scholarly journals Synthetic Riboswitches That Induce Gene Expression in Diverse Bacterial Species

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (23) ◽  
pp. 7881-7884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shana Topp ◽  
Colleen M. K. Reynoso ◽  
Jessica C. Seeliger ◽  
Ian S. Goldlust ◽  
Shawn K. Desai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Expression Systems ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Control Gene Expression ◽  
Diverse Species ◽  
Wide Range

ABSTRACT We developed a series of ligand-inducible riboswitches that control gene expression in diverse species of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including human pathogens that have few or no previously reported inducible expression systems. We anticipate that these riboswitches will be useful tools for genetic studies in a wide range of bacteria.

scholarly journals The Development of an Effective Bacterial Single-Cell Lysis Method Suitable for Whole Genome Amplification in Microfluidic Platforms

Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuguang Liu ◽  
Dirk Schulze-Makuch ◽  
Jean-Pierre de Vera ◽  
Charles Cockell ◽  
Thomas Leya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Cell Manipulation ◽  
Microfluidic Platforms ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Genome Amplification ◽  
Single Cell Sequencing ◽  
Wide Range

Single-cell sequencing is a powerful technology that provides the capability of analyzing a single cell within a population. This technology is mostly coupled with microfluidic systems for controlled cell manipulation and precise fluid handling to shed light on the genomes of a wide range of cells. So far, single-cell sequencing has been focused mostly on human cells due to the ease of lysing the cells for genome amplification. The major challenges that bacterial species pose to genome amplification from single cells include the rigid bacterial cell walls and the need for an effective lysis protocol compatible with microfluidic platforms. In this work, we present a lysis protocol that can be used to extract genomic DNA from both gram-positive and gram-negative species without interfering with the amplification chemistry. Corynebacterium glutamicum was chosen as a typical gram-positive model and Nostoc sp. as a gram-negative model due to major challenges reported in previous studies. Our protocol is based on thermal and chemical lysis. We consider 80% of single-cell replicates that lead to >5 ng DNA after amplification as successful attempts. The protocol was directly applied to Gloeocapsa sp. and the single cells of the eukaryotic Sphaerocystis sp. and achieved a 100% success rate.

scholarly journals Multidrug Pump Inhibitors Uncover Remarkable Activity of Plant Antimicrobials

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 3133-3141 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Tegos ◽  
Frank R. Stermitz ◽  
Olga Lomovskaya ◽  
Kim Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Broad Spectrum Antibiotics ◽  
Level Of Activity

ABSTRACT Plant antimicrobials are not used as systemic antibiotics at present. The main reason for this is their low level of activity, especially against gram-negative bacteria. The reported MIC is often in the range of 100 to 1,000 μg/ml, orders of magnitude higher than those of common broad-spectrum antibiotics from bacteria or fungi. Major plant pathogens belong to the gram-negative bacteria, which makes the low level of activity of plant antimicrobials against this group of microorganisms puzzling. Gram-negative bacteria have an effective permeability barrier, comprised of the outer membrane, which restricts the penetration of amphipathic compounds, and multidrug resistance pumps (MDRs), which extrude toxins across this barrier. It is possible that the apparent ineffectiveness of plant antimicrobials is largely due to the permeability barrier. We tested this hypothesis in the present study by applying a combination of MDR mutants and MDR inhibitors. A panel of plant antimicrobials was tested by using a set of bacteria representing the main groups of plant pathogens. The human pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium were also tested. The results show that the activities of the majority of plant antimicrobials were considerably greater against the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus megaterium and that disabling of the MDRs in gram-negative species leads to a striking increase in antimicrobial activity. Thus, the activity of rhein, the principal antimicrobial from rhubarb, was potentiated 100- to 2,000-fold (depending on the bacterial species) by disabling the MDRs. Comparable potentiation of activity was observed with plumbagin, resveratrol, gossypol, coumestrol, and berberine. Direct measurement of the uptake of berberine, a model plant antimicrobial, confirmed that disabling of the MDRs strongly increases the level of penetration of berberine into the cells of gram-negative bacteria. These results suggest that plants might have developed means of delivering their antimicrobials into bacterial cells. These findings also suggest that plant antimicrobials might be developed into effective, broad-spectrum antibiotics in combination with inhibitors of MDRs.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of Zinc (Zn) Resistant Bacteria in Banger River, Pekalongan, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 622-628
Author(s):  
Fitri Arum Sasi ◽  
Hermin Pancasakti Kusumaningrum ◽  
Anto Budiharjo
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Selective Medium ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Indigenous Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Sequences Analysis

Indigenous bacteria are able to remove the metals contamination in environment. This study aimed to assess the resistance of bacterial species to Zinc (Zn) in Banger River, Pekalongan City. The bacteria from three different parts of Banger River were isolated and inoculated in Zn-selective medium. Then, molecular identification to determine the bacteria species was conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by applying forward-reverse 16SrRNA gene primers. The sequences analysis was conducted using MUSCLE and MEGA6. There were seven dominant species that possibly resistant to Zn. Approximately, every isolate could reach more than 95 % from 2000 ppm of Zn in the medium. The higher absorption of Zn was found in Z5 isolate. The seven bacteria species were clustered into nine genera i.e. Klebsiela, Xenorhabdus, Cronobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Shigella and Sporomusa known as Gram Negative bacteria and Clostridium and Bacillus as Gram Positive bacteria. In Gram Positive bacteria, especially Bacillus sp, carboxyl group in peptidoglycan play a role as metal binder. In Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) which is highly anionic component on the outer membrane, able to catch the Zn. Besides that, Enterobacter activates endogen antioxidants such as glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The research found there was possible seven novel indigenous bacteria species in Banger that able to remove Zn from the sediment extremely. This finding can be developed as an eco-friendly approach to reduce metals pollution using local microorganisms.

scholarly journals Development of Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase Inhibitors as Antibiotics for Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omeed Faghih ◽  
Zhongsheng Zhang ◽  
Ranae M. Ranade ◽  
J. Robert Gillespie ◽  
Sharon A. Creason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Trna Synthetase ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Methionyl Trna Synthetase

ABSTRACT Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are widespread and pose a growing threat to human health. New antibiotics acting by novel mechanisms of action are needed to address this challenge. The bacterial methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) enzyme is essential for protein synthesis, and the type found in Gram-positive bacteria is substantially different from its counterpart found in the mammalian cytoplasm. Both previously published and new selective inhibitors were shown to be highly active against Gram-positive bacteria with MICs of ≤1.3 μg/ml against Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus strains. Incorporation of radioactive precursors demonstrated that the mechanism of activity was due to the inhibition of protein synthesis. Little activity against Gram-negative bacteria was observed, consistent with the fact that Gram-negative bacterial species contain a different type of MetRS enzyme. The ratio of the MIC to the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was consistent with a bacteriostatic mechanism. The level of protein binding of the compounds was high (>95%), and this translated to a substantial increase in MICs when the compounds were tested in the presence of serum. Despite this, the compounds were very active when they were tested in a Staphylococcus aureus murine thigh infection model. Compounds 1717 and 2144, given by oral gavage, resulted in 3- to 4-log decreases in the bacterial load compared to that in vehicle-treated mice, which was comparable to the results observed with the comparator drugs, vancomycin and linezolid. In summary, the research describes MetRS inhibitors with oral bioavailability that represent a class of compounds acting by a novel mechanism with excellent potential for clinical development.

scholarly journals Gram-Positive Bacteria Are Potent Inducers of Monocytic Interleukin-12 (IL-12) while Gram-Negative Bacteria Preferentially Stimulate IL-10 Production

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 3581-3586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Hessle ◽  
Bengt Andersson ◽  
Agnes E. Wold
Keyword(s):  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Optimal Dose ◽  
Interleukin 10 ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-12 are two cytokines secreted by monocytes/macrophages in response to bacterial products which have largely opposite effects on the immune system. IL-12 activates cytotoxicity and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) secretion by T cells and NK cells, whereas IL-10 inhibits these functions. In the present study, the capacities of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria to induce IL-10 and IL-12 were compared. Monocytes from blood donors were stimulated with UV-killed bacteria from each of seven gram-positive and seven gram-negative bacterial species representing both aerobic and anaerobic commensals and pathogens. Gram-positive bacteria induced much more IL-12 than did gram-negative bacteria (median, 3,500 versus 120 pg/ml at an optimal dose of 25 bacteria/cell; P < 0.001), whereas gram-negative bacteria preferentially stimulated secretion of IL-10 (650 versus 200 pg/ml; P < 0.001). Gram-positive species also induced stronger major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted IFN-γ production in unfractionated blood mononuclear cells than did gram-negative species (12,000 versus 3,600 pg/ml; P < 0.001). The poor IL-12-inducing capacity of gram-negative bacteria was not remediated by addition of blocking anti-IL-10 antibodies to the cultures. No isolated bacterial component could be identified that mimicked the potent induction of IL-12 by whole gram-positive bacteria, whereas purified LPS induced IL-10. The results suggest that gram-positive bacteria induce a cytokine pattern that promotes Th1 effector functions.

scholarly journals DETERMINATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME IMPORTANT SPICES

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Ranganathan Kapilan
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Alcoholic Extract ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Wide Range

Wide range of plant extracts are used for medicinal purposes as they are very cheap, efficient, harmless and do not cause any side effects. Spices are parts of different plants and they add special aroma and taste to the food preparations. The aim of the study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of some important naturally grown spices against gram positive and gram negative pathogenic bacteria. Antibacterial activity of the spices was tested against gram positive bacteria Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using aqueous, ethanolic, methanolic and liquid nutrient extracts. Among all the extracts tested alcoholic extracts of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom), clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) and lemongrass (Cymbopogoncitratus) showed maximum antimicrobial activity against gram negative bacteria while alcoholic extract of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom) and lemongrass (Cymbopogoncitratus) showed maximum activity against gram positive bacteria. All the spices tested in this study proved that they have antibacterial activity and the maximum activity index (1.39) was exhibited by the ethanol extract of cardamom against E.coli.

scholarly journals ScmR, a global regulator of gene expression, quorum sensing, pH homeostasis, and virulence in Burkholderia thailandensis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Servane Le Guillouzer ◽  
Marie-Christine Groleau ◽  
Florian Mauffrey ◽  
Eric Déziel
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Burkholderia Pseudomallei ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Ph Homeostasis ◽  
Burkholderia Thailandensis ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractThe nonpathogenic soil saprophyte Burkholderia thailandensis is a member of the Burkholderia pseudomallei-thailandensis-mallei (Bptm) group, which also comprises the closely related human pathogens Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei responsible for the diseases melioidosis and glanders, respectively. ScmR, a recently identified LysR-type transcriptional regulator (LTTR) in B. thailandensis acts as a global transcriptional regulator throughout the stationary phase, and modulates the production of a wide range of secondary metabolites, including N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) and 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-alkylquinoline (HMAQ), virulence in the model host Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as several quorum sensing (QS)-dependent phenotypes. We have investigated the role of ScmR in B. thailandensis strain E264 during the exponential phase. We used RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) transcriptomic analyses to identify the ScmR regulon, which was compared to the QS-controlled regulon, showing a considerable overlap between the ScmR-regulated genes and those controlled by QS. We characterized several genes modulated by ScmR, using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) or mini-CTX-lux transcriptional reporters, including the oxalate biosynthetic gene obc1 required for pH homeostasis, the orphan LuxR-type transcriptional regulator BtaR5-encoding gene, the bsa (Burkholderia secretion apparatus) type III secretion system (T3SS) genes essential for both B. pseudomallei and B. mallei pathogenicity, as well as the scmR gene itself. We confirmed that the transcription of scmR is under QS control, presumably ensuring fine-tuned modulation of gene expression. Finally, we demonstrate that ScmR influences virulence using the fruit fly model host Drosophila melanogaster. We conclude that ScmR represents a central component of the B. thailandensis QS regulatory network.ImportanceCoordination of the expression of genes associated with bacterial virulence and environmental adaptation is often dependent on quorum sensing (QS). The QS circuitry of the nonpathogenic bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis, which is widely used as a model system for the study of the human pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, is complex. We found that the recently identified LysR-type transcriptional regulator (LTTR), ScmR, which is highly conserved and involved in the control of virulence/survival factors in the Burkholderia genus, is a global regulator mediating gene expression through the multiple QS systems coexisting in B. thailandensis, as well as independently of QS. We conclude that ScmR represents a key QS modulatory network element, ensuring tight regulation of the transcription of QS-controlled genes, particularly those required for acclimatization to the environment.

scholarly journals Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Studies of Novel Series of 2,4-Bis(hydrazino)-6-substituted-1,3,5-triazine and Their Schiff Base Derivatives

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hessa H. Al-Rasheed ◽  
Essam N. Sholkamy ◽  
Monirah Al Alshaikh ◽  
Mohammed R. H. Siddiqui ◽  
Ahmed S. Al-Obaidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Schiff Base ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Antagonistic Effect ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Antimicrobial Studies ◽  
Schiff Base Derivatives ◽  
Wide Range

The present work represents the synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial studies of novel series of 2,4-bis(hydrazino)-6-substituted-1,3,5-triazine and their Schiff base derivatives. IR, NMR (H1 and C13), elemental analysis, and LC-MS characterized the prepared compounds. The biological activity of the target products was evaluated as well. Twenty-two of the prepared compounds were selected according to their solubility in aqueous DMSO. Only eight compounds showed good activity against the selected pathogenic bacteria and did not show antagonistic effect against fungus Candida albicans. Two compounds 4k and 5g have wide-range effect presently in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria while other compounds (4f, 4i, 4m, 5d, 6i, and 6h) showed specific effect against the Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, μg/mL) of 4f, 4i, 4k, and 6h compounds against Streptococcus mutans was 62.5 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 31.25 μg/mL, and 31.25 μg/mL, respectively. The MIC of 4m, 4k, 5d, 5g, and 6h compounds against Staphylococcus aureus was 62.5 μg/mL, 31.25 μg/mL, 31.25 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively. The MIC of 4k, 5g, and 6i compounds against Salmonella typhimurium was 31.25 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively. The MIC of 6i compound against Escherichia coli was 62.5 μg/mL.

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