scholarly journals Burkholderia cepacia Complex Phage-Antibiotic Synergy (PAS): Antibiotics Stimulate Lytic Phage Activity

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1132-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Kamal ◽  
Jonathan J. Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Bacterial Killing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Classes ◽  
Phage Production ◽  
A Chain

ABSTRACTTheBurkholderia cepaciacomplex (Bcc) is a group of at least 18 species of Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens that can cause chronic lung infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Bcc organisms possess high levels of innate antimicrobial resistance, and alternative therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. One proposed alternative treatment is phage therapy, the therapeutic application of bacterial viruses (or bacteriophages). Recently, some phages have been observed to form larger plaques in the presence of sublethal concentrations of certain antibiotics; this effect has been termed phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS). Those reports suggest that some antibiotics stimulate increased production of phages under certain conditions. The aim of this study is to examine PAS in phages that infectBurkholderia cenocepaciastrains C6433 and K56-2. Bcc phages KS12 and KS14 were tested for PAS, using 6 antibiotics representing 4 different drug classes. Of the antibiotics tested, the most pronounced effects were observed for meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline. When grown with subinhibitory concentrations of these three antibiotics, cells developed a chain-like arrangement, an elongated morphology, and a clustered arrangement, respectively. When treated with progressively higher antibiotic concentrations, both the sizes of plaques and phage titers increased, up to a maximum.B. cenocepaciaK56-2-infectedGalleria mellonellalarvae treated with phage KS12 and low-dose meropenem demonstrated increased survival over controls treated with KS12 or antibiotic alone. These results suggest that antibiotics can be combined with phages to stimulate increased phage production and/or activity and thus improve the efficacy of bacterial killing.

scholarly journals In Vitro Activity of a Novel Glycopolymer against Biofilms of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Isolates

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidya P. Narayanaswamy ◽  
Andrew P. Duncan ◽  
John J. LiPuma ◽  
William P. Wiesmann ◽  
Shenda M. Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biofilm Removal ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are often associated with a steady decline in lung function and death. The formation of biofilms and inherent multidrug resistance are virulence factors associated with Bcc infection and contribute to increased risk of mortality in CF patients. New therapeutic strategies targeting bacterial biofilms are anticipated to enhance antibiotic penetration and facilitate resolution of infection. Poly (acetyl, arginyl) glucosamine (PAAG) is a cationic glycopolymer therapeutic being developed to directly target biofilm integrity. In this study, 13 isolates from 7 species were examined, including Burkholderia multivorans, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia gladioli, Burkholderia dolosa, Burkholderia vietnamiensis, and B. cepacia. These isolates were selected for their resistance to standard clinical antibiotics and their ability to form biofilms in vitro. Biofilm biomass was quantitated using static tissue culture plate (TCP) biofilm methods and a minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) assay. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) visualized biofilm removal by PAAG during treatment. Both TCP and MBEC methods demonstrated a significant dose-dependent relationship with regard to biofilm removal by 50 to 200 μg/ml PAAG following a 1-h treatment (P < 0.01). A significant reduction in biofilm thickness was observed following a 10-min treatment of Bcc biofilms with PAAG compared to that with vehicle control (P < 0.001) in TCP, MBEC, and CLSM analyses. PAAG also rapidly permeabilizes bacteria within the first 10 min of treatment. Glycopolymers, such as PAAG, are a new class of large-molecule therapeutics that support the treatment of recalcitrant Bcc biofilm.

scholarly journals Use of Synthetic Hybrid Strains To Determine the Role of Replicon 3 in Virulence of the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsty Agnoli ◽  
Roman Freitag ◽  
Margarida C. Gomes ◽  
Christian Jenul ◽  
Angela Suppiger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Proteolytic Activity ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Antifungal Compounds ◽  
Biotechnological Potential ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Third

ABSTRACT The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) displays a wealth of metabolic diversity with great biotechnological potential, but the utilization of these bacteria is limited by their opportunistic pathogenicity to humans. The third replicon of the Bcc, megaplasmid pC3 (0.5 to 1.4 Mb, previously chromosome 3), is important for various phenotypes, including virulence, antifungal, and proteolytic activities and the utilization of certain substrates. Approximately half of plasmid pC3 is well conserved throughout sequenced Bcc members, while the other half is not. To better locate the regions responsible for the key phenotypes, pC3 mutant derivatives of Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 carrying large deletions (up to 0.58 Mb) were constructed with the aid of the FLP-FRT (FRT, flippase recognition target) recombination system from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The conserved region was shown to confer near-full virulence in both Caenorhabditis elegans and Galleria mellonella infection models. Antifungal activity was unexpectedly independent of the part of pC3 bearing a previously identified antifungal gene cluster, while proteolytic activity was dependent on the nonconserved part of pC3, which encodes the ZmpA protease. To investigate to what degree pC3-encoded functions are dependent on chromosomally encoded functions, we transferred pC3 from Burkholderia cenocepacia K56-2 and Burkholderia lata 383 into other pC3-cured Bcc members. We found that although pC3 is highly important for virulence, it was the genetic background of the recipient that determined the pathogenicity level of the hybrid strain. Furthermore, we found that important phenotypes, such as antifungal activity, proteolytic activity, and some substrate utilization capabilities, can be transferred between Bcc members using pC3. IMPORTANCE The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a group of closely related bacteria with great biotechnological potential. Some strains produce potent antifungal compounds and can promote plant growth or degrade environmental pollutants. However, their agricultural potential is limited by their opportunistic pathogenicity, particularly for cystic fibrosis patients. Despite much study, their virulence remains poorly understood. The third replicon, pC3, which is present in all Bcc isolates and is important for pathogenicity, stress resistance, and the production of antifungal compounds, has recently been reclassified from a chromosome to a megaplasmid. In this study, we identified regions on pC3 important for virulence and antifungal activity and investigated the role of the chromosomal background for the function of pC3 by exchanging the megaplasmid between different Bcc members. Our results may open a new avenue for the construction of antifungal but nonpathogenic Burkholderia hybrids. Such strains may have great potential as biocontrol strains for protecting fungus-borne diseases of plant crops.

scholarly journals Linocin and OmpW Are Involved in Attachment of the Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Pathogen Burkholderia cepacia Complex to Lung Epithelial Cells and Protect Mice against Infection

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1424-1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhán McClean ◽  
Marc E. Healy ◽  
Cassandra Collins ◽  
Stephen Carberry ◽  
Luke O'Shaughnessy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lung Epithelial ◽  
Proteomics Approach

Members of theBurkholderia cepaciacomplex (Bcc) cause chronic opportunistic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), resulting in a gradual lung function decline and, ultimately, patient death. The Bcc is a complex of 20 species and is rarely eradicated once a patient is colonized; therefore, vaccination may represent a better therapeutic option. We developed a new proteomics approach to identify bacterial proteins that are involved in the attachment of Bcc bacteria to lung epithelial cells. Fourteen proteins were reproducibly identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis from four Bcc strains representative of two Bcc species:Burkholderia cenocepacia, the most virulent, andB. multivorans, the most frequently acquired. Seven proteins were identified in both species, but only two were common to all four strains, linocin and OmpW. Both proteins were selected based on previously reported data on these proteins in other species.Escherichia colistrains expressing recombinant linocin and OmpW showed enhanced attachment (4.2- and 3.9-fold) to lung cells compared to the control, confirming that both proteins are involved in host cell attachment. Immunoproteomic analysis using serum from Bcc-colonized CF patients confirmed that both proteins elicit potent humoral responsesin vivo. Mice immunized with either recombinant linocin or OmpW were protected fromB. cenocepaciaandB. multivoranschallenge. Both antigens induced potent antigen-specific antibody responses and stimulated strong cytokine responses. In conclusion, our approach identified adhesins that induced excellent protection against two Bcc species and are promising vaccine candidates for a multisubunit vaccine. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential of our proteomics approach to identify potent antigens against other difficult pathogens.

scholarly journals Activity of Tobramycin against Cystic Fibrosis Isolates of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Grown as Biofilms

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 348-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Kennedy ◽  
Trevor Beaudoin ◽  
Yvonne C. W. Yau ◽  
Emma Caraher ◽  
James E. A. Zlosnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Suppressive Therapy ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Lung Function Decline ◽  
Complex Species ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biofilm Thickness

ABSTRACTPulmonary infection withBurkholderia cepaciacomplex in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is associated with more-rapid lung function decline and earlier death than in CF patients without this infection. In this study, we used confocal microscopy to visualize the effects of various concentrations of tobramycin, achievable with systemic and aerosolized drug administration, on matureB. cepaciacomplex biofilms, both in the presence and absence of CF sputum. After 24 h of growth, biofilm thickness was significantly reduced by exposure to 2,000 μg/ml of tobramycin forBurkholderia cepacia,Burkholderia multivorans, andBurkholderia vietnamiensis; 200 μg/ml of tobramycin was sufficient to reduce the thickness ofBurkholderia dolosabiofilm. With a more mature 48-h biofilm, significant reductions in thickness were seen with tobramycin at concentrations of ≥100 μg/ml for allBurkholderiaspecies. In addition, an increased ratio of dead to live cells was observed in comparison to control with tobramycin concentrations of ≥200 μg/ml forB. cepaciaandB. dolosa(24 h) and ≥100 μg/ml forBurkholderia cenocepaciaandB. dolosa(48 h). Although sputum significantly increased biofilm thickness, tobramycin concentrations of 1,000 μg/ml were still able to significantly reduce biofilm thickness of allB. cepaciacomplex species with the exception ofB. vietnamiensis. In the presence of sputum, 1,000 μg/ml of tobramycin significantly increased the dead-to-live ratio only forB. multivoranscompared to control. In summary, although killing is attenuated, high-dose tobramycin can effectively decrease the thickness ofB. cepaciacomplex biofilms, even in the presence of sputum, suggesting a possible role as a suppressive therapy in CF.

scholarly journals Localization of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Bacteria in Cystic Fibrosis Lungs and Interactions with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Hypoxic Mucus

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 4729-4745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ute Schwab ◽  
Lubna H. Abdullah ◽  
Olivia S. Perlmutt ◽  
Daniel Albert ◽  
C. William Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Test Medium ◽  
Fermentation Products ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe localization ofBurkholderia cepaciacomplex (Bcc) bacteria in cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs, alone or during coinfection withPseudomonas aeruginosa, is poorly understood. We performed immunohistochemistry for Bcc andP. aeruginosabacteria on 21 coinfected or singly infected CF lungs obtained at transplantation or autopsy. Parallelin vitroexperiments examined the growth of two Bcc species,Burkholderia cenocepaciaandBurkholderia multivorans, in environments similar to those occupied byP. aeruginosain the CF lung. Bcc bacteria were predominantly identified in the CF lung as single cells or small clusters within phagocytes and mucus but not as “biofilm-like structures.” In contrast,P. aeruginosawas identified in biofilm-like masses, but densities appeared to be reduced during coinfection with Bcc bacteria. Based on chemical analyses of CF and non-CF respiratory secretions, a test medium was defined to study Bcc growth and interactions withP. aeruginosain an environment mimicking the CF lung. When test medium was supplemented with alternative electron acceptors under anaerobic conditions,B. cenocepaciaandB. multivoransused fermentation rather than anaerobic respiration to gain energy, consistent with the identification of fermentation products by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both Bcc species also expressed mucinases that produced carbon sources from mucins for growth. In the presence ofP. aeruginosain vitro, both Bcc species grew anaerobically but not aerobically. We propose that Bcc bacteria (i) invade aP. aeruginosa-infected CF lung when the airway lumen is anaerobic, (ii) inhibitP. aeruginosabiofilm-like growth, and (iii) expand the host bacterial niche from mucus to also include macrophages.

scholarly journals A Phylogeny-Informed Proteomics Approach for Species Identification within the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Honghui Wang ◽  
Ousmane H. Cissé ◽  
Thomas Bolig ◽  
Steven K. Drake ◽  
Yong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Diagnostic Classification ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proteomics Approach ◽  
Interspecies Recombination

ABSTRACT Ancestral genetic exchange between members of many important bacterial pathogen groups has resulted in phylogenetic relationships better described as networks than as bifurcating trees. In certain cases, these reticulated phylogenies have resulted in phenotypic and molecular overlap that challenges the construction of practical approaches for species identification in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), a betaproteobacteria species group responsible for significant morbidity in persons with cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease, represents one such group where network-structured phylogeny has hampered the development of diagnostic methods for species-level discrimination. Here, we present a phylogeny-informed proteomics approach to facilitate diagnostic classification of pathogen groups with reticulated phylogenies, using Bcc as an example. Starting with a set of more than 800 Bcc and Burkholderia gladioli whole-genome assemblies, we constructed phylogenies with explicit representation of inferred interspecies recombination. Sixteen highly discriminatory peptides were chosen to distinguish B. cepacia, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia multivorans, and B. gladioli and multiplexed into a single, rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multiple reaction monitoring (LC-MS/MS MRM) assay. Testing of a blinded set of isolates containing these four Burkholderia species demonstrated 50/50 correct automatic negative calls (100% accuracy with a 95% confidence interval [CI] of 92.9 to 100%), and 70/70 correct automatic species-level positive identifications (100% accuracy with 95% CI 94.9 to 100%) after accounting for a single initial incorrect identification due to a preanalytic error, correctly identified on retesting. The approach to analysis described here is applicable to other pathogen groups for which development of diagnostic classification methods is complicated by interspecies recombination.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the electron transfer flavoprotein as an antibacterial target in Burkholderia cenocepacia

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 857-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria S. Stietz ◽  
Christina Lopez ◽  
Osasumwen Osifo ◽  
Marcelo E. Tolmasky ◽  
Silvia T. Cardona
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Electron Transfer Flavoprotein ◽  
C Elegans

There are hundreds of essential genes in multidrug-resistant bacterial genomes, but only a few of their products are exploited as antibacterial targets. An example is the electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF), which is required for growth and viability in Burkholderia cenocepacia. Here, we evaluated ETF as an antibiotic target for Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). Depletion of the bacterial ETF during infection of Caenorhabditis elegans significantly extended survival of the nematodes, proving that ETF is essential for survival of B. cenocepacia in this host model. In spite of the arrest in respiration in ETF mutants, the inhibition of etf expression did not increase the formation of persister cells, when treated with high doses of ciprofloxacin or meropenem. To test if etf translation could be inhibited by RNA interference, antisense oligonucleotides that target the etfBA operon were synthesized. One antisense oligonucleotide was effective in inhibiting etfB translation in vitro but not in vivo, highlighting the challenge of reduced membrane permeability for the design of drugs against B. cenocepacia. This work contributes to the validation of ETF of B. cenocepacia as a target for antibacterial therapy and demonstrates the utility of a C. elegans liquid killing assay to validate gene essentiality in an in vivo infection model.

scholarly journals Intracellular survival ofBurkholderia cepaciacomplex in phagocytic cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 607-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Valvano
Keyword(s):  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Intracellular Survival ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Host Responses ◽  
Current View ◽  
Phagocytic Cells

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) species are a group of Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens that infect the airways of cystic fibrosis patients, and occasionally they infect other immunocompromised patients. Bcc bacteria display high-level multidrug resistance and chronically persist in the infected host while eliciting robust inflammatory responses. Studies using macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, combined with advances in the genetic manipulation of these bacteria, have increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of virulence in these pathogens and the molecular details of cell-host responses triggering inflammation. This article discusses our current view of the intracellular survival of Burkholderia cenocepacia within macrophages.

scholarly journals Draft Genome of Burkholderia cenocepacia TAtl-371, a Strain from the Burkholderia cepacia Complex Retains Antagonism in Different Carbon and Nitrogen Sources

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 566-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Uriel Rojas-Rojas ◽  
David Sánchez-López ◽  
Erika Yanet Tapia-García ◽  
Ivan Arroyo-Herrera ◽  
Maskit Maymon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Draft Genome ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen Sources ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

scholarly journals Short Palate, Lung, and Nasal Epithelial Clone 1 Has Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities against the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 6003-6012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saira Ahmad ◽  
Jean Tyrrell ◽  
William G. Walton ◽  
Ashutosh Tripathy ◽  
Matthew R. Redinbo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia Complex ◽  
Upper Airways ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innate Defense ◽  
Opportunistic Bacteria ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTThe opportunistic bacteria of theBurkholderia cepaciacomplex (Bcc) are extremely pathogenic to cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and acquisition of Bcc bacteria is associated with a significant increase in mortality. Treatment of Bcc infections is difficult because the bacteria are multidrug resistant and able to survive in biofilms. Short palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) is an innate defense protein that is secreted by the upper airways and pharynx. While SPLUNC1 is known to have antimicrobial functions, its effects on Bcc strains are unclear. We therefore tested the hypothesis that SPLUNC1 is able to impair Bcc growth and biofilm formation. We found that SPLUNC1 exerted bacteriostatic effects against several Bcc clinical isolates, includingB. cenocepaciastrain J2315 (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 0.28 μM), and reduced biofilm formation and attachment (IC50= 0.11 μM). We then determined which domains of SPLUNC1 are responsible for its antimicrobial activity. Deletions of SPLUNC1's N terminus and α6 helix did not affect its function. However, deletion of the α4 helix attenuated antimicrobial activity, while the corresponding α4 peptide displayed antimicrobial activity. Chronic neutrophilia is a hallmark of CF lung disease, and neutrophil elastase (NE) cleaves SPLUNC1. However, we found that the ability of SPLUNC1 to disrupt biofilm formation was significantly potentiated by NE pretreatment. While the impact of CF on SPLUNC1-Bcc interactions is not currently known, our data suggest that understanding this interaction may have important implications for CF lung disease.

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