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de Almeida DV, Cezar PA, Fernandes TFB, Schwarz MGA, Mendonça-Lima L, Giacoia-Gripp CBW, Côrtes FH, Lindenmeyer Guimarães M, Pilotto JH, De Sá NBR, Cazote ADS, Gomes LR, Quintana MDSB, Ribeiro-Alves M, Coelho LE, Geraldo KM, Ribeiro MPD, Cardoso SW, Grinsztejn B, Veloso VG, Morgado MG. The impact of early anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody production on the length of hospitalization stay among COVID-19 patients. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0095923. [PMID: 37811977 PMCID: PMC10715214 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00959-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The study provides valuable insights into the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and humoral immune response of those affected by the virus that has devastated every field of human life since 2019; the COVID-19 patients. Firstly, the association among clinical manifestations, comorbidities, and the production of neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) against SARS-CoV-2 is explored. Secondly, varying levels of Nabs among patients are revealed, and a significant correlation between the presence of Nabs and a shorter duration of hospitalization is identified, which highlights the potential role of Nabs in predicting clinical outcomes. Lastly, a follow-up conducted 7 months later demonstrates the progression and persistence of Nabs production in recovered unvaccinated individuals. The study contributes essential knowledge regarding the characteristics of the study population, the early humoral immune response, and the dynamics of Nabs production over time. These findings have significant implications for understanding the immune response to COVID-19 and informing clinical management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalziza Victalina de Almeida
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Priscila Alves Cezar
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leila Mendonça-Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Heloise Côrtes
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monick Lindenmeyer Guimarães
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Henrique Pilotto
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Beatriz Ramos De Sá
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andressa da Silva Cazote
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Larissa Rodrigues Gomes
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS)/Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Inovação em Doenças Negligenciadas da População (INCT-IDPN), FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lara Esteves Coelho
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kim Mattos Geraldo
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Pia Diniz Ribeiro
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sandra Wagner Cardoso
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Grinsztejn
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Valdiléa G Veloso
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariza Gonçalves Morgado
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FUNDAÇÃO OSWALDO CRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Schwarz MGA, Correa PR, Almeida PSL, Mendonça-Lima L. Mycobacterium bovis BCG dodecin gene codes a functional protein despite of a start codon mutation. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2023; 143:102400. [PMID: 37672955 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2023.102400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Dodecin is a dodecamer involved in flavin homeostasis, with interesting temperature and osmolarity endurance features in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene's start codon in BCG, converting ATG to ACG, is predicted to generate a N-terminal shorter isoform, lacking the first 7 amino acids. We previously reported that the shortened recombinant protein has reduced extremophilic features. Here we investigate if within the mycobacterial context dodecin can be produced from both alleles, carrying ATG and ACG start codons. Reporter gene assays using mcherry cloned downstream and in phase to both M.tb and BCG "upstream" regions confirms production of functional proteins. Complementation with both dod alleles similarly enhances M. smegmatis growth after entry into logarithmic phase and exposure to hydrogen peroxide, possibly implicating this protein in oxidative stress response mechanisms. Altogether these data indicate that BCG dodecin is indeed produced, notwithstanding in lower levels compared to M.tb, conferring similar phenotypes, even with the SNP altering the M.tb ATG start codon to the BCG ACG. This protein might be an interesting drug target for the development of new therapeutics against tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paloma Rezende Correa
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Paula Silva Lacerda Almeida
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Leila Mendonça-Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Corrêa PR, Schwarz MGA, Maia RM, Vergara FMF, Moraes MO, Mendonça-Lima L. Differences in responses to the intracellular macrophage environment between Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine strains Moreau and Pasteur. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2023; 118:e230070. [PMID: 37851722 PMCID: PMC10581373 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760230070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine comprises a family of strains with variable protective efficacy against pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy, partly due to genetic differences between strains. OBJECTIVES Previous data highlighting differences between the genomes and proteomic profiles of BCG strains Moreau and Pasteur led us to evaluate their behaviour in the macrophage microenvironment, capable of stimulating molecular responses that can impact the protective effect of the vaccine. METHODS Strain infectivity, viability, co-localisation with acidified vesicles, macrophage secretion of IL-1 and MCP-1 and lipid droplet biogenesis were evaluated after infection. FINDINGS We found that BCG Moreau is internalised more efficiently, with significantly better intracellular survival up to 96 h p.i., whereas more BCG Pasteur bacilli were found co-localised in acidified vesicles up to 6 h p.i. IL-1β and MCP-1 secretion and lipid droplet biogenesis by infected macrophages were more prominent in response to BCG Pasteur. MAIN CONCLUSION Overall, our results show that, compared to Pasteur, BCG Moreau has increased fitness and better endurance in the harsh intracellular environment, also regulating anti-microbial responses (lower IL-1b and MCP-1). These findings contribute to the understanding of the physiology of BCG Moreau and Pasteur in response to the intraphagosomal environment in a THP-1 macrophage model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paloma Rezende Corrêa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Renata Monteiro Maia
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Fátima Maria Figueroa Vergara
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos, Laboratório de Farmacologia Aplicada, Farmanguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Milton Ozório Moraes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Hanseníase, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Leila Mendonça-Lima
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Schwarz MGA, Corrêa PR, Mendonça-Lima L. Transcriptional Profiling of Homologous Recombination Pathway Genes in Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2534. [PMID: 37894192 PMCID: PMC10609372 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau is the main Brazilian strain for vaccination against tuberculosis. It is considered an early strain, more like the original BCG, whereas BCG Pasteur, largely used as a reference, belongs to the late strain clade. BCG Moreau, contrary to Pasteur, is naturally deficient in homologous recombination (HR). In this work, using a UV exposure test, we aimed to detect differences in the survival of various BCG strains after DNA damage. Transcription of core and regulatory HR genes was further analyzed using RT-qPCR, aiming to identify the molecular agent responsible for this phenotype. We show that early strains share the Moreau low survival rate after UV exposure, whereas late strains mimic the Pasteur phenotype, indicating that this increase in HR efficiency is linked to the evolutionary clade history. Additionally, RT-qPCR shows that BCG Moreau has an overall lower level of these transcripts than Pasteur, indicating a correlation between this gene expression profile and HR efficiency. Further assays should be performed to fully identify the molecular mechanism that may explain this differential phenotype between early and late BCG strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada à Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.R.C.); (L.M.-L.)
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Pagani TD, Corrêa PR, Lima C, Gomes LHF, Schwarz MGA, Galvão TC, Degrave WM, Valadares NF, Mendonça-Lima L. Impact of Genomic Deletion RD16 on the Expression of the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau VapBC47 Toxin-Antitoxin System. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:6538-6549. [PMID: 37623231 PMCID: PMC10453824 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45080412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis BCG is the only vaccine against tuberculosis. The variable forms of cultivation throughout the years, before seed-lots were developed, allowed in vitro evolution of the original strain, generating a family of vaccines with different phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Molecular studies revealed regions of difference (RDs) in the genomes of the various BCG strains. This work aims to characterize the gene pair rv3407-rv3408 (vapB47-vapC47), coding for a toxin-antitoxin system of the VapBC family, and to evaluate possible transcriptional effects due to the adjacent BCG Moreau-specific genomic deletion RD16. We show that these genes are co-transcribed in BCG strains Moreau and Pasteur, and that the inactivation of an upstream transcriptional repressor (Rv3405c) due to RD16 has a polar effect, leading to increased vapBC47 expression. Furthermore, we detect VapB47 DNA binding in vitro, dependent on a 5' vapB47 sequence that contributes to a palindrome, spanning the promoter and coding region. Our data shed light on the regulation of VapBC systems and on the impact of the BCG Moreau RD16 deletion in the expression of adjacent genes, contributing to a better understanding of BCG Moreau physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Duarte Pagani
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (T.D.P.); (P.R.C.); (C.L.); (L.H.F.G.); (M.G.A.S.); (W.M.D.)
| | - Paloma Rezende Corrêa
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (T.D.P.); (P.R.C.); (C.L.); (L.H.F.G.); (M.G.A.S.); (W.M.D.)
| | - Cristiane Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (T.D.P.); (P.R.C.); (C.L.); (L.H.F.G.); (M.G.A.S.); (W.M.D.)
| | - Leonardo Henrique Ferreira Gomes
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (T.D.P.); (P.R.C.); (C.L.); (L.H.F.G.); (M.G.A.S.); (W.M.D.)
| | - Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (T.D.P.); (P.R.C.); (C.L.); (L.H.F.G.); (M.G.A.S.); (W.M.D.)
| | - Teca Calcagno Galvão
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Centro de Referência Prof. Hélio Fraga, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Wim Maurits Degrave
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (T.D.P.); (P.R.C.); (C.L.); (L.H.F.G.); (M.G.A.S.); (W.M.D.)
| | | | - Leila Mendonça-Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (T.D.P.); (P.R.C.); (C.L.); (L.H.F.G.); (M.G.A.S.); (W.M.D.)
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Schwarz MGA, Antunes D, Brêda GC, Valente RH, Freire DMG. Revisiting Jatropha curcas Monomeric Esterase: A Dienelactone Hydrolase Compatible with the Electrostatic Catapult Model. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1486. [PMID: 34680119 PMCID: PMC8533429 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Jatropha curcas contains seeds with a high oil content, suitable for biodiesel production. After oil extraction, the remaining mass can be a rich source of enzymes. However, data from the literature describing physicochemical characteristics for a monomeric esterase from the J. curcas seed did not fit the electrostatic catapult model for esterases/lipases. We decided to reevaluate this J. curcas esterase and extend its characterization to check this apparent discrepancy and gain insights into the enzyme's potential as a biocatalyst. After anion exchange chromatography and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we identified the enzyme as belonging to the dienelactone hydrolase family, characterized by a cysteine as the nucleophile in the catalytic triad. The enzyme displayed a basic optimum hydrolysis pH of 9.0 and an acidic pI range, in contrast to literature data, making it well in line with the electrostatic catapult model. Furthermore, the enzyme showed low hydrolysis activity in an organic solvent-containing medium (isopropanol, acetonitrile, and ethanol), which reverted when recovering in an aqueous reaction mixture. This enzyme can be a valuable tool for hydrolysis reactions of short-chain esters, useful for pharmaceutical intermediates synthesis, due to both its high hydrolytic rate in basic pH and its stability in an organic solvent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil;
| | - Deborah Antunes
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil;
| | - Gabriela Coelho Brêda
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular e Proteínas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941909, Brazil;
| | - Richard Hemmi Valente
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil;
| | - Denise Maria Guimarães Freire
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Microbiana, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941909, Brazil;
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Schwarz MGA, Luzes BGC, Correa PR, da Silva-Gonçalves AJ, Machado LDA, Guimarães ACR, Mendonça-Lima L. M. bovis BCG Moreau N-Terminal Loss Leads to a Less Stable Dodecin With Lower Flavin Binding Capacity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:658888. [PMID: 33869088 PMCID: PMC8044443 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.658888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis still remains a concerning health problem worldwide. Its etiologic agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, continues to be the focus of research to unravel new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against this disease. The only vaccine in use against tuberculosis is based on the in vitro attenuated strain, M. bovis BCG. Dodecin is a dodecameric complex important for flavin homeostasis in Archea and Eubacteria, and the M. tuberculosis protein is described as thermo- and halostable. M. bovis BCG Moreau, the Brazilian vaccine strain, has a single nucleotide polymorphism in the dodecin start codon, leading to a predicted loss of seven amino acids at the protein N-terminal end. In this work we aimed to characterize the effect of this mutation in the BCG Moreau protein features. Our recombinant protein assays show that the predicted BCG homolog is less thermostable than M.tb’s but maintains its dodecamerization ability, although with a lower riboflavin-binding capacity. These data are corroborated by structural analysis after comparative modeling, showing that the predicted BCG dodecin complex has a lower interaction energy among its monomers and also a distinct electrostatic surface near the flavin binding pocket. However, western blotting assays with the native proteins were unable to detect significant differences between the BCG Moreau and M.tb orthologs, indicating that other factors may be modulating protein structure/function in the bacterial context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paloma Rezende Correa
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Lucas de Almeida Machado
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Leila Mendonça-Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Schwarz MGA, Antunes D, Corrêa PR, da Silva-Gonçalves AJ, Malaga W, Caffarena ER, Guilhot C, Mendonça-Lima L. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG Moreau Fumarate Reductase Operons Produce Different Polypeptides That May Be Related to Non-canonical Functions. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:624121. [PMID: 33510737 PMCID: PMC7835394 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.624121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis is a world widespread disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). Although considered an obligate aerobe, this organism can resist life-limiting conditions such as microaerophily mainly due to its set of enzymes responsible for energy production and coenzyme restoration under these conditions. One of these enzymes is fumarate reductase, an heterotetrameric complex composed of a catalytic (FrdA), an iron-sulfur cluster (FrdB) and two transmembrane (FrdC and FrdD) subunits involved in anaerobic respiration and important for the maintenance of membrane potential. In this work, aiming to further characterize this enzyme function in mycobacteria, we analyzed the expression of FrdB-containing proteins in M.tb and Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) Moreau, the Brazilian vaccine strain against tuberculosis. We identified three isoforms in both mycobacteria, two of them corresponding to the predicted encoded polypeptides of M.tb (27 kDa) and BCG Moreau (40 kDa) frd sequences, as due to an insertion on the latter’s operon a fused FrdBC protein is expected. The third 52 kDa band can be explained by a transcriptional slippage event, typically occurring when mutation arises in a repetitive region within a coding sequence, thought to reduce its impact allowing the production of both native and variant forms. Comparative modeling of the M.tb and BCG Moreau predicted protein complexes allowed the detection of subtle overall differences, showing a high degree of structure and maybe functional resemblance among them. Axenic growth and macrophage infection assays show that the frd locus is important for proper bacterial development in both scenarios, and that both M.tb’s and BCG Moreau’s alleles can partially revert the hampered phenotype of the knockout strain. Altogether, our results show that the frdABCD operon of Mycobacteria may have evolved to possess other yet non-described functions, such as those necessary during aerobic logarithmic growth and early stage steps of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deborah Antunes
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paloma Rezende Corrêa
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Wladimir Malaga
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Ernesto Raul Caffarena
- Grupo de Biofísica Computacional e Modelagem Molecular, Programa de Computação Científica, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Christophe Guilhot
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Leila Mendonça-Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Schwarz MGA, Corrêa PR, Malaga W, Guilhot C, Mendonça-Lima L. Mycobacterium bovis BCG moreau is naturally deficient in homologous recombination. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2020; 123:101956. [PMID: 32741533 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2020.101956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The ability to perform genetic manipulation of mycobacteria is important for characterization of gene function. Homologous recombination-based protocols are frequently used for reverse genetics studies with mycobacteria. It is known that Mycobacteriumbovis BCG Russia, closely related to M. bovis BCG Moreau, is a natural recA deficient strain and is non-permissive to homologous recombination assays. In this work we show that M. bovis BCG Moreau is also deficient in homologous recombination, shown by a specialized transduction assay, but this phenotype can be reverted by complementation with heterologous recombinases, using a recombineering protocol. Sequence analysis of the genes known to be involved in homologous recombination annotated in the genome of BCG Moreau detected no differences compared to the genome of BCG Pasteur. Further studies are needed in order to determine the exact mechanism underlying this deficiency in BCG Moreau.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paloma Rezende Corrêa
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Wladimir Malaga
- Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Toulouse, France.
| | - Christophe Guilhot
- Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Toulouse, France.
| | - Leila Mendonça-Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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