scholarly journals Impact of Inorganic Carbon Availability on Microcystin Production by Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (21) ◽  
pp. 6994-7002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine J�hnichen ◽  
Tilo Ihle ◽  
Thomas Petzoldt ◽  
J�rgen Benndorf

ABSTRACT Batch culture experiments with the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 were performed in order to test the hypothesis that microcystins (MCYSTs) are produced in response to a relative deficiency of intracellular inorganic carbon (Ci,i). In the first experiment, MCYST production was studied under increased Ci,i deficiency conditions, achieved by restricting sodium-dependent bicarbonate uptake through replacement of sodium bicarbonate in the medium with its potassium analog. The same experimental approach was used in a second experiment to compare the response of the wild-type strain M. aeruginosa PCC 7806 with its mcyB mutant, which lacks the ability to produce MCYSTs. In a third experiment, the impact of varying the Ci,i status on MCYST production was examined without suppressing the sodium-dependent bicarbonate transporter; instead, a detailed investigation of a dark-light cycle was performed. In all experiments, a relative Ci,i deficiency was indicated by an elevated variable fluorescence signal and led to enhanced phycocyanin cell quotas. Higher MCYST cell quotas (in the first and third experiments) and increased total (intracellular plus extracellular) MCYST production (in the first experiment) were detected with increased Ci,i deficiency. Furthermore, the MCYST-producing wild-type strain and its mcyB mutant showed basically the same response to restrained inorganic carbon uptake, with elevated variable fluorescence and phycocyanin cell quotas with increased Ci,i deficiency. The response of the wild type, however, was distinctly stronger and also included elevated chlorophyll a cell quotas. These differences indicate the limited ability of the mutant to adapt to low-Ci,i conditions. We concluded that MCYSTs may be involved in enhancing the efficiency of the adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to fluctuating inorganic carbon conditions in cyanobacterial cells.

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 860-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Bañares-España ◽  
María del Mar Fernández-Arjona ◽  
María Jesús García-Sánchez ◽  
Miguel Hernández-López ◽  
Andreas Reul ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (14) ◽  
pp. 4853-4864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kislay Parvatiyar ◽  
Eyad M. Alsabbagh ◽  
Urs A. Ochsner ◽  
Michelle A. Stegemeyer ◽  
Alan G. Smulian ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The impact of arsenite [As(III)] on several levels of cellular metabolism and gene regulation was examined in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa isogenic mutants devoid of antioxidant enzymes or defective in various metabolic pathways, DNA repair systems, metal storage proteins, global regulators, or quorum sensing circuitry were examined for their sensitivity to As(III). Mutants lacking the As(III) translocator (ArsB), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catabolite repression control protein (Crc), or glutathione reductase (Gor) were more sensitive to As(III) than wild-type bacteria. The MICs of As(III) under aerobic conditions were 0.2, 0.3, 0.8, and 1.9 mM for arsB, sodA sodB, crc, and gor mutants, respectively, and were 1.5- to 13-fold less than the MIC for the wild-type strain. A two-dimensional gel/matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight analysis of As(III)-treated wild-type bacteria showed significantly (>40-fold) increased levels of a heat shock protein (IbpA) and a putative allo-threonine aldolase (GlyI). Smaller increases (up to 3.1-fold) in expression were observed for acetyl-coenzyme A acetyltransferase (AtoB), a probable aldehyde dehydrogenase (KauB), ribosomal protein L25 (RplY), and the probable DNA-binding stress protein (PA0962). In contrast, decreased levels of a heme oxygenase (HemO/PigA) were found upon As(III) treatment. Isogenic mutants were successfully constructed for six of the eight genes encoding the aforementioned proteins. When treated with sublethal concentrations of As(III), each mutant revealed a marginal to significant lag period prior to resumption of apparent normal growth compared to that observed in the wild-type strain. Our results suggest that As(III) exposure results in an oxidative stress-like response in P. aeruginosa, although activities of classic oxidative stress enzymes are not increased. Instead, relief from As(III)-based oxidative stress is accomplished from the collective activities of ArsB, glutathione reductase, and the global regulator Crc. SOD appears to be involved, but its function may be in the protection of superoxide-sensitive sulfhydryl groups.


1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 737-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Rohrlack ◽  
Elke Dittmann ◽  
Manfred Henning ◽  
Thomas Börner ◽  
Johannes-Günter Kohl

ABSTRACT The effects of microcystins on Daphnia galeata, a typical filter-feeding grazer in eutrophic lakes, were investigated. To do this, the microcystin-producing wild-type strain Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 was compared with a mcy− PCC7806 mutant, which could not synthesize any variant of microcystin due to mutation of a microcystin synthetase gene. The wild-type strain was found to be poisonous toD. galeata, whereas the mcy− mutant did not have any lethal effect on the animals. Both variants of PCC7806 were able to reduce the Daphnia ingestion rate. Our results suggest that microcystins are the most likely cause of the daphnid poisoning observed when wild-type strain PCC7806 is fed to the animals, but these toxins are not responsible for inhibition of the ingestion process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (155) ◽  
pp. 20190165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Bushman ◽  
Rustom Antia

Theoretical models suggest that mixed-strain infections, or co-infections, are an important driver of pathogen evolution. However, the within-host dynamics of co-infections vary enormously, which complicates efforts to develop a general understanding of how co-infections affect evolution. Here, we develop a general framework which condenses the within-host dynamics of co-infections into a few key outcomes, the most important of which is the overall R 0 of the co-infection. Similar to how fitness is determined by two different alleles in a heterozygote, the R 0 of a co-infection is a product of the R 0 values of the co-infecting strains, shaped by the interaction of those strains at the within-host level. Extending the analogy, we propose that the overall R 0 reflects the dominance of the co-infecting strains, and that the ability of a mutant strain to invade a population is a function of its dominance in co-infections. To illustrate the utility of these concepts, we use a within-host model to show how dominance arises from the within-host dynamics of a co-infection, and then use an epidemiological model to demonstrate that dominance is a robust predictor of the ability of a mutant strain to save a maladapted wild-type strain from extinction (evolutionary emergence).


Open Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 160330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Acton ◽  
Amy Huei-Yi Lee ◽  
Pei Jun Zhao ◽  
Stephane Flibotte ◽  
Mauricio Neira ◽  
...  

The Yeast Knockout (YKO) collection has provided a wealth of functional annotations from genome-wide screens. An unintended consequence is that 76% of gene annotations derive from one genotype. The nutritional auxotrophies in the YKO, in particular, have phenotypic consequences. To address this issue, ‘prototrophic’ versions of the YKO collection have been constructed, either by introducing a plasmid carrying wild-type copies of the auxotrophic markers (Plasmid-Borne, PB prot ) or by backcrossing (Backcrossed, BC prot ) to a wild-type strain. To systematically assess the impact of the auxotrophies, genome-wide fitness profiles of prototrophic and auxotrophic collections were compared across diverse drug and environmental conditions in 250 experiments. Our quantitative profiles uncovered broad impacts of genotype on phenotype for three deletion collections, and revealed genotypic and strain-construction-specific phenotypes. The PB prot collection exhibited fitness defects associated with plasmid maintenance, while BC prot fitness profiles were compromised due to strain loss from nutrient selection steps during strain construction. The repaired prototrophic versions of the YKO collection did not restore wild-type behaviour nor did they clarify gaps in gene annotation resulting from the auxotrophic background. To remove marker bias and expand the experimental scope of deletion libraries, construction of a bona fide prototrophic collection from a wild-type strain will be required.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Yomna A. Hagag ◽  
Abdelaziz Elgaml ◽  
Ramadan Hassan ◽  
Hany I. Kenawy

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen responsible for a large number of infections. In S. aureus, SarA is an important global locus responsible for the regulation of virulence factors, as well as biofilm formation. Objectives: The aim of this work is to clarify the impact of SarA on biofilm formation, immune system evasion, as well as the survival of S. aureus under stress conditions. Methodology: A comparative study between S. aureus wild type strain, sarA mutant and complemented strains was established addressing the biofilm formation, opsonization, phagocytosis, as well as ability of the bacterium to survive in stressful environments including acidic pH, hyperosmotic and oxidative stress. The in vitro experiments were confirmed by challenging of mice via intraperitoneal injection with the wild type strain, sarA mutant and complemented strains. Results: Mutation of sarA diminished significantly biofilm formation. Moreover, this mutation resulted in a slight decrease in the deposition of the most important opsonin in complement-mediated immunity, named C3 on S. aureus cells. However, this mutation was associated with a significant enhancement of bacterial phagocytosis and killing by human neutrophils. Furthermore, this mutation altered bacterial survival in stressful conditions. It is also noteworthy that sarA mutation resulted in a significant higher survival rates during the challenging of mice. Conclusion: SarA plays a role as a key regulator of biofilm formation, which in turn has a great impact on immune system evasion through affecting opsonization and phagocytosis. In addition, SarA improves the ability of S. aureus to survive in stressful conditions.


Microbiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 1417-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanakarn Monshupanee ◽  
Sirirat Fa-aroonsawat ◽  
Wipa Chungjatupornchai

The presence of a multicopy chromosome, with each copy containing two rRNA operons (rrnA and rrnB), has been an obstacle to analysing mutated rRNA in Synechococcus PCC 7942. To create a system for expressing homogeneous mutated rRNA, the chromosomal rrn operons were sequentially inactivated and a final strain was successfully obtained with all the chromosomal rrn operons inactivated but carrying a replaceable multicopy plasmid containing a single rrn operon. The lag time required for growth response on dark/light shift of mutant strains with chromosomal rrnA or rrnB inactivated was increased 50 % over that of the wild-type strain; however, the presence of the plasmid-borne rrn operon restored the lag time. The doubling time of mutant strains carrying only a functional rrnB operon, but not strains carrying only a functional rrnA operon, was significantly longer than that of the wild-type strain. A strain in which essentially all the cellular 23S rRNA contained the mutation C2588A was temperature sensitive at 16 °C and 45 °C. Position C2588 is equivalent to C2611 of the peptidyltransferase centre in domain V of Escherichia coli 23S rRNA.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Henrique Bürgel ◽  
Clara Luna Marina ◽  
Pedro H. V. Saavedra ◽  
Patrícia Albuquerque ◽  
Paulo Henrique Holanda ◽  
...  

AbstractCryptococcus neoformansis an encapsulated yeast that causes disease mainly in immunosuppressed hosts. It is considered a facultative intracellular pathogen because of its capacity to survive and replicate inside phagocytes, especially macrophages. This capacity is heavily dependent on various virulence factors, particularly the glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) component of the polysaccharide capsule, that render the non- or poorly-activated macrophage ineffective against phagocytosed yeast. Strategies utilized by macrophages to prevent this scenario include pyroptosis (a rapid highly inflammatory cell death) and vomocytosis (the expulsion of the pathogen from the intracellular environment without lysis). Inflammasome activation in phagocytes is usually protective against fungal infections, including cryptococcosis. Nevertheless, recognition ofC. neoformansby inflammasome receptors requires specific changes in morphology or the opsonization of the yeast, impairing a proper inflammasome function. In this context, we analyzed the impact of molecules secreted byC. neoformansB3501 strain and its acapsular mutantΔcap67in an inflammasome activationin vitromodel. Our results showed that conditioned media derived from B3501 was capable of inhibiting inflammasome dependent events (i. e. IL-1β secretion and LDH release via pyroptosis) more strongly than conditioned media fromΔcap67, regardless of GXM presence. We also demonstrated that macrophages treated with conditioned media were less responsive against infection with the virulent strain H99, exhibiting lower rates of phagocytosis, increased fungal burdens and enhanced vomocytosis. Moreover, we showed that the aromatic metabolite DL-Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) was present in B3501’s conditioned media and that this fungal metabolite is involved in the regulation of inflammasome activation byC. neoformans. Overall, the results presented show that conditioned media from a wild-type strain can inhibit an important recognition pathway and subsequent fungicidal functions of macrophages, contributing to fungal survivalin vitroand suggesting that this serves as an important role for secreted molecules during cryptococcal infections.Author’s SummaryCryptococcus neoformansis the agent of cryptococcal meningitis, a disease that can be life-threatening in immunocompromised hosts such as those infected with HIV. The infection thrives in hosts that poorly activate their immune system, mainly because of the yeast’s ability to survive inside macrophages and migrate towards the central nervous system. Emerging data indicate that cryptococci modulate the host immune response, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized. Here we show that secreted molecules from a wild-type strain ofC. neoformansimpair inflammatory responses driven by inflammasome activation, which in turn impact the macrophage antifungal activity. We further show that this inhibition does not involve GXM, the main constituent of the fungal capsule, but rather is partially dependent on DL-Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), a metabolite not previously implicated in fungal virulence.


1998 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 2304-2307 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Barea ◽  
G. Andrade ◽  
V. Bianciotto ◽  
D. Dowling ◽  
S. Lohrke ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, a key component of agroecosystems, was assayed as a rhizosphere biosensor for evaluation of the impact of certain antifungal Pseudomonas inoculants used to control soil-borne plant pathogens. The following threePseudomonas strains were tested: wild-type strain F113, which produces the antifungal compound 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG); strain F113G22, a DAPG-negative mutant of F113; and strain F113(pCU203), a DAPG overproducer. Wild-type strain F113 and mutant strain F113G22 stimulated both mycelial development from Glomus mosseae spores germinating in soil and tomato root colonization. Strain F113(pCU203) did not adversely affectG. mosseae performance. Mycelial development, but not spore germination, is sensitive to 10 μM DAPG, a concentration that might be present in the rhizosphere. The results of scanning electron and confocal microscopy demonstrated that strain F113 and its derivatives adhered to G. mosseae spores independent of the ability to produce DAPG.


Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Zhao ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Xin-Yue Yao ◽  
Shu-Guang Lu ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen that infects pigs and can occasionally cause life-threatening systemic infections in humans. Two large-scale outbreaks of streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome in China suggest that the pathogenicity of S. suis has been changing in recent years. Genetic analysis revealed the presence of a chromosomal pathogenicity island (PAI) designated SsPI-1 in Chinese epidemic S. suis strains. The purpose of this study is to define the role of SsPI-1 in the virulence of S. suis. (2) Methods: A SsPI-1 deletion mutant was compared to the wild-type strain regarding the ability to attach to epithelial cells, to cause host disease and mortality, and to stimulate host immune response in experimental infection of piglets. (3) Results: Deletion of SsPI-1 significantly reduces adherence of S. suis to epithelial cells and abolishes the lethality of the wild-type strain in piglets. The SsPI-1 mutant causes no significant pathological lesions and exhibits an impaired ability to induce proinflammatory cytokine production. (4) Conclusions: Deletion of the SsPI-1 PAI attenuates the virulence of this pathogen. We conclude that SsPI-1 is a critical contributor to the evolution of virulence in epidemic S. suis.


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