scholarly journals Construction of a complete set of Neisseria meningitidis mutants and its use for the phenotypic profiling of this human pathogen

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair Muir ◽  
Ishwori Gurung ◽  
Ana Cehovin ◽  
Adelme Bazin ◽  
David Vallenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Essential Genes ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Complete Collection ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Membrane Structure And Function ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Information Cell

Abstract The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis causes life-threatening meningitis and sepsis. Here, we construct a complete collection of defined mutants in protein-coding genes of this organism, identifying all genes that are essential under laboratory conditions. The collection, named NeMeSys 2.0, consists of individual mutants in 1584 non-essential genes. We identify 391 essential genes, which are associated with basic functions such as expression and preservation of genome information, cell membrane structure and function, and metabolism. We use this collection to shed light on the functions of diverse genes, including a gene encoding a member of a previously unrecognised class of histidinol-phosphatases; a set of 20 genes required for type IV pili function; and several conditionally essential genes encoding antitoxins and/or immunity proteins. We expect that NeMeSys 2.0 will facilitate the phenotypic profiling of a major human bacterial pathogen.

scholarly journals Construction of a complete set of Neisseria meningitidis defined mutants – the NeMeSys 2.0 collection – and its use for the phenotypic profiling of the genome of an important human pathogen

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair Muir ◽  
Ishwori Gurung ◽  
Ana Cehovin ◽  
Adelme Bazin ◽  
David Vallenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Essential Genes ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Complete Collection ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Genome Information

AbstractOne of the great challenges in biology is to determine the function of millions of genes of unknown function. Even in model bacterial species, there is a sizeable proportion of such genes, which has fundamental and practical consequences. Here, we constructed a complete collection of defined mutants in protein-coding genes – named NeMeSys 2.0 – in the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis, consisting of individual mutants in 1,584 non-essential genes. This effort identified 391 essential genes – broadly conserved in other bacteria – leading to a full overview of the essential meningococcal genome, associated with just four underlying basic biological functions: 1) expression of genome information, 2) preservation of genome information, 3) cell membrane structure/function, and 4) cytosolic metabolism. Subsequently, we illustrated the utility of the NeMeSys 2.0 collection for determining gene function by identifying 1) a novel and conserved family of histidinol-phosphatase, 2) 20 genes, including three new ones, involved in the biology of type IV pili, a widespread virulence factor, and 3) several conditionally essential genes found in regions of genome plasticity encoding antitoxins and/or immunity proteins, which become dispensable when the gene encoding the cognate toxin is deleted. These findings have implications beyond the meningococcus. The NeMeSys 2.0 collection is an invaluable resource paving the way for a global phenotypic landscape in a major human bacterial pathogen.

scholarly journals Neisseria meningitidis Polynucleotide Phosphorylase Affects Aggregation, Adhesion, and Virulence

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1501-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Engman ◽  
Aurel Negrea ◽  
Sara Sigurlásdóttir ◽  
Miriam Geörg ◽  
Jens Eriksson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Bacterial Attachment ◽  
Polynucleotide Phosphorylase ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Transcriptional Changes

Neisseria meningitidisautoaggregation is an important step during attachment to human cells. Aggregation is mediated by type IV pili and can be modulated by accessory pilus proteins, such as PilX, and posttranslational modifications of the major pilus subunit PilE. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of aggregation remain poorly characterized. Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) is a 3′–5′ exonuclease that is involved in RNA turnover and the regulation of small RNAs. In this study, we biochemically confirm that NMC0710 is theN. meningitidisPNPase, and we characterize its role inN. meningitidispathogenesis. We show that deletion of the gene encoding PNPase leads to hyperaggregation and increased adhesion to epithelial cells. The aggregation induced was found to be dependent on pili and to be mediated by excessive pilus bundling. PNPase expression was induced following bacterial attachment to human cells. Deletion of PNPase led to global transcriptional changes and the differential regulation of 469 genes. We also demonstrate that PNPase is required for full virulence in anin vivomodel ofN. meningitidisinfection. The present study shows that PNPase negatively affects aggregation, adhesion, and virulence inN. meningitidis.

scholarly journals Comparative Genomic Analysis of the pPT23A Plasmid Family of Pseudomonas syringae

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (6) ◽  
pp. 2113-2126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youfu Zhao ◽  
Zhonghua Ma ◽  
George W. Sundin
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Gene Acquisition ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Type Ivb Secretion

ABSTRACT Members of the pPT23A plasmid family of Pseudomonas syringae play an important role in the interaction of this bacterial pathogen with host plants. Complete sequence analysis of several pPT23A family plasmids (PFPs) has provided a glimpse of the gene content and virulence function of these plasmids. We constructed a macroarray containing 161 genes to estimate and compare the gene contents of 23 newly analyzed and eight known PFPs from 12 pathovars of P. syringae, which belong to four genomospecies. Hybridization results revealed that PFPs could be distinguished by the type IV secretion system (T4SS) encoded and separated into four groups. Twelve PFPs along with pPSR1 from P. syringae pv. syringae, pPh1448B from P. syringae pv. phaseolicola, and pPMA4326A from P. syringae pv. maculicola encoded a type IVA T4SS (VirB-VirD4 conjugative system), whereas 10 PFPs along with pDC3000A and pDC3000B from P. syringae pv. tomato encoded a type IVB T4SS (tra system). Two plasmids encoded both T4SSs, whereas six other plasmids carried none or only a few genes of either the type IVA or type IVB secretion system. Most PFPs hybridized to more than one putative type III secretion system effector gene and to a variety of additional genes encoding known P. syringae virulence factors. The overall gene contents of individual PFPs were more similar among plasmids within each of the four groups based on T4SS genes; however, a number of genes, encoding plasmid-specific functions or hypothetical proteins, were shared among plasmids from different T4SS groups. The only gene shared by all PFPs in this study was the repA gene, which encoded sequences with 87 to 99% amino acid identityamong 25 sequences examined. We proposed a model to illustrate the evolution and gene acquisition of the pPT23A plasmid family. To our knowledge, this is the first such attempt to conduct a global genetic analysis of this important plasmid family.

scholarly journals Identification of Diverse Archaeal Proteins with Class III Signal Peptides Cleaved by Distinct Archaeal Prepilin Peptidases

2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (3) ◽  
pp. 772-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zalán Szabó ◽  
Adriana Oliveira Stahl ◽  
Sonja-V. Albers ◽  
Jessica C. Kissinger ◽  
Arnold J. M. Driessen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Peptidase ◽  
Signal Peptides ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Methanococcus Maripaludis ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Hydrophobic Domain ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Cell Surface Structures ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Processing Site

ABSTRACT Most secreted archaeal proteins are targeted to the membrane via a tripartite signal composed of a charged N terminus and a hydrophobic domain, followed by a signal peptidase-processing site. Signal peptides of archaeal flagellins, similar to class III signal peptides of bacterial type IV pilins, are distinct in that their processing sites precede the hydrophobic domain, which is crucial for assembly of these extracytoplasmic structures. To identify the complement of archaeal proteins with class III signal sequences, a PERL program (FlaFind) was written. A diverse set of proteins was identified, and many of these FlaFind positives were encoded by genes that were cotranscribed with homologs of pilus assembly genes. Moreover, structural conservation of primary sequences between many FlaFind positives and subunits of bacterial pilus-like structures, which have been shown to be critical for pilin assembly, have been observed. A subset of pilin-like FlaFind positives contained a conserved domain of unknown function (DUF361) within the signal peptide. Many of the genes encoding these proteins were in operons that contained a gene encoding a novel euryarchaeal prepilin-peptidase, EppA, homolog. Heterologous analysis revealed that Methanococcus maripaludis DUF361-containing proteins were specifically processed by the EppA homolog of this archaeon. Conversely, M. maripaludis preflagellins were cleaved only by the archaeal preflagellin peptidase FlaK. Together, the results reveal a diverse set of archaeal proteins with class III signal peptides that might be subunits of as-yet-undescribed cell surface structures, such as archaeal pili.

scholarly journals Urinary isolates of apramycin-resistantEscherichia coliandKlebsiella pneumoniaefrom Dublin

1995 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Johnson ◽  
M. Malde ◽  
N. Woodford ◽  
R. J. Cunney ◽  
E. G. Smyth
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Dublin Hospital ◽  
Aminoglycoside Antibiotic ◽  
Restriction Enzyme Digestion ◽  
Hygromycin B ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Urinary Isolates

SUMMARYTwenty-two gentamicin-resistant urinary isolates ofEscherichia coliand five gentamicin-resistant urinary isolates ofKlebsiella pneumoniaefrom a Dublin hospital were examined for resistance to the veterinary aminoglycoside antibiotic apramycin. Five isolates ofE. coliand one isolate ofK. pneumoniaewere found to be resistant. The apramycin-resistant isolates, which were also resistant to the veterinary anthelmintic agent hygromycin B, hybridized with a DNA probe for the gene encoding the enzyme 3-N-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase type IV (AAC(3)IV). Resistance to apramycin and hygromycin B was co-transferable in four of the five isolates ofE. coliand the isolate ofK. pneumoniae.In one isolate ofE. coliapramycin resistance was not transferable. On the basis of their restriction enzyme digestion profiles and the antimicrobial resistance traits encoded, the transferable plasmids encoding resistance to apramycin and hygromycin B comprised three distinct types. Genetic linkage between the gene encoding AAC(3)IV and genes encoding resistance to ampicillin and either tetracycline or trimethoprim, means that the relatively widespread use of these antimicrobial agents provides a selective pressure for the persistence of resistance to apramycin and gentamicin even in the absence of bacterial exposure to aminoglycosides.

scholarly journals Contribution of Type IV Pili to the Virulence of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.)

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 1445-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Boyd ◽  
Andrew Dacanay ◽  
Leah C. Knickle ◽  
Ahmed Touhami ◽  
Laura L. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Aeromonas Salmonicida ◽  
Type Iv Pili ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Pilin Subunit

ABSTRACT Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, a bacterial pathogen of Atlantic salmon, has no visible pili, yet its genome contains genes for three type IV pilus systems. One system, Tap, is similar to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pil system, and a second, Flp, resembles the Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Flp pilus, while the third has homology to the mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin pilus of Vibrio cholerae. The latter system is likely nonfunctional since eight genes, including the gene encoding the main pilin subunit, are deleted compared with the orthologous V. cholerae locus. The first two systems were characterized to investigate their expression and role in pathogenesis. The pili of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida were imaged using atomic force microscopy and Tap- and Flp-overexpressing strains. The Tap pili appeared to be polar, while the Flp pili appeared to be peritrichous. Strains deficient in tap and/or flp were used in live bacterial challenges of Atlantic salmon, which showed that the Tap pilus made a moderate contribution to virulence, while the Flp pilus made little or no contribution. Delivery of the tap mutant by immersion resulted in reduced cumulative morbidity compared with the cumulative morbidity observed with the wild-type strain; however, delivery by intraperitoneal injection resulted in cumulative morbidity similar to that of the wild type. Unlike the pili of other piliated bacterial pathogens, A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida type IV pili are not absolutely required for virulence in Atlantic salmon. Significant differences in the behavior of the two mutant strains indicated that the two pilus systems are not redundant.

scholarly journals Exposure to low doses of pesticides induces an immune response and the production of nitric oxide in honeybees

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Merle T. Bartling ◽  
Susanne Thümecke ◽  
José Herrera Russert ◽  
Andreas Vilcinskas ◽  
Kwang-Zin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
P450 Monooxygenase ◽  
Abiotic Stressors ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Pesticides Exposure ◽  
Colony Survival ◽  
Oxide Synthase

AbstractHoneybees are essential pollinators of many agricultural crops and wild plants. However, the number of managed bee colonies has declined in some regions of the world over the last few decades, probably caused by a combination of factors including parasites, pathogens and pesticides. Exposure to these diverse biotic and abiotic stressors is likely to trigger immune responses and stress pathways that affect the health of individual honeybees and hence their contribution to colony survival. We therefore investigated the effects of an orally administered bacterial pathogen (Pseudomonas entomophila) and low-dose xenobiotic pesticides on honeybee survival and intestinal immune responses. We observed stressor-dependent effects on the mean lifespan, along with the induction of genes encoding the antimicrobial peptide abaecin and the detoxification factor cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP9E2. The pesticides also triggered the immediate induction of a nitric oxide synthase gene followed by the delayed upregulation of catalase, which was not observed in response to the pathogen. Honeybees therefore appear to produce nitric oxide as a specific defense response when exposed to xenobiotic stimuli. The immunity-related and stress-response genes we tested may provide useful stressor-dependent markers for ecotoxicological assessment in honeybee colonies.

scholarly journals Expression and function of the cdgD gene, encoding a CHASE–PAS-DGC-EAL domain protein, in Azospirillum brasilense

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Francisco Cruz-Pérez ◽  
Roxana Lara-Oueilhe ◽  
Cynthia Marcos-Jiménez ◽  
Ricardo Cuatlayotl-Olarte ◽  
María Luisa Xiqui-Vázquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Azospirillum Brasilense ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Wheat Roots ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting

AbstractThe plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense contains several genes encoding proteins involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP, which may control key bacterial functions, such as biofilm formation and motility. Here, we analysed the function and expression of the cdgD gene, encoding a multidomain protein that includes GGDEF-EAL domains and CHASE and PAS domains. An insertional cdgD gene mutant was constructed, and analysis of biofilm and extracellular polymeric substance production, as well as the motility phenotype indicated that cdgD encoded a functional diguanylate protein. These results were correlated with a reduced overall cellular concentration of cyclic-di-GMP in the mutant over 48 h compared with that observed in the wild-type strain, which was recovered in the complemented strain. In addition, cdgD gene expression was measured in cells growing under planktonic or biofilm conditions, and differential expression was observed when KNO3 or NH4Cl was added to the minimal medium as a nitrogen source. The transcriptional fusion of the cdgD promoter with the gene encoding the autofluorescent mCherry protein indicated that the cdgD gene was expressed both under abiotic conditions and in association with wheat roots. Reduced colonization of wheat roots was observed for the mutant compared with the wild-type strain grown in the same soil conditions. The Azospirillum-plant association begins with the motility of the bacterium towards the plant rhizosphere followed by the adsorption and adherence of these bacteria to plant roots. Therefore, it is important to study the genes that contribute to this initial interaction of the bacterium with its host plant.

Structure, expression, chromosomal location and product of the gene encoding Adh2 in Petunia.

Genetics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 999-1007
Author(s):  
R G Gregerson ◽  
L Cameron ◽  
M McLean ◽  
P Dennis ◽  
J Strommer
Keyword(s):  
Chromosomal Location ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Genomic Libraries ◽  
Regulatory Strategy ◽  
Adh1 Gene ◽  
Adh Genes ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Adh Gene ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Abstract In most higher plants the genes encoding alcohol dehydrogenase comprise a small gene family, usually with two members. The Adh1 gene of Petunia has been cloned and analyzed, but a second identifiable gene was not recovered from any of three genomic libraries. We have therefore employed the polymerase chain reaction to obtain the major portion of a second Adh gene. From sequence, mapping and northern data we conclude this gene encodes ADH2, the major anaerobically inducible Adh gene of Petunia. The availability of both Adh1 and Adh2 from Petunia has permitted us to compare their structures and patterns of expression to those of the well-studied Adh genes of maize, of which one is highly expressed developmentally, while both are induced in response to hypoxia. Despite their evolutionary distance, evidenced by deduced amino acid sequence as well as taxonomic classification, the pairs of genes are regulated in strikingly similar ways in maize and Petunia. Our findings suggest a significant biological basis for the regulatory strategy employed by these distant species for differential expression of multiple Adh genes.

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