1
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Hayashi N, Lai Y, Fuerte-Stone J, Mimee M, Lu TK. Cas9-assisted biological containment of a genetically engineered human commensal bacterium and genetic elements. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2096. [PMID: 38453913 PMCID: PMC10920895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45893-w] [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: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sophisticated gene circuits built by synthetic biology can enable bacteria to sense their environment and respond predictably. Engineered biosensing bacteria outfitted with such circuits can potentially probe the human gut microbiome to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease. To provide robust biocontainment for engineered bacteria, we devised a Cas9-assisted auxotrophic biocontainment system combining thymidine auxotrophy, an Engineered Riboregulator (ER) for controlled gene expression, and a CRISPR Device (CD). The CD prevents the engineered bacteria from acquiring thyA via horizontal gene transfer, which would disrupt the biocontainment system, and inhibits the spread of genetic elements by killing bacteria harboring the gene cassette. This system tunably controlled gene expression in the human gut commensal bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, prevented escape from thymidine auxotrophy, and blocked transgene dissemination. These capabilities were validated in vitro and in vivo. This biocontainment system exemplifies a powerful strategy for bringing genetically engineered microorganisms safely into biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Hayashi
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- JSR-Keio University Medical and Chemical Innovation Center (JKiC), JSR Corp., 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yong Lai
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jay Fuerte-Stone
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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2
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Fogarty EC, Schechter MS, Lolans K, Sheahan ML, Veseli I, Moore RM, Kiefl E, Moody T, Rice PA, Yu MK, Mimee M, Chang EB, Ruscheweyh HJ, Sunagawa S, Mclellan SL, Willis AD, Comstock LE, Eren AM. A cryptic plasmid is among the most numerous genetic elements in the human gut. Cell 2024; 187:1206-1222.e16. [PMID: 38428395 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.039] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that often encode fitness-enhancing features. However, many bacteria carry "cryptic" plasmids that do not confer clear beneficial functions. We identified one such cryptic plasmid, pBI143, which is ubiquitous across industrialized gut microbiomes and is 14 times as numerous as crAssphage, currently established as the most abundant extrachromosomal genetic element in the human gut. The majority of mutations in pBI143 accumulate in specific positions across thousands of metagenomes, indicating strong purifying selection. pBI143 is monoclonal in most individuals, likely due to the priority effect of the version first acquired, often from one's mother. pBI143 can transfer between Bacteroidales, and although it does not appear to impact bacterial host fitness in vivo, it can transiently acquire additional genetic content. We identified important practical applications of pBI143, including its use in identifying human fecal contamination and its potential as an alternative approach to track human colonic inflammatory states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Fogarty
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - Matthew S Schechter
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Karen Lolans
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Madeline L Sheahan
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Iva Veseli
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ryan M Moore
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Evan Kiefl
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Thomas Moody
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Phoebe A Rice
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Michael K Yu
- Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Eugene B Chang
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Sandra L Mclellan
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53204, USA
| | - Amy D Willis
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Laurie E Comstock
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - A Murat Eren
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany; Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, 28359 Bremen, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
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3
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Kemter AM, Patry RT, Arnold J, Hesser LA, Campbell E, Ionescu E, Mimee M, Wang S, Nagler CR. Commensal bacteria signal through TLR5 and AhR to improve barrier integrity and prevent allergic responses to food. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113153. [PMID: 37742185 PMCID: PMC10697505 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113153] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of food allergies has been linked to reduced commensal microbial diversity. In this article, we describe two features of allergy-protective Clostridia that contribute to their beneficial effects. Some Clostridial taxa bear flagella (a ligand for TLR5) and produce indole (a ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor [AhR]). Lysates and flagella from a Clostridia consortium induced interleukin-22 (IL-22) secretion from ileal explants. IL-22 production is abrogated in explants from mice in which TLR5 or MyD88 signaling is deficient either globally or conditionally in CD11c+ antigen-presenting cells. AhR signaling in RORγt+ cells is necessary for the induction of IL-22. Mice deficient in AhR in RORγt+ cells exhibit increased intestinal permeability and are more susceptible to an anaphylactic response to food. Our findings implicate TLR5 and AhR signaling in a molecular mechanism by which commensal Clostridia protect against allergic responses to food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Kemter
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Robert T Patry
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jack Arnold
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Lauren A Hesser
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Evelyn Campbell
- Committee on Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Edward Ionescu
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Committee on Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Cathryn R Nagler
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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4
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Inda-Webb ME, Jimenez M, Liu Q, Phan NV, Ahn J, Steiger C, Wentworth A, Riaz A, Zirtiloglu T, Wong K, Ishida K, Fabian N, Jenkins J, Kuosmanen J, Madani W, McNally R, Lai Y, Hayward A, Mimee M, Nadeau P, Chandrakasan AP, Traverso G, Yazicigil RT, Lu TK. Sub-1.4 cm 3 capsule for detecting labile inflammatory biomarkers in situ. Nature 2023; 620:386-392. [PMID: 37495692 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06369-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Transient molecules in the gastrointestinal tract such as nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide are key signals and mediators of inflammation. Owing to their highly reactive nature and extremely short lifetime in the body, these molecules are difficult to detect. Here we develop a miniaturized device that integrates genetically engineered probiotic biosensors with a custom-designed photodetector and readout chip to track these molecules in the gastrointestinal tract. Leveraging the molecular specificity of living sensors1, we genetically encoded bacteria to respond to inflammation-associated molecules by producing luminescence. Low-power electronic readout circuits2 integrated into the device convert the light emitted by the encapsulated bacteria to a wireless signal. We demonstrate in vivo biosensor monitoring in the gastrointestinal tract of small and large animal models and the integration of all components into a sub-1.4 cm3 form factor that is compatible with ingestion and capable of supporting wireless communication. With this device, diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease could be diagnosed earlier than is currently possible, and disease progression could be more accurately tracked. The wireless detection of short-lived, disease-associated molecules with our device could also support timely communication between patients and caregivers, as well as remote personalized care.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Inda-Webb
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - M Jimenez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Q Liu
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - N V Phan
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J Ahn
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - C Steiger
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Wentworth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Riaz
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - T Zirtiloglu
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - K Wong
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - K Ishida
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - N Fabian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Comparative Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J Jenkins
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J Kuosmanen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - W Madani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R McNally
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Y Lai
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - A Hayward
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Comparative Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - M Mimee
- Department of Microbiology, Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - A P Chandrakasan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - G Traverso
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - R T Yazicigil
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - T K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Senti Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
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5
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Arnold J, Glazier J, Mimee M. Genetic Engineering of Resident Bacteria in the Gut Microbiome. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0012723. [PMID: 37382533 PMCID: PMC10367592 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00127-23] [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] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Techniques by which to genetically manipulate members of the microbiota enable both the evaluation of host-microbe interactions and an avenue by which to monitor and modulate human physiology. Genetic engineering applications have traditionally focused on model gut residents, such as Escherichia coli and lactic acid bacteria. However, emerging efforts by which to develop synthetic biology toolsets for "nonmodel" resident gut microbes could provide an improved foundation for microbiome engineering. As genome engineering tools come online, so too have novel applications for engineered gut microbes. Engineered resident gut bacteria facilitate investigations of the roles of microbes and their metabolites on host health and allow for potential live microbial biotherapeutics. Due to the rapid pace of discovery in this burgeoning field, this minireview highlights advancements in the genetic engineering of all resident gut microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Arnold
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Joshua Glazier
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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6
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Fogarty EC, Schechter MS, Lolans K, Sheahan ML, Veseli I, Moore R, Kiefl E, Moody T, Rice PA, Yu MK, Mimee M, Chang EB, Mclellan SL, Willis AD, Comstock LE, Eren AM. A highly conserved and globally prevalent cryptic plasmid is among the most numerous mobile genetic elements in the human gut. bioRxiv 2023:2023.03.25.534219. [PMID: 36993556 PMCID: PMC10055365 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.25.534219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that often encode fitness enhancing features. However, many bacteria carry 'cryptic' plasmids that do not confer clear beneficial functions. We identified one such cryptic plasmid, pBI143, which is ubiquitous across industrialized gut microbiomes, and is 14 times as numerous as crAssphage, currently established as the most abundant genetic element in the human gut. The majority of mutations in pBI143 accumulate in specific positions across thousands of metagenomes, indicating strong purifying selection. pBI143 is monoclonal in most individuals, likely due to the priority effect of the version first acquired, often from one's mother. pBI143 can transfer between Bacteroidales and although it does not appear to impact bacterial host fitness in vivo, can transiently acquire additional genetic content. We identified important practical applications of pBI143, including its use in identifying human fecal contamination and its potential as an inexpensive alternative for detecting human colonic inflammatory states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Fogarty
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Matthew S Schechter
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Karen Lolans
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Madeline L. Sheahan
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Iva Veseli
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ryan Moore
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Evan Kiefl
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Thomas Moody
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032 USA
| | - Phoebe A Rice
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Mark Mimee
- Committee on Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Eugene B Chang
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Sandra L Mclellan
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53204, USA
| | - Amy D Willis
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Laurie E Comstock
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - A Murat Eren
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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7
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Fuerte-Stone J, Mimee M. Host happy hour: Phage cocktail targets IBD-associated microbes. Cell Host Microbe 2022; 30:1352-1353. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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8
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Bousbaine D, Fisch LI, London M, Bhagchandani P, Rezende de Castro TB, Mimee M, Olesen S, Reis BS, VanInsberghe D, Bortolatto J, Poyet M, Cheloha RW, Sidney J, Ling J, Gupta A, Lu TK, Sette A, Alm EJ, Moon JJ, Victora GD, Mucida D, Ploegh HL, Bilate AM. A conserved Bacteroidetes antigen induces anti-inflammatory intestinal T lymphocytes. Science 2022; 377:660-666. [PMID: 35926021 PMCID: PMC9766740 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg5645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The microbiome contributes to the development and maturation of the immune system. In response to commensal bacteria, intestinal CD4+ T lymphocytes differentiate into functional subtypes with regulatory or effector functions. The development of small intestine intraepithelial lymphocytes that coexpress CD4 and CD8αα homodimers (CD4IELs) depends on the microbiota. However, the identity of the microbial antigens recognized by CD4+ T cells that can differentiate into CD4IELs remains unknown. We identified β-hexosaminidase, a conserved enzyme across commensals of the Bacteroidetes phylum, as a driver of CD4IEL differentiation. In a mouse model of colitis, β-hexosaminidase-specific lymphocytes protected against intestinal inflammation. Thus, T cells of a single specificity can recognize a variety of abundant commensals and elicit a regulatory immune response at the intestinal mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Djenet Bousbaine
- Microbiology Graduate Program, Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.,Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Laura I Fisch
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariya London
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Preksha Bhagchandani
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tiago B Rezende de Castro
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Laboratory of Lymphocyte Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Scott Olesen
- Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bernardo S Reis
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David VanInsberghe
- Microbiology Graduate Program, Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Juliana Bortolatto
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mathilde Poyet
- Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ross W Cheloha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John Sidney
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jingjing Ling
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron Gupta
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Eric J Alm
- Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James J Moon
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gabriel D Victora
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Mucida
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York NY, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Angelina M Bilate
- Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Mimee
- Department of Microbiology, Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Cathryn R Nagler
- Department of Pathology, Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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10
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Yehl K, Lemire S, Yang AC, Ando H, Mimee M, Torres MDT, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Lu TK. Engineering Phage Host-Range and Suppressing Bacterial Resistance through Phage Tail Fiber Mutagenesis. Cell 2020; 179:459-469.e9. [PMID: 31585083 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant infections is prompting increased interest in phage-based antimicrobials. However, acquisition of resistance by bacteria is a major issue in the successful development of phage therapies. Through natural evolution and structural modeling, we identified host-range-determining regions (HRDRs) in the T3 phage tail fiber protein and developed a high-throughput strategy to genetically engineer these regions through site-directed mutagenesis. Inspired by antibody specificity engineering, this approach generates deep functional diversity while minimizing disruptions to the overall tail fiber structure, resulting in synthetic "phagebodies." We showed that mutating HRDRs yields phagebodies with altered host-ranges, and select phagebodies enable long-term suppression of bacterial growth in vitro, by preventing resistance appearance, and are functional in vivo using a murine model. We anticipate that this approach may facilitate the creation of next-generation antimicrobials that slow resistance development and could be extended to other viral scaffolds for a broad range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Yehl
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sébastien Lemire
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Andrew C Yang
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hiroki Ando
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02129, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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Inda ME, Mimee M, Lu TK. Cell-based biosensors for immunology, inflammation, and allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 144:645-647. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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12
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Mimee M, Nadeau P, Hayward A, Carim S, Flanagan S, Jerger L, Collins J, McDonnell S, Swartwout R, Citorik RJ, Bulović V, Langer R, Traverso G, Chandrakasan AP, Lu TK. An ingestible bacterial-electronic system to monitor gastrointestinal health. Science 2018; 360:915-918. [PMID: 29798884 DOI: 10.1126/science.aas9315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular monitoring in the gastrointestinal tract could offer rapid, precise disease detection and management but is impeded by access to the remote and complex environment. Here, we present an ingestible micro-bio-electronic device (IMBED) for in situ biomolecular detection based on environmentally resilient biosensor bacteria and miniaturized luminescence readout electronics that wirelessly communicate with an external device. As a proof of concept, we engineer heme-sensitive probiotic biosensors and demonstrate accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding in swine. Additionally, we integrate alternative biosensors to demonstrate modularity and extensibility of the detection platform. IMBEDs enable new opportunities for gastrointestinal biomarker discovery and could transform the management and diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Mimee
- Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Phillip Nadeau
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alison Hayward
- Division of Comparative Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sean Carim
- Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sarah Flanagan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Logan Jerger
- Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Division of Pediatric Gastroentrology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joy Collins
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Shane McDonnell
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Richard Swartwout
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Robert J Citorik
- Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Vladimir Bulović
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Giovanni Traverso
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anantha P Chandrakasan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. .,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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13
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Abstract
The microbial community that lives on and in the human body exerts a major impact on human health, from metabolism to immunity. In order to leverage the close associations between microbes and their host, development of therapeutics targeting the microbiota has surged in recent years. Here, we discuss current additive and subtractive strategies to manipulate the microbiota, focusing on bacteria engineered to produce therapeutic payloads, consortia of natural organisms and selective antimicrobials. Further, we present challenges faced by the community in the development of microbiome therapeutics, including designing microbial therapies that are adapted for specific geographies in the body, stable colonization with microbial therapies, discovery of clinically relevant biosensors, robustness of engineered synthetic gene circuits and addressing safety and biocontainment concerns. Moving forward, collaboration between basic and applied researchers and clinicians to address these challenges will poise the field to herald an age of next-generation, cellular therapies that draw on novel findings in basic research to inform directed augmentation of the human microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Mimee
- MIT Microbiology Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Synthetic Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, USA; The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robert J Citorik
- MIT Microbiology Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Synthetic Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, USA; The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- MIT Microbiology Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Synthetic Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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14
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Mimee M, Tucker AC, Voigt CA, Lu TK. Programming a Human Commensal Bacterium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, to Sense and Respond to Stimuli in the Murine Gut Microbiota. Cell Syst 2016; 2:214. [PMID: 27135367 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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15
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Mimee M, Tucker AC, Voigt CA, Lu TK. Programming a Human Commensal Bacterium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, to Sense and Respond to Stimuli in the Murine Gut Microbiota. Cell Syst 2015; 1:62-71. [PMID: 26918244 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2015.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Engineering commensal organisms for challenging applications, such as modulating the gut ecosystem, is hampered by the lack of genetic parts. Here, we describe promoters, ribosome-binding sites, and inducible systems for use in the commensal bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a prevalent and stable resident of the human gut. We achieve up to 10,000-fold range in constitutive gene expression and 100-fold regulation of gene expression with inducible promoters and use these parts to record DNA-encoded memory in the genome. We use CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) for regulated knockdown of recombinant and endogenous gene expression to alter the metabolic capacity of B. thetaiotaomicron and its resistance to antimicrobial peptides. Finally, we show that inducible CRISPRi and recombinase systems can function in B. thetaiotaomicron colonizing the mouse gut. These results provide a blueprint for engineering new chassis and a resource to engineer Bacteroides for surveillance of or therapeutic delivery to the gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Mimee
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; MIT Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alex C Tucker
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Christopher A Voigt
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; MIT Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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16
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Citorik RJ, Mimee M, Lu TK. Sequence-specific antimicrobials using efficiently delivered RNA-guided nucleases. Nat Biotechnol 2014; 32:1141-5. [PMID: 25240928 PMCID: PMC4237163 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 445] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Current antibiotics tend to be broad spectrum, leading to indiscriminate killing of commensal bacteria and accelerated evolution of drug resistance. Here, we use CRISPR-Cas technology to create antimicrobials whose spectrum of activity is chosen by design. RNA-guided nucleases (RGNs) targeting specific DNA sequences are delivered efficiently to microbial populations using bacteriophage or bacteria carrying plasmids transmissible by conjugation. The DNA targets of RGNs can be undesirable genes or polymorphisms, including antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Delivery of RGNs significantly improves survival in a Galleria mellonella infection model. We also show that RGNs enable modulation of complex bacterial populations by selective knockdown of targeted strains based on genetic signatures. RGNs constitute a class of highly discriminatory, customizable antimicrobials that enact selective pressure at the DNA level to reduce the prevalence of undesired genes, minimize off-target effects and enable programmable remodeling of microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Citorik
- 1] MIT Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- 1] MIT Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- 1] MIT Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [3] Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [4] Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [5] Harvard Biophysics Program, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [6] Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Citorik RJ, Mimee M, Lu TK. Bacteriophage-based synthetic biology for the study of infectious diseases. Curr Opin Microbiol 2014; 19:59-69. [PMID: 24997401 PMCID: PMC4125527 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Since their discovery, bacteriophages have contributed enormously to our understanding of molecular biology as model systems. Furthermore, bacteriophages have provided many tools that have advanced the fields of genetic engineering and synthetic biology. Here, we discuss bacteriophage-based technologies and their application to the study of infectious diseases. New strategies for engineering genomes have the potential to accelerate the design of novel phages as therapies, diagnostics, and tools. Though almost a century has elapsed since their discovery, bacteriophages continue to have a major impact on modern biological sciences, especially with the growth of multidrug-resistant bacteria and interest in the microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Citorik
- MIT Microbiology Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- MIT Synthetic Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- MIT Microbiology Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- MIT Synthetic Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Timothy K. Lu
- MIT Microbiology Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- MIT Synthetic Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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18
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Thanabalasuriar A, Bergeron J, Gillingham A, Mimee M, Thomassin JL, Strynadka N, Kim J, Gruenheid S. Sec24 interaction is essential for localization and virulence-associated function of the bacterial effector protein NleA. Cell Microbiol 2012; 14:1206-18. [PMID: 22432415 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2012.01789.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC) are food-borne pathogens that cause severe diarrhoeal disease in humans. Citrobacter rodentium is a related mouse pathogen that serves as a small animal model for EPEC and EHEC infections. EPEC, EHEC and C. rodentium translocate bacterial virulence proteins directly into host cells via a type III secretion system (T3SS). Non-LEE-encoded effector A (NleA) is a T3SS effector that is common to EPEC, EHEC and C. rodentium and is required for bacterial virulence. NleA localizes to the host cell secretory pathway and inhibits vesicle trafficking by interacting with the Sec24 subunit of mammalian coatamer protein II complex (COPII). Mammalian cells express four paralogues of Sec24 (Sec24A-D), which mediate selection of cargo proteins for transport and possess distinct, but overlapping cargo specificities. Here, we show that NleA binds Sec24A-D with two distinct mechanisms. An NleA protein variant with greatly diminished interaction with all Sec24 paralogues does not properly localize, does not inhibit COPII-mediated vesicle budding, and does not confer virulence in the mouse infection model. Together, this work provides strong evidence that the interaction and inhibition of COPII by NleA is an important aspect of EPEC- and EHEC-mediated disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajitha Thanabalasuriar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3649 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 0B1, Canada
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Thanabalasuriar A, Koutsouris A, Weflen A, Mimee M, Hecht G, Gruenheid S. The bacterial virulence factor NleA is required for the disruption of intestinal tight junctions by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Cell Microbiol 2009; 12:31-41. [PMID: 19712078 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2009.01376.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a diarrhoeal pathogen that adheres to epithelial cells of the small intestine and uses a type III secretion system to inject effector proteins into host cells. EPEC infection leads to disruption of host intestinal tight junctions that are important for maintaining intestinal barrier function. This disruption is dependent on the bacterial type III secretion system, as well as the translocated effectors EspF and Map. Here we show that a third type III translocated bacterial effector protein, NleA, is also involved in tight junction disruption during EPEC infection. Using the drug Brefeldin A, we demonstrate that the effect of NleA on tight junction integrity is related to its inhibition of host cell protein trafficking through COPII-dependent pathways. These results suggest that NleA's striking effect on virulence is mediated, at least in part, via its role in disruption of intestinal barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajitha Thanabalasuriar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The McGill Life Sciences Complex, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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