scholarly journals Mycofumigation by the Volatile Organic Compound-Producing Fungus Muscodor albus Induces Bacterial Cell Death through DNA Damage

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1147-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cambria J. Alpha ◽  
Manuel Campos ◽  
Christine Jacobs-Wagner ◽  
Scott A. Strobel
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Muscodor Albus

ABSTRACTMuscodor albusbelongs to a genus of endophytic fungi that inhibit and kill other fungi, bacteria, and insects through production of a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This process of mycofumigation has found commercial application for control of human and plant pathogens, but the mechanism of the VOC toxicity is unknown. Here, the mode of action of these volatiles was investigated through a series of genetic screens and biochemical assays. A single-gene knockout screen revealed high sensitivity forEscherichia colilacking enzymes in the pathways of DNA repair, DNA metabolic process, and response to stress when exposed to the VOCs ofM. albus. Furthermore, the sensitivity of knockouts involved in the repair of specific DNA alkyl adducts suggests that the VOCs may induce alkylation. Evidence of DNA damage suggests that these adducts lead to breaks during DNA replication or transcription if not properly repaired. Additional cytotoxicity profiling indicated that during VOC exposure,E. colibecame filamentous and demonstrated an increase in cellular membrane fluidity. The volatile nature of the toxic compounds produced byM. albusand their broad range of inhibition make this fungus an attractive biological agent. Understanding the antimicrobial effects and the VOC mode of action will inform the utility and safety of potential mycofumigation applications forM. albus.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Screening Identifies Six Genes That Are Associated with Susceptibility to Escherichia coli Microcin PDI

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (20) ◽  
pp. 6953-6963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Zhao ◽  
Lauren J. Eberhart ◽  
Lisa H. Orfe ◽  
Shao-Yeh Lu ◽  
Thomas E. Besser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Atp Synthase ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Synthase Inhibitor ◽  
Loss Of Susceptibility

ABSTRACTThe microcin PDI inhibits a diverse group of pathogenicEscherichia colistrains. Coculture of a single-gene knockout library (BW25113;n= 3,985 mutants) against a microcin PDI-producing strain (E. coli25) identified six mutants that were not susceptible (ΔatpA, ΔatpF, ΔdsbA, ΔdsbB, ΔompF, and ΔompR). Complementation of these genes restored susceptibility in all cases, and the loss of susceptibility was confirmed through independent gene knockouts inE. coliO157:H7 Sakai. Heterologous expression ofE. coliompFconferred susceptibility toSalmonella entericaandYersinia enterocoliticastrains that are normally unaffected by microcin PDI. The expression of chimeric OmpF and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the K47G48N49region within the first extracellular loop ofE. coliOmpF is a putative binding site for microcin PDI. OmpR is a transcriptional regulator forompF, and consequently loss of susceptibility by the ΔompRstrain most likely is related to this function. Deletion of AtpA and AtpF, as well as AtpE and AtpH (missed in the original library screen), resulted in the loss of susceptibility to microcin PDI and the loss of ATP synthase function. Coculture of a susceptible strain in the presence of an ATP synthase inhibitor resulted in a loss of susceptibility, confirming that a functional ATP synthase complex is required for microcin PDI activity. Intransexpression ofompFin the ΔdsbAand ΔdsbBstrains did not restore a susceptible phenotype, indicating that these proteins are probably involved with the formation of disulfide bonds for OmpF or microcin PDI.

scholarly journals Rapid Accumulation of Motility-Activating Mutations in Resting Liquid Culture ofEscherichia coli

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren J. Parker ◽  
Pınar Demetci ◽  
Gene-Wei Li
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Liquid Medium ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Keio Collection

ABSTRACTExpression of motility genes is a potentially beneficial but costly process in bacteria. Interestingly, many isolate strains ofEscherichia colipossess motility genes but have lost the ability to activate them under conditions in which motility is advantageous, raising the question of how they respond to these situations. Through transcriptome profiling of strains in theE. colisingle-gene knockout Keio collection, we noticed drastic upregulation of motility genes in many of the deletion strains compared to levels in their weakly motile parent strain (BW25113). We show that this switch to a motile phenotype is not a direct consequence of the genes deleted but is instead due to a variety of secondary mutations that increase the expression of the major motility regulator, FlhDC. Importantly, we find that this switch can be reproduced by growing poorly motileE. colistrains in nonshaking liquid medium overnight but not in shaking liquid medium. Individual isolates after the nonshaking overnight incubations acquired distinct mutations upstream of theflhDCoperon, including different insertion sequence (IS) elements and, to a lesser extent, point mutations. The rapidity with which genetic changes sweep through the populations grown without shaking shows that poorly motile strains can quickly adapt to a motile lifestyle by genetic rewiring.IMPORTANCEThe ability to tune gene expression in times of need outside preordained regulatory networks is an essential evolutionary process that allows organisms to survive and compete. Here, we show that upon overnight incubation in liquid medium without shaking, populations of largely nonmotileEscherichia colibacteria can rapidly accumulate mutants that have constitutive motility. This effect contributes to widespread secondary mutations in the single-gene knockout library, the Keio collection. As a result, 49/71 (69%) of the Keio strains tested exhibited various degrees of motility, whereas their parental strain is poorly motile. These observations highlight the plasticity of gene expression even in the absence of preexisting regulatory programs and should raise awareness of procedures for handling laboratory strains ofE. coli.

scholarly journals Operon for Biosynthesis of Lipstatin, the Beta-Lactone Inhibitor of Human Pancreatic Lipase

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (24) ◽  
pp. 7473-7483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingli Bai ◽  
Daozhong Zhang ◽  
Shuangjun Lin ◽  
Qingshan Long ◽  
Yemin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Pancreatic Lipase ◽  
Acyl Carrier Protein ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Oxidative Degradation ◽  
Large Deletion ◽  
Homologous Gene ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dihydroxy Fatty Acid

ABSTRACTLipstatin, isolated fromStreptomyces toxytricinias a potent and selective inhibitor of human pancreatic lipase, is a precursor for tetrahydrolipstatin (also known as orlistat, Xenical, and Alli), the only FDA-approved antiobesity medication for long-term use. Lipstatin features a 2-hexyl-3,5-dihydroxy-7,10-hexadecadienoic-β-lactone structure with anN-formyl-l-leucine group attached as an ester to the 5-hydroxy group. It has been suggested that the α-branched 3,5-dihydroxy fatty acid β-lactone moiety of lipstatin inS. toxytriciniis derived from Claisen condensation between two fatty acid substrates, which are derived from incomplete oxidative degradation of linoleic acid based on feeding experiments. In this study, we identified a six-gene operon (lst) that was essential for the biosynthesis of lipstatin by large-deletion, complementation, and single-gene knockout experiments.lstA,lstB, andlstC, which encode two β-ketoacyl–acyl carrier protein synthase III homologues and an acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) synthetase homologue, were indicated to be responsible for the generation of the α-branched 3,5-dihydroxy fatty acid backbone. Subsequently, the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genelstEand the putative formyltransferase genelstFwere involved in decoration of the α-branched 3,5-dihydroxy fatty acid chain with an N-formylated leucine residue. Finally, the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-homologous genelstDmight be responsible for the reduction of the β-keto group of the biosynthetic intermediate, thereby facilitating the formation of the unique β-lactone ring.

scholarly journals Plasma-sensitive Escherichia coli mutants reveal plasma resistance mechanisms

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (152) ◽  
pp. 20180846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Krewing ◽  
Fabian Jarzina ◽  
Tim Dirks ◽  
Britta Schubert ◽  
Jan Benedikt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Plasma Resistance ◽  
A Genome

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas are investigated as augmenting therapy to combat bacterial infections. The strong antibacterial effects of plasmas are attributed to the complex mixture of reactive species, (V)UV radiation and electric fields. The experience with antibiotics is that upon their introduction as medicines, resistance occurs in pathogens and spreads. To assess the possibility of bacterial resistance developing against plasma, we investigated intrinsic protective mechanisms that allow Escherichia coli to survive plasma stress. We performed a genome-wide screening of single-gene knockout mutants of E. coli and identified 87 mutants that are hypersensitive to the effluent of a microscale atmospheric pressure plasma jet. For selected genes ( cysB , mntH , rep and iscS ) we showed in complementation studies that plasma resistance can be restored and increased above wild-type levels upon over-expression. To identify plasma-derived components that the 87 genes confer resistance against, mutants were tested for hypersensitivity against individual stressors (hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, ozone, HOCl, peroxynitrite, NO•, nitrite, nitrate, HNO 3 , acid stress, diamide, heat stress and detergents). k-means++ clustering revealed that most genes protect from hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and/or nitric oxide. In conclusion, individual bacterial genes confer resistance against plasma providing insights into the antibacterial mechanisms of plasma.

scholarly journals Ex VivoApplication of Secreted Metabolites Produced by Soil-Inhabiting Bacillus spp. Efficiently Controls Foliar Diseases Caused by Alternaria spp.

2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 478-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gul Shad Ali ◽  
Ashraf S. A. El-Sayed ◽  
Jaimin S. Patel ◽  
Kari B. Green ◽  
Mohammad Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foliar Diseases ◽  
Culture Filtrates

ABSTRACTBacterial biological control agents (BCAs) are largely used as live products to control plant pathogens. However, due to variable environmental and ecological factors, live BCAs usually fail to produce desirable results against foliar pathogens. In this study, we investigated the potential of cell-free culture filtrates of 12 different bacterial BCAs isolated from flower beds for controlling foliar diseases caused byAlternariaspp.In vitrostudies showed that culture filtrates from two isolates belonging toBacillus subtilisandBacillus amyloliquefaciensdisplayed strong efficacy and potencies againstAlternariaspp. The antimicrobial activity of the culture filtrate of these two biological control agents was effective over a wider range of pH (3.0 to 9.0) and was not affected by autoclaving or proteolysis. Comparative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses showed that a complex mixture of cyclic lipopeptides, primarily of the fengycin A and fengycin B families, was significantly higher in these two BCAs than inactiveBacillusspp. Interaction studies with mixtures of culture filtrates of these two species revealed additive activity, suggesting that they produce similar products, which was confirmed by LC-tandem MS analyses. Inin plantapre- and postinoculation trials, foliar application of culture filtrates ofB. subtilisreduced lesion sizes and lesion frequencies caused byAlternaria alternataby 68 to 81%. Taken together, our studies suggest that instead of live bacteria, culture filtrates ofB. subtilisandB. amyloliquefacienscan be applied either individually or in combination for controlling foliar diseases caused byAlternariaspecies.

scholarly journals Haloarchaeal-Type β-Ketothiolases Involved in Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) Synthesis in Haloferax mediterranei

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (17) ◽  
pp. 5104-5111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Hou ◽  
Bo Feng ◽  
Jing Han ◽  
Hailong Liu ◽  
Dahe Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Catalytic Triad ◽  
Haloferax Mediterranei ◽  
Acetyl Coa ◽  
Whole Genome Analysis ◽  
Catalytic Subunits ◽  
Biotechnological Potential ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types

ABSTRACTThe key enzymes for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biosynthesis in haloarchaea have been identified except the β-ketothiolase(s), which condense two acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) molecules to acetoacetyl-CoA, or one acetyl-CoA and one propionyl-CoA to 3-ketovaleryl-CoA. Whole-genome analysis has revealed eight potential β-ketothiolase genes in the haloarchaeonHaloferax mediterranei, among which the PHBV-specific BktB and PhaA were identified by gene knockout and complementation analysis. Unlike all known bacterial counterparts encoded by a single gene, the haloarchaeal PhaA that was involved in acetoacetyl-CoA generation, was composed of two different types of subunits (PhaAα and PhaAβ) and encoded by the cotranscribed HFX_1023 (phaAα) and HFX_1022 (phaAβ) genes. Similarly, the BktB that was involved in generation of acetoacetyl-CoA and 3-ketovaleryl-CoA, was also composed of two different types of subunits (BktBα and BktBβ) and encoded by cotranscribed HFX_6004 (bktBα) and HFX_6003 (bktBβ). BktBα and PhaAα were the catalytic subunits and determined substrate specificities of BktB and PhaA, respectively. Their catalytic triad “Ser-His-His” was distinct from the bacterial “Cys-His-Cys.” BktBβ and PhaAβ both contained an oligosaccharide-binding fold domain, which was essential for the β-ketothiolase activity. Interestingly, BktBβ and PhaAβ were functionally interchangeable, although PhaAβ preferred functioning with PhaAα. In addition, BktB showed biotechnological potential for the production of PHBV with the desired 3-hydroxyvalerate fraction in haloarchaea. This is the first report of the haloarchaeal type of PHBV-specific β-ketothiolases, which are distinct from their bacterial counterparts in both subunit composition and catalytic residues.

scholarly journals A palette of fluorophores that are differentially accumulated by wild-type and mutant strains of Escherichia coli: surrogate ligands for profiling bacterial membrane transporters

Microbiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Enrique Salcedo-Sora ◽  
Srijan Jindal ◽  
Steve O'Hagan ◽  
Douglas B. Kell
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Efflux Pump Inhibitor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effects Of Ph ◽  
Small Collection

Our previous work demonstrated that two commonly used fluorescent dyes that were accumulated by wild-type Escherichia coli MG1655 were differentially transported in single-gene knockout strains, and also that they might be used as surrogates in flow cytometric transporter assays. We summarize the desirable properties of such stains, and here survey 143 candidate dyes. We eventually triage them (on the basis of signal, accumulation levels and cost) to a palette of 39 commercially available and affordable fluorophores that are accumulated significantly by wild-type cells of the ‘Keio’ strain BW25113, as measured flow cytometrically. Cheminformatic analyses indicate both their similarities and their (much more considerable) structural differences. We describe the effects of pH and of the efflux pump inhibitor chlorpromazine on the accumulation of the dyes. Even the ‘wild-type’ MG1655 and BW25113 strains can differ significantly in their ability to take up such dyes. We illustrate the highly differential uptake of our dyes into strains with particular lesions in, or overexpressed levels of, three particular transporters or transporter components (yhjV, yihN and tolC). The relatively small collection of dyes described offers a rapid, inexpensive, convenient and informative approach to the assessment of microbial physiology and phenotyping of membrane transporter function.

scholarly journals Role of Toxin-Antitoxin-Regulated Persister Population and Indole in Bacterial Heat Tolerance

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshimitsu Masuda ◽  
Erika Sakamoto ◽  
Ken-ichi Honjoh ◽  
Takahisa Miyamoto
Keyword(s):  
Heat Tolerance ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Persister Cells ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Normal Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Indole Production

ABSTRACT YafQ is an endoribonuclease toxin that degrades target gene transcripts such as that of tnaA, a gene encoding tryptophanase to synthesize indole from tryptophan. DinJ is the cognate antitoxin of YafQ, and the YafQ-DinJ system was reported to regulate persister formation by controlling indole production in Escherichia coli. In this study, we investigated the role of YafQ-DinJ, indole production, and persister population in bacterial heat tolerance. yafQ (ΔyafQ), dinJ (ΔdinJ), and tnaA (ΔtnaA) single-gene knockout mutants showed approximately 10-fold higher heat tolerance than wild-type (WT) E. coli BW25113. Persister fractions of all mutants were slightly larger than that of the WT. Interestingly, these persister cells showed an approximately 100-fold higher heat tolerance than normal cells, but there was no difference among the persister cells of all mutants and the WT in terms of heat tolerance. Indole and its derivatives promoted a drastic reduction of bacterial heat tolerance by just 10 min of pretreatment, which is not sufficient to affect persister formation before heat treatment. Surprisingly, indole and its derivatives also reduced the heat tolerance of persister cells. Among the tested derivatives, 5-iodoindole exhibited the strongest effect on both normal and persister cells. IMPORTANCE Our study demonstrated that a small persister population exhibits significantly higher heat tolerance than normal cells and that this small fraction contributes to the heat tolerance of the total bacterial population. This study also demonstrated that indole, known to inhibit persister formation, and its derivatives are very promising candidates to reduce the heat tolerance of not only normal bacterial cells but also persister cells.

scholarly journals CRISPR-Cas9D10A Nickase-Assisted Genome Editing in Lactobacillus casei

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Song ◽  
He Huang ◽  
Zhiqiang Xiong ◽  
Lianzhong Ai ◽  
Sheng Yang
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Lactobacillus Casei ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Egfp Expression ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Lactobacillus casei has drawn increasing attention as a health-promoting probiotic, while effective genetic manipulation tools are often not available, e.g., the single-gene knockout in L. casei still depends on the classic homologous recombination-dependent double-crossover strategy, which is quite labor-intensive and time-consuming. In the present study, a rapid and precise genome editing plasmid, pLCNICK, was established for L. casei genome engineering based on CRISPR-Cas9D10A. In addition to the P23-Cas9D10A and Pldh-sgRNA (single guide RNA) expression cassettes, pLCNICK includes the homologous arms of the target gene as repair templates. The ability and efficiency of chromosomal engineering using pLCNICK were evaluated by in-frame deletions of four independent genes and chromosomal insertion of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression cassette at the LC2W_1628 locus. The efficiencies associated with in-frame deletions and chromosomal insertion is 25 to 62%. pLCNICK has been proved to be an effective, rapid, and precise tool for genome editing in L. casei, and its potential application in other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is also discussed in this study. IMPORTANCE The lack of efficient genetic tools has limited the investigation and biotechnological application of many LAB. The CRISPR-Cas9D10A nickase-based genome editing in Lactobacillus casei, an important food industrial microorganism, was demonstrated in this study. This genetic tool allows efficient single-gene deletion and insertion to be accomplished by one-step transformation, and the cycle time is reduced to 9 days. It facilitates a rapid and precise chromosomal manipulation in L. casei and overcomes some limitations of previous methods. This editing system can serve as a basic technological platform and offers the possibility to start a comprehensive investigation on L. casei. As a broad-host-range plasmid, pLCNICK has the potential to be adapted to other Lactobacillus species for genome editing.

scholarly journals Regulation of Cell Division in Bacteria by Monitoring Genome Integrity and DNA Replication Status

2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter E. Burby ◽  
Lyle A. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Division ◽  
Dna Replication ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Genome Instability ◽  
Sos Response ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT All organisms regulate cell cycle progression by coordinating cell division with DNA replication status. In eukaryotes, DNA damage or problems with replication fork progression induce the DNA damage response (DDR), causing cyclin-dependent kinases to remain active, preventing further cell cycle progression until replication and repair are complete. In bacteria, cell division is coordinated with chromosome segregation, preventing cell division ring formation over the nucleoid in a process termed nucleoid occlusion. In addition to nucleoid occlusion, bacteria induce the SOS response after replication forks encounter DNA damage or impediments that slow or block their progression. During SOS induction, Escherichia coli expresses a cytoplasmic protein, SulA, that inhibits cell division by directly binding FtsZ. After the SOS response is turned off, SulA is degraded by Lon protease, allowing for cell division to resume. Recently, it has become clear that SulA is restricted to bacteria closely related to E. coli and that most bacteria enforce the DNA damage checkpoint by expressing a small integral membrane protein. Resumption of cell division is then mediated by membrane-bound proteases that cleave the cell division inhibitor. Further, many bacterial cells have mechanisms to inhibit cell division that are regulated independently from the canonical LexA-mediated SOS response. In this review, we discuss several pathways used by bacteria to prevent cell division from occurring when genome instability is detected or before the chromosome has been fully replicated and segregated.

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