Sugar-binding and split domain combinations in repeats-in-toxin adhesins from Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas veronii mediate cell-surface recognition and hemolytic activities

Many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria use repeats-in-toxin adhesins for colonization and biofilm formation. In the cholera agent Vibrio cholerae, flagellar-regulated hemagglutinin A (FrhA) enables these functions. Using bioinformatic analysis, a sugar-binding domain was identified in FrhA adjacent to a domain of unknown function. AlphaFold2 indicated the boundaries of both domains to be slightly shorter than previously predicted and assisted in the recognition of the unknown domain as a split immunoglobulin-like fold that can assist in projecting the sugar-binding domain toward its target. The AlphaFold2-predicted structure is in excellent agreement with the molecular envelope obtained from small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of a recombinant construct spanning the sugar-binding and unknown domains. This two-domain construct was probed by glycan micro-array screening and showed binding to mammalian fucosylated glycans, some of which are characteristic erythrocyte markers and intestinal cell epitopes. Isothermal titration calorimetry further showed the construct-bound l-fucose with a Kd of 21 µM. Strikingly, this recombinant protein construct bound and lysed erythrocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, and its hemolytic activity was blocked by the addition of l-fucose. A protein ortholog construct from Aeromonas veronii was also produced and showed a similar glycan-binding pattern, binding affinity, erythrocyte-binding, and hemolytic activities. As demonstrated here with Hep-2 cells, fucose-based inhibitors of this sugar-binding domain can potentially be developed to block colonization by V. cholerae and other pathogenic bacteria that share this adhesin domain.IMPORTANCEThe bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera, uses an adhesion protein to stick to human cells and begin the infection process. One part of this adhesin protein binds to a particular sugar, fucose, on the surface of the target cells. This binding can lead to colonization and killing of the cells by the bacteria. Adding l-fucose to the bacteria before they bind to the human cells can prevent attachment and has promise as a preventative drug to protect against cholera.

A peptide-binding domain shared with an Antarctic bacterium facilitates Vibrio cholerae human cell binding and intestinal colonization

Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the disease cholera, is responsible for multiple pandemics. V. cholerae binds to and colonizes the gastrointestinal tract within the human host, as well as various surfaces in the marine environment (e.g., zooplankton) during interepidemic periods. A large adhesin, the Flagellar Regulated Hemagglutinin A (FrhA), enhances binding to erythrocytes and epithelial cells and enhances intestinal colonization. We identified a peptide-binding domain (PBD) within FrhA that mediates hemagglutination, binding to epithelial cells, intestinal colonization, and facilitates biofilm formation. Intriguingly, this domain is also found in the ice-binding protein of the Antarctic bacterium Marinomonas primoryensis, where it mediates binding to diatoms. Peptide inhibitors of the M. primoryensis PBD inhibit V. cholerae binding to human cells as well as to diatoms and inhibit biofilm formation. Moreover, the M. primoryensis PBD inserted into FrhA allows V. cholerae to bind human cells and colonize the intestine and also enhances biofilm formation, demonstrating the interchangeability of the PBD from these bacteria. Importantly, peptide inhibitors of PBD reduce V. cholerae intestinal colonization in infant mice. These studies demonstrate how V. cholerae uses a PBD shared with a diatom-binding Antarctic bacterium to facilitate intestinal colonization in humans and biofilm formation in the environment.

The Vibrio Polar Flagellum: Structure and Regulation

Here we discuss the structure and regulation of the Vibrio flagellum and its role in the virulence of pathogenic species. We will cover some of the novel insights into the structure of this nanomachine that have recently been enabled by cryoelectron tomography. We will also highlight the recent genetic studies that have increased our understanding in flagellar synthesis specifically at the bacterial cell pole, temporal regulation of flagellar genes, and how the flagellum enables directional motility through Run-Reverse-Flick cycles.

Thioredoxin Modulates Cell Surface Hydrophobicity in Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-negative coccobacillus, has become a prevalent nosocomial health threat affecting the majority of hospitals both in the U.S. and around the globe. Microbial cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) has previously been correlated with virulence, uptake by immune cells, and attachment to epithelial cells. A mutant strain of A. baumannii (ΔtrxA) lacking the redox protein thioredoxin A was found to be more hydrophobic than its wild type (WT) and complemented counterparts, as measured by both Microbial Adhesion to Hydrocarbon (MATH) and salt aggregation. The hydrophobicity of the mutant could be abrogated through treatment with sodium cyanoborohydride (SCBH). This modulation correlated with reduction of disulfide bonds, as SCBH was able to reduce 5,5′-dithio-bis-[2-nitrobenzoic acid] and treatment with the known disulfide reducer, β-mercaptoethanol, also decreased ΔtrxA CSH. Additionally, the ΔtrxA mutant was more readily taken up than WT by J774 macrophages and this differential uptake could be abrogated though SCBH treatment. When partitioned into aqueous and hydrophobic phases, ΔtrxA recovered from the hydrophobic partition was phagocytosed more readily than from the aqueous phase further supporting the contribution of CSH to A. baumannii uptake by phagocytes. A second Gram-negative bacterium, Francisella novicida, also showed the association of TrxA deficiency (FnΔtrxA) with increased hydrophobicity and uptake by J774 cells. We previously have demonstrated that modification of the type IV pilus system (T4P) was associated with the A. baumannii ΔtrxA phenotype, and the Francisella FnΔtrxA mutant also was found to have a marked T4P deficiency. Interestingly, a F. novicida mutant lacking pilT also showed increased hydrophobicity over FnWT. Collective evidence presented in this study suggests that Gram-negative bacterial thioredoxin mediates CSH through multiple mechanisms including disulfide-bond reduction and T4P modulation.

Vibrio Flagellar Synthesis

Vibrio spp. are highly motile Gram-negative bacteria, ubiquitously found in aquatic environments. Some Vibrios are responsible for disease and morbidity of marine invertebrates and humans, while others are studied for their symbiotic interactions. Vibrio spp. are motile due to synthesis of flagella that rotate and propel the bacteria. Many Vibrio spp. synthesize monotrichous polar flagella (e.g., V. cholerae, V. alginolyticus); however, some synthesize peritrichous or lophotrichous flagella. Flagellar-mediated motility is intimately connected to biological and cellular processes such as chemotaxis, biofilm formation, colonization, and virulence of Vibrio spp. This review focuses on the polar flagellum and its regulation in regard to Vibrio virulence and environmental persistence.

A Critical Region in the FlaA Flagellin Facilitates Filament Formation of the Vibrio cholerae Flagellum

Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative bacterium with a monotrichous flagellum that causes the human disease cholera. Flagellum-mediated motility is an integral part of the bacterial life cycle inside the host and in the aquatic environment. The V. cholerae flagellar filament is composed of five flagellin subunits (FlaA, FlaB, FlaC, FlaD, and FlaE); however, only FlaA is necessary and sufficient for filament synthesis. flaA is transcribed from a class III flagellar promoter, whereas the other four flagellins are transcribed from class IV promoters. However, expressing flaA from a class IV promoter still facilitated motility in a strain that was otherwise lacking all five flagellins (ΔflaA-E). Furthermore, FlaA from V. parahaemolyticus (FlaAVP; 77% identity) supported motility of the V. cholerae ΔflaA-E strain, whereas FlaA from V. vulnificus (FlaAVV; 75% identity) did not, indicating that FlaA amino acid sequence is responsible for its critical role in flagellar synthesis. Chimeric proteins composed of different domains of FlaAVC and FlaD or FlaAVV revealed that the N-terminal D1 domain (D1N) contains an important region required for FlaA function. Further analyses of chimeric FlaAVC-FlaD proteins identified a lysine residue present at position 145 of the other flagellins but absent from FlaAVC that can prevent monofilament formation. Moreover, the D1N region of amino acids 87 to 153 of FlaAVV inserted into FlaAVC allows monofilament formation but not motility, apparently due to the lack of filament curvature. These results identify residues within the D1N domain that allow FlaAVC to fold into a functional filament structure and suggest that FlaAVC assists correct folding of the other flagellins.IMPORTANCEV. cholerae causes the severe diarrheal disease cholera. Its ability to swim is mediated by rotation of a polar flagellum, and this motility is integral to its ability to cause disease and persist in the environment. The current studies illuminate how one specific flagellin (FlaA) within a multiflagellin structure mediates formation of the flagellar filament, thus allowing V. cholerae to swim. This knowledge can lead to safer vaccines and potential therapeutics to inhibit cholera.

Vibrio2017: the seventh international conference on the biology of Vibrios

Vibrio2017: The ASM Conference on the Biology of Vibrios, was held in November 2017. The conference focused on all aspects of biology related to the bacterial genus Vibrio. The meeting highlighted that the Vibrios have a tremendous impact on humans, both directly by Vibrio-related diseases, as well as indirectly through their interactions with other animal species, e.g. fish and shellfish, and with our environment, including influencing the health of our coastal waters and coral reefs.

Intratracheal Inoculation of Fischer 344 Rats with Francisella tularensis

Pulmonary infection with the bacterium Francisella tularensis can lead to the serious and potentially fatal disease, tularemia, in humans. Due to the current lack of an approved tularemia vaccine for humans, research is focused on vaccine development utilizing appropriate animal models. The Fischer 344 rat has emerged as a model that reflects human susceptibility to F. tularensis infection, and thus is an attractive model for tularemia vaccine development. Intratracheal inoculation of the Fischer 344 rat with F. tularensis mimics pulmonary exposure in humans. The successful delivery into the rat trachea is critical for pulmonary delivery. A laryngoscope with illumination is used to properly intubate the tracheae of anesthetized rats; the correct placement within the trachea is determined by a simple device to detect breathing. Following intubation, the F. tularensis culture is delivered in a measured dose via syringe. This technique standardizes pulmonary delivery of F. tularensis within the rat trachea to evaluate vaccine efficacy.

Comparative Transcriptional Analyses of Francisella tularensis and Francisella novicida

Francisella tularensis is composed of a number of subspecies with varied geographic distribution, host ranges, and virulence. In view of these marked differences, comparative functional genomics may elucidate some of the molecular mechanism(s) behind these differences. In this study a shared probe microarray was designed that could be used to compare the transcriptomes of Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis Schu S4 (Ftt), Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica OR960246 (Fth), Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica LVS (LVS), and Francisella novicida U112 (Fn). To gain insight into expression differences that may be related to the differences in virulence of these subspecies, transcriptomes were measured from each strain grown in vitro under identical conditions, utilizing a shared probe microarray. The human avirulent Fn strain exhibited high levels of transcription of genes involved in general metabolism, which are pseudogenes in the human virulent Ftt and Fth strains, consistent with the process of genome decay in the virulent strains. Genes encoding an efflux system (emrA2 cluster of genes), siderophore (fsl operon), acid phosphatase, LPS synthesis, polyamine synthesis, and citrulline ureidase were all highly expressed in Ftt when compared to Fn, suggesting that some of these may contribute to the relative high virulence of Ftt. Genes expressed at a higher level in Ftt when compared to the relatively less virulent Fth included genes encoding isochorismatases, cholylglycine hydrolase, polyamine synthesis, citrulline ureidase, Type IV pilus subunit, and the Francisella Pathogenicity Island protein PdpD. Fth and LVS had very few expression differences, consistent with the derivation of LVS from Fth. This study demonstrated that a shared probe microarray designed to detect transcripts in multiple species/subspecies of Francisella enabled comparative transcriptional analyses that may highlight critical differences that underlie the relative pathogenesis of these strains for humans. This strategy could be extended to other closely-related bacterial species for inter-strain and inter-species analyses.

M-Cells Contribute to the Entry of an Oral Vaccine but Are Not Essential for the Subsequent Induction of Protective Immunity against Francisella tularensis

M-cells (microfold cells) are thought to be a primary conduit of intestinal antigen trafficking. Using an established neutralizing anti-RANKL (Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand) antibody treatment to transiently deplete M-cells in vivo, we sought to determine whether intestinal M-cells were required for the effective induction of protective immunity following oral vaccination with ΔiglB (a defined live attenuated Francisella novicida mutant). M-cell depleted, ΔiglB-vaccinated mice exhibited increased (but not significant) morbidity and mortality following a subsequent homotypic or heterotypic pulmonary F. tularensis challenge. No significant differences in splenic IFN-γ, IL-2, or IL-17 or serum antibody (IgG1, IgG2a, IgA) production were observed compared to non-depleted, ΔiglB-vaccinated animals suggesting complementary mechanisms for ΔiglB entry. Thus, we examined other possible routes of gastrointestinal antigen sampling following oral vaccination and found that ΔiglB co-localized to villus goblet cells and enterocytes. These results provide insight into the role of M-cells and complementary pathways in intestinal antigen trafficking that may be involved in the generation of optimal immunity following oral vaccination.

Live attenuated Francisella novicida vaccine protects against Francisella tularensis pulmonary challenge in rats and non-human primates

Francisella tularensis causes the disease tularemia. Human pulmonary exposure to the most virulent form, F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (Ftt), leads to high morbidity and mortality, resulting in this bacterium being classified as a potential biothreat agent. However, a closely-related species, F. novicida, is avirulent in healthy humans. No tularemia vaccine is currently approved for human use. We demonstrate that a single dose vaccine of a live attenuated F. novicida strain (Fn iglD) protects against subsequent pulmonary challenge with Ftt using two different animal models, Fischer 344 rats and cynomolgus macaques (NHP). The Fn iglD vaccine showed protective efficacy in rats, as did a Ftt iglD vaccine, suggesting no disadvantage to utilizing the low human virulent Francisella species to induce protective immunity. Comparison of specific antibody profiles in vaccinated rat and NHP sera by proteome array identified a core set of immunodominant antigens in vaccinated animals. This is the first report of a defined live attenuated vaccine that demonstrates efficacy against pulmonary tularemia in a NHP, and indicates that the low human virulence F. novicida functions as an effective tularemia vaccine platform.

Francisella tularensis is a bacterium that causes the infectious disease tularemia. F. tularensis has been developed as a biothreat agent, because it causes high morbidity and mortality when spread by aerosol. There is currently no approved vaccine for human use, making mankind vulnerable to the illicit use of this organism. F. tularensis contains a cluster of genes in the Francisella Pathogenicity Island (FPI) that are required for replication inside host macrophages and virulence. In the current study we created a live vaccine strain by inactivating an FPI gene, iglD, in a closely-related species that does not cause disease in humans, F. novicida (Fn iglD). We demonstrate that vaccination with Fn iglD protects against exposure to airborne F. tularensis. Fn iglD vaccination induces antibody and cellular immune responses and protects two different animals, rats and non-human primates, against lethal pulmonary tularemia challenges. These two animal models reflect human sensitivity to F. tularensis. Our results suggest that a vaccine made from the low virulence F. novicida will protect humans against aerosol exposure to this dangerous pathogen.

Enhancement of vaccine efficacy by expression of a TLR5 ligand in the defined live attenuated Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida strain U112ΔiglB::fljB

Oral vaccination with the defined live attenuated Francisella novicida vaccine strain U112ΔiglB has been demonstrated to induce protective immunity against pulmonary challenge with the highly human virulent Francisella tularensis strain SCHU S4. However, this vaccination regimen requires a booster dose in mice and Exhibits 50% protective efficacy in the Fischer 344 rat model. To enhance the efficacy of this vaccine strain, we engineered U112ΔiglB to express the Salmonella typhimurium FljB flagellin D1 domain, a TLR5 agonist. The U112ΔiglB::fljB strain was highly attenuated for intracellular macrophage replication, and although the FljB protein was expressed within the cytosol, it exhibited TLR5 activation in a TLR5-expressing HEK cell line. Additionally, infection of splenocytes and lymphocytes with U112ΔiglB::fljB induced significantly greater TNF-α production than infection with U112ΔiglB. Oral vaccination with U112ΔiglB::fljB also induced significantly greater protection than U112ΔiglB against pulmonary SCHU S4 challenge in rats. The enhanced protection was accompanied by higher IgG2a production and serum-mediated reduction of Francisella infectivity. Thus, the U112ΔiglB::fljB strain may serve as a potential vaccine candidate against pneumonic tularemia.

Lipidation of the FPI protein IglE contributes to Francisella tularensis ssp. novicida intramacrophage replication and virulence

Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the human disease tularemia. The Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI) encodes a secretion system related to type VI secretion systems (T6SS) which allows F. tularensis to escape the phagosome and replicate within the cytosol of infected macrophages and ultimately cause disease. A lipoprotein is typically found encoded within T6SS gene clusters and is believed to anchor portions of the secretion apparatus to the outer membrane. We show that the FPI protein IglE is a lipoprotein that incorporates (3)H-palmitate and localizes to the outer membrane. A C22G IglE mutant failed to be lipidated and failed to localize to the outer membrane, consistent with C22 being the site of lipidation. Francisella tularensis ssp. novicida expressing IglE C22G is defective for replication in macrophages and unable to cause disease in mice. Bacterial two-hybrid analysis demonstrated that IglE interacts with the C-terminal portion of the FPI inner membrane protein PdpB, and PhoA fusion analysis indicated the PdpB C-terminus is located within the periplasm. We predict this interaction facilitates channel formation to allow secretion through this system.

Vibrio cholerae persisted in microcosm for 700 days inhibits motility but promotes biofilm formation in nutrient-poor lake water microcosms

Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae, ubiquitous in aquatic environments, is responsible for cholera; humans can become infected after consuming food and/or water contaminated with the bacterium. The underlying basis of persistence of V. cholerae in the aquatic environment remains poorly understood despite decades of research. We recently described a “persister” phenotype of V. cholerae that survived in nutrient-poor “filter sterilized” lake water (FSLW) in excess of 700-days. Previous reports suggest that microorganisms can assume a growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP) phenotype in response to long-term survival during stationary phase of growth. Here we report a V. cholerae GASP phenotype (GASP-700D) that appeared to result from 700 day-old persister cells stored in glycerol broth at −80°C. The GASP-700D, compared to its wild-type N16961, was defective in motility, produced increased biofilm that was independent of vps (p<0.005) and resistant to oxidative stress when grown specifically in FSLW (p<0.005). We propose that V. cholerae GASP-700D represents cell populations that may better fit and adapt to stressful survival conditions while serving as a critical link in the cycle of cholera transmission.

An HD-GYP cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase with a non-heme diiron-carboxylate active site

The intracellular level of the ubiquitous bacterial secondary messenger, cyclic di-(3',5')-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), represents a balance between its biosynthesis and degradation, the latter via specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs). One class of c-di-GMP PDEs contains a characteristic HD-GYP domain. Here we report that an HD-GYP PDE from Vibrio cholerae contains a non-heme diiron-carboxylate active site, and that only the reduced form is active. An engineered D-to-A substitution in the HD dyad caused loss of c-di-GMP PDE activity and of two iron atoms. This report constitutes the first demonstration that a non-heme diiron-carboxylate active site can catalyze the c-di-GMP PDE reaction and that this activity can be redox regulated in the HD-GYP class.

Mucosal immunization with live attenuated Francisella novicida U112ΔiglB protects against pulmonary F. tularensis SCHU S4 in the Fischer 344 rat model

The need for an efficacious vaccine against Francisella tularensis is a consequence of its low infectious dose and high mortality rate if left untreated. This study sought to characterize a live attenuated subspecies novicida-based vaccine strain (U112ΔiglB) in an established second rodent model of pulmonary tularemia, namely the Fischer 344 rat using two distinct routes of vaccination (intratracheal [i.t.] and oral). Attenuation was verified by comparing replication of U112ΔiglB with wild type parental strain U112 in F344 primary alveolar macrophages. U112ΔiglB exhibited an LD₅₀>10⁷ CFU compared to the wild type (LD₅₀ = 5×10⁶ CFU i.t.). Immunization with 10⁷ CFU U112ΔiglB by i.t. and oral routes induced antigen-specific IFN-γ and potent humoral responses both systemically (IgG2a>IgG1 in serum) and at the site of mucosal vaccination (respiratory/intestinal compartment). Importantly, vaccination with U112ΔiglB by either i.t. or oral routes provided equivalent levels of protection (50% survival) in F344 rats against a subsequent pulmonary challenge with ∼25 LD₅₀ (1.25×10⁴ CFU) of the highly human virulent strain SCHU S4. Collectively, these results provide further evidence on the utility of a mucosal vaccination platform with a defined subsp. novicida U112ΔiglB vaccine strain in conferring protective immunity against pulmonary tularemia.

A bacterial hemerythrin domain regulates the activity of a Vibrio cholerae diguanylate cyclase

The first demonstrated example of a regulatory function for a bacterial hemerythrin (Bhr) domain is reported. Bhrs have a characteristic sequence motif providing ligand residues for a type of non-heme diiron site that is known to bind O(2) and undergo autoxidation. The amino acid sequence encoded by the VC1216 gene from Vibrio cholerae O1 biovar El Tor str. N16961 contains an N-terminal Bhr domain connected to a C-terminal domain characteristic of bacterial diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) that catalyze formation of cyclic di-(3',5')-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) from GTP. This protein, Vc Bhr-DGC, was found to contain two tightly bound non-heme iron atoms per protein monomer. The as-isolated protein showed the spectroscopic signatures of oxo/dicarboxylato-bridged non-heme diferric sites of previously characterized Bhr domains. The diiron site was capable of cycling between diferric and diferrous forms, the latter of which was stable only under anaerobic conditions, undergoing rapid autoxidation upon being exposed to air. Vc Bhr-DGC showed approximately 10 times higher DGC activity in the diferrous than in the diferric form. The level of intracellular c-di-GMP is known to regulate biofilm formation in V. cholerae. The higher DGC activity of the diferrous Vc Bhr-DGC is consistent with induction of biofilm formation in low-dioxygen environments. The non-heme diiron cofactor in the Bhr domain thus represents an alternative to heme or flavin for redox and/or diatomic gas sensing and regulation of DGC activity.

Mast cell TLR2 signaling is crucial for effective killing of Francisella tularensis

TLR signaling is critical for early host defense against pathogens, but the contributions of mast cell TLR-mediated mechanisms and subsequent effector functions during pulmonary infection are largely unknown. We have previously demonstrated that mast cells, through the production of IL-4, effectively control Francisella tularensis replication. In this study, the highly human virulent strain of F. tularensis SCHU S4 and the live vaccine strain were used to investigate the contribution of mast cell/TLR regulation of Francisella. Mast cells required TLR2 for effective bacterial killing, regulation of the hydrolytic enzyme cathepsin L, and for coordination and trafficking of MHC class II and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2. Infected TLR2(-/-) mast cells, in contrast to wild-type and TLR4(-/-) cells, lacked detectable IL-4 and displayed increased cell death with a 2-3 log increase of F. tularensis replication, but could be rescued with rIL-4 treatment. Importantly, MHC class II and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 localization with labeled F. tularensis in the lungs was greater in wild-type than in TLR2(-/-) mice. These results provide evidence for the important effector contribution of mast cells and TLR2-mediated signaling on early innate processes in the lung following pulmonary F. tularensis infection and provide additional insight into possible mechanisms by which intracellular pathogens modulate respiratory immune defenses.

Elucidation of a novel Vibrio cholerae lipid A secondary hydroxy-acyltransferase and its role in innate immune recognition

Similar to most Gram-negative bacteria, the outer leaflet of the outer membrane of Vibrio cholerae is comprised of lipopolysaccharide. Previous reports have proposed that V. cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 synthesize structurally different lipid A domains, which anchor lipopolysaccharide within the outer membrane. In the current study, intact lipid A species of V. cholerae O1 and O139 were analysed by mass spectrometry. We demonstrate that V. cholerae serogroups associated with human disease synthesize a similar asymmetrical hexa-acylated lipid A species, bearing a myristate (C14:0) and 3-hydroxylaurate (3-OH C12:0) at the 2'- and 3'-positions respectively. A previous report from our laboratory characterized the V. cholerae LpxL homologue Vc0213, which transfers a C14:0 to the 2'-position of the glucosamine disaccharide. Our current findings identify V. cholerae Vc0212 as a novel lipid A secondary hydroxy-acyltransferase, termed LpxN, responsible for transferring the 3-hydroxylaurate (3-OH C12:0) to the V. cholerae lipid A domain. Importantly, the presence of a 3-hydroxyl group on the 3'-linked secondary acyl chain was found to promote antimicrobial peptide resistance in V. cholerae; however, this functional group was not required for activation of the innate immune response.

N-terminal residues of the Vibrio cholerae virulence regulatory protein ToxT involved in dimerization and modulation by fatty acids

The regulatory protein ToxT is an AraC family protein that is responsible for activating transcription of the genes encoding cholera toxin and toxin coregulated pilus, which are required for virulence by the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae. The N terminus of ToxT contains dimerization and regulatory elements, whereas the C terminus contains the DNA binding domain. Bile and long chain fatty acids negatively regulate ToxT activity. Utilizing a comprehensive alanine substitution mutant library of ToxT, 19 N-terminal residues were found to be critical for dimerization and transcriptional activation. One of these mutant proteins (F151A) was confirmed to be monomeric via centrifugation and exhibited a weakened ability to bind to the tcpA promoter in a gel mobility shift assay. Moreover, a V. cholerae toxTF151A mutant failed to colonize the infant mouse intestine, emphasizing the importance of ToxT N-terminal dimerization to cholera pathogenesis. Six N-terminal alanine substitutions allowed ToxT transcriptional activity in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of bile, palmitoleic acid, and the small molecule inhibitor virstatin. Two of these mutations (N106A and L114A) enhance N-terminal dimerization in a bacterial two-hybrid system reconstituted in V. cholerae, which is otherwise disrupted by bile, palmitoleic acid, and virstatin. We demonstrate that V. cholerae toxTN106A and toxTL114A strains colonize the infant mouse intestine at significantly higher levels than the wild type strain. Our results demonstrate that ToxT N-terminal dimerization is required for transcriptional activation and cholera pathogenesis and that fatty acids modulate ToxT activity via modulation of dimerization.

Evasion of IFN-γ signaling by Francisella novicida is dependent upon Francisella outer membrane protein C

Background

Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of the lethal disease tularemia. An outer membrane protein (FTT0918) of F. tularensis subsp. tularensis has been identified as a virulence factor. We generated a F. novicida (F. tularensis subsp. novicida) FTN_0444 (homolog of FTT0918) fopC mutant to study the virulence-associated mechanism(s) of FTT0918.

Methods and Findings

The ΔfopC strain phenotype was characterized using immunological and biochemical assays. Attenuated virulence via the pulmonary route in wildtype C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, as well as in knockout (KO) mice, including MHC I, MHC II, and µmT (B cell deficient), but not in IFN-γ or IFN-γR KO mice was observed. Primary bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) prepared from C57BL/6 mice treated with rIFN-γ exhibited greater inhibition of intracellular ΔfopC than wildtype U112 strain replication; whereas, IFN-γR KO macrophages showed no IFN-γ-dependent inhibition of ΔfopC replication. Moreover, phosphorylation of STAT1 was downregulated by the wildtype strain, but not the fopC mutant, in rIFN-γ treated macrophages. Addition of N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine, an NOS inhibitor, led to an increase of ΔfopC replication to that seen in the BMDM unstimulated with rIFN-γ. Enzymatic screening of ΔfopC revealed aberrant acid phosphatase activity and localization. Furthermore, a greater abundance of different proteins in the culture supernatants of ΔfopC than that in the wildtype U112 strain was observed.

Conclusions

F. novicida FopC protein facilitates evasion of IFN-γ-mediated immune defense(s) by down-regulation of STAT1 phosphorylation and nitric oxide production, thereby promoting virulence. Additionally, the FopC protein also may play a role in maintaining outer membrane stability (integrity) facilitating the activity and localization of acid phosphatases and other F. novicida cell components.

Mast cell/IL-4 control of Francisella tularensis replication and host cell death is associated with increased ATP production and phagosomal acidification

Mast cells are now recognized as effective modulators of innate immunity. We recently reported that mast cells and secreted interleukin-4 (IL-4) effectively control intramacrophage replication of Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain (LVS), and that mice deficient in mast cells or IL-4 receptor (IL-4R(-/-)) exhibit greater susceptibility to pulmonary challenge. In this study, we further evaluated the mechanism(s) by which mast cells/IL-4 control intramacrophage bacterial replication and host cell death, and found that IL-4R(-/-) mice exhibited significantly greater induction of active caspase-3 within lung macrophages than wild-type animals following intranasal challenge with either LVS or the human virulent type A strain SCHU S4. Treatment of LVS-infected bone-marrow-derived macrophages with a pancaspase inhibitor (zVAD) did not alter bacterial replication, but minimized active caspase-3 and other markers (Annexin V and propidium iodide) of cell death, whereas treatment with both rIL-4 and zVAD resulted in concomitant reduction of both parameters, suggesting that inhibition of bacterial replication by IL-4 was independent of caspase activation. Interestingly, IL-4-treated infected macrophages exhibited significantly increased ATP production and phagolysosomal acidification, as well as enhanced mannose receptor upregulation and increased internalization with acidification, which correlated with observations in mast cell-macrophage co-cultures, with resultant decreases in F. tularensis replication.

Mannose-containing oligosaccharides of non-specific human secretory immunoglobulin A mediate inhibition of Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation

The role of antigen-specific secretory IgA (SIgA) has been studied extensively, whereas there is a limited body of evidence regarding the contribution of non-specific SIgA to innate immune defenses against invading pathogens. In this study, we evaluated the effects of non-specific SIgA against infection with Vibrio cholerae O139 strain MO10 and biofilm formation. Seven day old infant mice deficient in IgA (IgA^-/- mice) displayed significantly greater intestinal MO10 burden at 24 hr post-challenge when compared to IgA^+/+ pups. Importantly, cross-fostering of IgA^-/- pups with IgA^+/+ nursing dams reversed the greater susceptibility to MO10 infection, suggesting a role for non-specific SIgA in protection against the infection. Since biofilm formation is associated with virulence of MO10, we further examined the role of human non-specific SIgA on this virulence phenotype of the pathogen. Human non-specific SIgA, in a dose-dependent fashion, significantly reduced the biofilm formation by MO10 without affecting the viability of the bacterium. Such an inhibitory effect was not induced by human serum IgA, IgG, or IgM, suggesting a role for the oligosaccharide-rich secretory component (SC) of SIgA. This was supported by the demonstration that SIgA treated with endoglycosidase H, to cleave the high-mannose containing terminal chitobiose residues, did not induce a reduction in biofilm formation by MO10. Furthermore, the addition of free mannose per se, across a wide dose range, induced significant reduction in MO10 biofilm formation. Collectively, these results suggest that mannose containing oligosacchardies within human non-specific secretory IgA can alter important virulence phenotypes of Vibrio cholerae such as biofilm formation, without affecting viability of the microorganism. Such effects may contribute significantly to innate immune defenses against invading pathogens in vivo in the gastrointestinal tract.

The complexity of ToxT-dependent transcription in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the disease cholera, characterized by profuse watery diarrhoea. Two of the main virulence factors associated with the disease are cholera toxin (CT) and toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP). Expression of CT and TCP is regulated via a complex cascade of factors that respond to environmental signals, but ultimately ToxT is the direct transcriptional activator of the genes encoding CT and TCP. Recent studies have begun to unveil the mechanisms behind ToxT-dependent transcription. We review current knowledge of transcriptional activation by ToxT and the environmental stimuli that allow ToxT to regulate virulence gene expression, resulting in cholera pathogenesis.

Genetic manipulation of francisella tularensis

Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes the disease tularemia. F. tularensis subsp. tularensis causes the most severe disease in humans and has been classified as a Category A select agent and potential bioweapon. There is currently no vaccine approved for human use, making genetic manipulation of this organism critical to unraveling the genetic basis of pathogenesis and developing countermeasures against tularemia. The development of genetic techniques applicable to F. tularensis have lagged behind those routinely used for other bacteria, primarily due to lack of research and the restricted nature of the biocontainment required for studying this pathogen. However, in recent years, genetic techniques, such as transposon mutagenesis and targeted gene disruption, have been developed, that have had a dramatic impact on our understanding of the genetic basis of F. tularensis virulence. In this review, we describe some of the methods developed for genetic manipulation of F. tularensis.

Role of Vibrio polysaccharide (vps) genes in VPS production, biofilm formation and Vibrio cholerae pathogenesis

Biofilm formation enhances the survival and persistence of the facultative human pathogen Vibrio cholerae in natural ecosystems and its transmission during seasonal cholera outbreaks. A major component of the V. cholerae biofilm matrix is the Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS), which is essential for development of three-dimensional biofilm structures. The vps genes are clustered in two regions, the vps-I cluster (vpsU, vpsA–K, VC0916–27) and the vps-II cluster (vpsL–Q, VC0934–39), separated by an intergenic region containing the rbm gene cluster that encodes biofilm matrix proteins. In-frame deletions of the vps clusters and genes encoding matrix proteins drastically altered biofilm formation phenotypes. To determine which genes within the vps gene clusters are required for biofilm formation and VPS synthesis, we generated in-frame deletion mutants for all the vps genes. Many of these mutants exhibited reduced capacity to produce VPS and biofilms. Infant mouse colonization assays revealed that mutants lacking either vps clusters or rbmA (encoding secreted matrix protein RbmA) exhibited a defect in intestinal colonization compared to the wild-type. Understanding the roles of the various vps gene products will aid in the biochemical characterization of the VPS biosynthetic pathway and elucidate how vps gene products contribute to VPS biosynthesis, biofilm formation and virulence in V. cholerae.

The Fischer 344 rat reflects human susceptibility to francisella pulmonary challenge and provides a new platform for virulence and protection studies

Background

The pathogenesis of Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, has been primarily characterized in mice. However, the high degree of sensitivity of mice to bacterial challenge, especially with the human virulent strains of F. tularensis, limits this animal model for screening of defined attenuated vaccine candidates for protection studies.

Methods and Findings

We analyzed the susceptibility of the Fischer 344 rat to pulmonary (intratracheal) challenge with three different subspecies (subsp) of F. tularensis that reflect different levels of virulence in humans, and characterized the bacterial replication profile in rat bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). In contrast to the mouse, Fischer 344 rats exhibit a broader range of sensitivity to pulmonary challenge with the human virulent subsp. tularensis and holarctica. Unlike mice, Fischer rats exhibited a high degree of resistance to pulmonary challenge with LVS (an attenuated derivative of subsp. holarctica) and subsp. novicida. Within BMDM, subsp. tularensis and LVS showed minimal replication, subsp. novicida showed marginal replication, and subsp. holartica replicated robustly. The limited intramacrophage replication of subsp. tularensis and novicida strains was correlated with the induction of nitric oxide production. Importantly, Fischer 344 rats that survived pulmonary infection with subsp. novicida were markedly protected against subsequent pulmonary challenge with subsp. tularensis, suggesting that subsp. novicida may be a useful platform for the development of vaccines against subsp. tularensis.

Conclusions

The Fischer 344 rat exhibits similar sensitivity to F. tularensis strains as that reported for humans, and thus the Fischer 344 ray may serve as a better animal model for tularemia vaccine development.

The Francisella tularensis pathogenicity island encodes a secretion system that is required for phagosome escape and virulence

Francisella tularensis causes the human disease tularemia. F. tularensis is able to survive and replicate within macrophages, a trait that has been correlated with its high virulence, but it is unclear the exact mechanism(s) this organism uses to escape killing within this hostile environment. F. tularensis virulence is dependent upon the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI), a cluster of genes that we show here shares homology with type VI secretion gene clusters in Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We demonstrate that two FPI proteins, VgrG and IglI, are secreted into the cytosol of infected macrophages. VgrG and IglI are required for F. tularensis phagosomal escape, intramacrophage growth, inflammasome activation and virulence in mice. Interestingly, VgrG secretion does not require the other FPI genes. However, VgrG and other FPI genes, including PdpB (an IcmF homologue), are required for the secretion of IglI into the macrophage cytosol, suggesting that VgrG and other FPI factors are components of a secretion system. This is the first report of F. tularensis FPI virulence proteins required for intramacrophage growth that are translocated into the macrophage.

Targeted gene disruption in Francisella tularensis by group II introns

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious Gram-negative bacterium that is the causative agent of tularemia. Very little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for F. tularensis virulence, in part due to the paucity of genetic tools available for the study of F. tularensis. We have developed a gene knockout system for F. tularensis that utilizes retargeted mobile group II introns, or "targetrons". These targetrons disrupt both single and duplicated target genes at high efficiency in three different F. tularensis subspecies. Here we describe in detail the targetron-based method for insertional mutagenesis of F. tularensis genes, which should facilitate a better understanding of F. tularensis pathogenesis. Group II introns can be adapted to inactivate genes in bacteria for which few genetic tools exist, thus providing a powerful tool to study the genetic basis of bacterial pathogenesis.

Mast cells induce alternative activation and inhibit caspase-3 mediated apoptosis of Francisella tularensis infected macrophages (44.24)

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious Gram-negative bacterial pathogen and the causative agent of pneumonic tularemia. We recently demonstrated inhibition of F. tularensis LVS replication in macrophages via mast cell production of interleukin-4 (IL-4). We have further analyzed the interactions of mast cells and macrophages using a primary bone marrow derived mast cell-macrophage co-culture system and determined that mast cells inhibit F. tularensis-induced macrophage apoptosis. Specifically, mast cells co-cultured with macrophages significantly reduced intramacrophage LVS growth and expression of apoptotic proteins caspase-3 (19.9%) and PARP (Poly-ADP ribose polymerase, 16.0%) compared to macrophages cultured alone (48.2% and 56.4%, respectively). The inhibition of LVS-induced apoptosis within infected macrophages also was seen by the direct addition of recombinant IL-4 and corresponded with up-regulation of mannose receptor expression and arginase activity which are associated with the alternative activation of macrophages. Moreover, IL4R-/- mice were more susceptible to intranasal challenge and exhibited greater caspase-3 activity in lung macrophages (12.9%) compared to similarly challenged wild-type (4.7%) animals. These results support a role for mast cells and IL-4 in control of bacterial replication and apoptosis following pulmonary LVS infection.

National Institutes of Health grant PO1 AI057986; NIH/NIGMS MBRS-RISE GM60655

Regulation of virulence in Vibrio cholerae: the ToxR regulon

Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative bacterium that is the causative agent of cholera. This disease consists of enormous fluid loss through stools, which can be fatal. Cholera epidemics appear in explosive outbreaks that have occurred repeatedly throughout history. The virulence factors toxin coregulated pilus (TCP) and cholera toxin (CT) are essential for colonization of the host and enterotoxicity, respectively. These virulence factors are under the control of ToxT, an AraC/XylS family protein that activates transcription of the genes encoding TCP and CT. ToxT is under the control of a virulence regulatory cascade known as the ToxR regulon, which responds to environmental stimuli to ensure maximal virulence-factor induction within the human intestine. An understanding of this intricate signaling pathway is essential for the development of methods to treat and prevent this devastating disease.

Proteome cataloging and relative quantification of Francisella tularensis tularensis strain Schu4 in 2D PAGE using preparative isoelectric focusing

The protein complement of whole cell extract of the bacterium Francisella tularensis tularensis was analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis with preparative isoelectric focusing in the first dimension. The format allows the quantification of relative protein abundance by linear densitometry and extends the potential dynamic range of protein detection by as much as an order of magnitude. The relative abundance and rank order of 136 unique proteins identified in F. tularensis tularensis were established. It is estimated that 16% of the moderately to highly expressed proteins and 8% of all predicted non-pseudogenes were identified by comparing this proteome information with the relative abundance of mRNA as measured by microarray. This rank-ordered proteome list provides an important resource for understanding the pathogenesis of F. tularensis and is a tool for the selection and design of synthetic vaccines. This method represents a useful additional technique to improve whole proteome analyses of simple organisms.

A Francisella tularensis pathogenicity island protein essential for bacterial proliferation within the host cell cytosol

Francisella tularensis is an intracellular bacterial pathogen, and is a category A bioterrorism agent. Within quiescent human macrophages, the F. tularensis pathogenicity island (FPI) is essential for bacterial growth within quiescent macrophages. The F. tularensis-containing phagosome matures to a late endosome-like stage that does not fuse to lysosomes for 1-8 h, followed by gradual bacterial escape into the macrophage cytosol. Here we show that the FPI protein IglD is essential for intracellular replication in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs). While the parental strain replicates robustly in pulmonary, hepatic and splenic tissues of BALB/c mice associated with severe immunopathologies, the isogenic iglD mutant is severely defective. Within hMDMs, the iglD mutant-containing phagosomes mature to either a late endosome-like phagosome, similar to the parental strain, or to a phagolysosome, similar to phagosomes harbouring the iglC mutant control. Despite heterogeneity and alterations in phagosome biogenesis, the iglD mutant bacteria escape into the cytosol faster than the parental strain within hMDMs and pulmonary cells of BALB/c mice. Co-infections of hMDMs with the wild-type strain and the iglD mutant, or super-infection of iglD mutant-infected hMDMs with the wild-type strain show that the mutant strain replicates robustly within the cytosol of hMDMs coinhabited by the wild strain. However, when the wild-type strain-infected hMDMs are super-infected by the iglD mutant, the mutant fails to replicate in the cytosol of communal macrophages. This is the first demonstration of a F. tularensis novel protein essential for proliferation in the macrophage cytosol. Our data indicate that F. tularensis transduces signals to the macrophage cytosol to remodel it into a proliferative niche, and IglD is essential for transduction of these signals.

Molecular and genetic basis of pathogenesis in Francisella tularensis

The genetic means of pathogenesis of Francisella tularensis are poorly understood. F. tularensis is able to survive and replicate within macrophages, and a virulence factor, MglA, has been identified that is essential for this ability. MglA regulates the transcription of genes necessary for intracellular growth, including those located within the Francisella Pathogenicity Island (FPI). The FPI genes are required for intramacrophage growth and virulence, and appear to encode a protein secretion system, but the exact function of individual FPI proteins remains to be determined. Additional regulatory factors required for virulence have recently been discovered, as well a number of virulence genes identified through transposon mutant screens. The role of surface components, including LPS, pili, and capsule, in F. tularensis virulence is also beginning to be illuminated. The identification of virulence genes has enabled the study of defined attenuated mutants as live vaccine strains against tularemia. As new components of the F. tularensis virulence gene repertoire are discovered, we will achieve a better understanding of how this bacterium interacts with the host and evades immune function, which will facilitate the development of therapeutic and preventive measures against tularemia.

Identification of residues critical for the function of the Vibrio cholerae virulence regulator ToxT by scanning alanine mutagenesis

Virulence factor expression in Vibrio cholerae is controlled by the transcriptional regulatory protein ToxT. ToxT activates transcription of the genes encoding cholera toxin (ctx) and the toxin co-regulated pilus (tcp), as well as accessory colonization factor (acf) genes. Previous studies of ToxT, a member of the AraC family of proteins, have revealed that it consists of two domains, an N-terminal dimerization and environmental sensing domain, and a C-terminal DNA binding domain. In this study, comprehensive scanning alanine mutagenesis was utilized to identify amino acids critical for the function of ToxT. Forty-eight proteins with Ala substitutions (of 267 total) exhibited defects in ToxT-dependent activation (>90% reduction) in both a V. cholerae acfA-phoA reporter strain and a Salmonella typhimurium ctxAp-lacZ reporter strain. Most of these mutant proteins also caused reductions in cholera toxin (CT) and toxin coregulated pilus (TCP) expression in a DeltatoxT V cholerae strain under in vitro virulence factor inducing conditions. Further analysis with a LexA-based reporter system revealed that one of the 20 Ala substitutions in the N terminus (F151A) diminishes dimerization, and this residue is located in a region of predicted alpha-helical structure, thus identifying a putative dimer interface. Ala substitutions in two putative helix-turn-helix (HTH) recognition helices that caused differential promoter activation (K203A and S249A) did not appear to alter specific DNA binding, suggesting these residues contribute to other aspects of transcriptional activation. A number of Ala substitutions were also found that result in a higher level of ToxT transcriptional activity, and these mutations were almost exclusively found within the N terminus, consistent with this domain being involved in modulation of ToxT activity. This study illuminates the contribution of specific amino acids to the dimerization, DNA binding, and transcriptional activity of ToxT.

Identification of proinflammatory flagellin proteins in supernatants of Vibrio cholerae O1 by proteomics analysis

The genome of Vibrio cholerae contains five flagellin genes that encode proteins (FlaA-E) of 39-41 kDa with 61-82% identity among them. Although the existing live oral attenuated vaccine strains against cholera are protective in humans, there is an intrinsic residual cytotoxic and inflammatory component associated with these candidate vaccine strains. Bacterial flagellins are known to be potent inducers of proinflammatory molecules via activation of Toll-like receptor 5. Here we found that purified flagella from wild type V. cholerae 395 induced significant release of interleukin (IL)-8 from cultured HT-29 human colonic epithelial cells. Furthermore we found that filtered supernatants of KKV90, a DeltaflaA isogenic strain unable to produce flagella, were still able to activate production of IL-8 albeit to significantly lower levels than the wild type, suggesting that other activators of proinflammatory molecules were still present in these supernatants. A comparative proteomics analysis of secreted proteins of V. cholerae 395 and KKV90 identified additional proteins with potential to induce IL-8 release in HT-29 cells. Secreted proteins in the range of 30-45 kDa identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry revealed the presence of two additional flagellins, FlaC and FlaD, that appeared to be secreted 3- and 6-fold more, respectively, in the mutant compared with the wild type. Double isogenic mutants flaAC and flaAD were unable to trigger IL-8 release from HT-29 cells. In sum, we have shown that purified flagella and secreted flagellin proteins (FlaC and FlaD) are inducers of IL-8 release from epithelial cells via Toll-like receptor 5. This observation may explain, in part, the observed reactogenicity of cholera vaccine strains in humans.

Intranasal vaccination with a defined attenuated Francisella novicida strain induces gamma interferon-dependent antibody-mediated protection against tularemia

Francisella tularensis is an intracellular gram-negative bacterium that is the causative agent of tularemia and a potential bioweapon. We have characterized the efficacy of a defined F. novicida mutant (DeltaiglC) as a live attenuated vaccine against subsequent intranasal challenge with the wild-type organism. Animals primed with the F. novicida DeltaiglC (KKF24) mutant induced robust splenic gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) recall responses with negligible IL-4 production as well as the production of antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2a antibodies. BALB/c mice vaccinated intranasally (i.n.) with KKF24 and subsequently challenged with wild-type F. novicida (100 and 1,000 50% lethal doses) were highly protected (83% and 50% survival, respectively) from the lethal challenges. The protection conferred by KKF24 vaccination was shown to be highly dependent on endogenous IFN-gamma production and also was mediated by antibodies that could be adoptively transferred to naive B-cell-deficient mice by inoculation of immune sera. Collectively, the results demonstrate that i.n. vaccination with KKF24 induces a vigorous Th1-type cytokine and antibody response that is protective against subsequent i.n. challenge with the wild-type strain. This is the first report of a defined live attenuated strain providing protection against the inhalation of F. novicida.

Characterization of functional domains of the Vibrio cholerae virulence regulator ToxT

The toxT gene encodes an AraC family transcriptional activator that is responsible for regulating virulence gene expression in Vibrio cholerae. Analysis of ToxT by dominant/negative assays and a LexA-based reporter system demonstrated that the N-terminus of the protein contains dimerization determinants, indicating that ToxT likely functions as a dimer. Additionally, a natural variant of ToxT with only 60% identity in the N-terminus, as well as a mutant form of ToxT with an altered amino acid in the N-terminus (L107F), exhibited altered transcriptional responses to bile, suggesting that the N-terminus is involved in environmental sensing. The C-terminus of ToxT functions to bind DNA and requires dimerization for stable binding in vitro, as demonstrated by gel shift analysis. Interestingly, a dimerized form of the ToxT C-terminus is able to bind DNA in vitro but is transcriptionally inactive in vivo, indicating that the N-terminus contains determinants that are required for transcriptional activation. These results provide a model for a two-domain structure for ToxT, with an N-terminal dimerization and environmental sensing domain and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain; unlike other well-studied AraC family proteins, both domains of ToxT appear to be required for transcriptional activation.

Francisella tularensis travels a novel, twisted road within macrophages

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious intracellular bacterium that causes fulminating disease and is a potential bioweapon. Although entry of the bacteria into macrophages is mediated by novel asymmetric, spacious pseudopod loops, the nascent phagosome becomes tight fitting within seconds of formation. Biogenesis of the Francisella-containing phagosome (FCP) is arrested for 2-4h at a unique stage within the endosomal-lysosomal degradation pathway, followed by gradual bacterial escape into the cytosol, where the microbe proliferates. By contrast, other intracellular pathogens either proliferate within an idiosyncratic phagosome or escape within minutes into the cytoplasm to avoid degradation. Thus, trafficking of the FCP defies the dogma of classification of intracellular pathogens into vacuolar or cytosolic. The Francisella pathogenicity island and its transcriptional regulator MglA are essential for arresting biogenesis of the FCP. Despite sophisticated microbial strategies to arrest phagosome biogenesis within quiescent macrophages, trafficking of F. tularensis and other intracellular pathogens within interferon-gamma-activated macrophages is similar, in that the bacterial phagosomes fuse to lysosomes. The potential use of F. tularensis as a bioweapon has generated interest in the study of its molecular pathogenesis to identify targets for therapy, vaccination and rapid diagnosis.

Roles of the regulatory proteins FlhF and FlhG in the Vibrio cholerae flagellar transcription hierarchy

Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the human diarrheal disease cholera, is a motile bacterium with a single polar flagellum, and motility has been inferred to be an important aspect of virulence. The V. cholerae flagellar hierarchy is organized into four classes of genes. The expression of each class of genes within a flagellar hierarchy is generally tightly regulated in other bacteria by both positive and negative regulatory elements. To further elucidate flagellar biogenesis in V. cholerae, we characterized the roles of the three putative regulatory genes, flhF, flhG, and VC2061. V. cholerae flhF and flhG mutants appeared nonmotile in a soft agar assay. Electron microscopy revealed that the flhF mutant lacked a polar flagellum, while interestingly, the flhG mutant possessed multiple (8 to 10) polar flagella per cell. The transcriptional activity of class III and class IV gene promoters in the flhF mutant was decreased, suggesting that FlhF acts as a positive regulator of class III gene transcription. The transcription of all four classes of flagellar promoters was increased in the flhG mutant, suggesting that FlhG acts as a negative regulator of class I gene transcription. Additionally, the ability to colonize the infant mouse intestine was reduced for the flhG mutant (approximately 10-fold), indicating that the negative regulation of class I flagellar genes enhances virulence. The V. cholerae VC2061 mutant was motile and produced a polar flagellum indistinguishable from that of the wild type, and the transcriptional activities of the four classes of flagellar promoters were similar to that of the wild type. Our results indicate that FlhG and FlhF regulate class I and class III flagellar transcription, respectively, while VC2061 plays no detectable role in V. cholerae flagellar biogenesis.

Characterizing lipopolysaccharide and core lipid A mutant O1 and O139 Vibrio cholerae strains for adherence properties on mucus-producing cell line HT29-Rev MTX and virulence in mice

Components of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), i.e. capsule, O antigen, core oligosaccharide, as well as the toxin-coregulated pili are among the factors which significantly contribute to intestinal colonization by Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139. To further address the contribution of LPS to V. cholerae virulence, we performed in vivo colonization experiments and mucus layer attachment studies with defined LPS and capsule mutants of O1 and O139. We investigated the interaction of V. cholerae strains with the differentiated human intestinal cell line HT29-Rev MTX, and found 3-5-fold reduced efficiencies for attachment by defined LPS and capsule mutants of O1 and O139 in comparison with the wild-type strains. In addition, two O1/O139-specific core oligosaccharide biosynthetic gene products, WavJ and WavD, were characterized and tested for colonization. We demonstrate that single and double knockout mutants in wavJ and wavD have an effect on core oligosaccharide biosynthesis, and that these mutants show an attenuated growth in the presence of novobiocin. Curiously, in the mouse intestinal colonization model, only the O139 wavJ,D mutants demonstrated reduced colonization.

The Francisella tularensis pathogenicity island protein IglC and its regulator MglA are essential for modulating phagosome biogenesis and subsequent bacterial escape into the cytoplasm

The Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida-containing phagosome (FCP) matures into a late endosome-like stage that acquires the late endosomal marker LAMP-2 but does not fuse to lysosomes, for the first few hours after bacterial entry. This modulation in phagosome biogenesis is followed by disruption of the phagosome and bacterial escape into the cytoplasm where they replicate. Here we examined the role of the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI) protein IglC and its regulator MglA in the intracellular fate of F. tularensis subsp. novicida within human macrophages. We show that F. tularensis mglA and iglC mutant strains are defective for survival and replication within U937 macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs). The defect in intracellular replication of both mutants is associated with a defect in disruption of the phagosome and failure to escape into the cytoplasm. Approximately, 80-90% of the mglA and iglC mutants containing phagosomes acquire the late endosomal/lysosomal marker LAMP-2 similar to the wild-type (WT) strain. Phagosomes harbouring the mglA or iglC mutants acquire the lysosomal enzyme Cathepsin D, which is excluded from the phagosomes harbouring the WT strain. In hMDMs in which the lysosomes are preloaded with BSA-gold or Texas Red Ovalbumin, phagosomes harbouring the mglA or the iglC mutants acquire both lysosomal tracers. We conclude that the FPI protein IglC and its regulator MglA are essential for modulating phagosome biogenesis and subsequent bacterial escape into the cytoplasm. Therefore, acquisition of the FPI, within which iglC is contained, is essential for the pathogenic evolution of F. tularensis to evade lysosomal fusion within human macrophages and cause tularemia. This is the first example of specific virulence factors of F. tularensis that are essential for evasion of fusion of the FCP to lysosomes.

Characterization of enhancer binding by the Vibrio cholerae flagellar regulatory protein FlrC

The human pathogen Vibrio cholerae is a highly motile organism by virtue of a polar flagellum, and motility has been inferred to be an important aspect of virulence. It has previously been demonstrated that the sigma(54)-dependent activator FlrC is necessary for both flagellar synthesis and for enhanced intestinal colonization. In order to characterize FlrC binding, we analyzed two FlrC-dependent promoters, the highly transcribed flaA promoter and the weakly transcribed flgK promoter, utilizing transcriptional lacZ fusions, mobility shift assays, and DNase I footprinting. Promoter fusion studies showed that the smallest fragment with wild-type transcriptional activity for flaAp was from positions -54 to +137 with respect to the start site, and from -63 to +144 for flgKp. Gel mobility shift assays indicated that FlrC binds to a fragment containing the region from positions +24 to +95 in the flaAp, and DNase I footprinting identified a protected region between positions +24 and +85. Mobility shift and DNase I footprinting indicated weak binding of FlrC to a region downstream of the flgKp transcription start site. These results demonstrate a relatively novel sigma(54)-dependent promoter architecture, with the activator FlrC binding downstream of the sigma(54)-dependent transcription start sites. When the FlrC binding site(s) in the flaA promoter was moved a large distance (285 bp) upstream of the transcription start site of either flaAp or flgKp, high levels of FlrC-dependent transcription resulted, indicating that this binding region functions as an enhancer element. In contrast, the relatively weak FlrC binding site(s) in the flgK promoter failed to function as an enhancer element at either promoter, suggesting that FlrC binding strength contributes to enhancer activity. Our results suggest that the differences in FlrC binding to various flagellar promoters results in the differences in transcription levels that mirror the relative requirement for the flagellar components within the flagellum.

Intranasal interleukin-12 treatment promotes antimicrobial clearance and survival in pulmonary Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida infection

Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent facultative intracellular bacterium and is considered a potential biological warfare agent. Inhalation tularemia can lead to the development of bronchopneumonia, which is frequently fatal without medical intervention. Treatment strategies that directly target the respiratory mucosa may extend the efficacy of therapy, particularly for the medical management of acute aerosol exposure. To this end, we describe an intranasal (i.n.) strategy for the treatment of pulmonary Francisella infection in mice that uses a combinatorial approach with the conventional antibiotic gentamicin and interleukin 12 (IL-12). The i.n. administration of IL-12 alone promoted bacterial clearance and extended the time to death but did not prevent mortality against lethal pulmonary challenge with Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida. However, i.n. treatment with gentamicin and IL-12 therapeutically at 8 and 24 h after challenge markedly enhanced the rate of survival (70 to 100%) against pulmonary infection compared to the rates of survival for animals treated with antibiotic alone (17%) or IL-12 alone (0%). A delay in combinatorial therapy over a span of 4 days progressively decreased the efficacy of this treatment regimen. This combinatorial treatment was shown to be highly dependent upon the induction of endogenous gamma interferon and may also involve the activation of natural killer cells. Together, these findings suggest that IL-12 may be a potent adjunct for chemotherapy to enhance drug effectiveness against pulmonary Francisella infection.