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Ersoy SC, Proctor RA, Rose WE, Abdelhady W, Fan SH, Madrigal SL, Elsayed AM, Chambers HF, Sobral RG, Bayer AS. Sensitizing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to cefuroxime: the synergic effect of bicarbonate and the wall teichoic acid inhibitor ticlopidine. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0162723. [PMID: 38349162 PMCID: PMC10916381 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01627-23] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are a major challenge for clinicians due, in part, to their resistance to most β-lactams, the first-line treatment for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. A phenotype termed "NaHCO3-responsiveness" has been identified, wherein many clinical MRSA isolates are rendered susceptible to standard-of-care β-lactams in the presence of physiologically relevant concentrations of NaHCO3, in vitro and ex vivo; moreover, such "NaHCO3-responsive" isolates can be effectively cleared by β-lactams from target tissues in experimental infective endocarditis (IE). One mechanistic impact of NaHCO3 exposure on NaHCO3-responsive MRSA is to repress WTA synthesis. This NaHCO3 effect mimics the phenotype of tarO-deficient MRSA, including sensitization to the PBP2-targeting β-lactam, cefuroxime (CFX). Herein, we further investigated the impacts of NaHCO3 exposure on CFX susceptibility in the presence and absence of a WTA synthesis inhibitor, ticlopidine (TCP), in a collection of clinical MRSA isolates from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and bloodstream infections (BSI). NaHCO3 and/or TCP enhanced susceptibility to CFX in vitro, by both minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) and time-kill assays, as well as in an ex vivo simulated endocarditis vegetations (SEV) model, in NaHCO3-responsive MRSA. Furthermore, in experimental IE (presumably in the presence of endogenous NaHCO3), pre-exposure to TCP prior to infection sensitized the NaHCO3-responsive MRSA strain (but not the non-responsive strain) to enhanced clearances by CFX in target tissues. These data support the notion that NaHCO3 is acting similarly to WTA synthesis inhibitors, and that such inhibitors have potential translational applications in the treatment of certain MRSA strains in conjunction with specific β-lactam agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selvi C. Ersoy
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovations at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Richard A. Proctor
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Warren E. Rose
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Wessam Abdelhady
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovations at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Sook-Ha Fan
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovations at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | | | - Ahmed M. Elsayed
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovations at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Henry F. Chambers
- University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Arnold S. Bayer
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovations at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Varamogianni-Mamatsi D, Nunes MJ, Marques V, Anastasiou TI, Kagiampaki E, Vernadou E, Dailianis T, Kalogerakis N, Branco LC, Rodrigues CMP, Sobral RG, Gaudêncio SP, Mandalakis M. Comparative Chemical Profiling and Antimicrobial/Anticancer Evaluation of Extracts from Farmed versus Wild Agelas oroides and Sarcotragus foetidus Sponges. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:612. [PMID: 38132933 PMCID: PMC10744379 DOI: 10.3390/md21120612] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine sponges are highly efficient in removing organic pollutants and their cultivation, adjacent to fish farms, is increasingly considered as a strategy for improving seawater quality. Moreover, these invertebrates produce a plethora of bioactive metabolites, which could translate into an extra profit for the aquaculture sector. Here, we investigated the chemical profile and bioactivity of two Mediterranean species (i.e., Agelas oroides and Sarcotragus foetidus) and we assessed whether cultivated sponges differed substantially from their wild counterparts. Metabolomic analysis of crude sponge extracts revealed species-specific chemical patterns, with A. oroides and S. foetidus dominated by alkaloids and lipids, respectively. More importantly, farmed and wild explants of each species demonstrated similar chemical fingerprints, with the majority of the metabolites showing modest differences on a sponge mass-normalized basis. Furthermore, farmed sponge extracts presented similar or slightly lower antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, compared to the extracts resulting from wild sponges. Anticancer assays against human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116) revealed marginally active extracts from both wild and farmed S. foetidus populations. Our study highlights that, besides mitigating organic pollution in fish aquaculture, sponge farming can serve as a valuable resource of biomolecules, with promising potential in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Varamogianni-Mamatsi
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion Crete, Greece; (D.V.-M.); (T.I.A.); (E.K.); (E.V.); (T.D.)
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece;
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal;
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Maria João Nunes
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal; (M.J.N.); (L.C.B.)
| | - Vanda Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (V.M.); (C.M.P.R.)
| | - Thekla I. Anastasiou
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion Crete, Greece; (D.V.-M.); (T.I.A.); (E.K.); (E.V.); (T.D.)
| | - Eirini Kagiampaki
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion Crete, Greece; (D.V.-M.); (T.I.A.); (E.K.); (E.V.); (T.D.)
| | - Emmanouela Vernadou
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion Crete, Greece; (D.V.-M.); (T.I.A.); (E.K.); (E.V.); (T.D.)
| | - Thanos Dailianis
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion Crete, Greece; (D.V.-M.); (T.I.A.); (E.K.); (E.V.); (T.D.)
| | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece;
| | - Luís C. Branco
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal; (M.J.N.); (L.C.B.)
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (V.M.); (C.M.P.R.)
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal;
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Susana P. Gaudêncio
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal;
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus Caparica, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Manolis Mandalakis
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, 71500 Heraklion Crete, Greece; (D.V.-M.); (T.I.A.); (E.K.); (E.V.); (T.D.)
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Catalão M, Fernandes M, Galdon L, Rodrigues CF, Sobral RG, Gaudêncio SP, Torres CAV. Exopolysaccharide Production from Marine-Derived Brevundimonas huaxiensis Obtained from Estremadura Spur Pockmarks Sediments Revealing Potential for Circular Economy. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:419. [PMID: 37504950 PMCID: PMC10381572 DOI: 10.3390/md21070419] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine environments represent an enormous biodiversity reservoir due to their numerous different habitats, being abundant in microorganisms capable of producing biomolecules, namely exopolysaccharides (EPS), with unique physical characteristics and applications in a broad range of industrial sectors. From a total of 67 marine-derived bacteria obtained from marine sediments collected at depths of 200 to 350 m from the Estremadura Spur pockmarks field, off the coast of Continental Portugal, the Brevundimonas huaxiensis strain SPUR-41 was selected to be cultivated in a bioreactor with saline culture media and glucose as a carbon source. The bacterium exhibited the capacity to produce 1.83 g/L of EPS under saline conditions. SPUR-41 EPS was a heteropolysaccharide composed of mannose (62.55% mol), glucose (9.19% mol), rhamnose (19.41% mol), glucuronic acid (4.43% mol), galactose (2.53% mol), and galacturonic acid (1.89% mol). Moreover, SPUR-41 EPS also revealed acyl groups in its composition, namely acetyl, succinyl, and pyruvyl. This study revealed the importance of research on marine environments for the discovery of bacteria that produce new value-added biopolymers for pharmaceutical and other biotechnological applications, enabling us to potentially address saline effluent pollution via a sustainable circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Catalão
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
| | - Mafalda Fernandes
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
| | - Lorena Galdon
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
| | - Clara F Rodrigues
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rita G Sobral
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
| | - Susana P Gaudêncio
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
| | - Cristiana A V Torres
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Almada, Portugal
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4
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Valente S, Oliveira F, Ferreira IJ, Paiva A, Sobral RG, Diniz MS, Gaudêncio SP, Duarte ARC. Hydrophobic DES Based on Menthol and Natural Organic Acids for Use in Antifouling Marine Coatings. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2023; 11:9989-10000. [PMID: 37448722 PMCID: PMC10337252 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c01120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Marine biofouling negatively impacts industries with off-shore infrastructures, such as naval, oil, and aquaculture. To date, there are no ideal sustainable, economic, and environmentally benign solutions to deal with this phenomenon. The advances achieved in green solvents, as well as its application in different industries, such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology, have promoted the emergence of deep eutectic systems (DES). These eutectic systems have applications in various fields and can be revolutionary in the marine-based industrial sector. In this study, the main objective was to investigate the potential use of hydrophobic DES (HDES) based on menthol and natural organic acids for their use as marine antifouling coatings. Our strategy encompassed the physicochemical characterization of different formulations, which allowed us to identify the most appropriate molar ratio and intermolecular interactions for HDES formations. The miscibility of the resulting HDES with the marine coating has been evaluated and proven to be successful. The Men/OL (1:1) system proved to be the most promising in terms of cost-production and thus was the one used in subsequent antifouling tests. The cytotoxicity of this HDES was evaluated using an in vitro cell model (HaCat cells) showing no significant toxicity. Furthermore, the application of this system incorporated into coatings that are used in marine structures was also studied using marine species (Mytilus edulis mussels and Patella vulgata limpets) to evaluate both their antifouling and ecotoxicity effects. HDES Men/OL (1:1) incorporated in marine coatings was promising in reducing marine macrofouling and also proved to be effective at the level of microfouling without viability impairment of the tested marine species. It was revealed to be more efficient than using copper oxide, metallic copper, or ivermectin as antifouling agents. Biochemical assays performed on marine species showed that this HDES does not induce oxidative stress in the tested species. These results are a strong indication of the potential of this HDES to be sustainable and efficiently used in marine fouling control technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Valente
- LAQV-REQUIMTE,
Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science
and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Associate
Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO,
Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Filipe Oliveira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE,
Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science
and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Inês João Ferreira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE,
Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science
and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Paiva
- LAQV-REQUIMTE,
Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science
and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Associate
Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO,
Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Mário S. Diniz
- Associate
Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO,
Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Susana P. Gaudêncio
- Associate
Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO,
Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Cruz Duarte
- LAQV-REQUIMTE,
Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science
and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
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Ersoy SC, Gonçalves B, Cavaco G, Manna AC, Sobral RG, Nast CC, Proctor RA, Chambers HF, Cheung A, Bayer AS. Influence of Sodium Bicarbonate on Wall Teichoic Acid Synthesis and β-Lactam Sensitization in NaHCO 3-Responsive and Nonresponsive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0342222. [PMID: 36377886 PMCID: PMC9769754 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03422-22] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains pose major treatment challenges due to their innate resistance to most β-lactams under standard in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing conditions. A novel phenotype among MRSA, termed "NaHCO3 responsiveness," where certain strains display increased susceptibility to β-lactams in the presence of NaHCO3, has been identified among a relatively large proportion of MRSA isolates. One underlying mechanism of NaHCO3 responsiveness appears to be related to decreased expression and altered functionality of several genes and proteins involved in cell wall synthesis and maturation. Here, we studied the impact of NaHCO3 on wall teichoic acid (WTA) synthesis, a process intimately linked to peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis and functionality, in NaHCO3-responsive versus -nonresponsive MRSA isolates. NaHCO3 sensitized responsive MRSA strains to cefuroxime, a specific penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2)-inhibitory β-lactam known to synergize with early WTA synthesis inhibitors (e.g., ticlopidine). Combining cefuroxime with ticlopidine with or without NaHCO3 suggested that these latter two agents target the same step in WTA synthesis. Further, NaHCO3 decreased the abundance and molecular weight of WTA only in responsive strains. Additionally, NaHCO3 stimulated increased autolysis and aberrant cell division in responsive strains, two phenotypes associated with disruption of WTA synthesis. Of note, studies of key genes involved in the WTA biosynthetic pathway (e.g., tarO, tarG, dltA, and fmtA) indicated that the inhibitory impact of NaHCO3 on WTA biosynthesis in responsive strains likely occurred posttranslationally. IMPORTANCE MRSA is generally viewed as resistant to standard β-lactam antibiotics. However, a NaHCO3-responsive phenotype is observed in a substantial proportion of clinical MRSA strains in vitro, i.e., isolates which demonstrate enhanced susceptibility to standard β-lactam antibiotics (e.g., oxacillin) in the presence of NaHCO3. This phenotype correlates with increased MRSA clearance in vivo by standard β-lactam antibiotics, suggesting that patients with infections caused by such MRSA strains might be amenable to treatment with β-lactams. The mechanism(s) behind this phenotype is not fully understood but appears to involve mecA-PBP2a production and maturation axes. Our study adds significantly to this body of knowledge in terms of additional mechanistic targets of NaHCO3 in selected MRSA strains. This investigation demonstrates that NaHCO3 has direct impacts on S. aureus wall teichoic acid biosynthesis in NaHCO3-responsive MRSA. These findings provide an additional target for new agents being designed to synergistically kill MRSA using β-lactam antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Cavaco
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Adhar C. Manna
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Cynthia C. Nast
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Richard A. Proctor
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology/Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Ambrose Cheung
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Arnold S. Bayer
- The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, California, USA
- Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Oliveira J, Almeida PL, Sobral RG, Lourenço ND, Gaudêncio SP. Marine-Derived Actinomycetes: Biodegradation of Plastics and Formation of PHA Bioplastics-A Circular Bioeconomy Approach. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20120760. [PMID: 36547907 PMCID: PMC9783806 DOI: 10.3390/md20120760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastics are present in the majority of daily-use products worldwide. Due to society's production and consumption patterns, plastics are accumulating in the environment, causing global pollution issues and intergenerational impacts. Our work aims to contribute to the development of solutions and sustainable methods to mitigate this pressing problem, focusing on the ability of marine-derived actinomycetes to accelerate plastics biodegradation and produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are biodegradable bioplastics. The thin plastic films' biodegradation was monitored by weight loss, changes in the surface chemical structure (Infra-Red spectroscopy FTIR-ATR), and by mechanical properties (tensile strength tests). Thirty-six marine-derived actinomycete strains were screened for their plastic biodegradability potential. Among these, Streptomyces gougerotti, Micromonospora matsumotoense, and Nocardiopsis prasina revealed ability to degrade plastic films-low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene (PS) and polylactic acid (PLA) in varying conditions, namely upon the addition of yeast extract to the culture media and the use of UV pre-treated thin plastic films. Enhanced biodegradation by these bacteria was observed in both cases. S. gougerotti degraded 0.56% of LDPE films treated with UV radiation and 0.67% of PS films when inoculated with yeast extract. Additionally, N. prasina degraded 1.27% of PLA films when these were treated with UV radiation, and yeast extract was added to the culture medium. The main and most frequent differences observed in FTIR-ATR spectra during biodegradation occurred at 1740 cm-1, indicating the formation of carbonyl groups and an increase in the intensity of the bands, which indicates oxidation. Young Modulus decreased by 30% on average. In addition, S. gougerotti and M. matsumotoense, besides biodegrading conventional plastics (LDPE and PS), were also able to use these as a carbon source to produce degradable PHA bioplastics in a circular economy concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Oliveira
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Science Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Pedro L. Almeida
- I3N-CENIMAT, Materials Science Department, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Physics Department, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Science Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Nídia D. Lourenço
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Science Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Susana P. Gaudêncio
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry and Life Science Departments, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-21-2948300; Fax: +351-21-2948550
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Almeida AP, Saraiva JN, Cavaco G, Portela RP, Leal CR, Sobral RG, Almeida PL. Crosslinked bacterial cellulose hydrogels for biomedical applications. Eur Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111438] [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: 11/25/2022]
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8
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Pereira F, Figueiredo T, de Almeida RFM, Antunes CAC, Garcia C, Reis CP, Ascensão L, Sobral RG, Rijo P. Unveiling the Mechanism of Action of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone on an MRSA/VISA Strain: Membrane and Cell Wall Interactions. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10070983. [PMID: 32630112 PMCID: PMC7408375 DOI: 10.3390/biom10070983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of cases of failure in the treatment of infections associated with resistant bacteria is on the rise, due to the decreasing efficacy of current antibiotics. Notably, 7α-Acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (AHR), a diterpene isolated from different Plectranthus species, showed antibacterial activity, namely against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The high antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity render this natural compound an interesting alternative against resistant bacteria. The aim of this study is to understand the mechanism of action of AHR on MRSA, using the MRSA/Vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) strain CIP 106760, and to study the AHR effect on lipid bilayers and on the cell wall. Although AHR interacted with lipid bilayers, it did not have a significant effect on membrane passive permeability. Alternatively, bacteria treated with this royleanone displayed cell wall disruption, without revealing cell lysis. In conclusion, the results gathered so far point to a yet undescribed mode of action that needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pereira
- Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies (CBIOS), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (F.P.); (C.G.); (C.P.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Teresa Figueiredo
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida, UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2825-149 Caparica, Portugal;
| | - Rodrigo F. M. de Almeida
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.F.M.d.A.); (C.A.C.A.)
| | - Catarina A. C. Antunes
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.F.M.d.A.); (C.A.C.A.)
| | - Catarina Garcia
- Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies (CBIOS), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (F.P.); (C.G.); (C.P.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Catarina P. Reis
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Bioengeneering (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida, UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2825-149 Caparica, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (R.G.S.); (P.R.); Tel.: +351-212-948-530 (R.G.S.); +351-217515500 (P.R.); Fax: +351-212-954-461 (R.G.S.); +351-217577006 (P.R.)
| | - Patricia Rijo
- Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies (CBIOS), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (F.P.); (C.G.); (C.P.R.)
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (R.G.S.); (P.R.); Tel.: +351-212-948-530 (R.G.S.); +351-217515500 (P.R.); Fax: +351-212-954-461 (R.G.S.); +351-217577006 (P.R.)
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9
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Espadinha D, Sobral RG, Mendes CI, Méric G, Sheppard SK, Carriço JA, de Lencastre H, Miragaia M. Distinct Phenotypic and Genomic Signatures Underlie Contrasting Pathogenic Potential of Staphylococcus epidermidis Clonal Lineages. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1971. [PMID: 31507574 PMCID: PMC6719527 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common skin commensal that has emerged as a pathogen in hospitals, mainly related to medical devices-associated infections. Noteworthy, infection rates by S. epidermidis have the tendency to rise steeply in next decades together with medical devices use and immunocompromized population growth. Staphylococcus epidermidis population structure includes two major clonal lineages (A/C and B) that present contrasting pathogenic potentials. To address this distinction and explore the basis of increased pathogenicity of A/C lineage, we performed a detailed comparative analysis using phylogenetic and integrated pangenome-wide-association study (panGWAS) approaches and compared the lineages's phenotypes in in vitro conditions mimicking carriage and infection. Results: Each S. epidermidis lineage had distinct phenotypic signatures in skin and infection conditions and differed in genomic content. Combination of phenotypic and genotypic data revealed that both lineages were well adapted to skin environmental cues. However, they appear to occupy different skin niches, perform distinct biological functions in the skin and use different mechanisms to complete the same function: lineage B strains showed evidence of specialization to survival in microaerobic and lipid rich environment, characteristic of hair follicle and sebaceous glands; lineage A/C strains showed evidence for adaption to diverse osmotic and pH conditions, potentially allowing them to occupy a broader and more superficial skin niche. In infection conditions, A/C strains had an advantage, having the potential to bind blood-associated host matrix proteins, form biofilms at blood pH, resist antibiotics and macrophage acidity and to produce proteases. These features were observed to be rare in the lineage B strains. PanGWAS analysis produced a catalog of putative S. epidermidis virulence factors and identified an epidemiological molecular marker for the more pathogenic lineage. Conclusion: The prevalence of A/C lineage in infection is probably related to a higher metabolic and genomic versatility that allows rapid adaptation during transition from a commensal to a pathogenic lifestyle. The putative virulence and phenotypic factors associated to A/C lineage constitute a reliable framework for future studies on S. epidermidis pathogenesis and the finding of an epidemiological marker for the more pathogenic lineage is an asset for the management of S. epidermidis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Espadinha
- Laboratory of Bacterial Evolution and Molecular Epidemiology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Rita G Sobral
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Costa de Caparica, Portugal
| | - Catarina Inês Mendes
- Molecular Microbiology and Infection Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Guillaume Méric
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel K Sheppard
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.,MRC CLIMB Consortium, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - João A Carriço
- Molecular Microbiology and Infection Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.,Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Maria Miragaia
- Laboratory of Bacterial Evolution and Molecular Epidemiology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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10
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Portela R, Leal CR, Almeida PL, Sobral RG. Bacterial cellulose: a versatile biopolymer for wound dressing applications. Microb Biotechnol 2019; 12:586-610. [PMID: 30838788 PMCID: PMC6559198 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although several therapeutic approaches are available for wound and burn treatment and much progress has been made in this area, room for improvement still exists, driven by the urgent need of better strategies to accelerate wound healing and recovery, mostly for cases of severe burned patients. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biopolymer produced by bacteria with several advantages over vegetal cellulose, such as purity, high porosity, permeability to liquid and gases, elevated water uptake capacity and mechanical robustness. Besides its biocompatibility, BC can be modified in order to acquire antibacterial response and possible local drug delivery features. Due to its intrinsic versatility, BC is the perfect example of a biotechnological response to a clinical problem. In this review, we assess the BC main features and emphasis is given to a specific biomedical application: wound dressings. The production process and the physical-chemical properties that entitle this material to be used as wound dressing namely for burn healing are highlighted. An overview of the most common BC composites and their enhanced properties, in particular physical and biological, is provided, including the different production processes. A particular focus is given to the biochemistry and genetic manipulation of BC. A summary of the current marketed BC-based wound dressing products is presented, and finally, future perspectives for the usage of BC as wound dressing are foreseen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Portela
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial PathogensUCIBIO@REQUIMTEDepartamento de Ciências da VidaFaculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa2829‐516CaparicaPortugal
| | - Catarina R. Leal
- Área Departamental de FísicaISEL ‐ Instituto Superior de Engenharia de LisboaInstituto Politécnico de LisboaRua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1P‐1959‐007LisboaPortugal
- CENIMAT/I3NDepartamento de Ciência dos MateriaisFaculdade Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa2829‐516CaparicaPortugal
| | - Pedro L. Almeida
- Área Departamental de FísicaISEL ‐ Instituto Superior de Engenharia de LisboaInstituto Politécnico de LisboaRua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1P‐1959‐007LisboaPortugal
- CENIMAT/I3NDepartamento de Ciência dos MateriaisFaculdade Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa2829‐516CaparicaPortugal
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial PathogensUCIBIO@REQUIMTEDepartamento de Ciências da VidaFaculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa2829‐516CaparicaPortugal
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11
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Reichmann NT, Tavares AC, Saraiva BM, Jousselin A, Reed P, Pereira AR, Monteiro JM, Sobral RG, VanNieuwenhze MS, Fernandes F, Pinho MG. SEDS-bPBP pairs direct lateral and septal peptidoglycan synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:1368-1377. [PMID: 31086309 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0437-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PGN) is the major component of the bacterial cell wall, a structure that is essential for the physical integrity and shape of the cell. Bacteria maintain cell shape by directing PGN incorporation to distinct regions of the cell, namely, through the localization of late-stage PGN synthesis proteins. These include two key protein families, SEDS transglycosylases and bPBP transpeptidases, proposed to function in cognate pairs. Rod-shaped bacteria have two SEDS-bPBP pairs, involved in elongation and division. Here, we elucidate why coccoid bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, also possess two SEDS-bPBP pairs. We determined that S. aureus RodA-PBP3 and FtsW-PBP1 probably constitute cognate pairs of interacting proteins. A lack of RodA-PBP3 resulted in more spherical cells due to deficient sidewall PGN synthesis, whereas depletion of FtsW-PBP1 arrested normal septal PGN incorporation. Although PBP1 is an essential protein, a mutant lacking PBP1 transpeptidase activity is viable, showing that this protein has a second function. We propose that the FtsW-PBP1 pair has a role in stabilizing the divisome at midcell. In the absence of these proteins, the divisome appears as multiple rings or arcs that drive lateral PGN incorporation, leading to cell elongation. We conclude that RodA-PBP3 and FtsW-PBP1 mediate sidewall and septal PGN incorporation, respectively, and that their activity must be balanced to maintain coccoid morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie T Reichmann
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Andreia C Tavares
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Saraiva
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ambre Jousselin
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Patricia Reed
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ana R Pereira
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - João M Monteiro
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Rita G Sobral
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.,Departamento de Ciências da Vida e UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | | | - Fábio Fernandes
- Centro de Química-Física Molecular and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.,Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mariana G Pinho
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
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12
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Portela R, Almeida PL, Sobral RG, Leal CR. Motility and cell shape roles in the rheology of growing bacteria cultures. Eur Phys J E Soft Matter 2019; 42:26. [PMID: 30810829 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2019-11787-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cell shape, size and self-motility appear as determinant intrinsic cell factors in the rheological behavior of living bacterial cultures during the growth process. In this work three different species were considered due to their differences on these intrinsic characteristics: two different strains of Staphylococcus aureus - strain COL and its isogenic cell wall autolysis mutant, RUSAL9 - both non-motile and Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis - both presenting intrinsic motility. In situ real-time rheology, was used to characterize the activity of growing bacteria, under steady-shear conditions, in particular the viscosity growth curve was measured, for a constant shear flow rate, presenting for all studied cultures, different and rich flow curves. These complex rheological behaviors are a consequence of two coupled effects: the cell density continuous increase and its changing interacting properties, where cell size and shape and intrinsic motility are major players.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Portela
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - P L Almeida
- Área Departamental de Física, ISEL - Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, P-1959-007, Lisboa, Portugal
- CENIMAT/I3N, Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - R G Sobral
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens, UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - C R Leal
- Área Departamental de Física, ISEL - Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, P-1959-007, Lisboa, Portugal.
- CENIMAT/I3N, Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal.
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13
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Bauermeister A, Pereira F, Grilo IR, Godinho CC, Paulino M, Almeida V, Gobbo‐Neto L, Prieto‐Davó A, Sobral RG, Lopes NP, Gaudêncio SP. Intra‐clade metabolomic profiling of MAR4
Streptomyces
from the Macaronesia Atlantic region reveals a source of anti‐biofilm metabolites. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:1099-1112. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anelize Bauermeister
- NPPNS‐Núcleo de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos, Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão PretoUniversidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café, Monte Alegre 14040‐903 Ribeirão Preto São Paulo Brazil
| | - Florbela Pereira
- LAQV‐REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade NOVA de Lisboa 2829‐516 Caparica Portugal
| | - Inês R. Grilo
- UCIBIO‐REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular de Bactérias Patogénicas, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade NOVA de Lisboa 2829‐516 Caparica Portugal
| | - Camila C. Godinho
- NPPNS‐Núcleo de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos, Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão PretoUniversidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café, Monte Alegre 14040‐903 Ribeirão Preto São Paulo Brazil
| | - Marisa Paulino
- UCIBIO‐REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Biotecnologia Azul e Biomedicina, Departamento de QuímicaFaculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa 2829‐516 Caparica Portugal
| | - Vanessa Almeida
- UCIBIO‐REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Biotecnologia Azul e Biomedicina, Departamento de QuímicaFaculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa 2829‐516 Caparica Portugal
| | - Leonardo Gobbo‐Neto
- NPPNS‐Núcleo de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos, Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão PretoUniversidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café, Monte Alegre 14040‐903 Ribeirão Preto São Paulo Brazil
| | - Alejandra Prieto‐Davó
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana y Productos Naturales MarinosUnidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Sisal Yucatán Mexico
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- UCIBIO‐REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular de Bactérias Patogénicas, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade NOVA de Lisboa 2829‐516 Caparica Portugal
| | - Norberto P. Lopes
- NPPNS‐Núcleo de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos, Departamento de Física e Química, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão PretoUniversidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café, Monte Alegre 14040‐903 Ribeirão Preto São Paulo Brazil
| | - Susana P. Gaudêncio
- LAQV‐REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaUniversidade NOVA de Lisboa 2829‐516 Caparica Portugal
- UCIBIO‐REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Biotecnologia Azul e Biomedicina, Departamento de QuímicaFaculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa 2829‐516 Caparica Portugal
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14
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Leisico F, V Vieira D, Figueiredo TA, Silva M, Cabrita EJ, Sobral RG, Ludovice AM, Trincão J, Romão MJ, de Lencastre H, Santos-Silva T. First insights of peptidoglycan amidation in Gram-positive bacteria - the high-resolution crystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus glutamine amidotransferase GatD. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5313. [PMID: 29593310 PMCID: PMC5871853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22986-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria homeostasis and antibiotic resistance mechanisms are dependent on the intricate architecture of the cell wall, where amidated peptidoglycan plays an important role. The amidation reaction is carried out by the bi-enzymatic complex MurT-GatD, for which biochemical and structural information is very scarce. In this work, we report the first crystal structure of the glutamine amidotransferase member of this complex, GatD from Staphylococcus aureus, at 1.85 Å resolution. A glutamine molecule is found close to the active site funnel, hydrogen-bonded to the conserved R128. In vitro functional studies using 1H-NMR spectroscopy showed that S. aureus MurT-GatD complex has glutaminase activity even in the absence of lipid II, the MurT substrate. In addition, we produced R128A, C94A and H189A mutants, which were totally inactive for glutamine deamidation, revealing their essential role in substrate sequestration and catalytic reaction. GatD from S. aureus and other pathogenic bacteria share high identity to enzymes involved in cobalamin biosynthesis, which can be grouped in a new sub-family of glutamine amidotransferases. Given the ubiquitous presence of GatD, these results provide significant insights into the molecular basis of the so far undisclosed amidation mechanism, contributing to the development of alternative therapeutics to fight infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Leisico
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Diana V Vieira
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa A Figueiredo
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology of Human Pathogens Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Micael Silva
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Eurico J Cabrita
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Rita G Sobral
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana Madalena Ludovice
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | | | - Maria João Romão
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology of Human Pathogens Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA.
| | - Teresa Santos-Silva
- UCIBIO, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.
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15
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Portela R, Patrício P, Almeida PL, Sobral RG, Franco JM, Leal CR. Rotational tumbling of Escherichia coli aggregates under shear. Phys Rev E 2016; 94:062402. [PMID: 28085424 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.94.062402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Growing living cultures of Escherichia coli bacteria are investigated using real-time in situ rheology and rheoimaging measurements. In the early stages of growth (lag phase) and when subjected to a constant stationary shear, the viscosity slowly increases with the cell's population. As the bacteria reach the exponential phase of growth, the viscosity increases rapidly, with sudden and temporary abrupt decreases and recoveries. At a certain stage, corresponding grossly to the late phase of growth, when the population stabilizes, the viscosity also keeps its maximum constant value, with drops and recoveries, for a long period of time. This complex rheological behavior, which is observed to be shear strain dependent, is a consequence of two coupled effects: the cell density continuous increase and its changing interacting properties. Particular attention is given to the late phase of growth of E. coli populations under shear. Rheoimaging measurements reveal, near the static plate, a rotational motion of E. coli aggregates, collectively tumbling and flowing in the shear direction. This behavior is interpreted in the light of a simple theoretical approach based on simple rigid body mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Portela
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - P Patrício
- ISEL, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal.,CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - P L Almeida
- ISEL, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal.,CENIMAT/I3N, Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - R G Sobral
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - J M Franco
- Departamento Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - C R Leal
- ISEL, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal.,CENIMAT/I3N, Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
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Siopa F, Figueiredo T, Frade RFM, Neto I, Meirinhos A, Reis CP, Sobral RG, Afonso CAM, Rijo P. Choline-Based Ionic Liquids: Improvement of Antimicrobial Activity. ChemistrySelect 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201600864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Siopa
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa); Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa; Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Teresa Figueiredo
- UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia; Universidade Nova de Lisboa
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa
| | - Raquel F. M. Frade
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa); Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa; Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Iris Neto
- Center for Research in Biosciences & Health Technologies (CBIOS); Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias; Campo Grande 376 1749-024 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Ana Meirinhos
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa); Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa; Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Catarina P. Reis
- Center for Research in Biosciences & Health Technologies (CBIOS); Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias; Campo Grande 376 1749-024 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia; Universidade Nova de Lisboa
| | - Carlos A. M. Afonso
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa); Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa; Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa); Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa; Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa Portugal
- Center for Research in Biosciences & Health Technologies (CBIOS); Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias; Campo Grande 376 1749-024 Lisboa Portugal
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Patrício P, Almeida PL, Portela R, Sobral RG, Grilo IR, Cidade T, Leal CR. Living bacteria rheology: population growth, aggregation patterns, and collective behavior under different shear flows. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2014; 90:022720. [PMID: 25215771 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.90.022720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The activity of growing living bacteria was investigated using real-time and in situ rheology-in stationary and oscillatory shear. Two different strains of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus-strain COL and its isogenic cell wall autolysis mutant, RUSAL9-were considered in this work. For low bacteria density, strain COL forms small clusters, while the mutant, presenting deficient cell separation, forms irregular larger aggregates. In the early stages of growth, when subjected to a stationary shear, the viscosity of the cultures of both strains increases with the population of cells. As the bacteria reach the exponential phase of growth, the viscosity of the cultures of the two strains follows different and rich behaviors, with no counterpart in the optical density or in the population's colony-forming units measurements. While the viscosity of strain COL culture keeps increasing during the exponential phase and returns close to its initial value for the late phase of growth, where the population stabilizes, the viscosity of the mutant strain culture decreases steeply, still in the exponential phase, remains constant for some time, and increases again, reaching a constant plateau at a maximum value for the late phase of growth. These complex viscoelastic behaviors, which were observed to be shear-stress-dependent, are a consequence of two coupled effects: the cell density continuous increase and its changing interacting properties. The viscous and elastic moduli of strain COL culture, obtained with oscillatory shear, exhibit power-law behaviors whose exponents are dependent on the bacteria growth stage. The viscous and elastic moduli of the mutant culture have complex behaviors, emerging from the different relaxation times that are associated with the large molecules of the medium and the self-organized structures of bacteria. Nevertheless, these behaviors reflect the bacteria growth stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Patrício
- ISEL, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, P-1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal and CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - P L Almeida
- ISEL, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, P-1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal and CENIMAT/I3N, Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - R Portela
- Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - R G Sobral
- Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - I R Grilo
- Laboratório de Genética Molecular, ITQB, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - T Cidade
- CENIMAT/I3N, Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal and Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - C R Leal
- ISEL, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, P-1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal and CENIMAT/I3N, Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
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Figueiredo TA, Ludovice AM, Sobral RG. Contribution of peptidoglycan amidation to beta-lactam and lysozyme resistance in different genetic lineages of Staphylococcus aureus. Microb Drug Resist 2014; 20:238-49. [PMID: 24799330 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2014.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The enzymes responsible for peptidoglycan amidation in Staphylococcus aureus, MurT and GatD, were recently identified and shown to be required for optimal expression of resistance to beta-lactams, bacterial growth, and resistance to lysozyme. In this study, we analyzed the impact of peptidoglycan amidation in representative strains of the most widespread clones of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The inhibition of the expression of murT-gatD operon resulted in different phenotypes of resistance to beta-lactams and lysozyme according to the different genetic backgrounds. Further, clonal lineages CC1 and CC398 (community-acquired MRSA [CA-MRSA]) showed a stronger dependency on MurT-GatD for resistance to beta-lactams, when compared to the impact of the impairment of the cell wall step catalyzed by MurF. In the remaining backgrounds similar phenotypes of beta-lactam resistance were observed upon the impairment of both cell-wall-related genes. Therefore, for CA-related backgrounds, the predominant beta-lactam resistance mechanism seems to involve genes associated with secondary modifications of peptidoglycan. On the other hand, the lack of glutamic acid amidation had a more substantial impact on lysozyme resistance for cells of CA-MRSA backgrounds, than for hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA). However, no significant differences were found in the resistance level of the respective peptidoglycan structure, suggesting that the lysozyme resistance mechanism involves other factors. Taken together, these results suggested that the different genetic lineages of MRSA were able to develop different molecular strategies to overcome the selective pressures experienced during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa A Figueiredo
- 1 Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Oeiras, Portugal
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Vieira D, Figueiredo TA, Verma A, Sobral RG, Ludovice AM, de Lencastre H, Trincao J. Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of GatD, a glutamine amidotransferase-like protein from Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2014; 70:632-5. [PMID: 24817726 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x14007298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Amidation of peptidoglycan is an essential feature in Staphylococcus aureus that is necessary for resistance to β-lactams and lysozyme. GatD, a 27 kDa type I glutamine amidotransferase-like protein, together with MurT ligase, catalyses the amidation reaction of the glutamic acid residues of the peptidoglycan of S. aureus. The native and the selenomethionine-derivative proteins were crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method with polyethylene glycol, sodium acetate and calcium acetate. The crystals obtained diffracted beyond 1.85 and 2.25 Å, respectively, and belonged to space group P212121. X-ray diffraction data sets were collected at Diamond Light Source (on beamlines I02 and I04) and were used to obtain initial phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Vieira
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group and GlycoLab, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Teresa A Figueiredo
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology of Human Pathogens Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Anil Verma
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, England
| | - Rita G Sobral
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology of Human Pathogens Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ana M Ludovice
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology of Human Pathogens Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology of Human Pathogens Unit, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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Grilo IR, Ludovice AM, Tomasz A, de Lencastre H, Sobral RG. The glucosaminidase domain of Atl - the major Staphylococcus aureus autolysin - has DNA-binding activity. Microbiologyopen 2014; 3:247-56. [PMID: 24585695 PMCID: PMC3996572 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In this communication, we describe evidence demonstrating the capacity of Atl, the major Staphylococcus aureus autolytic enzyme to bind DNA. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) show that both the Atl protein and the endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (GL) domain were able to bind DNA of nonspecific sequence. The implications of this unexpected observation for the physiology of S. aureus remain to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês R Grilo
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780, Oeiras, Portugal
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Sobral RG, Jones AE, Des Etages SG, Dougherty TJ, Peitzsch RM, Gaasterland T, Ludovice AM, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Extensive and genome-wide changes in the transcription profile of Staphylococcus aureus induced by modulating the transcription of the cell wall synthesis gene murF. J Bacteriol 2006; 189:2376-91. [PMID: 17194794 PMCID: PMC1899396 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01439-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A murF conditional mutant was used to evaluate the effect of suboptimal transcription of this gene on the transcriptome of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain COL. The mutant was grown in the presence of optimal and suboptimal concentrations of the inducer, and the relative levels of transcription of genes were evaluated genome wide with an Affymetrix DNA microarray that included all open reading frames (ORFs) as well as intergenic sequences derived from four sequenced S. aureus strains. Using a sensitivity threshold value of 1.5, suboptimal expression of murF altered the transcription of a surprisingly large number of genes, i.e., 668 out of the 2,740 ORFs (close to one-fourth of all ORFs), of the genome of S. aureus strain COL. The genes with altered transcription were distributed evenly around the S. aureus chromosome, and groups of genes involved with distinct metabolic functions responded in unique and operon-specific manners to modulation in murF transcription. For instance, all genes belonging to the isd operon and all but 2 of the 35 genes of prophage L54a were down-regulated, whereas all but one of the 21 members of the vraSR regulon and most of the 79 virulence-related genes (those for fibronectin binding proteins A and B, clumping factor A, gamma hemolysin, enterotoxin B, etc.) were up-regulated in cells with suboptimal expression of murF. Most importantly, the majority of these altered gene expression profiles were reversible by resupplying the optimal concentration of IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside) to the culture. The observations suggest the coordinate regulation of a large sector of the S. aureus transcriptome in response to a disturbance in cell wall synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita G Sobral
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Technologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
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Sobral RG, Ludovice AM, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Role of murF in cell wall biosynthesis: isolation and characterization of a murF conditional mutant of Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:2543-53. [PMID: 16547042 PMCID: PMC1428427 DOI: 10.1128/jb.188.7.2543-2553.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Staphylococcus aureus murF gene was placed under the control of a promoter inducible by IPTG (isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside). It was demonstrated that murF is an essential gene; it is cotranscribed with ddlA and growth rate, level of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance, and rates of transcription of the mecA and pbpB genes paralleled the rates of transcription of murF. At suboptimal concentrations of the inducer, a UDP-linked muramyl tripeptide accumulated in the cytoplasm in parallel with the decline in the amounts of the normal pentapeptide cell wall precursor. The abnormal tripeptide component incorporated into the cell wall as a monomeric muropeptide, accompanied by a decrease in the oligomerization degree of the peptidoglycan. However, incorporation of the tripeptide into the cell wall was limited to a relatively low threshold value. Further reduction of the amounts of pentapeptide cell wall precursor caused a gradual decrease in the cellular amounts of peptidoglycan, the production of a thinner peripheral cell wall, aberrant septae, and an overall increase in the diameter of the cells. The observations suggest that the role of murF exceeds its primary function in peptidoglycan biosynthesis and may also be involved in the control of cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Sobral
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
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Gardete S, Ludovice AM, Sobral RG, Filipe SR, de Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Role of murE in the Expression of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol 2004; 186:1705-13. [PMID: 14996801 PMCID: PMC355982 DOI: 10.1128/jb.186.6.1705-1713.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It was shown earlier that Tn551 inserted into the C-terminal region of murE of parental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain COL causes a drastic reduction in methicillin resistance, accompanied by accumulation of UDP-MurNAc dipeptide in the cell wall precursor pool and incorporation of these abnormal muropeptides into the peptidoglycan of the mutant. Methicillin resistance was recovered in a suppressor mutant. The murE gene of the same strain was then put under the control of the isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible promoter P(spac). Bacteria grown in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of IPTG accumulated UDP-MurNAc dipeptide in the cell wall precursor pool. Both growth rates and methicillin resistance levels (but not resistance to other antibiotics) were a function of the IPTG concentration. Northern analysis showed a gradual increase in the transcription of murE and also in the transcription of pbpB and mecA, parallel with the increasing concentrations of IPTG in the medium. A similar increase in the transcription of pbpB and mecA, the structural genes of penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) and PBP2A, was also detected in the suppressor mutant. The expression of these two proteins, which are known to play critical roles in the mechanism of staphylococcal methicillin resistance, appears to be-directly or indirectly-under the control of the murE gene. Our data suggest that the drastic reduction of the methicillin MIC seen in the murE mutant may be caused by the insufficient cellular amounts of these two PBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gardete
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal. Laboratory of Microbiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021
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Sobral RG, Ludovice AM, Gardete S, Tabei K, De Lencastre H, Tomasz A. Normally functioning murF is essential for the optimal expression of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Microb Drug Resist 2003; 9:231-41. [PMID: 12959401 DOI: 10.1089/107662903322286436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A carboxy-terminal fragment of murF was used to construct and insert a suicide plasmid into the chromosomal copy of the gene in the highly and homogeneously methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain COL by Campbell type integration. The plasmid insertion generated a mutant in which the MIC value for oxacillin was reduced from 400 microg/ml of the parental strain to 0.75 microg/ml in 90% of the cells of the mutant cultures that were heterogeneous: they contained subpopulations of bacteria with a frequency of 10(-3) that were capable of expressing resistance at nearly the parental level. The impact of the murF mutation on antibiotic resistance was selective for beta-lactam antibiotics: there was no change in the susceptibility of the mutant to D-cycloserine, fosfomycin, beta-D-chloro-alanine, moenomycin, bacitracin, or vancomycin. Analysis of the mutant peptidoglycan showed decrease in the percentage of oligomeric components in rough proportion to the accumulation of several abnormal muropeptide components, which were identified as structural variants of the disaccharide tripeptide monomer. An abnormal cell wall precursor identified as UDP MurNac tripeptide was also detected in the cytoplasmic pool of the mutant strain. A normal proportion of oligomers and a greatly reduced representation of the disaccharide tripeptide were demonstrated in the cell wall of the murF mutant's subpopulation that has retained the parental level of resistance. Northern analysis demonstrated a drastic reduction in the transcription rate of mecA in mutant F9 whereas mecA transcription increased in the subpopulation of bacteria that retained high-level resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Sobral
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780 Oeiras, Portugal
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