scholarly journals Cholesterol Enhances Helicobacter pylori Resistance to Antibiotics and LL-37

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 2897-2904 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. McGee ◽  
Alika E. George ◽  
Elizabeth A. Trainor ◽  
Katherine E. Horton ◽  
Ellen Hildebrandt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe human gastric pathogenHelicobacter pyloristeals host cholesterol, modifies it by glycosylation, and incorporates the glycosylated cholesterol onto its surface via a cholesterol glucosyltransferase, encoded bycgt. The impact of cholesterol onH. pyloriantimicrobial resistance is unknown.H. pyloristrain 26695 was cultured in Ham's F12 chemically defined medium in the presence or absence of cholesterol. The two cultures were subjected to overnight incubations with serial 2-fold dilutions of 12 antibiotics, six antifungals, and seven antimicrobial peptides (including LL-37 cathelicidin and human alpha and beta defensins). Of 25 agents tested, cholesterol-grownH. pyloricells were substantially more resistant (over 100-fold) to nine agents than wereH. pyloricells grown without cholesterol. These nine agents included eight antibiotics and LL-37.H. pyloriwas susceptible to the antifungal drug pimaricin regardless of cholesterol presence in the culture medium. Acgtmutant retained cholesterol-dependent resistance to most antimicrobials but displayed increased susceptibility to colistin, suggesting an involvement of lipid A. Mutation oflpxE, encoding lipid A1-phosphatase, led to loss of cholesterol-dependent resistance to polymyxin B and colistin but not other antimicrobials tested. Thecgtmutant was severely attenuated in gerbils, indicating that glycosylation is essentialin vivo. These findings suggest that cholesterol plays a vital role in virulence and contributes to the intrinsic antibiotic resistance ofH. pylori.

2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 3534-3551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiebke Behrens ◽  
Tobias Schweinitzer ◽  
Joena Bal ◽  
Martina Dorsch ◽  
André Bleich ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHelicobacter pylorimaintains colonization in its human host using a limited set of taxis sensors. TlpD is a proposed energy taxis sensor ofH. pyloriand dominant under environmental conditions of low bacterial energy yield. We studied the impact ofH. pyloriTlpD on colonizationin vivousing a gerbil infection model which closely mimics the gastric physiology of humans. A gerbil-adaptedH. pyloristrain, HP87 P7, showed energy-dependent behavior, while its isogenictlpDmutant lost it. A TlpD-complemented strain regained the wild-type phenotype. Infection of gerbils with the complemented strain demonstrated that TlpD is important for persistent infection in the antrum and corpus and suggested a role of TlpD in horizontal navigation and persistent corpus colonization. As a part of the full characterization of the model and to gain insight into the genetic basis ofH. pyloriadaptation to the gerbil, we determined the complete genome sequences of the gerbil-adapted strain HP87 P7, two HP87 P7tlpDmutants before and after gerbil passage, and the original human isolate, HP87. The integrity of the genome, including that of a functionalcagpathogenicity island, was maintained after gerbil adaptation. Genetic and phenotypic differences between the strains were observed. Major differences between the gerbil-adapted strain and the human isolate emerged, including evidence of recent recombination. Passage of thetlpDmutant through the gerbil selected for gain-of-function variation in a fucosyltransferase gene,futC(HP0093). In conclusion, a gerbil-adaptedH. pyloristrain with a stable genome has helped to establish that TlpD has important functions for persistent colonization in the stomach.


mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adria Carbo ◽  
Danyvid Olivares-Villagómez ◽  
Raquel Hontecillas ◽  
Josep Bassaganya-Riera ◽  
Rupesh Chaturvedi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe development of gastritis duringHelicobacter pyloriinfection is dependent on an activated adaptive immune response orchestrated by T helper (Th) cells. However, the relative contributions of the Th1 and Th17 subsets to gastritis and control of infection are still under investigation. To investigate the role of interleukin-21 (IL-21) in the gastric mucosa duringH. pyloriinfection, we combined mathematical modeling of CD4+T cell differentiation within vivomechanistic studies. We infected IL-21-deficient and wild-type mice withH. pyloristrain SS1 and assessed colonization, gastric inflammation, cellular infiltration, and cytokine profiles. ChronicallyH. pylori-infected IL-21-deficient mice had higherH. pyloricolonization, significantly less gastritis, and reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines compared to these parameters in infected wild-type littermates. Thesein vivodata were used to calibrate anH. pyloriinfection-dependent, CD4+T cell-specific computational model, which then described the mechanism by which IL-21 activates the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17 during chronicH. pyloriinfection. The model predicted activated expression of T-bet and RORγt and the phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT1 and suggested a potential role of IL-21 in the modulation of IL-10. Driven by our modeling-derived predictions, we found reduced levels of CD4+splenocyte-specifictbx21androrcexpression, reduced phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, and an increase in CD4+T cell-specific IL-10 expression inH. pylori-infected IL-21-deficient mice. Our results indicate that IL-21 regulates Th1 and Th17 effector responses during chronicH. pyloriinfection in a STAT1- and STAT3-dependent manner, therefore playing a major role controllingH. pyloriinfection and gastritis.IMPORTANCEHelicobacter pyloriis the dominant member of the gastric microbiota in more than 50% of the world’s population.H. pyloricolonization has been implicated in gastritis and gastric cancer, as infection withH. pyloriis the single most common risk factor for gastric cancer. Current data suggest that, in addition to bacterial virulence factors, the magnitude and types of immune responses influence the outcome of colonization and chronic infection. This study uses a combined computational and experimental approach to investigate how IL-21, a proinflammatory T cell-derived cytokine, maintains the chronic proinflammatory T cell immune response driving chronic gastritis duringH. pyloriinfection. This research will also provide insight into a myriad of other infectious and immune disorders in which IL-21 is increasingly recognized to play a central role. The use of IL-21-related therapies may provide treatment options for individuals chronically colonized withH. pylorias an alternative to aggressive antibiotics.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (10) ◽  
pp. 3374-3383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Stead ◽  
An Tran ◽  
Donald Ferguson ◽  
Sara McGrath ◽  
Robert Cotter ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The lipid A domain anchors lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the outer membrane and is typically a disaccharide of glucosamine that is both acylated and phosphorylated. The core and O-antigen carbohydrate domains are linked to the lipid A moiety through the eight-carbon sugar 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid known as Kdo. Helicobacter pylori LPS has been characterized as having a single Kdo residue attached to lipid A, predicting in vivo a monofunctional Kdo transferase (WaaA). However, using an in vitro assay system we demonstrate that H. pylori WaaA is a bifunctional enzyme transferring two Kdo sugars to the tetra-acylated lipid A precursor lipid IVA. In the present work we report the discovery of a Kdo hydrolase in membranes of H. pylori capable of removing the outer Kdo sugar from Kdo2-lipid A. Enzymatic removal of the Kdo group was dependent upon prior removal of the 1-phosphate group from the lipid A domain, and mass spectrometric analysis of the reaction product confirmed the enzymatic removal of a single Kdo residue by the Kdo-trimming enzyme. This is the first characterization of a Kdo hydrolase involved in the modification of gram-negative bacterial LPS.


2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (23) ◽  
pp. 7351-7359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra W. Debowski ◽  
Phebe Verbrugghe ◽  
Miriam Sehnal ◽  
Barry James Marshall ◽  
Mohammed Benghezal

ABSTRACTDeletion mutants and animal models have been instrumental in the study ofHelicobacter pyloripathogenesis. Conditional mutants, however, would enable the study of the temporal gene requirement duringH. pyloricolonization and chronic infection. To achieve this goal, we adapted theEscherichia coliTn10-derived tetracycline-inducible expression system for use inH. pylori. TheureApromoter was modified by inserting one or twotetoperators to generate tetracycline-responsive promoters, nameduPtetO, and these promoters were then fused to the reportergfpmut2 and inserted into different loci. The expression of the tetracycline repressor (tetR) was placed under the control of one of three promoters and inserted into the chromosome. Conditional expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in strains harboringtetRanduPtetO-GFPwas characterized by measuring GFP activity and by immunoblotting. The twotet-responsiveuPtetOpromoters differ in strength, and induction of these promoters was inducer concentration and time dependent, with maximum expression achieved after induction for 8 to 16 h. Furthermore, the chromosomal location of theuPtetO-GFPconstruct and the nature of the promoter driving expression oftetRinfluenced the strength of theuPtetOpromoters upon induction. Integration ofuPtetO-GFPandtetRconstructs at different genomic loci was stablein vivoand did not affect colonization. Finally, we demonstrate tetracycline-dependent induction of GFP expressionin vivoduring chronic infection. These results open new experimental avenues for dissectingH. pyloripathogenesis using animal models and for testing the roles of specific genes in colonization of, adaptation to, and persistence in the host.


2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 1841-1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Senkovich ◽  
Shantelle Ceaser ◽  
David J. McGee ◽  
Traci L. Testerman

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori chronically infects the gastric mucosa, where it can be found free in mucus, attached to cells, and intracellularly. H. pylori requires iron for growth, but the sources of iron used in vivo are unclear. In previous studies, the inability to culture H. pylori without serum made it difficult to determine which host iron sources might be used by H. pylori. Using iron-deficient, chemically defined medium, we determined that H. pylori can bind and extract iron from hemoglobin, transferrin, and lactoferrin. H. pylori can use both bovine and human versions of both lactoferrin and transferrin, contrary to previous reports. Unlike other pathogens, H. pylori preferentially binds the iron-free forms of transferrin and lactoferrin, which limits its ability to extract iron from normal serum, which is not iron saturated. This novel strategy may have evolved to permit limited growth in host tissue during persistent colonization while excessive injury or iron depletion is prevented.


2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. F. Xu ◽  
D. W. Lian ◽  
Y. Q. Chen ◽  
Y. F. Cai ◽  
Y. F. Zheng ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT This study further evaluated the in vitro and in vivo anti-Helicobacter pylori activities and potential underlying mechanism of patchouli alcohol (PA), a tricyclic sesquiterpene. In the in vitro assay, the capacities of PA to inhibit and kill H. pylori were tested on three standard strains at different pH values and on 12 clinical isolates. The effects of PA on H. pylori adhesion (and its alpA, alpB, and babA genes), motility (and its flaA and flaB genes), ultrastructure, and flagellation were investigated. Moreover, the H. pylori resistance to and postantibiotic effect (PAE) of PA were determined. Furthermore, the in vivo effects of PA on H. pylori eradication and gastritis were examined. Results showed that MICs of PA against three standard strains (pH 5.3 to 9) and 12 clinical isolates were 25 to 75 and 12.5 to 50 μg/ml, respectively. The killing kinetics of PA were time and concentration dependent, and its minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were 25 to 75 μg/ml. In addition, H. pylori adhesion, motility, ultrastructure, and flagellation were significantly suppressed. PA also remarkably inhibited the expression of adhesion genes (alpA and alpB) and motility genes (flaA and flaB). Furthermore, PA treatment caused a longer PAE and less bacterial resistance than clarithromycin and metronidazole. The in vivo study showed that PA can effectively eradicate H. pylori, inhibit gastritis, and suppress the expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS]). In conclusion, PA can efficiently kill H. pylori, interfere with its infection process, and attenuate gastritis with less bacterial resistance, making it a potential candidate for new drug development.


2012 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 580-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane L. Benoit ◽  
Erica F. Miller ◽  
Robert J. Maier

ABSTRACTThe transition metal nickel (Ni) is critical for the pathogenicity ofHelicobacter pylori. Indeed the element is a required component of two enzymes, hydrogenase and urease, that have been shown to be important forin vivocolonization of the host gastric mucosa. Urease accounts for up to 10% of the total cellularH. pyloriprotein content, and therefore the bacterial Ni demand is very high.H. pyloripossess two small and abundant histidine-rich, Ni-binding proteins, Hpn and Hpn-like, whose physiological role in the host have not been investigated. In this study, special husbandry conditions were used to control Ni levels in the host (mouse), including the use of Ni-free versus Ni-supplemented food. The efficacy of each diet was confirmed by measuring the Ni concentrations in sera of mice fed with either diet. Colonization levels (based on rank tests) of theΔhpn Δhpn-like double mutants isolated from the mice provided Ni-deficient chow were statistically lower than those for mice given Ni in their diet. In contrast,H. pyloriwild-type colonization levels were similar in both host groups (e.g., regardless of Ni levels). Our results indicate that the gastric pathogenH. pylorican utilize stored Ni via defined histidine-rich proteins to aid colonization of the host.


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 4594-4607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suchandra Goswami ◽  
Rajendra S. Bhakuni ◽  
Annalakshmi Chinniah ◽  
Anirban Pal ◽  
Sudip K. Kar ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe antimalarial drug artemisinin fromArtemisia annuademonstrated remarkably strong activity againstHelicobacter pylori, the pathogen responsible for peptic ulcer diseases. In an effort to develop a novel antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agent containing such a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide, a series of analogues (2 natural and 15 semisynthetic molecules), including eight newly synthesized compounds, were investigated against clinical and standard strains ofH. pylori. The antimicrobial spectrum against 10H. pyloristrains and a few other bacterial and fungal strains indicated specificity against the ulcer causing organism. Of five promising molecules, a newly synthesized ether derivative β-artecyclopropylmether was found to be the most potent compound, which exhibited MIC range, MIC90, and minimum bactericidal concentration range values of 0.25 to 1.0 μg/ml, 1.0 μg/ml, and 1 to 16 μg/ml, respectively, against both resistant and sensitive strains ofH. pylori. The molecule demonstrated strong bactericidal kinetics with extensive morphological degeneration, retained functional efficacy at stomach acidic pH unlike clarithromycin, did not elicit drug resistance unlike metronidazole, and imparted sensitivity to resistant strains. It is not cytotoxic and exhibitsin vivopotentiality to reduce theH. pyloriburden in a chronic infection model. Thus, β-artecyclopropylmether could be a lead candidate for anti-H. pyloritherapeutics. Since the recurrence of gastroduodenal ulcers is believed to be mainly due to antibiotic resistance of the commensal organismH. pylori, development of a candidate drug from this finding is warranted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Di ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Lei Cao ◽  
Ting-ting Huang ◽  
Jun-xia Zhang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is an important risk factor for gastric ulcers. However, antibacterial therapies increase the resistance rate and decrease the eradication rate of H. pylori. Inspired by the microaerophilic characteristics of H. pylori, we aimed at effectively establishing an oxygen-enriched environment to eradicate and prevent the recurrence of H. pylori. The effect and the mechanism of an oxygen-enriched environment in eradicating H. pylori and preventing the recurrence were explored in vitro and in vivo. During oral administration and after drug withdrawal, H. pylori counts were evaluated by Giemsa staining in animal cohorts. An oxygen-enriched environment in which H. pylori could not survive was successfully established by adding hydrogen peroxide into several solutions and rabbit gastric juice. Hydrogen peroxide effectively killed H. pylori in Columbia blood agar and special peptone broth. Minimum inhibition concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide were both relatively stable after promotion of resistance for 30 generations, indicating that hydrogen peroxide did not easily promote resistance in H. pylori. In models of Mongolian gerbils and Kunming mice, hydrogen peroxide has been shown to significantly eradicate and effectively prevent the recurrence of H. pylori without toxicity and damage to the gastric mucosa. The mechanism of hydrogen peroxide causing H. pylori death was related to the disruption of bacterial cell membranes. The oxygen-enriched environment achieved by hydrogen peroxide eradicates and prevents the recurrence of H. pylori by damaging bacterial cell membranes. Hydrogen peroxide thus provides an attractive candidate for anti-H. pylori treatment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miha Skvarc ◽  
Andreja Natasa Kopitar ◽  
Janko Kos ◽  
Natasa Obermajer ◽  
Bojan Tepes

The immune response toHelicobacter pyloriimportantly determines the pathogenesis of infection as well as the success of antibiotic eradication of the bacteria. Strains ofH. pyloriwere gathered from 14 patients who failed to eradicateH. pyloriinfection with antibiotics—therapy resistant strains (TRS)—or from patients who were able to eradicateH. pyloriinfection—therapy susceptible strains (TSS). The THP-1 cells were stimulated withH. pyloriantigens. Cathepsin X expression on THP-1 cells and concentration of cytokines in the supernatant of THP-1 cells were measured with a flow cytometer. TSSH. pyloriantigens increased the proportion of cathepsin X positive cells compared to TRSH. pyloriantigens. TSSH. pyloriantigens induced higher secretion of IL-12 and IL-6 compared to TRSH. pyloriantigens (P<0.001; 0.02). Polymyxin B, a lipid A inhibitor, lowered the secretion of IL-12 and IL-6 in TRS and TSS. We demonstrated aH. pyloristrain-dependent cathepsin X and cytokine expression that can be associated withH. pyloriresistance to eradication due to lack of effective immune response. Differences in lipid A ofH. pylorimight have an influence on the insufficient immune response, especially on phagocytosis.


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