Resuscitation-Promoting Factors Are Required for Mycobacterium smegmatis Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT Resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs) have previously been shown to act as growth-stimulatory molecules via their lysozyme-like activity on peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall. In this study, we investigated the ability of Mycobacterium smegmatis strains lacking rpf genes to form biofilms and tested their susceptibilities to cell wall-targeting agents. M. smegmatis contains four distinct rpf homologues, namely, MSMEG_5700 (rpfA), MSMEG_5439 (rpfB), MSMEG_4640 (rpfE2), and MSMEG_4643 (rpfE). During axenic growth of the wild-type strain, all four mRNA transcripts were expressed to various degrees, but the expression of MSMEG_4643 was significantly greater during exponential growth. Similarly, all rpf mRNA transcripts could be detected in biofilms grown for 7, 14, and 28 days, with MSMEG_4643 expressed at the highest abundance after 7 days. In-frame unmarked deletion mutants (single and combinatorial) were generated and displayed altered colony morphologies and the inability to form typical biofilms. Moreover, any strain lacking rpfA and rpfB simultaneously exhibited increased susceptibility to rifampin, vancomycin, and SDS. Exogenous Rpf supplementation in the form of culture filtrate failed to restore biofilm formation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of peptidoglycan (PG) suggested a reduction in 4-3 cross-linked PG in the ΔrpfABEE2 mutant strain. In addition, the level of PG-repeat units terminating in 1,6-anhydroMurNAc appeared to be significantly reduced in the quadruple rpf mutant. Collectively, our data have shown that Rpfs play an important role in biofilm formation, possibly through alterations in PG cross-linking and the production of signaling molecules. IMPORTANCE The cell wall of pathogenic mycobacteria is composed of peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan, mycolic acids, and an outer capsule. This inherent complexity renders it resistant to many antibiotics. Consequently, its biosynthesis and remodeling during growth directly impact viability. Resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs), enzymes with lytic transglycosylase activity, have been associated with the revival of dormant cells and subsequent resumption of vegetative growth. Mycobacterium smegmatis, a soil saprophyte and close relative of the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, encodes four distinct Rpfs. Herein, we assessed the relationship between Rpfs and biofilm formation, which is used as a model to study drug tolerance and bacterial signaling in mycobacteria. We demonstrated that progressive deletion of rpf genes hampered the development of biofilms and reduced drug tolerance. These effects were accompanied by a reduction in muropeptide production and altered peptidoglycan cross-linking. Collectively, these observations point to an important role for Rpfs in mycobacterial communication and drug tolerance.

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Two DD-Carboxypeptidases fromMycobacterium smegmatisAffect Cell Surface Properties through Regulation of Peptidoglycan Cross-Linking and Glycopeptidolipids

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00760-17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 200 (14) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Satya Deo Pandey ◽

Shilpa Pal ◽

Ganesh Kumar N ◽

Ankita Bansal ◽

Sathi Mallick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Surface ◽

Mycobacterium Smegmatis ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Surface Lipid ◽

Cross Link ◽

Content Type ◽

Murine Macrophages ◽

Cross Links ◽

Link Formation

ABSTRACTDuring the peptidoglycan (PG) maturation of mycobacteria, the glycan strands are interlinked by both 3-3 (between twomeso-diaminopimelic acids [meso-DAPs]) and 4-3 cross-links (betweend-Ala andmeso-DAP), though there is a predominance (60 to 80%) of 3-3 cross-links. Thedd-carboxypeptidases (dd-CPases) act on pentapeptides to generate tetrapeptides that are used byld-transpeptidases as substrates to form 3-3 cross-links. Therefore,dd-CPases play a crucial role in mycobacterial PG cross-link formation. However, the physiology ofdd-CPases in mycobacteria is relatively unexplored. In this study, we deleted twodd-CPase genes,msmeg_2433andmsmeg_2432, both individually and in combination, fromMycobacterium smegmatismc2155. Though the singledd-CPase gene deletions had no significant impact on the mycobacterial physiology, many interesting functional alterations were observed in the double-deletion mutant,viz., a predominance in PG cross-link formation was shifted from 3-3 cross-links to 4-3, cell surface glycopeptidolipid (GPL) expression was reduced, and susceptibility to β-lactams and antitubercular agents was enhanced. Moreover, the survival rate of the double mutant within murine macrophages was higher than that of the parent. Interestingly, the complementation with any one of thedd-CPase genes could restore the wild-type phenotype. In a nutshell, we infer that the altered ratio of 4-3 to 3-3 PG cross-links might have influenced the expression of surface GPLs, colony morphology, biofilm formation, drug susceptibility, and subsistence of the cells within macrophages.IMPORTANCEThe glycan strands in mycobacterial peptidoglycan (PG) are interlinked by both 3-3 and 4-3 cross-links. Thedd-CPases generate tetrapeptides by acting on the pentapeptides, andld-transpeptidases use tetrapeptides as substrates to form 3-3 cross-links. In this study, we showed that simultaneous deletions of twodd-CPases alter the nature of PG cross-linking from 3-3 cross-links to 4-3 cross-links. The deletions subsequently decrease the expression of glycopeptidolipids (significant surface lipid present in many nontuberculous mycobacteria, includingMycobacterium smegmatis) and affect other physiological parameters, like cell morphology, growth rate, biofilm formation, antibiotic susceptibility, and survival within murine macrophages. Thus, unraveling the physiology ofdd-CPases might help us design antimycobacterial therapeutics in the future.

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Mycobacteriophage Ms6 LysA: a Peptidoglycan Amidase and a Useful Analytical Tool

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02263-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 768-773 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sebabrata Mahapatra ◽

Charles Piechota ◽

Filipa Gil ◽

Yufang Ma ◽

Hairong Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽

Recombinant Protein ◽

Mycobacterium Smegmatis ◽

Analytical Tool ◽

Diaminopimelic Acid ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Muramic Acid ◽

Content Type ◽

Mycobacterial Cell Wall

ABSTRACTSince the peptidoglycan isolated fromMycobacteriumspp. is refractory to commercially available murolytic enzymes, possibly due to the presence of various modifications found on this peptidoglycan, the utility of a mycobacteriophage-derived murolytic enzyme was assessed for an analysis of peptidoglycan from mycobacteria. We cloned, expressed, and purified thelysAgene product, a protein with homology to known peptidoglycan-degrading amidases, from bacteriophage Ms6. The recombinant protein was shown to cleave the bond betweenl-Ala andd-muramic acid of muramyl pentapeptide and to release up to 70% of the diaminopimelic acid present in the isolated mycobacterial cell wall. In contrast to lysozyme, which, in culture, inhibits the growth of bothMycobacterium smegmatisandMycobacterium tuberculosis, LysA had no effect on the growth of either species. However, the enzyme is useful for solubilizing the peptide chains of isolated mycobacterial peptidoglycan for analysis. The data indicate that the stem peptides fromM. smegmatisare heavily amidated, containing few free carboxylic acids, regardless of the cross-linking status.

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Regulation of Growth, Cell Shape, Cell Division, and Gene Expression by Second Messengers (p)ppGpp and Cyclic Di-GMP in Mycobacterium smegmatis

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00126-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 198 (9) ◽

pp. 1414-1422 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Kuldeepkumar Ramnaresh Gupta ◽

Priyanka Baloni ◽

Shantinath S. Indi ◽

Dipankar Chatterji

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Electron Microscopy ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Cell Division ◽

Mycobacterium Smegmatis ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Second Messengers ◽

Antibiotic Sensitivity ◽

Cell Length ◽

Content Type

ABSTRACTThe alarmone (p)ppGpp regulates transcription, translation, replication, virulence, lipid synthesis, antibiotic sensitivity, biofilm formation, and other functions in bacteria. Signaling nucleotide cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) regulates biofilm formation, motility, virulence, the cell cycle, and other functions. InMycobacterium smegmatis, both (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP are synthesized and degraded by bifunctional proteins RelMsmand DcpA, encoded byrelMsmanddcpAgenes, respectively. We have previously shown that the ΔrelMsmand ΔdcpAknockout strains are antibiotic resistant and defective in biofilm formation, show altered cell surface properties, and have reduced levels of glycopeptidolipids and polar lipids in their cell wall (K. R. Gupta, S. Kasetty, and D. Chatterji, Appl Environ Microbiol 81:2571–2578, 2015,http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.03999-14). In this work, we have explored the phenotypes that are affected by both (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP in mycobacteria. We have shown that both (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP are needed to maintain the proper growth rate under stress conditions such as carbon deprivation and cold shock. Scanning electron microscopy showed that low levels of these second messengers result in elongated cells, while high levels reduce the cell length and embed the cells in a biofilm-like matrix. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the elongated ΔrelMsmand ΔdcpAcells are multinucleate, while transmission electron microscopy showed that the elongated cells are multiseptate. Gene expression analysis also showed that genes belonging to functional categories such as virulence, detoxification, lipid metabolism, and cell-wall-related processes were differentially expressed. Our results suggests that both (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP affect some common phenotypes inM. smegmatis, thus raising a possibility of cross talk between these two second messengers in mycobacteria.IMPORTANCEOur work has expanded the horizon of (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP signaling in Gram-positive bacteria. We have come across a novel observation thatM. smegmatisneeds (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP for cold tolerance. We had previously shown that the ΔrelMsmand ΔdcpAstrains are defective in biofilm formation. In this work, the overproduction of (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP encasedM. smegmatisin a biofilm-like matrix, which shows that both (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP are needed for biofilm formation. The regulation of cell length and cell division by (p)ppGpp was known in mycobacteria, but our work shows that c-di-GMP also affects the cell size and cell division in mycobacteria. This is perhaps the first report of c-di-GMP regulating cell division in mycobacteria.

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Interplay between Antibiotic Efficacy and Drug-Induced Lysis Underlies Enhanced Biofilm Formation at Subinhibitory Drug Concentrations

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01603-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Wen Yu ◽

Kelsey M. Hallinen ◽

Kevin B. Wood

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Cell Lysis ◽

Living Cells ◽

Cell Wall Synthesis ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Trade Off ◽

Content Type ◽

Subinhibitory Concentrations ◽

Antibiotic Efficacy

ABSTRACTSubinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics have been shown to enhance biofilm formation in multiple bacterial species. While antibiotic exposure has been associated with modulated expression of many biofilm-related genes, the mechanisms of drug-induced biofilm formation remain a focus of ongoing research efforts and may vary significantly across species. In this work, we investigate antibiotic-induced biofilm formation inEnterococcus faecalis, a leading cause of nosocomial infections. We show that biofilm formation is enhanced by subinhibitory concentrations of cell wall synthesis inhibitors but not by inhibitors of protein, DNA, folic acid, or RNA synthesis. Furthermore, enhanced biofilm is associated with increased cell lysis, increases in extracellular DNA (eDNA) levels, and increases in the density of living cells in the biofilm. In addition, we observe similar enhancement of biofilm formation when cells are treated with nonantibiotic surfactants that induce cell lysis. These findings suggest that antibiotic-induced biofilm formation is governed by a trade-off between drug toxicity and the beneficial effects of cell lysis. To understand this trade-off, we developed a simple mathematical model that predicts changes in antibiotic-induced biofilm formation due to external perturbations, and we verified these predictions experimentally. Specifically, we demonstrate that perturbations that reduce eDNA (DNase treatment) or decrease the number of living cells in the planktonic phase (a second antibiotic) decrease biofilm induction, while chemical inhibitors of cell lysis increase relative biofilm induction and shift the peak to higher antibiotic concentrations. Overall, our results offer experimental evidence linking cell wall synthesis inhibitors, cell lysis, increased eDNA levels, and biofilm formation inE. faecaliswhile also providing a predictive quantitative model that sheds light on the interplay between cell lysis and antibiotic efficacy in developing biofilms.

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Deletion ofADA2Increases Antifungal Drug Susceptibility and Virulence inCandida glabrata

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01924-17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Shang-Jie Yu ◽

Ya-Lin Chang ◽

Ying-Lien Chen

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Systemic Infection ◽

Drug Tolerance ◽

Drug Susceptibility ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Antifungal Drug ◽

Saga Complex ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

Content Type ◽

Downstream Target

ABSTRACTCandida glabrata, the second most frequent cause of candidiasis afterCandida albicans, is an emerging human fungal pathogen that is intrinsically drug tolerant. Currently, studies ofC. glabratagenes involved in drug tolerance are limited. Ada2, a component serving as a transcription adaptor of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex, is required for antifungal drug tolerance and virulence inC. albicans. However, its roles inC. glabrataremain elusive. In this study, we found thatada2mutants demonstrated severe growth defects at 40°C but only mild defects at 37°C or 25°C. In addition,C. glabrata ada2mutants exhibited pleiotropic phenotypes, including susceptibility to three classes of antifungal drugs (i.e., azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes) and cell wall-perturbing agents but resistance to the endoplasmic reticulum stressor tunicamycin. According to RNA sequence analysis, the expression of 43 genes was downregulated and the expression of 442 genes was upregulated in theada2mutant compared to their expression in the wild type.C. glabrata ADA2, along with its downstream targetERG6, controls antifungal drug tolerance and cell wall integrity. Surprisingly,ada2mutants were hypervirulent in a murine model of systemic infection, possibly due to the upregulation of multiple adhesin-like genes, increased agar invasion, and overstimulation of murine tumor necrosis factor alpha production.

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Quorum Sensing Influences Burkholderia thailandensis Biofilm Development and Matrix Production

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00047-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 198 (19) ◽

pp. 2643-2650 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Boo Shan Tseng ◽

Charlotte D. Majerczyk ◽

Daniel Passos da Silva ◽

Josephine R. Chandler ◽

E. Peter Greenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quorum Sensing ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Matrix Material ◽

Close Relative ◽

Wild Type ◽

Flow Conditions ◽

Burkholderia Thailandensis ◽

Content Type ◽

Biofilm Development

ABSTRACTMembers of the genusBurkholderiaare known to be adept at biofilm formation, which presumably assists in the survival of these organisms in the environment and the host. Biofilm formation has been linked to quorum sensing (QS) in several bacterial species. In this study, we characterizedBurkholderia thailandensisbiofilm development under flow conditions and sought to determine whether QS contributes to this process.B. thailandensisbiofilm formation exhibited an unusual pattern: the cells formed small aggregates and then proceeded to produce mature biofilms characterized by “dome” structures filled with biofilm matrix material. We showed that this process was dependent on QS.B. thailandensishas three acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) QS systems (QS-1, QS-2, and QS-3). An AHL-negative strain produced biofilms consisting of cell aggregates but lacking the matrix-filled dome structures. This phenotype was rescued via exogenous addition of the three AHL signals. Of the threeB. thailandensisQS systems, we show that QS-1 is required for proper biofilm development, since abtaR1mutant, which is defective in QS-1 regulation, forms biofilms without these dome structures. Furthermore, our data show that the wild-type biofilm biomass, as well as the material inside the domes, stains with a fucose-binding lectin. ThebtaR1mutant biofilms, however, are negative for fucose staining. This suggests that the QS-1 system regulates the production of a fucose-containing exopolysaccharide in wild-type biofilms. Finally, we present data showing that QS ability during biofilm development produces a biofilm that is resistant to dispersion under stress conditions.IMPORTANCEThe saprophyteBurkholderia thailandensisis a close relative of the pathogenic bacteriumBurkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, which is contracted from its environmental reservoir. Since most bacteria in the environment reside in biofilms,B. thailandensisis an ideal model organism for investigating questions inBurkholderiaphysiology. In this study, we characterizedB. thailandensisbiofilm development and sought to determine if quorum sensing (QS) contributes to this process. Our work shows thatB. thailandensisproduces biofilms with unusual dome structures under flow conditions. Our findings suggest that these dome structures are filled with a QS-regulated, fucose-containing exopolysaccharide that may be involved in the resilience ofB. thailandensisbiofilms against changes in the nutritional environment.

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The Transcription Factor SomA Synchronously Regulates Biofilm Formation and Cell Wall Homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.02329-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Yuan Chen ◽

Francois Le Mauff ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Ruiyang Lu ◽

Donald C. Sheppard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Wall Stress ◽

Fungal Cell ◽

Glucan Synthase ◽

Content Type ◽

Cell Wall Stress ◽

Chitin Synthases

ABSTRACT Polysaccharides are key components of both the fungal cell wall and biofilm matrix. Despite having distinct assembly and regulation pathways, matrix exopolysaccharide and cell wall polysaccharides share common substrates and intermediates in their biosynthetic pathways. It is not clear, however, if the biosynthetic pathways governing the production of these polysaccharides are cooperatively regulated. Here, we demonstrate that cell wall stress promotes production of the exopolysaccharide galactosaminogalactan (GAG)-depend biofilm formation in the major fungal pathogen of humans Aspergillus fumigatus and that the transcription factor SomA plays a crucial role in mediating this process. A core set of SomA target genes were identified by transcriptome sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to sequencing (ChIP-Seq). We identified a novel SomA-binding site in the promoter regions of GAG biosynthetic genes agd3 and ega3, as well as its regulators medA and stuA. Strikingly, this SomA-binding site was also found in the upstream regions of genes encoding the cell wall stress sensors, chitin synthases, and β-1,3-glucan synthase. Thus, SomA plays a direct regulation of both GAG and cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis. Consistent with these findings, SomA is required for the maintenance of normal cell wall architecture and compositions in addition to its function in biofilm development. Moreover, SomA was found to globally regulate glucose uptake and utilization, as well as amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, which provides precursors for polysaccharide synthesis. Collectively, our work provides insight into fungal adaptive mechanisms in response to cell wall stress where biofilm formation and cell wall homeostasis were synchronously regulated. IMPORTANCE The cell wall is essential for fungal viability and is absent from human hosts; thus, drugs disrupting cell wall biosynthesis have gained more attention. Caspofungin is a member of a new class of clinically approved echinocandin drugs to treat invasive aspergillosis by blocking β-1,3-glucan synthase, thus damaging the fungal cell wall. Here, we demonstrate that caspofungin and other cell wall stressors can induce galactosaminogalactan (GAG)-dependent biofilm formation in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We further identified SomA as a master transcription factor playing a dual role in both biofilm formation and cell wall homeostasis. SomA plays this dual role by direct binding to a conserved motif upstream of GAG biosynthetic genes and genes involved in cell wall stress sensors, chitin synthases, and β-1,3-glucan synthase. Collectively, these findings reveal a transcriptional control pathway that integrates biofilm formation and cell wall homeostasis and suggest SomA as an attractive target for antifungal drug development.

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Role of the msaABCR Operon in Cell Wall Biosynthesis, Autolysis, Integrity, and Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00680-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 63 (10) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bibek G C ◽

Gyan S. Sahukhal ◽

Mohamed O. Elasri

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Teichoic Acid ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Wall Defect ◽

Content Type ◽

Mrsa Strains ◽

Mutant Cells

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen in both community and health care settings. One of the challenges with S. aureus as a pathogen is its acquisition of antibiotic resistance. Previously, we showed that deletion of the msaABCR operon reduces cell wall thickness, resulting in decreased resistance to vancomycin in vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA). In this study, we investigated the nature of the cell wall defect in the msaABCR operon mutant in the Mu50 (VISA) and USA300 LAC methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Results showed that msaABCR mutant cells had decreased cross-linking in both strains. This defect is typically due to increased murein hydrolase activity and/or nonspecific processing of murein hydrolases mediated by increased protease activity in mutant cells. The defect was enhanced by a decrease in teichoic acid content in the msaABCR mutant. Therefore, we propose that deletion of the msaABCR operon results in decreased peptidoglycan cross-linking, leading to increased susceptibility toward cell wall-targeting antibiotics, such as β-lactams and vancomycin. Moreover, we also observed significantly downregulated transcription of early cell wall-synthesizing genes, supporting the finding that msaABCR mutant cells have decreased peptidoglycan synthesis. More specifically, the msaABCR mutant in the USA300 LAC strain (MRSA) showed significantly reduced expression of the murA gene, whereas the msaABCR mutant in the Mu50 strain (VISA) showed significantly reduced expression of glmU, murA, and murD. Thus, we conclude that the msaABCR operon controls the balance between cell wall synthesis and cell wall hydrolysis, which is required for maintaining a robust cell wall and acquiring resistance to cell wall-targeting antibiotics, such as vancomycin and the β-lactams.

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A Genome-WideHelicobacter pyloriMorphology Screen Uncovers a Membrane-Spanning Helical Cell Shape Complex

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00724-18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 201 (14) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Desirée C. Yang ◽

Kris M. Blair ◽

Jennifer A. Taylor ◽

Timothy W. Petersen ◽

Tate Sessler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Light Scattering ◽

Protein Interactions ◽

Cell Morphology ◽

Cell Shape ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Protein Protein Interactions ◽

Content Type ◽

H Pylori

ABSTRACTEvident in its name, the gastric pathogenHelicobacter pylorihas a helical cell morphology which facilitates efficient colonization of the human stomach. An improved light-focusing strategy allowed us to robustly distinguish even subtle perturbations ofH. pyloricell morphology by deviations in light-scattering properties measured by flow cytometry. Profiling of an arrayed genome-wide deletion library identified 28 genes that influence different aspects of cell shape, including properties of the helix, cell length or width, cell filament formation, cell shape heterogeneity, and cell branching. Included in this mutant collection were two that failed to form any helical cells, a soluble lytic transglycosylase and a previously uncharacterized putative multipass inner membrane protein HPG27_0728, renamed Csd7. A combination of cell fractionation, mutational, and immunoprecipitation experiments show that Csd7 and Csd2 collaborate to stabilize the Csd1 peptidoglycan (PG) endopeptidase. Thus, bothcsd2andcsd7mutants show the same enhancement of PG tetra-pentapeptide cross-linking ascsd1mutants. Csd7 also links Csd1 with the bactofilin CcmA via protein-protein interactions. Although Csd1 is stable inccmAmutants, these mutants show altered PG tetra-pentapeptide cross-linking, suggesting that Csd7 may directly or indirectly activate as well as stabilize Csd1. These data begin to illuminate a highly orchestrated program to regulate PG modifications that promote helical shape, which includes nine nonessential nonredundant genes required for helical shape and 26 additional genes that further modifyH. pylori’s cell morphology.IMPORTANCEThe stomach ulcer and cancer-causing pathogenHelicobacter pylorihas a helical cell shape which facilitates stomach infection. Using light scattering to measure perturbations of cell morphology, we identified 28 genes that influence different aspects of cell shape. A mutant in a previously uncharacterized protein renamed Csd7 failed to form any helical cells. Biochemical analyses showed that Csd7 collaborates with other proteins to stabilize the cell wall-degrading enzyme Csd1. Csd7 also links Csd1 with a putative filament-forming protein via protein-protein interactions. These data suggest that helical cell shape arises from a highly orchestrated program to regulate cell wall modifications. Targeting of this helical cell shape-promoting program could offer new ways to block infectivity of this important human pathogen.

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Global Screening of Genomic and Transcriptomic Factors Associated with Phenotype Differences between Multidrug-Resistant and -Susceptible Candida haemulonii Strains

mSystems ◽

10.1128/msystems.00459-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hao Zhang ◽

Yifei Niu ◽

Jingwen Tan ◽

Weixia Liu ◽

Ming-an Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Multidrug Resistance ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Cell Wall Integrity ◽

Close Relative ◽

Content Type ◽

Candida Haemulonii ◽

Resistant Strains

ABSTRACT Candida haemulonii, a close relative of Candida auris, is an emerging pathogen which frequently shows multidrug resistance especially to triazoles, the most used antifungal drugs. The mechanisms of drug resistance in C. haemulonii, however, are largely unknown. Here, we sequenced and annotated the genomes of two reference strains from the C. haemulonii complex, compared the phenotypes, genomes, and transcriptomes of a triazole-susceptible and two triazole-resistant C. haemulonii strains, and identified triazole susceptibility, morphology, fitness, and the major genetic and gene expression differences between the strains. A multidrug efflux gene, CDR1, was recurrently found to be upregulated for expression in triazole-resistant strains. Blocking the activity of Cdr1 increased the susceptibility to triazoles strikingly. Comparative transcriptome analysis also demonstrated impaired cell wall integrity, filamentous growth, and iron homeostasis in triazole-resistant strains. Finally, we also identified a zinc-binding MHR family transcription regulator gene that mutated in triazole-resistant strains spontaneously, contributing to the changes of morphology and, possibly, cell wall integrity between the strains. The study provided important clues for future studies exploring the mechanisms of multidrug resistance and related phenotypic differences of C. haemulonii strains. IMPORTANCE A comprehensive, multi-omic survey was performed to disclose the genetic backgrounds and differences between multidrug-resistant and -susceptible C. haemulonii strains. Genes were identified with mutations or significant expression differences in multidrug-resistant compared to multidrug-susceptible strains, which were mainly involved in multidrug resistance, stress fitness, and morphology. The Cdr1-encoding gene, C. haemulonii 2486 (CH_2486), was expressed at a significantly increased level in multidrug-resistant strains. Functional inhibition experiments further implicated potential roles of CH_2486 in drug resistance. A gene spontaneously mutated in resistant strains, CH_4347, was experimentally validated to influence the morphology of spores, possibly by controlling cell wall integrity.

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