scholarly journals Structural studies on the Clostridium perfringens conjugation system

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C581-C581
Author(s):  
Von Torres ◽  
Jessica Wisniewski ◽  
Julian Rood ◽  
James Whisstock ◽  
Daouda Traore
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Perfringens ◽  
Mobile Genetic Element ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Dna Transfer ◽  
Conjugation System ◽  
Membrane Channel ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Insight Into

Conjugation is the mechanism by which two bacteria share genetic information. This process relies on the direct transfer of mobile genetic element via a trans-membrane channel between the donor and the recipient. Although this mechanism has been extensively studied in gram-negative organism, very little in known on how this process takes place in their gram-positive counterpart. To address this important question in bacterial evolution, we use the tetracycline resistance plasmid pCW3 from Clostridium perfringens as study model. The pCW3 plasmid encodes 11 proteins necessary for the assembly the C. perfingens conjugation system. Here, I will focus on the relaxosome complex, which is the starting point of DNA transfer. We identified two protein (IntP and TcpK) involved in the processing of the DNA. Sequence analysis revealed that IntP was a potential Tyrosine recombinase and TcpK, directly upstream of IntP was identified a potential accessory protein of the relaxosome. We cloned, expressed and purified IntP and TcpK. These proteins were then subject to biochemical and biophysical characterizations. I will first present why these two proteins are required for efficient conjugative transfer and how they contribute to DNA processing. Then I will present the crystal structure of TcpK and discuss its interaction with IntP and other components of pCW3 apparatus. This study brings a further insight into this important mechanism of DNA transfer in Gram-positive bacteria.

Mode of action of nisin on Escherichia coli

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-168
Author(s):  
Imelda J. Galván Márquez ◽  
Bruce McKay ◽  
Alex Wong ◽  
James J. Cheetham ◽  
Cody Bean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Genetic Interactions ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Chemical Genetic ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Knockout Mutants ◽  
Membrane Envelope ◽  
Insight Into

Nisin is a class I polycyclic bacteriocin produced by the bacterium Lactococcus lactis, which is used extensively as a food additive to inhibit the growth of foodborne Gram-positive bacteria. Nisin also inhibits growth of Gram-negative bacteria when combined with membrane-disrupting chelators such as citric acid. To gain insight into nisin’s mode of action, we analyzed chemical–genetic interactions and identified nisin-sensitive Escherichia coli strains in the Keio library of knockout mutants. The most sensitive mutants fell into two main groups. The first group accords with the previously proposed mode of action based on studies with Gram-positive bacteria, whereby nisin interacts with factors involved in cell wall, membrane, envelope biogenesis. We identified an additional, novel mode of action for nisin based on the second group of sensitive mutants that involves cell cycle and DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Further analyses supported these two distinct modes of action.

scholarly journals Structure-Activity Relationship of the Aminomethylcyclines and the Discovery of Omadacycline

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 7044-7053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Honeyman ◽  
Mohamed Ismail ◽  
Mark L. Nelson ◽  
Beena Bhatia ◽  
Todd E. Bowser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
New Antibiotics ◽  
Protection Mechanisms ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Ribosomal Protection

ABSTRACTA series of novel tetracycline derivatives were synthesized with the goal of creating new antibiotics that would be unaffected by the known tetracycline resistance mechanisms. New C-9-position derivatives of minocycline (the aminomethylcyclines [AMCs]) were tested forin vitroactivity against Gram-positive strains containing known tetracycline resistance mechanisms of ribosomal protection (Tet M inStaphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis, andStreptococcus pneumoniae) and efflux (Tet K inS. aureusand Tet L inE. faecalis). A number of aminomethylcyclines with potentin vitroactivity (MIC range of ≤0.06 to 2.0 μg/ml) were identified. These novel tetracyclines were more active against one or more of the resistant strains than the reference antibiotics tested (MIC range, 16 to 64 μg/ml). The AMC derivatives were active against bacteria resistant to tetracycline by both efflux and ribosomal protection mechanisms. This study identified the AMCs as a novel class of antibiotics evolved from tetracycline that exhibit potent activityin vitroagainst tetracycline-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogenic strains of methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). One derivative, 9-neopentylaminomethylminocycline (generic name omadacycline), was identified and is currently in human trials for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).

scholarly journals A Novel Mobilizing Tool Based on the Conjugative Transfer System of the IncM Plasmid pCTX-M3

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał Dmowski ◽  
Izabela Kern-Zdanowicz
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Conjugative Transfer ◽  
Conjugation System ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Mobilizable Plasmid

ABSTRACT Conjugative plasmids are the main players in horizontal gene transfer in Gram-negative bacteria. DNA transfer tools constructed on the basis of such plasmids enable gene manipulation even in strains of clinical or environmental origin, which are often difficult to work with. The conjugation system of the IncM plasmid pCTX-M3 isolated from a clinical strain of Citrobacter freundii has been shown to enable efficient mobilization of oriTpCTX-M3-bearing plasmids into a broad range of hosts comprising Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria. We constructed a helper plasmid, pMOBS, mediating such mobilization with an efficiency up to 1,000-fold higher than that achieved with native pCTX-M3. We also constructed Escherichia coli donor strains with chromosome-integrated conjugative transfer genes: S14 and S15, devoid of one putative regulator (orf35) of the pCTX-M3 tra genes, and S25 and S26, devoid of two putative regulators (orf35 and orf36) of the pCTX-M3 tra genes. Strains S14 and S15 and strains S25 and S26 are, respectively, up to 100 and 1,000 times more efficient in mobilization than pCTX-M3. Moreover, they also enable plasmid mobilization into the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis. Additionally, the constructed E. coli strains carried no antibiotic resistance genes that are present in pCTX-M3 to facilitate manipulations with antibiotic-resistant recipient strains, such as those of clinical origin. To demonstrate possible application of the constructed tool, an antibacterial conjugation-based system was designed. Strain S26 was used for introduction of a mobilizable plasmid coding for a toxin, resulting in the elimination of over 90% of recipient E. coli cells. IMPORTANCE The conjugation of donor and recipient bacterial cells resulting in conjugative transfer of mobilizable plasmids is the preferred method enabling the introduction of DNA into strains for which other transfer methods are difficult to establish (e.g., clinical strains). We have constructed E. coli strains carrying the conjugation system of the IncM plasmid pCTX-M3 integrated into the chromosome. To increase the mobilization efficiency up to 1,000-fold, two putative regulators of this system, orf35 and orf36, were disabled. The constructed strains broaden the repertoire of tools for the introduction of DNA into the Gram-negative Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria, as well as into Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis. The antibacterial procedure based on conjugation with the use of the orf35- and orf36-deficient strain lowered the recipient cell number by over 90% owing to the mobilizable plasmid-encoded toxin.

Influence of Cell Wall Composition on the Fossilisation of Bacteria and the Implications for the Search for Early Life Forms

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 491-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Westall
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Cation Binding ◽  
Positive Bacterium ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Hydrothermal Sediments ◽  
Identification Of Bacteria ◽  
The Difference

AbstractThe oldest cell-like structures on Earth are preserved in silicified lagoonal, shallow sea or hydrothermal sediments, such as some Archean formations in Western Australia and South Africa. Previous studies concentrated on the search for organic fossils in Archean rocks. Observations of silicified bacteria (as silica minerals) are scarce for both the Precambrian and the Phanerozoic, but reports of mineral bacteria finds, in general, are increasing. The problems associated with the identification of authentic fossil bacteria and, if possible, closer identification of bacteria type can, in part, be overcome by experimental fossilisation studies. These have shown that not all bacteria fossilise in the same way and, indeed, some seem to be very resistent to fossilisation. This paper deals with a transmission electron microscope investigation of the silicification of four species of bacteria commonly found in the environment. The Gram positiveBacillus laterosporusand its spore produced a robust, durable crust upon silicification, whereas the Gram negativePseudomonas fluorescens, Ps. vesicularis, andPs. acidovoranspresented delicately preserved walls. The greater amount of peptidoglycan, containing abundant metal cation binding sites, in the cell wall of the Gram positive bacterium, probably accounts for the difference in the mode of fossilisation. The Gram positive bacteria are, therefore, probably most likely to be preserved in the terrestrial and extraterrestrial rock record.

Microanatomy of the Periplasm of Bacillus Licheniformis

1971 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 262-263
Author(s):  
B.K. Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Bacillus Licheniformis ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Periplasmic Space ◽  
Modified Technique ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

Periplasm of bacteria is the space outside the permeability barrier of plasma membrane but enclosed by the cell wall. The contents of this special milieu exterior could be regulated by the plasma membrane from the internal, and by the cell wall from the external environment of the cell. Unlike the gram-negative organism, the presence of this space in gram-positive bacteria is still controversial because it cannot be clearly demonstrated. We have shown the importance of some periplasmic bodies in the secretion of penicillinase from Bacillus licheniformis.In negatively stained specimens prepared by a modified technique (Figs. 1 and 2), periplasmic space (PS) contained two kinds of structures: (i) fibrils (F, 100 Å) running perpendicular to the cell wall from the protoplast and (ii) an array of vesicles of various sizes (V), which seem to have evaginated from the protoplast.

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