scholarly journals Identification of Conserved and Species-Specific Functions of the Listeria monocytogenes PrsA2 Secretion Chaperone

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 4028-4041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laty A. Cahoon ◽  
Nancy E. Freitag
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Functional Complementation ◽  
Broth Culture ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bacterial Physiology ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Species Specific

The Gram-positive bacteriumListeria monocytogenesis a facultative intracellular pathogen that relies on the regulated secretion and activity of a variety of proteins that sustain life within diverse environments. PrsA2 has recently been identified as a secreted peptidyl-prolylcis/transisomerase and chaperone that is dispensable for bacterial growth in broth culture but essential forL. monocytogenesvirulence. Following host infection, PrsA2 contributes to the proper folding and activity of secreted proteins that are required for bacterial replication within the host cytosol and for bacterial spread to adjacent cells. PrsA2 is one member of a family of Gram-positive secretion chaperones that appear to play important roles in bacterial physiology; however, it is not known how these proteins recognize their substrate proteins or the degree to which their function is conserved across diverse Gram-positive species. We therefore examined PrsA proteins encoded by a variety of Gram-positive bacteria for functional complementation ofL. monocytogenesmutants lackingprsA2. PrsA homologues encoded byBacillus subtilis,Streptococcus pyogenes,Streptococcus pneumoniae,Streptococcus mutans,Staphylococcus aureus, andLactococcus lactiswere examined for functional complementation of a variety ofL. monocytogenesPrsA2-associated phenotypes central toL. monocytogenespathogenesis and bacterial cell physiology. Our results indicate that while selected aspects of PrsA2 function are broadly conserved among diverse Gram-positive bacteria, PrsA2 exhibits unique specificity forL. monocytogenestarget proteins required for pathogenesis. TheL. monocytogenesPrsA2 chaperone thus appears evolutionarily optimized for virulence factor secretion within the host cell cytosol while still maintaining aspects of activity relevant to more general features of Gram-positive protein translocation.

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 Effect of Lactose Monolaurate on Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Bacteria

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 3465-3468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwini Wagh ◽  
Shujie Shen ◽  
Fen Ann Shen ◽  
Charles D. Miller ◽  
Marie K. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Lactose Monolaurate

ABSTRACTThe antimicrobial activities of sucrose monolaurate and a novel ester, lactose monolaurate (LML), were tested. Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria to both esters. The minimal bactericidal concentrations of LML were 5 to 9.5 mM forListeria monocytogenesisolates and 0.2 to 2 mM forMycobacteriumisolates.

scholarly journals A Novel Dual-creMotif Enables Two-Way Autoregulation of CcpA inClostridium acetobutylicum

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. e00114-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Yanqiang Liu ◽  
Yunpeng Yang ◽  
Weihong Jiang ◽  
Yang Gu
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACTThe master regulator CcpA (catabolite control protein A) manages a large and complex regulatory network that is essential for cellular physiology and metabolism in Gram-positive bacteria. Although CcpA can affect the expression of target genes by binding to acis-acting catabolite-responsive element (cre), whether and how the expression of CcpA is regulated remain poorly explored. Here, we report a novel dual-cremotif that is employed by the CcpA inClostridium acetobutylicum, a typical solventogenicClostridiumspecies, for autoregulation. Twocresites are involved in CcpA autoregulation, and they reside in the promoter and coding regions of CcpA. In this dual-cremotif,creP, in the promoter region, positively regulatesccpAtranscription, whereascreORF, in the coding region, negatively regulates this transcription, thus enabling two-way autoregulation of CcpA. Although CcpA boundcrePmore strongly thancreORFin vitro, thein vivoassay showed thatcreORF-based repression dominates CcpA autoregulation during the entire fermentation. Finally, a synonymous mutation ofcreORFwas made within the coding region, achieving an increased intracellular CcpA expression and improved cellular performance. This study provides new insights into the regulatory role of CcpA inC. acetobutylicumand, moreover, contributes a new engineering strategy for this industrial strain.IMPORTANCECcpA is known to be a key transcription factor in Gram-positive bacteria. However, it is still unclear whether and how the intracellular CcpA level is regulated, which may be essential for maintaining normal cell physiology and metabolism. We discovered here that CcpA employs a dual-cremotif to autoregulate, enabling dynamic control of its own expression level during the entire fermentation process. This finding answers the questions above and fills a void in our understanding of the regulatory network of CcpA. Interference in CcpA autoregulation leads to improved cellular performance, providing a new useful strategy in genetic engineering ofC. acetobutylicum. Since CcpA is widespread in Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens, this dual-cre-based CcpA autoregulation would be valuable for increasing our understanding of CcpA-based global regulation in bacteria.

scholarly journals SpoVG Is a Conserved RNA-Binding Protein That RegulatesListeria monocytogenesLysozyme Resistance, Virulence, and Swarming Motility

mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Burke ◽  
Daniel A. Portnoy
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Methicillin Resistance ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Swarming Motility ◽  
Bacterial Physiology ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACTIn this study, we sought to characterize the targets of the abundantListeria monocytogenesnoncoding RNA Rli31, which is required forL. monocytogeneslysozyme resistance and pathogenesis. Whole-genome sequencing of lysozyme-resistant suppressor strains identified loss-of-expression mutations in the promoter ofspoVG, and deletion ofspoVGrescued lysozyme sensitivity and attenuationin vivoof therli31mutant. SpoVG was demonstrated to be an RNA-binding protein that interacted with Rli31in vitro.The relationship between Rli31 and SpoVG is multifaceted, as both thespoVG-encoded protein and thespoVG5′-untranslated region interacted with Rli31. In addition, we observed thatspoVG-deficient bacteria were nonmotile in soft agar and suppressor mutations that restored swarming motility were identified in the gene encoding a major RNase in Gram-positive bacteria, RNase J1. Collectively, these findings suggest that SpoVG is similar to global posttranscriptional regulators, a class of RNA-binding proteins that interact with noncoding RNA, regulate genes in concert with RNases, and control pleiotropic aspects of bacterial physiology.IMPORTANCEspoVGis widely conserved among bacteria; however, the function of this gene has remained unclear since its initial characterization in 1977. Mutation ofspoVGimpacts various phenotypes in Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin resistance, capsule formation, and enzyme secretion inStaphylococcus aureusand also asymmetric cell division, hemolysin production, and sporulation inBacillus subtilis. Here, we demonstrate thatspoVGmutant strains ofListeria monocytogenesare hyper-lysozyme resistant, hypervirulent, nonmotile, and misregulate genes controlling carbon metabolism. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SpoVG is an RNA-binding protein. These findings suggest that SpoVG has a role inL. monocytogenes, and perhaps in other bacteria, as a global gene regulator. Posttranscriptional gene regulators help bacteria adapt to various environments and coordinate differing aspects of bacterial physiology. SpoVG may help the organism coordinate environmental growth and virulence to survive as a facultative pathogen.

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.

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