scholarly journals Photorhabdus: a tale of contrasting interactions

Microbiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 166 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Phase Variation ◽  
Bacterial Biomass ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Infective Juvenile ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Signalling Molecule ◽  
Insect Cadaver

Different model systems have, over the years, contributed to our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the various types of interaction between bacteria and their animal hosts. The genus Photorhabdus comprises Gram-negative insect pathogenic bacteria that are normally found as symbionts that colonize the gut of the infective juvenile stage of soil-dwelling nematodes from the family Heterorhabditis. The nematodes infect susceptible insects and release the bacteria into the insect haemolymph where the bacteria grow, resulting in the death of the insect. At this stage the nematodes feed on the bacterial biomass and, following several rounds of reproduction, the nematodes develop into infective juveniles that leave the insect cadaver in search of new hosts. Therefore Photorhabdus has three distinct and obligate roles to play during this life-cycle: (1) Photorhabdus must kill the insect host; (2) Photorhabdus must be capable of supporting nematode growth and development; and (3) Photorhabdus must be able to colonize the gut of the next generation of infective juveniles before they leave the insect cadaver. In this review I will discuss how genetic analysis has identified key genes involved in mediating, and regulating, the interaction between Photorhabdus and each of its invertebrate hosts. These studies have resulted in the characterization of several new families of toxins and a novel inter-kingdom signalling molecule and have also uncovered an important role for phase variation in the regulation of these different roles.

scholarly journals d-Serine induces distinct transcriptomes in diverse Escherichia coli pathotypes

Microbiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 167 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. R. Connolly ◽  
Natasha C. A. Turner ◽  
Jennifer C. Hallam ◽  
Patricia T. Rimbi ◽  
Tom Flett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Neonatal Meningitis ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Toxic Metabolite ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Link Type

Appropriate interpretation of environmental signals facilitates niche specificity in pathogenic bacteria. However, the responses of niche-specific pathogens to common host signals are poorly understood. d-Serine (d-ser) is a toxic metabolite present in highly variable concentrations at different colonization sites within the human host that we previously found is capable of inducing changes in gene expression. In this study, we made the striking observation that the global transcriptional response of three Escherichia coli pathotypes – enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and neonatal meningitis-associated E. coli (NMEC) – to d-ser was highly distinct. In fact, we identified no single differentially expressed gene common to all three strains. We observed the induction of ribosome-associated genes in extraintestinal pathogens UPEC and NMEC only, and the induction of purine metabolism genes in gut-restricted EHEC, and UPEC indicating distinct transcriptional responses to a common signal. UPEC and NMEC encode dsdCXA – a genetic locus required for detoxification and hence normal growth in the presence of d-ser. Specific transcriptional responses were induced in strains accumulating d-ser (WT EHEC and UPEC/NMEC mutants lacking the d-ser-responsive transcriptional activator DsdC), corroborating the notion that d-ser is an unfavourable metabolite if not metabolized. Importantly, many of the UPEC-associated transcriptome alterations correlate with published data on the urinary transcriptome, supporting the hypothesis that d-ser sensing forms a key part of urinary niche adaptation in this pathotype. Collectively, our results demonstrate distinct pleiotropic responses to a common metabolite in diverse E. coli pathotypes, with important implications for niche selectivity.

scholarly journals Disruption of VirB6 Paralogs in Anaplasma phagocytophilum Attenuates Its Growth

2020 ◽  
Vol 202 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francy L. Crosby ◽  
Ulrike G. Munderloh ◽  
Curtis M. Nelson ◽  
Michael J. Herron ◽  
Anna M. Lundgren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Accession Number ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Obligate Intracellular

ABSTRACT Many pathogenic bacteria translocate virulence factors into their eukaryotic hosts by means of type IV secretion systems (T4SS) spanning the inner and outer membranes. Genes encoding components of these systems have been identified within the order Rickettsiales based upon their sequence similarities to other prototypical systems. Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains are obligate intracellular, tick-borne bacteria that are members of this order. The organization of these components at the genomic level was determined in several Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains, showing overall conservation, with the exceptions of the virB2 and virB6 genes. The virB6 loci are characterized by the presence of four virB6 copies (virB6-1 through virB6-4) arranged in tandem within a gene cluster known as the sodB-virB operon. Interestingly, the virB6-4 gene varies significantly in length among different strains due to extensive tandem repeats at the 3′ end. To gain an understanding of how these enigmatic virB6 genes function in A. phagocytophilum, we investigated their expression in infected human and tick cells. Our results show that these genes are expressed by A. phagocytophilum replicating in both cell types and that VirB6-3 and VirB6-4 proteins are surface exposed. Analysis of an A. phagocytophilum mutant carrying the Himar1 transposon within the virB6-4 gene demonstrated that the insertion not only disrupted its expression but also exerted a polar effect on the sodB-virB operon. Moreover, the altered expression of genes within this operon was associated with the attenuated in vitro growth of A. phagocytophilum in human and tick cells, indicating the importance of these genes in the physiology of this obligate intracellular bacterium in such different environments. IMPORTANCE Knowledge of the T4SS is derived from model systems, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The structure of the T4SS in Rickettsiales differs from the classical arrangement. These differences include missing and duplicated components with structural alterations. Particularly, two sequenced virB6-4 genes encode unusual C-terminal structural extensions resulting in proteins of 4,322 (GenBank accession number AGR79286.1) and 9,935 (GenBank accession number ANC34101.1>) amino acids. To understand how the T4SS is used in A. phagocytophilum, we describe the expression of the virB6 paralogs and explore their role as the bacteria replicate within its host cell. Conclusions about the importance of these paralogs for colonization of human and tick cells are supported by the deficient phenotype of an A. phagocytophilum mutant isolated from a sequence-defined transposon insertion library.

scholarly journals Mycoplasma genitaliumNonadherent Phase Variants Arise by Multiple Mechanisms and Escape Antibody-Dependent Growth Inhibition

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raul Burgos ◽  
Gwendolyn E. Wood ◽  
Stefanie L. Iverson-Cabral ◽  
Patricia A. Totten
Keyword(s):  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Antigenic Variation ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Phase Variation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Phase Variants

ABSTRACTAntigenic variation of the immunodominant MgpB and MgpC proteins has been suggested to be a mechanism of immune evasion of the human pathogenMycoplasma genitalium, a cause of several reproductive tract disease syndromes. Phase variation resulting in the loss of adherence has also been documented, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process and its role in pathogenesis are still poorly understood. In this study, we isolated and characterized 40 spontaneous, nonadherent phase variants fromin vitro-passagedM. genitaliumcultures. In all cases, nonadherence was associated with the loss of MgpBC protein expression, attributable to sequence changes in themgpBCexpression site. Phase variants were grouped into seven classes on the basis of the nature of the mutation. Consistent with the established role of RecA in phase variation, 31 (79.5%) variants arose via recombination with MgPa repeat regions that containmgpBCvariable sequences. The remaining mutants arose via nonsense or frameshift mutations. As expected, revertants were obtained for phase variants that were predicted to be reversible but not for those that arose via an irreversible mechanism. Furthermore, phase variants were enriched inM. genitaliumcultures exposed to antibodies reacting to the extracellular, conserved C terminus of MgpB but not in cultures exposed to antibodies reacting to an intracellular domain of MgpB or the cytoplasmic HU protein. Genetic characterization of the antibody-selected phase variants confirmed that they arose via reversible and irreversible recombination and point mutations withinmgpBC. These phase variants resisted antibody-mediated growth inhibition, suggesting that phase variation promotes immune evasion.

scholarly journals The Enigmatic Genome of an Obligate Ancient Spiroplasma Symbiont in a Hadal Holothurian

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Sheng He ◽  
Pei-Wei Zhang ◽  
Jiao-Mei Huang ◽  
Fang-Chao Zhu ◽  
Antoine Danchin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Cucumber ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mariana Trench ◽  
Sea Cucumbers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sugar Transporters ◽  
Basal Group ◽  
Microbial Toxin

ABSTRACTProtective symbiosis has been reported in many organisms, but the molecular mechanisms of the mutualistic interactions between the symbionts and their hosts are unclear. Here, we sequenced the 424-kbp genome of “CandidatusSpiroplasma holothuricola,” which dominated the hindgut microbiome of a sea cucumber, a major scavenger captured in the Mariana Trench (6,140 m depth). Phylogenetic relationships indicated that the dominant bacterium in the hindgut was derived from a basal group ofSpiroplasmaspecies. In this organism, the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of amino acids, glycolysis, and sugar transporters were lost, strongly suggesting endosymbiosis. The highly decayed genome consists of two chromosomes and harbors genes coding for proteolysis, microbial toxin, restriction-methylation systems, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), composed of threecasgenes and 76 CRISPR spacers. The holothurian host is probably protected against invading viruses from sediments by the CRISPRs/Cas and restriction systems of the endosymbiotic spiroplasma. The protective endosymbiosis indicates the important ecological role of the ancientSpiroplasmasymbiont in the maintenance of hadal ecosystems.IMPORTANCESea cucumbers are major inhabitants in hadal trenches. They collect microbes in surface sediment and remain tolerant against potential pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This study presents the genome of endosymbiotic spiroplasmas in the gut of a sea cucumber captured in the Mariana Trench. The extreme reduction of the genome and loss of essential metabolic pathways strongly support its endosymbiotic lifestyle. Moreover, a considerable part of the genome was occupied by a CRISPR/Cas system to provide immunity against viruses and antimicrobial toxin-encoding genes for the degradation of microbes. This novel species ofSpiroplasmais probably an important protective symbiont for the sea cucumbers in the hadal zone.

scholarly journals Plasmids shape the diverse accessory resistomes of Escherichia coli ST131

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun Gonzales Decano ◽  
Nghia Tran ◽  
Hawriya Al-Foori ◽  
Buthaina Al-Awadi ◽  
Leigh Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Gastrointestinal Microbiome ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Clade C

The human gut microbiome includes beneficial, commensal and pathogenic bacteria that possess antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and exchange these predominantly through conjugative plasmids. Escherichia coli is a significant component of the gastrointestinal microbiome and is typically non-pathogenic in this niche. In contrast, extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) including ST131 may occupy other environments like the urinary tract or bloodstream where they express genes enabling AMR and host cell adhesion like type 1 fimbriae. The extent to which commensal E. coli and uropathogenic ExPEC ST131 share AMR genes remains understudied at a genomic level, and we examined this here using a preterm infant resistome. We found that individual ST131 had small differences in AMR gene content relative to a larger shared resistome. Comparisons with a range of plasmids common in ST131 showed that AMR gene composition was driven by conjugation, recombination and mobile genetic elements. Plasmid pEK499 had extended regions in most ST131 Clade C isolates, and it had evidence of a co-evolutionary signal based on protein-level interactions with chromosomal gene products, as did pEK204 that had a type IV fimbrial pil operon. ST131 possessed extensive diversity of selective type 1, type IV, P and F17-like fimbriae genes that was highest in subclade C2. The structure and composition of AMR genes, plasmids and fimbriae vary widely in ST131 Clade C and this may mediate pathogenicity and infection outcomes.

scholarly journals BSGatlas: a unified Bacillus subtilis genome and transcriptome annotation atlas with enhanced information access

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Sven Geissler ◽  
Christian Anthon ◽  
Ferhat Alkan ◽  
Enrique González-Tortuero ◽  
Line Dahl Poulsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Transcription Start ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Transcript Map

A large part of our current understanding of gene regulation in Gram-positive bacteria is based on Bacillus subtilis , as it is one of the most well studied bacterial model systems. The rapid growth in data concerning its molecular and genomic biology is distributed across multiple annotation resources. Consequently, the interpretation of data from further B. subtilis experiments becomes increasingly challenging in both low- and large-scale analyses. Additionally, B. subtilis annotation of structured RNA and non-coding RNA (ncRNA), as well as the operon structure, is still lagging behind the annotation of the coding sequences. To address these challenges, we created the B. subtilis genome atlas, BSGatlas, which integrates and unifies multiple existing annotation resources. Compared to any of the individual resources, the BSGatlas contains twice as many ncRNAs, while improving the positional annotation for 70 % of the ncRNAs. Furthermore, we combined known transcription start and termination sites with lists of known co-transcribed gene sets to create a comprehensive transcript map. The combination with transcription start/termination site annotations resulted in 717 new sets of co-transcribed genes and 5335 untranslated regions (UTRs). In comparison to existing resources, the number of 5′ and 3′ UTRs increased nearly fivefold, and the number of internal UTRs doubled. The transcript map is organized in 2266 operons, which provides transcriptional annotation for 92 % of all genes in the genome compared to the at most 82 % by previous resources. We predicted an off-target-aware genome-wide library of CRISPR–Cas9 guide RNAs, which we also linked to polycistronic operons. We provide the BSGatlas in multiple forms: as a website (https://rth.dk/resources/bsgatlas/), an annotation hub for display in the UCSC genome browser, supplementary tables and standardized GFF3 format, which can be used in large scale -omics studies. By complementing existing resources, the BSGatlas supports analyses of the B. subtilis genome and its molecular biology with respect to not only non-coding genes but also genome-wide transcriptional relationships of all genes.

scholarly journals Comparative genomic insights into the epidemiology and virulence of plant pathogenic pseudomonads from Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus M. Dillon ◽  
Tatiana Ruiz-Bedoya ◽  
Cedoljub Bundalovic-Torma ◽  
Kevin M. Guttman ◽  
Haejin Kwak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Growth Promoter ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Species Complexes

Pseudomonas is a highly diverse genus that includes species that cause disease in both plants and animals. Recently, pathogenic pseudomonads from the Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas fluorescens species complexes have caused significant outbreaks in several agronomically important crops in Turkey, including tomato, citrus, artichoke and melon. We characterized 169 pathogenic Pseudomonas strains associated with recent outbreaks in Turkey via multilocus sequence analysis and whole-genome sequencing, then used comparative and evolutionary genomics to characterize putative virulence mechanisms. Most of the isolates are closely related to other plant pathogens distributed among the primary phylogroups of P. syringae , although there are significant numbers of P. fluorescens isolates, which is a species better known as a rhizosphere-inhabiting plant-growth promoter. We found that all 39 citrus blast pathogens cluster in P. syringae phylogroup 2, although strains isolated from the same host do not cluster monophyletically, with lemon, mandarin orange and sweet orange isolates all being intermixed throughout the phylogroup. In contrast, 20 tomato pith pathogens are found in two independent lineages: one in the P. syringae secondary phylogroups, and the other from the P. fluorescens species complex. These divergent pith necrosis strains lack characteristic virulence factors like the canonical tripartite type III secretion system, large effector repertoires and the ability to synthesize multiple bacterial phytotoxins, suggesting they have alternative molecular mechanisms to cause disease. These findings highlight the complex nature of host specificity among plant pathogenic pseudomonads.

scholarly journals Genomic insights into the circulation of pandemic fluoroquinolone-resistant extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli ST1193 in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quynh Nguyen ◽  
To Thi Nguyen Nguyen ◽  
Phuong Pham ◽  
Vinh Chau ◽  
Lan Phu Huong Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type

Extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) ST1193, a globally emergent fluoroquinolone-resistant clone, has become an important cause of bloodstream infections (BSIs) associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have reported the emergence of fluoroquinolone-resistant ExPEC ST1193 in Vietnam; however, limited data exist regarding the genetic structure, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants and transmission dynamics of this pandemic clone. Here, we performed genomic and phylogenetic analyses of 46 ST1193 isolates obtained from BSIs and healthy individuals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to investigate the pathogen population structure, molecular mechanisms of AMR and potential transmission patterns. We further examined the phylogenetic structure of ST1193 isolates in a global context. We found that the endemic E. coli ST1193 population was heterogeneous and highly dynamic, largely driven by multiple strain importations. Several well-supported phylogenetic clusters (C1–C6) were identified and associated with distinct bla CTX-M variants, including bla CTXM-27 (C1–C3, C5), bla CTXM-55 (C4) and bla CTXM-15 (C6). Most ST1193 isolates were multidrug-resistant and carried an extensive array of AMR genes. ST1193 isolates also exhibited the ability to acquire further resistance while circulating in Vietnam. There were phylogenetic links between ST1193 isolates from BSIs and healthy individuals, suggesting these organisms may both establish long-term colonization in the human intestinal tract and induce infections. Our study uncovers factors shaping the population structure and transmission dynamics of multidrug-resistant ST1193 in Vietnam, and highlights the urgent need for local One Health genomic surveillance to capture new emerging ExPEC clones and to better understand the origins and transmission patterns of these pathogens.

scholarly journals Bacteriophage Adherence to Mucus Mediates Preventive Protection against Pathogenic Bacteria

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel M. F. Almeida ◽  
Elina Laanto ◽  
Roghaieh Ashrafi ◽  
Lotta-Riina Sundberg
Keyword(s):  
Disease Ecology ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Bacterial Virulence ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Symbiotic Relationship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ecological Benefit ◽  
Mucosal Surfaces

ABSTRACT Metazoans were proposed to host bacteriophages on their mucosal surfaces in a symbiotic relationship, where phages provide an external immunity against bacterial infections and the metazoans provide phages a medium for interacting with bacteria. However, scarce empirical evidence and model systems have left the phage-mucus interaction poorly understood. Here, we show that phages bind both to porcine mucus and to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) primary mucus, persist up to 7 days in the mucosa, and provide protection against Flavobacterium columnare. Also, exposure to mucus changes the bacterial phenotype by increasing bacterial virulence and susceptibility to phage infections. This trade-off in bacterial virulence reveals ecological benefit of maintaining phages in the metazoan mucosal surfaces. Tests using other phage-bacterium pairs suggest that phage binding to mucus may be widespread in the biosphere, indicating its importance for disease, ecology, and evolution. This phenomenon may have significant potential to be exploited in preventive phage therapy. IMPORTANCE The mucosal surfaces of animals are habitat for microbes, including viruses. Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—were shown to be able to bind to mucus. This may result in a symbiotic relationship in which phages find bacterial hosts to infect, protecting the mucus-producing animal from bacterial infections in the process. Here, we studied phage binding on mucus and the effect of mucin on phage-bacterium interactions. The significance of our research is in showing that phage adhesion to mucus results in preventive protection against bacterial infections, which will serve as basis for the development of prophylactic phage therapy approaches. Besides, we also reveal that exposure to mucus upregulates bacterial virulence and that this is exploited by phages for infection, adding one additional layer to the metazoan-bacterium-phage biological interactions and ecology. This phenomenon might be widespread in the biosphere and thus crucial for understanding mucosal diseases, their outcome and treatment.

scholarly journals Comparative genomics of the Pseudomonas corrugata subgroup reveals high species diversity and allows the description of Pseudomonas ogarae sp. nov.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Garrido-Sanz ◽  
Miguel Redondo-Nieto ◽  
Marta Martin ◽  
Rafael Rivilla
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Pseudomonas Fluorescens ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Pseudomonas Corrugata ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting

Pseudomonas corrugata constitute one of the phylogenomic subgroups within the Pseudomonas fluorescens species complex and include both plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant pathogenic bacteria. Previous studies suggest that the species diversity of this group remains largely unexplored together with frequent misclassification of strains. Using more than 1800 sequenced Pseudomonas genomes we identified 121 genomes belonging to the P. corrugata subgroup. Intergenomic distances obtained using the genome-to-genome blast distance (GBDP) algorithm and the determination of digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were further used for phylogenomic and clustering analyses, which revealed 29 putative species clusters, of which only five correspond to currently named species within the subgroup. Comparative and functional genome-scale analyses also support the species status of these clusters. The search for PGPR and plant pathogenic determinants showed that approximately half of the genomes analysed could have a pathogenic behaviour based on the presence of a pathogenicity genetic island, while all analysed genomes possess PGPR traits. Finally, this information together with the characterization of phenotypic traits, allows the reclassification proposal of Pseudomonas fluorescens F113 as Pseudomonas ogarae sp. nov., nom rev., type strain F113T (=DSM 112162T=CECT 30235T), which is substantiated by genomic, functional genomics and phenotypic differences with their closest type strains.

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