scholarly journals Assessment of Safety of Lactobacillus Strains Based on Resistance to Host Innate Defense Mechanisms

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Asahara ◽  
Masatoshi Takahashi ◽  
Koji Nomoto ◽  
Hiroo Takayama ◽  
Masaharu Onoue ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Seven Lactobacillus strains belonging to four species were evaluated for pathogenicity as well as for in vitro sensitivity to the bactericidal mechanisms of macrophages in a rabbit infective endocarditis (IE) model. Two bacteremia-associated strains, L. rhamnosus PHLS A103/70 and L. casei PHLS A357/84, as well as the L. rhamnosus type strain and the probiotic L. rhamnosus strain ATCC 53103, showed moderate infectivity, and the virulence of the probiotic L. casei strain Shirota and type strains such as L. acidophilus ATCC 4356T and L. gasseri DSM 20243T in the model was negligible. The strains that showed pathogenic potential in the rabbit IE model (PHLS A357/84, PHLS A103/70, and ATCC 53103) were more resistant than strain Shirota to intracellular killing activity by mouse macrophages in vitro and also to bactericidal nitrogen intermediates, such as nitric oxide and NO2 − ions. These results suggest that resistance to host innate defense systems, which would function at inflammatory lesions, should be considered in the safety assessment of Lactobacillus strains.

2009 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 423-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie N. Whitfield ◽  
Brenda G. Byrne ◽  
Michele S. Swanson

ABSTRACT Legionella pneumophila, a motile opportunistic pathogen of humans, is restricted from replicating in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice. Resistance of mouse macrophages to L. pneumophila depends on recognition of cytosolic flagellin. Once detected by the NOD-like receptors Naip5 and Ipaf (Nlrc4), flagellin triggers pyroptosis, a proinflammatory cell death. In contrast, motile strains of L. parisiensis and L. tucsonensis replicate profusely within C57BL/6 macrophages, similar to flagellin-deficient L. pneumophila. To gain insight into how motile species escape innate defense mechanisms of mice, we compared their impacts on macrophages. L. parisiensis and L. tucsonensis do not induce proinflammatory cell death, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion. However, flagellin isolated from L. parisiensis and L. tucsonensis triggers cell death and IL-1β secretion when transfected into the cytosol of macrophages. Neither strain displays three characteristics of the canonical L. pneumophila Dot/Icm type IV secretion system: sodium sensitivity, LAMP-1 evasion, and pore formation. Therefore, we postulate that when L. parisiensis and L. tucsonensis invade a mouse macrophage, flagellin is confined to the phagosome, protecting the bacteria from recognition by the cytosolic surveillance system and allowing Legionella to replicate. Despite their superior capacity to multiply in mouse macrophages, L. parisiensis and L. tucsonensis have been associated with only two cases of disease, both in renal transplant patients. These results point to the complexity of disease, a product of the pathogenic potential of the microbe, as defined in the laboratory, and the capacity of the host to mount a measured defense.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Pablo Alarcon ◽  
Gabriel Espinosa ◽  
Catalina Millan ◽  
Julia Saravia ◽  
Vania Quinteros ◽  
...  

Extracellular traps (ETs) are webs of DNA, citrullinated histones, anti-microbial peptides, and proteins that were not previously reported in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). ETs are mainly released from polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and are considered a novel PMN-derived effector mechanism against different invasive pathogens. Here, we showed that Atlantic salmon-derived PMN released ETs-like structures in vitro in response to highly pathogenic facultative intracellular rickettsial bacteria Piscirickettsia salmonis. PMN were isolated from pre-smolt Atlantic salmon and stimulated in vitro with oleic acid and P. salmonis. Extracellular DNA was measured using the PicoGreen™ dye, while immunofluorescence image analysis was used to confirm the classical components of salmonid-extruded ETs. Future studies are required to better understand the role of Atlantic salmon-derived ETs orchestrating innate/adaptive immunity and the knowledge on regulation pathways involved in this cell death process. Thus, comprehension of salmonid-derived ETs against P. salmonis might represent novel alternative strategies to improve host innate defense mechanisms of farmed salmon against closely related rickettsial bacteria, as a complement to disease prevention and control strategies.


Acta Naturae ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. V. Shamova ◽  
D. S. Orlov ◽  
S. V. Balandin ◽  
E. I. Shramova ◽  
E. V. Tsvetkova ◽  
...  

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play an important role in the innate defense mechanisms in humans and animals. We have isolated and studied a set of antimicrobial peptides from leukocytes of the Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii belonging to a subclass of chondrosteans, an ancient group of bony fish. Structural analysis of the isolated peptides, designated as acipensins (Ac), revealed in leukocytes of the Russian sturgeon six novel peptides with molecular masses of 5336.2 Da, 3803.0 Da, 5173.0 Da, 4777.5 Da, 5449.4 Da, and 2740.2 Da, designated as Ac1-Ac6, respectively. Complete primary structures of all the isolated peptides were determined, and the biological activities of three major components - Ac1, Ac2, and Ac6 - were examined. The peptides Ас1, Ас2, Ас3, Ас4, and Ac5 were found to be the N-terminal acetylated fragments 1-50, 1-35, 1-49, 1-44, and 1-51 of the histone Н2А, respectively, while Ас6 was shown to be the 62-85 fragment of the histone Н2А. The peptides Ac1 and Ac2 displayed potent antimicrobial activity towards Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (Escherichia coli ML35p, Listeria monocytogenes EGD, MRSA ATCC 33591) and the fungus Candida albicans 820, while Ac6 proved effective only against Gram-negative bacteria. The efficacy of Ac 1 and Ac2 towards the fungus and MRSA was reduced upon an increase in the ionic strength of the solution. Ac1, Ac2, and Ac6, at concentrations close to their minimum inhibitory concentrations, enhanced the permeability of the E.coli ML35p outer membrane to the chromogenic marker, but they did not affect appreciably the permeability of the bacterial inner membrane in comparison with a potent pore-forming peptide, protegrin 1. Ac1, Ac2, and Ac6 revealed no hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes at concentrations of 1 to 40 M and had no cytotoxic effect (1 to 20 M) on K-562 and U-937 cells in vitro. Our findings suggest that histone-derived peptides serve as important anti-infective host defense molecules.


2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 2614-2621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela van Diepen ◽  
Tahar van der Straaten ◽  
Steven M. Holland ◽  
Riny Janssen ◽  
Jaap T. van Dissel

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a gram-negative, facultative intracellular pathogen that predominantly invades mononuclear phagocytes and is able to establish persistent infections. One of the innate defense mechanisms of phagocytic cells is the production of reactive oxygen species, including superoxide. S. enterica serovar Typhimurium has evolved mechanisms to resist such radicals, and these mechanisms could be decisive in its ability to survive and replicate within macrophages. Recently, we described a superoxide-hypersusceptible S. enterica serovar Typhimurium mutant strain, DLG294, that carries a transposon in sspJ, resulting in the lack of expression of SspJ, which is necessary for resistance against superoxide and replication within macrophages. Here we show that DLG294, which is a 14028s derivative, hardly induced any granulomatous lesions in the livers upon subcutaneous infection of C3H/HeN (Ityr) mice with 3 × 104 bacteria and that its bacterial counts were reduced by 3 log units compared to those of wild-type S. enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028s on day 5 after infection. In contrast, DLG294 replicated like wild-type S. enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028s and induced a phenotypically similar liver pathology in p47phox−/− mice, which are deficient in the p47phox subunit of the NADPH oxidase complex and which do not produce superoxide. Consistent with these results, DLG294 reached bacterial counts identical to those of wild-type S. enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028s in bone marrow-derived macrophages from p47phox−/− mice and in X-CGD PLB-985 cells at 24 h after challenge. These results indicate that SspJ plays a role in the bacterium's resistance to oxidative stress and in the survival and replication of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium both in vitro and in vivo.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabindra K. Mandal ◽  
Tieshan Jiang ◽  
Young Min Kwon

AbstractSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), a non-typhoidalSalmonella(NTS), result in a range of diseases, including self-limiting gastroenteritis, bacteremia, enteric fever, and focal infections representing a major disease burden worldwide. There is still a significant portion ofSalmonellagenes whose functional basis to overcome host innate defense mechanisms, consequently causing disease in host, largely remains unknown. Here, we have applied a high-throughput transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) method to unveil the genetic factors required for the growth or survival of S. Typhimurium under various host stressors simulatedin vitro. A highly saturating Tn5 library ofS. Typhimurium 14028s was subjected to selection during growth in the presence of short chain fatty acid (100 mM propionate), osmotic stress (3% NaCl) or oxidative stress (1 mM H2O2) or survival in extreme acidic pH (30 min in pH3) or starvation (12 days in 1X PBS). We have identified an overlapping set of 339 conditionally essential genes (CEGs) required byS. Typhimurium to overcome these host insults. Interestingly, entire eight genes encoding F0F1-ATP synthase subunit proteins were required for fitness in all five stresses. Intriguingly, total 88 genes inSalmonellapathogenicity island (SPI), including SPI-1, SPI-2, SPI-3, SPI-5, SPI-6 and SPI-11 are also required for fitness under thein vitroconditions evaluated in this study. Additionally, by comparative analysis of the genes identified in this study and the genes previously shown to be required forin vivofitness, we identified novel genes (marBCT,envF,barA,hscA,rfaQ,rfbIand putative proteins STM14_1138, STM14_3334, STM14_4825, and STM_5184) that has compelling potential to be exploited as vaccine development and/or drug target to curb theSalmonellainfection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-506
Author(s):  
Mayck Silva Barbosa ◽  
Bruna da Silva Souza ◽  
Ana Clara Silva Sales ◽  
Jhoana D’arc Lopes de Sousa ◽  
Francisca Dayane Soares da Silva ◽  
...  

Latex, a milky fluid found in several plants, is widely used for many purposes, and its proteins have been investigated by researchers. Many studies have shown that latex produced by some plant species is a natural source of biologically active compounds, and many of the hydrolytic enzymes are related to health benefits. Research on the characterization and industrial and pharmaceutical utility of latex has progressed in recent years. Latex proteins are associated with plants’ defense mechanisms, against attacks by fungi. In this respect, there are several biotechnological applications of antifungal proteins. Some findings reveal that antifungal proteins inhibit fungi by interrupting the synthesis of fungal cell walls or rupturing the membrane. Moreover, both phytopathogenic and clinical fungal strains are susceptible to latex proteins. The present review describes some important features of proteins isolated from plant latex which presented in vitro antifungal activities: protein classification, function, molecular weight, isoelectric point, as well as the fungal species that are inhibited by them. We also discuss their mechanisms of action.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 839
Author(s):  
Vitaliy B. Borisov ◽  
Sergey A. Siletsky ◽  
Martina R. Nastasi ◽  
Elena Forte

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) comprise the superoxide anion (O2·−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and singlet oxygen (1O2). ROS can damage a variety of macromolecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids, and compromise cell viability. To prevent or reduce ROS-induced oxidative stress, bacteria utilize different ROS defense mechanisms, of which ROS scavenging enzymes, such as superoxide dismutases, catalases, and peroxidases, are the best characterized. Recently, evidence has been accumulating that some of the terminal oxidases in bacterial respiratory chains may also play a protective role against ROS. The present review covers this role of terminal oxidases in light of recent findings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 382
Author(s):  
Vuvi G. Tran ◽  
Na N. Z. Nguyen ◽  
Byungsuk Kwon

Invasive fungal infections by Candida albicans frequently cause mortality in immunocompromised patients. Neutrophils are particularly important for fungal clearance during systemic C. albican infection, yet little has been known regarding which surface receptor controls neutrophils’ antifungal activities. CD137, which is encoded by Tnfrsf9, belongs to the tumor necrosis receptor superfamily and has been shown to regulate neutrophils in Gram-positive bacterial infection. Here, we used genetic and immunological tools to probe the involvement of neutrophil CD137 signaling in innate defense mechanisms against systemic C. albicans infection. We first found that Tnfrsf9−/− mice were susceptible to C. albicans infection, whereas injection of anti-CD137 agonistic antibody protected the host from infection, suggesting that CD137 signaling is indispensable for innate immunity against C. albicans infection. Priming of isolated neutrophils with anti-CD137 antibody promoted their phagocytic and fungicidal activities through phospholipase C. In addition, injection of anti-CD137 antibody significantly augmented restriction of fungal growth in Tnfrsf9−/− mice that received wild-type (WT) neutrophils. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CD137 signaling contributes to defense mechanisms against systemic C. albicans infection by promoting rapid fungal clearance.


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