long, homogeneous, nonmyelinated axons

The olfactory nerve of the garfish, Lepisosteus, is about 1 millimeter in diameter and about 20 centimeters long, depending on the size of the fish; it is easily prepared by breaking off successive scored segments of the rostrum. It consists of a relatively homogeneous population of about 10(7) nonmyelineated nerve fibers, each about 0.24 micrometer in diameter. In most other nerves each fiber is separated from all others by an enfolding Schwann cell, but in the olfactory nerve the fibers are directly in contact with one another in groups of several hundred fibers. The Schwann cell, not directly concerned with propagation of the nerve impulse, forms a thin layer at the periphery of the group and makes up a small proportion of the total cellular material. The volume of axon cytoplasm is about five times greater than that of Schwann cell cytoplasm, and the axon surface is about 30 times the Schwann cell surface. The ratio of surface to volume for axons of a typical olfactory nerve is about 5400 times that for the squid axon of the same diameter. The large proportion of axonal membrane recommends this nerve for use in chemical and physical studies of properties of axon membranes.