scholarly journals Escherichia coli mutators: selection criteria and migration effect

Microbiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludovic Le Chat ◽  
Michel Fons ◽  
Francois Taddei

In silico, it has been shown that mutator alleles that increase mutation rate can be selected for by generating adaptive mutations. In vitro and in vivo, competition between wild-type bacteria and isogenic mutator mutants is consistent with this view. However, in vivo, the gain of the mutator seems to be reduced when migration is allowed. In vitro, the advantage of mutators has been described as frequency-dependent, leading to mutator advantage only when they are sufficiently frequent. Using an in vitro system, it is demonstrated that (i) the selection of mutators is frequency-independent, yet depends on at least one mutator bacterium bearing an adaptive mutation (its presence depends on chance, mutation rates and population size of mutator bacteria); (ii) on average, the mutator gain is always equal to the ratio of the adaptive mutation frequency of the mutator versus wild-type; (iii) when migration into an empty niche is allowed, the mutator benefit is reduced if migration occurs after fixation of the adaptive mutation into the wild-type population. It is concluded that in all cases, mutator gain depends directly on the ratio of bacteria carrying a beneficial mutation in mutator versus wild-type lineages.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (13) ◽  
pp. 4278-4284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerben Bouma ◽  
Siobhan Burns ◽  
Adrian J. Thrasher

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is characterized by defective cytoskeletal dynamics affecting multiple immune cell lineages, and leading to immunodeficiency and autoimmunity. The contribution of dendritic cell (DC) dysfunction to the immune dysregulation has not been defined, although both immature and mature WAS knockout (KO) DCs exhibit significant abnormalities of chemotaxis and migration. To exclude environmental confounders as a result of WAS protein (WASp) deficiency, we studied migration and priming activity of WAS KO DCs in vivo after adoptive transfer into wild-type recipient mice. Homing to draining lymph nodes was reduced and WAS KO DCs failed to localize efficiently in T-cell areas. Priming of both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes by WAS KO DCs preloaded with antigen was significantly decreased. At low doses of antigen, activation of preprimed wild-type CD4+ T lymphocytes by WAS KO DCs in vitro was also abrogated, suggesting that there is a threshold-dependent impairment even if successful DC–T cell colocalization is achieved. Our data indicate that intrinsic DC dysfunction due to WASp deficiency directly impairs the T-cell priming response in vivo, most likely as a result of inefficient migration, but also possibly influenced by suboptimal DC-mediated cognate interaction.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. e1501695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan V. Smirnov ◽  
Andrey V. Golovin ◽  
Spyros D. Chatziefthimiou ◽  
Anastasiya V. Stepanova ◽  
Yingjie Peng ◽  
...  

In vitro selection of antibodies from large repertoires of immunoglobulin (Ig) combining sites using combinatorial libraries is a powerful tool, with great potential for generating in vivo scavengers for toxins. However, addition of a maturation function is necessary to enable these selected antibodies to more closely mimic the full mammalian immune response. We approached this goal using quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations to achieve maturation in silico. We preselected A17, an Ig template, from a naïve library for its ability to disarm a toxic pesticide related to organophosphorus nerve agents. Virtual screening of 167,538 robotically generated mutants identified an optimum single point mutation, which experimentally boosted wild-type Ig scavenger performance by 170-fold. We validated the QM/MM predictions via kinetic analysis and crystal structures of mutant apo-A17 and covalently modified Ig, thereby identifying the displacement of one water molecule by an arginine as delivering this catalysis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (24) ◽  
pp. 7709-7718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Bernal ◽  
Oihane Simón ◽  
Trevor Williams ◽  
Delia Muñoz ◽  
Primitivo Caballero

ABSTRACTAChrysodeixis chalcitessingle-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus wild-type isolate from the Canary Islands, Spain, named ChchSNPV-TF1 (ChchTF1-wt), appears to have great potential as the basis for a biological insecticide for control of the pest. An improved understanding of the genotypic structure of this wild-type strain population should facilitate the selection of genotypes for inclusion in a bioinsecticidal product. Eight genetically distinct genotypes were clonedin vitro: ChchTF1-A to ChchTF1-H. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis confirmed that ChchTF1-A accounted for 36% of the genotypes in the wild-type population. In bioassays, ChchTF1-wt occlusion bodies (OBs) were significantly more pathogenic than any of the component single-genotype OBs, indicating that genotype interactions were likely responsible for the pathogenicity phenotype of wild-type OBs. However, the wild-type population was slower killing and produced higher OB yields than any of the single genotypes alone. These results strongly suggested that the ChchTF1-wt population is structured to maximize its transmission efficiency. Experimental OB mixtures and cooccluded genotype mixtures containing the most abundant and the rarest genotypes, at frequencies similar to those at which they were isolated, revealed a mutualistic interaction that restored the pathogenicity of OBs. In OB and cooccluded mixtures containing only the most abundant genotypes, ChchTF1-ABC, OB pathogenicity was even greater than that of wild-type OBs. The ChchTF1-ABC cooccluded mixture killed larvae 33 h faster than the wild-type population and remained genotypically and biologically stable throughout five successive passagesin vivo. In conclusion, the ChchTF1-ABC mixture shows great potential as the active ingredient of a bioinsecticide to controlC. chalcitesin the Canary Islands.


2005 ◽  
Vol 168 (6) ◽  
pp. 955-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Ehrenreiter ◽  
Daniela Piazzolla ◽  
Vanishree Velamoor ◽  
Izabela Sobczak ◽  
J. Victor Small ◽  
...  

Raf kinases relay signals inducing proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The Raf-1 isoform has been extensively studied as the upstream kinase linking Ras activation to the MEK/ERK module. Recently, however, genetic experiments have shown that Raf-1 plays an essential role in counteracting apoptosis, and that it does so independently of its ability to activate MEK. By conditional gene ablation, we now show that Raf-1 is required for normal wound healing in vivo and for the migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. Raf-1–deficient cells show a symmetric, contracted appearance, characterized by cortical actin bundles and by a disordered vimentin cytoskeleton. These defects are due to the hyperactivity and incorrect localization of the Rho-effector Rok-α to the plasma membrane. Raf-1 physically associates with Rok-α in wild-type (WT) cells, and reintroduction of either WT or kinase-dead Raf-1 in knockout fibroblasts rescues their defects in shape and migration. Thus, Raf-1 plays an essential, kinase-independent function as a spatial regulator of Rho downstream signaling during migration.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 718-720
Author(s):  
Lucia Corina Dima-Cozma ◽  
Sebastian Cozma ◽  
Delia Hinganu ◽  
Cristina Mihaela Ghiciuc ◽  
Florin Mitu

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the primary mediators of extracellular remodeling and their properties are useful in diagnostic evaluation and treatment. They are zinc-dependent proteases. MMPs have been involved in the mechanisms of atherosclerosis in various arterial areas, ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and aortic aneurysms. Recently, MMP9 has been implicated in dyslipidemia and cholesterol synthesis by the liver. Increased MMP expression and activity has been associated with neointimal arterial lesions and migration of smooth muscle cells after arterial balloon dilation, while MMP inhibition decreases smooth muscle cell migration in vivo and in vitro.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianye Xu ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Zongpu Zhang ◽  
Zijie Gao ◽  
Yanhua Qi ◽  
...  

AbstractExosomes participate in intercellular communication and glioma microenvironment modulation, but the exact mechanisms by which glioma-derived exosomes (GDEs) promote the generation of the immunosuppressive microenvironment are still unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of GDEs on autophagy, the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and glioma progression. Compared with normoxic glioma-derived exosomes (N-GDEs), hypoxic glioma-derived exosomes (H-GDEs) markedly facilitated autophagy and M2-like macrophage polarization, which subsequently promoted glioma proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses indicated that interleukin 6 (IL-6) and miR-155-3p were highly expressed in H-GDEs. Further experiments showed that IL-6 and miR-155-3p induced M2-like macrophage polarization via the IL-6-pSTAT3-miR-155-3p-autophagy-pSTAT3 positive feedback loop, which promotes glioma progression. Our study clarifies a mechanism by which hypoxia and glioma influence autophagy and M2-like macrophage polarization via exosomes, which could advance the formation of the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Our findings suggest that IL-6 and miR-155-3p may be novel biomarkers for diagnosing glioma and that treatments targeting autophagy and the STAT3 pathway may contribute to antitumor immunotherapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Zhaohui Zhong ◽  
Mei Li ◽  
Jingyi Chen ◽  
Tingru Lin ◽  
...  

AbstractAbnormally expressed and/or phosphorylated Abelson interactor 1 (ABI1) participates in the metastasis and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). ABI1 presents as at least 12 transcript variants (TSVs) by mRNA alternative splicing, but it is unknown which of them is involved in CRC metastasis and prognosis. Here, we firstly identified ABI1-TSV-11 as a key TSV affecting the metastasis and prognosis of left-sided colorectal cancer (LsCC) and its elevated expression is related to lymph node metastasis and shorter overall survival (OS) in LsCC by analyzing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and TSVdb. Secondly, ABI1-TSV-11 overexpression promoted LoVo and SW480 cells adhesion and migration in vitro, and accelerated LoVo and SW480 cells lung metastasis in vivo. Finally, mechanism investigations revealed that ABI1-isoform-11 interacted with epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (ESP8) and regulated actin dynamics to affect LoVo and SW480 cells biological behaviors. Taken together, our data demonstrated that ABI1-TSV-11 plays an oncogenic role in LsCC, it is an independent risk factor of prognosis and may be a potential molecular marker and therapeutic target in LsCC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenghui Cheng ◽  
Yawen Zhang ◽  
Yinchao Tian ◽  
Yuhan Chen ◽  
Fei Ding ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Schwann cells (SCs) play a crucial role in the repair of peripheral nerves. This is due to their ability to proliferate, migrate, and provide trophic support to axon regrowth. During peripheral nerve injury, SCs de-differentiate and reprogram to gain the ability to repair nerves. Cysteine-rich 61 (Cyr61/CCN1) is a member of the CCN family of matrix cell proteins and have been reported to be abundant in the secretome of repair mediating SCs. In this study we investigate the function of Cyr61 in SCs. Results We observed Cyr61 was expressed both in vivo and in vitro. The promoting effect of Cyr61 on SC proliferation and migration was through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. SCs expressed αvβ3 integrin and the effect of Cyr61 on SC proliferation and migration could be blocked via αvβ3 integrin. Cyr61 could influence c-Jun protein expression in cultured SCs. Conclusions In this study, we found that Cyr61 promotes SC proliferation and migration via αvβ3 integrin and regulates c-Jun expression. Our study contributes to the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying SC’s function during nerve injury, and thus, may facilitate the regeneration of peripheral nerves after injury.


2020 ◽  
Vol 160 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 650-658
Author(s):  
Yichen Le ◽  
Yi He ◽  
Meirong Bai ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Jiaxue Wu ◽  
...  

Ajuba has been found to be mutated or aberrantly regulated in several human cancers and plays important roles in cancer progression via different signaling pathways. However, little is known about the role of Ajuba in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we found an upregulation of Ajuba expression in HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues, while a poor prognosis was observed in HCC patients with high Ajuba expression. Knockout of Ajuba in HCC cells inhibited cell growth in vitro and in vivo, suppressed cell migration, and enhanced the cell apoptosis under stress. Moreover, re-expression of Ajuba in Ajuba-deficient cells could restore the phenotype of Ajuba-deficient cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that Ajuba is upregulated in HCC and promotes cell growth and migration of HCC cells, suggesting that Ajuba could possibly be a new target for HCC diagnosis and treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Merricka C. Livingstone ◽  
Alexis A. Bitzer ◽  
Alish Giri ◽  
Kun Luo ◽  
Rajeshwer S. Sankhala ◽  
...  

AbstractPlasmodium falciparum malaria contributes to a significant global disease burden. Circumsporozoite protein (CSP), the most abundant sporozoite stage antigen, is a prime vaccine candidate. Inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CSP map to either a short junctional sequence or the central (NPNA)n repeat region. We compared in vitro and in vivo activities of six CSP-specific mAbs derived from human recipients of a recombinant CSP vaccine RTS,S/AS01 (mAbs 317 and 311); an irradiated whole sporozoite vaccine PfSPZ (mAbs CIS43 and MGG4); or individuals exposed to malaria (mAbs 580 and 663). RTS,S mAb 317 that specifically binds the (NPNA)n epitope, had the highest affinity and it elicited the best sterile protection in mice. The most potent inhibitor of sporozoite invasion in vitro was mAb CIS43 which shows dual-specific binding to the junctional sequence and (NPNA)n. In vivo mouse protection was associated with the mAb reactivity to the NANPx6 peptide, the in vitro inhibition of sporozoite invasion activity, and kinetic parameters measured using intact mAbs or their Fab fragments. Buried surface area between mAb and its target epitope was also associated with in vivo protection. Association and disconnects between in vitro and in vivo readouts has important implications for the design and down-selection of the next generation of CSP based interventions.


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