scholarly journals Functional Identification of Rubber Oxygenase (RoxA) in Soil and Marine Myxobacteria

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (20) ◽  
pp. 6391-6399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Birke ◽  
Wolf Röther ◽  
Georg Schmitt ◽  
Dieter Jendrossek
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Reduction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
Functional Identification ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Zone Formation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
High Degree

ABSTRACTThe rubber oxygenase (RoxA) ofXanthomonassp. strain 35Y (RoxAXsp) is so far the only known extracellularc-type diheme cytochrome that is able to cleave poly(cis-1,4-isoprene). All other rubber-degrading bacteria described are Gram positive and employ a nonheme protein (latex-clearing protein [Lcp]) for the postulated primary attack of polyisoprene. Here, we identified RoxA orthologs in the genomes ofHaliangium ochraceum,Myxococcus fulvus,Corallococcus coralloides, andChondromyces apiculatus. TheroxAorthologs ofH. ochraceum(RoxAHoc),C. coralloidesBO35 (RoxACco), andM. fulvus(RoxAMfu) were functionally expressed in a ΔroxA Xanthomonassp. 35Y background. All RoxA orthologs oxidatively cleaved polyisoprene, as revealed by restoration of clearing-zone formation and detection of 12-oxo-4,8-dimethyltrideca-4,8-diene-1-al (ODTD) as a cleavage product. RoxAXsp, RoxAMfu, and RoxACcowere purified and biochemically characterized. The optimal temperature of RoxACcoand RoxAMfuwas between 22 and 30°C. All RoxA orthologs as isolated showed an oxidized UV-visible spectrum. Chemical reduction of RoxACcoand RoxAMfuindicated the presence of two slightly different heme centers with absorption maxima between 549 and 553 nm, similar to RoxAXsp. Sequence analysis and modeling of the three-dimensional structures of the RoxA orthologs revealed a high degree of similarity to the recently solved RoxAXspstructure and included several conserved residues, notably, W302, F317, and a MauG motif at about H517. Lcp-like sequences were not detected in the genomes of theXanthomonassp. 35Y,H. ochraceum,M. fulvus, andC. coralloides. No RoxA orthologs were found in Gram-positive bacteria, and this first description of functional RoxA in Gram-negative bacteria other thanXanthomonasproves that RoxA is more common among rubber degraders than was previously assumed.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides Induce Membrane Depolarization-Associated Changes in the Transcriptome of Sinorhizobium meliloti

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (21) ◽  
pp. 6737-6746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilda Tiricz ◽  
Attila Szűcs ◽  
Attila Farkas ◽  
Bernadett Pap ◽  
Rui M. Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Peptide Family ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Natural Target

ABSTRACTLeguminous plants establish symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing alpha- and betaproteobacteria, collectively called rhizobia, which provide combined nitrogen to support plant growth. Members of the inverted repeat-lacking clade of legumes impose terminal differentiation on their endosymbiotic bacterium partners with the help of the nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptide family composed of close to 600 members. Among the few tested NCR peptides, cationic ones had antirhizobial activity measured by reduction or elimination of the CFU and uptake of the membrane-impermeable dye propidium iodide. Here, the antimicrobial spectrum of two of these peptides, NCR247 and NCR335, was investigated, and their effect on the transcriptome of the natural targetSinorhizobium melilotiwas characterized. Both peptides were able to kill quickly a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria; however, their spectra were only partially overlapping, and differences were found also in their efficacy on given strains, indicating that the actions of NCR247 and NCR335 might be similar though not identical. Treatment ofS. meliloticultures with either peptide resulted in a quick downregulation of genes involved in basic cellular functions, such as transcription-translation and energy production, as well as upregulation of genes involved in stress and oxidative stress responses and membrane transport. Similar changes provoked mainly in Gram-positive bacteria by antimicrobial agents were coupled with the destruction of membrane potential, indicating that it might also be a common step in the bactericidal actions of NCR247 and NCR335.

scholarly journals Restoration of Bioactive Lantibiotic Suicin from a RemnantlanLocus of Pathogenic Streptococcus suis Serotype 2

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 1062-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Wang ◽  
Yong Gao ◽  
Kunling Teng ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Shutao Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Streptococcus Suis ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Disulfide Bridge ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
System A ◽  
Bactericidal Activities

ABSTRACTLantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized, posttranslationally modified antimicrobial peptides. Their biosynthesis genes are usually organized in gene clusters, which are mainly found in Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogenic streptococci. Three highly virulentStreptococcus suisserotype 2 strains (98HAH33, 05ZYH33, and SC84) have been shown to contain an 89K pathogenicity island. Here, on these islands, we unveiled and reannotated a putative lantibiotic locus designatedsuiwhich contains a virulence-associated two-component regulator,suiK-suiR. In silicoanalysis revealed that the putative lantibiotic modification genesuiMwas interrupted by a 7.9-kb integron and that other biosynthesis-related genes contained various frameshift mutations. By reconstituting the intactsuiMinEscherichia colitogether with a semi-in vitrobiosynthesis system, a putative lantibiotic named suicin was produced with bactericidal activities against a variety of Gram-positive strains, including pathogenic streptococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Ring topology dissection indicated that the 34-amino-acid lantibiotic contained two methyllanthionine residues and one disulfide bridge, which render suicin in an N-terminal linear and C-terminal globular shape. To confirm the function ofsuiK-suiR, SuiR was overexpressed and purified.In vitroanalysis showed that SuiR could specifically bind to thesuiAgene promoter. Its coexpression withsuiKcould activatesuiAgene promoter inLactococcus lactisNZ9000. Conclusively, we obtained a novel lantibiotic suicin by restoring its production from the remnantsuilocus and demonstrated that virulence-associated SuiK-SuiR regulates its production.

scholarly journals Clinical Evaluation of the iCubate iC-GPC Assay for Detection of Gram-Positive Bacteria and Resistance Markers from Positive Blood Cultures

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Granato ◽  
Melissa M. Unz ◽  
Raymond H. Widen ◽  
Suzane Silbert ◽  
Stephen Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Sequencing Method ◽  
Resistance Markers ◽  
Gram Positive Cocci

ABSTRACT The iC-GPC Assay (iCubate, Huntsville, AL) is a qualitative multiplex test for the detection of five of the most common Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium) responsible for bacterial bloodstream infections, performed directly from positive blood cultures. The assay also detects the presence of the mecA, vanA, and vanB resistance determinants. This study comparatively evaluated the performance of the iC-GPC Assay against the Verigene Gram-positive blood culture (BC-GP) assay (Luminex Corp., Austin, TX) for 1,134 patient blood culture specimens positive for Gram-positive cocci. The iC-GPC Assay had an overall percent agreement with the BC-GP assay of 95.5%. Discordant specimens were further analyzed by PCR and a bidirectional sequencing method. The results indicate that the iC-GPC Assay together with the iCubate system is an accurate and reliable tool for the detection of the five most common Gram-positive bacteria and their resistance markers responsible for bloodstream infections.

scholarly journals Activities of Oxadiazole Antibacterials against Staphylococcus aureus and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Ceballos ◽  
Choon Kim ◽  
Derong Ding ◽  
Shahriar Mobashery ◽  
Mayland Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant ◽  
Mrsa Strains

ABSTRACT The activities of four oxadiazoles were investigated with 210 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. MIC50 and MIC90 values of 1 to 2 and 4 μg/ml, respectively, were observed. We also evaluated the activity of oxadiazole ND-421 against other staphylococci and enterococci and in the presence of oxacillin for selected MRSA strains. The MIC for ND-421 is lowered severalfold in combination with oxacillin, as they synergize. The MIC90 of ND-421 against vancomycin-resistant enterococci is ≤1 μg/ml.

scholarly journals In Vitro Activity of Eravacycline against Gram-Positive Bacteria Isolated in Clinical Laboratories Worldwide from 2013 to 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Morrissey ◽  
Stephen Hawser ◽  
Sibylle H. Lob ◽  
James A. Karlowsky ◽  
Matteo Bassetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Microdilution Method ◽  
Clinical Laboratories ◽  
Broth Microdilution Method ◽  
Doubling Dilution

ABSTRACT Eravacycline is a novel, fully synthetic fluorocycline antibiotic being developed for the treatment of serious infections, including those caused by resistant Gram-positive pathogens. Here, we evaluated the in vitro activities of eravacycline and comparator antimicrobial agents against a recent global collection of frequently encountered clinical isolates of Gram-positive bacteria. The CLSI broth microdilution method was used to determine in vitro MIC data for isolates of Enterococcus spp. (n = 2,807), Staphylococcus spp. (n = 4,331), and Streptococcus spp. (n = 3,373) isolated primarily from respiratory, intra-abdominal, urinary, and skin specimens by clinical laboratories in 37 countries on three continents from 2013 to 2017. Susceptibilities were interpreted using both CLSI and EUCAST breakpoints. There were no substantive differences (a >1-doubling-dilution increase or decrease) in eravacycline MIC90 values for different species/organism groups over time or by region. Eravacycline showed MIC50 and MIC90 results of 0.06 and 0.12 μg/ml, respectively, when tested against Staphylococcus aureus, regardless of methicillin susceptibility. The MIC90 values of eravacycline for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus were equal (0.5 μg/ml). The eravacycline MIC90s for Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were 0.06 μg/ml and were within 1 doubling dilution regardless of the vancomycin susceptibility profile. Eravacycline exhibited MIC90 results of ≤0.06 μg/ml when tested against Streptococcus pneumoniae and beta-hemolytic and viridans group streptococcal isolates. In this surveillance study, eravacycline demonstrated potent in vitro activity against frequently isolated clinical isolates of Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus spp.), including isolates collected over a 5-year period (2013 to 2017), underscoring its potential benefit in the treatment of infections caused by common Gram-positive pathogens.

scholarly journals Extracellular Vesicle Biogenesis and Functions in Gram-Positive Bacteria

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Briaud ◽  
Ronan K. Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Bilayers ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Cell Interaction ◽  
Extracellular Vesicle ◽  
Wall Structure ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bacterial Physiology ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACT Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-derived lipid bilayers secreted by bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Bacterial membrane vesicles were discovered over 60 years ago and have been extensively studied in Gram-negative bacteria. During their production, EVs are loaded with proteins, nucleic acids, and various compounds that are subsequently released into the environment. Depending on the packaged cargo, EVs have a broad spectrum of action and are involved in pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance, nutrient uptake, and nucleic acid transfer. Due to differences in cell wall structure, EVs in Gram-positive bacteria have been disregarded for decades, and our understanding of their biogenesis and host cell interaction is incomplete. Recently, studies on bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Bacillus subtilis, and Mycobacterium spp. have demonstrated EV production in Gram-positive bacteria and shown the great importance EVs have in Gram-positive bacterial physiology and disease progression. Here, we review the latest findings on the biogenesis and functions of EVs from Gram-positive bacteria and identify key areas for future research.

scholarly journals Mutations of the Listeria monocytogenes PeptidoglycanN-Deacetylase andO-Acetylase Result in Enhanced Lysozyme Sensitivity, Bacteriolysis, and Hyperinduction of Innate Immune Pathways

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (9) ◽  
pp. 3596-3606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris S. Rae ◽  
Aimee Geissler ◽  
Paul C. Adamson ◽  
Daniel A. Portnoy
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Host Cell Death

ABSTRACTListeria monocytogenesis a Gram-positive intracellular pathogen that is naturally resistant to lysozyme. Recently, it was shown that peptidoglycan modification by N-deacetylation or O-acetylation confers resistance to lysozyme in various Gram-positive bacteria, includingL. monocytogenes.L. monocytogenespeptidoglycan is deacetylated by the action ofN-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (Pgd) and acetylated byO-acetylmuramic acid transferase (Oat). We characterized Pgd−, Oat−, and double mutants to determine the specific role ofL. monocytogenespeptidoglycan acetylation in conferring lysozyme sensitivity during infection of macrophages and mice. Pgd−and Pgd−Oat−double mutants were attenuated approximately 2 and 3.5 logs, respectively,in vivo. In bone-marrow derived macrophages, the mutants demonstrated intracellular growth defects and increased induction of cytokine transcriptional responses that emanated from a phagosome and the cytosol. Lysozyme-sensitive mutants underwent bacteriolysis in the macrophage cytosol, resulting in AIM2-dependent pyroptosis. Each of thein vitrophenotypes was rescued upon infection of LysM−macrophages. The addition of extracellular lysozyme to LysM−macrophages restored cytokine induction, host cell death, andL. monocytogenesgrowth inhibition. This surprising observation suggests that extracellular lysozyme can access the macrophage cytosol and act on intracellular lysozyme-sensitive bacteria.

scholarly journals Combination of Pantothenamides with Vanin Inhibitors as a Novel Antibiotic Strategy against Gram-Positive Bacteria

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 4794-4800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick A. M. Jansen ◽  
Pedro H. H. Hermkens ◽  
Patrick L. J. M. Zeeuwen ◽  
Peter N. M. Botman ◽  
Richard H. Blaauw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Spectrometric Analysis ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
New Compounds ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance ◽  
Hydrolysis Of

ABSTRACTThe emergence of resistance against current antibiotics calls for the development of new compounds to treat infectious diseases. Synthetic pantothenamides are pantothenate analogs that possess broad-spectrum antibacterial activityin vitroin minimal media. Pantothenamides were shown to be substrates of the bacterial coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthetic pathway, causing cellular CoA depletion and interference with fatty acid synthesis. In spite of their potential use and selectivity for bacterial metabolic routes, these compounds have never made it to the clinic. In the present study, we show that pantothenamides are not active as antibiotics in the presence of serum, and we found that they were hydrolyzed by ubiquitous pantetheinases of the vanin family. To address this further, we synthesized a series of pantetheinase inhibitors based on a pantothenate scaffold that inhibited serum pantetheinase activity in the nanomolar range. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that addition of these pantetheinase inhibitors prevented hydrolysis of pantothenamides by serum. We found that combinations of these novel pantetheinase inhibitors and prototypic pantothenamides like N5-Pan and N7-Pan exerted antimicrobial activityin vitro, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis,Streptococcus pneumoniae, andStreptococcus pyogenes) even in the presence of serum. These results indicate that pantothenamides, when protected against degradation by host pantetheinases, are potentially useful antimicrobial agents.

scholarly journals Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty: Sigma Factor B Fine-Tunes Gene Expression To Support Homeostasis in Gram-Positive Bacteria

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (15) ◽  
pp. 4456-4469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Guldimann ◽  
Kathryn J. Boor ◽  
Martin Wiedmann ◽  
Veronica Guariglia-Oropeza
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Sigma Factor ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Bacterial Survival ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Changing Environments ◽  
The Face

ABSTRACTGram-positive bacteria are ubiquitous and diverse microorganisms that can survive and sometimes even thrive in continuously changing environments. The key to such resilience is the ability of members of a population to respond and adjust to dynamic conditions in the environment. In bacteria, such responses and adjustments are mediated, at least in part, through appropriate changes in the bacterial transcriptome in response to the conditions encountered. Resilience is important for bacterial survival in diverse, complex, and rapidly changing environments and requires coordinated networks that integrate individual, mechanistic responses to environmental cues to enable overall metabolic homeostasis. In many Gram-positive bacteria, a key transcriptional regulator of the response to changing environmental conditions is the alternative sigma factor σB. σBhas been characterized in a subset of Gram-positive bacteria, including the generaBacillus,Listeria, andStaphylococcus. Recent insight from next-generation-sequencing results indicates that σB-dependent regulation of gene expression contributes to resilience, i.e., the coordination of complex networks responsive to environmental changes. This review explores contributions of σBto resilience inBacillus,Listeria, andStaphylococcusand illustrates recently described regulatory functions of σB.

scholarly journals Group IIA-Secreted Phospholipase A2in Human Serum Kills Commensal but Not ClinicalEnterococcus faeciumIsolates

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda L. Paganelli ◽  
Helen L. Leavis ◽  
Samantha He ◽  
Nina M. van Sorge ◽  
Christine Payré ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Serum ◽  
Normal Serum ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
Direct Killing ◽  
The Complement System

ABSTRACTHuman innate immunity employs cellular and humoral mechanisms to facilitate rapid killing of invading bacteria. The direct killing of bacteria by human serum is attributed mainly to the activity of the complement system, which forms pores in Gram-negative bacteria. Although Gram-positive bacteria are considered resistant to killing by serum, we uncover here that normal human serum effectively killsEnterococcus faecium. Comparison of a well-characterized collection of commensal and clinicalE. faeciumisolates revealed that human serum specifically kills commensalE. faeciumstrains isolated from normal gut microbiota but not clinical isolates. Inhibitor studies show that the human group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 (hGIIA), but not complement, is responsible for killing of commensalE. faeciumstrains in human normal serum. This is remarkable since the hGIIA concentration in “noninflamed” serum was considered too low to be bactericidal against Gram-positive bacteria. Mechanistic studies showed that serum hGIIA specifically causes permeabilization of commensalE. faeciummembranes. Altogether, we find that a normal concentration of hGIIA in serum effectively kills commensalE. faeciumand that resistance of clinicalE. faeciumto hGIIA could have contributed to the ability of these strains to become opportunistic pathogens in hospitalized patients.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document