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Prokopczuk FI, Im H, Campos-Gomez J, Orihuela CJ, Martínez E. Engineered Superinfective Pf Phage Prevents Dissemination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Mouse Burn Model. mBio 2023; 14:e0047223. [PMID: 37039641 PMCID: PMC10294672 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00472-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pf is a filamentous bacteriophage integrated in the chromosome of most clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Under stress conditions, mutations occurring in the Pf genome result in the emergence of superinfective variants of Pf (SI-Pf) that are capable of circumventing phage immunity; therefore, SI-Pf can even infect Pf-lysogenized P. aeruginosa. Here, we identified specific mutations located between the repressor and the excisionase genes of Pf4 phage in the P. aeruginosa PAO1 strain that resulted in the emergence of SI-Pf. Based on these findings, we genetically engineered an SI-Pf (eSI-Pf) and tested it as a phage therapy tool for the treatment of life-threatening burn wound infections caused by PAO1. In validation experiments, eSI-Pf was able to infect PAO1 grown in a lawn as well as biofilms formed in vitro on polystyrene. eSI-Pf also infected PAO1 present in burned skin wounds on mice but was not capable of maintaining a sustained reduction in bacterial burden beyond 24 h. Despite not lowering bacterial burden in burned skin tissue, eSI-Pf treatment completely abolished the capability of P. aeruginosa to disseminate from the burn site to internal organs. Over the course of 10 days, this resulted in bacterial clearance and survival of all treated mice. We subsequently determined that eSI-Pf induced a small-colony variant of P. aeruginosa that was unable to disseminate systemically. This attenuated phenotype was due to profound changes in virulence determinant production and altered physiology. Our results suggest that eSI-Pf has potential as a phage therapy against highly recalcitrant antimicrobial-resistant P. aeruginosa infections of burn wounds. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of burn-related infections. It is also the most likely bacterial infection to advance to sepsis and result in burn-linked death. Frequently, P. aeruginosa strains isolated from burn patients display a multidrug-resistant phenotype necessitating the development of new therapeutic strategies and prophylactic treatments. In this context, phage therapy using lytic phages has demonstrated exciting potential in the control P. aeruginosa infection. However, lytic phages can present a set of drawbacks during phage therapy, including the induction of bacterial resistance and limited bacteria-phage interactions in vivo. Here, we propose an alternative approach to interfere with P. aeruginosa pathogenesis in a burn infection model, i.e., by using an engineered superinfective filamentous phage. Our study demonstrates that treatment with the engineered Pf phage can prevent sepsis and death in a burn mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico I. Prokopczuk
- Department of Microbiology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Hansol Im
- Department of Microbiology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Javier Campos-Gomez
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Eriel Martínez
- Department of Microbiology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Campos-Gomez J, Petty CF, Mazur M, Tang L, Solomon GM, Joseph R, Li Q, Lever JEP, Hussain S, Harrod K, Onuoha E, Kim H, Rowe SM. Mucociliary Clearance Augmenting Drugs Block SARS-Cov-2 Replication in Human Airway Epithelial Cells. bioRxiv 2023:2023.01.30.526308. [PMID: 36778446 PMCID: PMC9915467 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.30.526308] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, is devastatingly impacting human health. A prominent component of COVID-19 is the infection and destruction of the ciliated respiratory cells, which perpetuates dissemination and disrupts protective mucociliary transport (MCT) function, an innate defense of the respiratory tract. Thus, drugs that augment MCT could improve barrier function of the airway epithelium, reduce viral replication and, ultimately, COVID-19 outcomes. We tested five agents known to increase MCT through distinct mechanisms for activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection using a model of human respiratory epithelial cells terminally differentiated in an air/liquid interphase. Three of the five mucoactive compounds tested showed significant inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 replication. An archetype mucoactive agent, ARINA-1, blocked viral replication and therefore epithelial cell injury, thus, it was further studied using biochemical, genetic and biophysical methods to ascertain mechanism of action via improvement of MCT. ARINA-1 antiviral activity was dependent on enhancing the MCT cellular response, since terminal differentiation, intact ciliary expression and motion was required for ARINA-1-mediated anti-SARS-CoV2 protection. Ultimately, we showed that improvement of cilia movement was caused by ARINA-1-mediated regulation of the redox state of the intracellular environment, which benefited MCT. Our study indicates that Intact MCT reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its pharmacologic activation may be effective as an anti-COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Campos-Gomez
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | | | - Marina Mazur
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Liping Tang
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - George M. Solomon
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Reny Joseph
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jacelyn E. Peabody Lever
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Shah Hussain
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Kevin Harrod
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Ezinwanne Onuoha
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Harrison Kim
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Steven M. Rowe
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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Floyd KA, Lee CK, Xian W, Nametalla M, Valentine A, Crair B, Zhu S, Hughes HQ, Chlebek JL, Wu DC, Hwan Park J, Farhat AM, Lomba CJ, Ellison CK, Brun YV, Campos-Gomez J, Dalia AB, Liu J, Biais N, Wong GCL, Yildiz FH. c-di-GMP modulates type IV MSHA pilus retraction and surface attachment in Vibrio cholerae. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1549. [PMID: 32214098 PMCID: PMC7096442 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15331-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [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: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation by Vibrio cholerae facilitates environmental persistence, and hyperinfectivity within the host. Biofilm formation is regulated by 3',5'-cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) and requires production of the type IV mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA) pilus. Here, we show that the MSHA pilus is a dynamic extendable and retractable system, and its activity is directly controlled by c-di-GMP. The interaction between c-di-GMP and the ATPase MshE promotes pilus extension, whereas low levels of c-di-GMP correlate with enhanced retraction. Loss of retraction facilitated by the ATPase PilT increases near-surface roaming motility, and impairs initial surface attachment. However, prolonged retraction upon surface attachment results in reduced MSHA-mediated surface anchoring and increased levels of detachment. Our results indicate that c-di-GMP directly controls MshE activity, thus regulating MSHA pilus extension and retraction dynamics, and modulating V. cholerae surface attachment and colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Floyd
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California - Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., BioMed 245, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Calvin K Lee
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California - Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, Room 5121 Engineering V, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Wujing Xian
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California - Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, Room 5121 Engineering V, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Mahmoud Nametalla
- Department of Biology, Brooklyn College, Room 307NE, 2900 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA
- CUNY Graduate Center, 365 5th Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Aneesa Valentine
- Department of Biology, Brooklyn College, Room 307NE, 2900 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA
- CUNY Graduate Center, 365 5th Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Benjamin Crair
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University, 840 West Campus Drive, Advanced Biosciences Center 211, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Shiwei Zhu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University, 840 West Campus Drive, Advanced Biosciences Center 211, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Hannah Q Hughes
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Bloomington, 1001 East Third St., Jordan Hall 469A, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Jennifer L Chlebek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Bloomington, 1001 East Third St., Jordan Hall 469A, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Daniel C Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California - Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., BioMed 245, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Jin Hwan Park
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California - Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., BioMed 245, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Ali M Farhat
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California - Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, Room 5121 Engineering V, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Charles J Lomba
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California - Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, Room 5121 Engineering V, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Courtney K Ellison
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Bloomington, 1001 East Third St., Jordan Hall 469A, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, 355 Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Yves V Brun
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, 2900, boulevard Édouard-Montpetit, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Javier Campos-Gomez
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1918 University Blvd., MCLM 702, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Ankur B Dalia
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Bloomington, 1001 East Third St., Jordan Hall 469A, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University, 840 West Campus Drive, Advanced Biosciences Center 211, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Nicolas Biais
- Department of Biology, Brooklyn College, Room 307NE, 2900 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA
- CUNY Graduate Center, 365 5th Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Gerard C L Wong
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California - Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, Room 5121 Engineering V, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Fitnat H Yildiz
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California - Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., BioMed 245, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA.
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Campos-Gomez J, Ahmad F, Rodriguez E, Saeed MF. A novel cell-based assay to measure activity of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus nsP2 protease. Virology 2016; 496:77-89. [PMID: 27261892 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 08/21/2015] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The encephalitic alphaviruses encode nsP2 protease (nsP2pro), which because of its vital role in virus replication, represents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. To facilitate the discovery of nsP2 inhibitors we have developed a novel assay for quantitative measurement of nsP2pro activity in a cell-based format. The assay is based on a substrate fusion protein consisting of eGFP and Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) linked together by a small peptide containing a VEEV nsp2pro cleavage sequence. The expression of the substrate protein in cells along with recombinant nsP2pro results in cleavage of the substrate protein resulting in extracellular release of free Gluc. The Gluc activity in supernatants corresponds to intracellular nsP2pro-mediated substrate cleavage; thus, providing a simple and convenient way to quantify nsP2pro activity. Here, we demonstrate potential utility of the assay in identification of nsP2pro inhibitors, as well as in investigations related to molecular characterization of nsP2pro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Campos-Gomez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States
| | - Fahim Ahmad
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States
| | - Efrain Rodriguez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States
| | - Mohammad F Saeed
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States.
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Chen J, Kozlovskaya V, Goins A, Campos-Gomez J, Saeed M, Kharlampieva E. Biocompatible Shaped Particles from Dried Multilayer Polymer Capsules. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:3830-41. [DOI: 10.1021/bm4008666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Chen
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Veronika Kozlovskaya
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Allison Goins
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Javier Campos-Gomez
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Mohammad Saeed
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Eugenia Kharlampieva
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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