scholarly journals oxyR, a LysR-Type Regulator Involved in Klebsiella pneumoniae Mucosal and Abiotic Colonization

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 5449-5457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Hennequin ◽  
Christiane Forestier
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Bacterial Transcription ◽  
Host Interaction

ABSTRACT Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract is the first event in Klebsiella pneumoniae nosocomial infections, followed by colonization of the bladder or respiratory tract or entry into the bloodstream. To survive in the host, bacteria must harbor specific traits and overcome multiple stresses. OxyR is a conserved bacterial transcription factor with a key role both in the upregulation of defense mechanisms against oxidative stress and in pathogenesis by enhancing biofilm formation, fimbrial expression, and mucosal colonization. A homolog of oxyR was detected in silico in the K. pneumoniae sequenced genome and amplified from the LM21 wild-type strain. To determine the role of oxyR in K. pneumoniae host-interaction processes, an oxyR isogenic mutant was constructed, and its behavior was assessed. At concentrations lower than 107 ml−1, oxyR-deficient organisms were easily killed by micromolar concentrations of H2O2 and exhibited typical aerobic phenotypes. The oxyR mutant was impaired in biofilm formation and types 1 and 3 fimbrial gene expression. In addition, the oxyR mutant was unable to colonize the murine gastrointestinal tract, and in vitro assays showed that it was defective in adhesion to Int-407 and HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells. The behavior of the oxyR mutant was also determined under hostile conditions, reproducing stresses encountered in the gastrointestinal environment: deletion of oxyR resulted in higher sensitivity to bile and acid stresses but not to osmotic stress. These results show the pleiotropic role of oxyR in K. pneumoniae gastrointestinal colonization.

scholarly journals Identification of a Conserved Chromosomal Region Encoding Klebsiella pneumoniae Type 1 and Type 3 Fimbriae and Assessment of the Role of Fimbriae in Pathogenicity

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (11) ◽  
pp. 5016-5024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Struve ◽  
Martin Bojer ◽  
Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Type 3

ABSTRACT Type 3 fimbriae are expressed by most clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and mediate adhesion to host structures in vitro. However, the role of type 3 fimbriae in K. pneumoniae virulence has not been evaluated by use of in vivo infection models. In this study, the type 3 fimbrial gene cluster (mrk) of the clinical isolate C3091 is described in detail. The mrk gene cluster was revealed to be localized in close proximity to the type 1 fimbrial gene cluster. Thus, a 20.4-kb fimbria-encoding region was identified and found to be highly conserved among different K. pneumoniae isolates. Interestingly, a homologue to PecS, known as a global regulator of virulence in Erwinia chrysanthemi, was identified in the fimbria-encoding region. Comparison to the previously characterized plasmid encoded mrk gene cluster revealed significant differences, and it is established here that the putative regulatory gene mrkE is not a part of the chromosomally encoded type 3 fimbrial gene cluster. To evaluate the role of type 3 fimbriae in virulence, a type 3 fimbria mutant and a type 1 and type 3 fimbria double mutant was constructed. Type 3 fimbria expression was found to strongly promote biofilm formation. However, the fimbria mutants were as effective at colonizing the intestine as the wild type, and their virulence was not attenuated in a lung infection model. Also, in a urinary tract infection model, type 3 fimbriae did not influence the virulence, whereas type 1 fimbriae were verified as an essential virulence factor. Thus, type 3 fimbriae were established not to be a virulence factor in uncomplicated K. pneumoniae infections. However, since type 3 fimbriae promote biofilm formation, their role in development of infections in catheterized patients needs to be elucidated.

scholarly journals Role of Lactobacillus reuteri cell and mucus-binding protein A (CmbA) in adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells and mucus in vitro

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (4) ◽  
pp. 671-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Jensen ◽  
Stefan Roos ◽  
Hans Jonsson ◽  
Ida Rud ◽  
Stine Grimmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Lactobacillus Reuteri ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Null Mutation ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial

Lactobacillus reuteri, a symbiotic inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract in humans and animals, is marketed as a probiotic. The ability to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells and mucus is an interesting property with regard to probiotic features such as colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and interaction with the host. Here, we present a study performed to elucidate the role of sortase (SrtA), four putative sortase-dependent proteins (SDPs), and one C-terminal membrane-anchored cell surface protein of Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 in adhesion to Caco-2 cells and mucus in vitro. This included mutagenesis of the genes encoding these proteins and complementation of mutants. A null mutation in hmpref0536_10255 encoding srtA resulted in significantly reduced adhesion to Caco-2 cells and mucus, indicating involvement of SDPs in adhesion. Evaluation of the bacterial adhesion revealed that of the five putative surface protein mutants tested, only a null mutation in the hmpref0536_10633 gene, encoding a putative SDP with an LPxTG motif, resulted in a significant loss of adhesion to both Caco-2 cells and mucus. Complementation with the functional gene on a plasmid restored adhesion to Caco-2 cells. However, complete restoration of adhesion to mucus was not achieved. Overexpression of hmpref0536_10633 in strain ATCC PTA 6475 resulted in an increased adhesion to Caco-2 cells and mucus compared with the WT strain. We conclude from these results that, among the putative surface proteins tested, the protein encoded by hmpref0536_10633 plays a critical role in binding of Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 to Caco-2 cells and mucus. Based on this, we propose that this LPxTG motif containing protein should be referred to as cell and mucus binding protein A (CmbA).

scholarly journals Characterization of a DHA-1-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Strain Involved in an Outbreak and Role of the AmpR Regulator in Virulence

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 288-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Hennequin ◽  
Frédéric Robin ◽  
Nadège Cabrolier ◽  
Richard Bonnet ◽  
Christiane Forestier
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disk Diffusion Assay ◽  
Severe Infections ◽  
Type 3

ABSTRACTA clonal strain ofKlebsiella pneumoniaeproducing the plasmid-encoded cephalosporinase DHA-1 was isolated from four patients admitted to the teaching hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France, in 2006. It was responsible for severe infections in three of the patients; the fourth was colonized only in the gastrointestinal tract. The strain had at least two plasmids encoding resistance to antibiotics (quinolones, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, and trimethoprim), as shown by disk diffusion assay, and harbored only a few genes for virulence factors (wabGandmrkD), as shown by PCRs. DHA-1 synthesis is regulated by an upstream, divergently transcribed gene,ampR, which is also involved in the expression of virulence factors inPseudomonas aeruginosa. To investigate the role of AmpR inK. pneumoniae, we cloned the wild-typeampRgene from the DHA-1 clonal isolate into a previously characterizedK. pneumoniaebackground plasmid-cured strain, CH608.ampRwas also introduced into a CH608 isogenic mutant deleted ofampD, in which AmpR is present only in its activator form, resulting in constitutive hyperproduction of the β-lactamase. We showed thatampRwas involved in the upregulation of capsule synthesis and therefore in resistance to killing by serum. AmpR also modulated biofilm formation and type 3 fimbrial gene expression, as well as colonization of the murine gastrointestinal tract and adhesion to HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells. These results show the pleiotropic role ofampRin the pathogenesis process ofK. pneumoniae.

scholarly journals Role of MrkJ, a Phosphodiesterase, in Type 3 Fimbrial Expression and Biofilm Formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae

2010 ◽  
Vol 192 (15) ◽  
pp. 3944-3950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah G. Johnson ◽  
Steven Clegg
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Bacterial Genes ◽  
Type 3

ABSTRACT Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that has been shown to adhere to human extracellular matrices using the type 3 fimbriae. Introduction of plasmids carrying genes known to alter intracellular cyclic-di-GMP pools in Vibrio parahaemolyticus revealed that these genes also altered type 3 fimbrial surface expression in K. pneumoniae. Immediately adjacent to the type 3 fimbrial gene cluster is a gene, mrkJ, that is related to a family of bacterial genes encoding phosphodiesterases. We identify here a role for MrkJ, a functional phosphodiesterase exhibiting homology to EAL domain-containing proteins, in controlling type 3 fimbria production and biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae. Deletion of mrkJ resulted in an increase in type 3 fimbria production and biofilm formation as a result of the accumulation of intracellular cyclic-di-GMP. This gene was shown to encode a functional phosphodiesterase via restoration of motility in a V. parahaemolyticus strain previously shown to accumulate cyclic-di-GMP and in vitro using phosphodiesterase activity assays. The effect of the mrkJ mutation on type 3 fimbrial expression was shown to be at the level of mrkA gene transcription by using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. These results reveal a previously unknown role for cyclic-di-GMP in type 3 fimbrial production.

scholarly journals Induction of Biofilm Formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13884 by Several Drugs: The Possible Role of Quorum Sensing Modulation

Antibiotics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Cadavid ◽  
Sara Robledo ◽  
Wiston Quiñones ◽  
Fernando Echeverri
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
Microplate Reader

Bacterial resistance is caused by several biochemical factors, the formation of biofilm being one of the main causes. This process is triggered by Quorum Sensing (QS), through the production of endogenous molecules, although other substances such as natural products can also do this. In this work, we aimed to determine whether some drugs are involved in the induction of biofilm formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13884, and thus, increase bacterial resistance. For this, the effect of 22 drugs on K. pneumoniae ATCC 13884 growth was determined at sub-plasmatic concentrations; the production of autoinducer lactones was established by HPLC and with a biosensor. The induction of biofilm formation was determined through crystal violet assay at 585 nm in a microplate reader and using urethral catheters. According to the in vitro assays, some drugs were found to induce biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae ATCC 13884. The effect of acetaminophen, hydrochlorothiazide, and progesterone stood out. The first drug caused several changes in the biochemistry of K. pneumoniae ATCC 13884 related to QS: high synthesis of N-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone, increasing bacterial populations by 27% and biofilm formation by 49%, and a more gentamicin resistant biofilm. Furthermore, it increased the colonization area of urethral catheters. Hydrochlorothiazide showed the biggest increase in the induction of biofilm formation of 51%, and progesterone displayed the greatest ability to provoke bacterial mass adherence but had no effects on K. pneumoniae ATCC 13884 bacterial population growth.

scholarly journals The In Vitro Ability of Klebsiella pneumoniae to Form Biofilm and the Potential of Various Compounds to Eradicate it from Urinary Catheters

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Monika Oleksy-Wawrzyniak ◽  
Adam Junka ◽  
Malwina Brożyna ◽  
Migdał Paweł ◽  
Bartłomiej Kwiek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Bacterial Biofilm ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Urinary Infections ◽  
Efficient Reduction ◽  
Intraspecies Variability

Urinary infections related to the presence of bacterial biofilm on catheters are responsible for loss of patients’ health and, due to their high frequency of occurrence, generate a significant economic burden for hospitals. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a pathogen frequently isolated from this type of infection. In this study, using a cohesive set of techniques performed under stationary and flow conditions, we assessed the ability of 120 K. pneumoniae strains to form biofilm on various surfaces, including catheters, and evaluated the usefulness of clinically applied and experimental compounds to remove biofilm. The results of our study indicate the high impact of intraspecies variability with respect to K. pneumoniae biofilm formation and its susceptibility to antimicrobials and revealed the crucial role of mechanical flushing out of the biofilm from the catheter’s surface with use of locally active antimicrobials. Therefore, our work, although of in vitro character, may be considered an important step in the direction of efficient reduction of K. pneumoniae biofilm-related hospital infections associated with the presence of urine catheters.

The role of pgaC in Klebsiella pneumoniae virulence and biofilm formation

2014 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuang-Ming Chen ◽  
Ming-Ko Chiang ◽  
Meilin Wang ◽  
Han-Chen Ho ◽  
Min-Chi Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Biofilm Formation

scholarly journals Neuropeptide Y (NPY) promotes inflammation-induced tumorigenesis by enhancing epithelial cell proliferation

2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (2) ◽  
pp. G103-G111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Jeppsson ◽  
Shanthi Srinivasan ◽  
Bindu Chandrasekharan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Enteric Neurons ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Epithelial Proliferation ◽  
Proliferation And Apoptosis

We have demonstrated that neuropeptide Y (NPY), abundantly produced by enteric neurons, is an important regulator of intestinal inflammation. However, the role of NPY in the progression of chronic inflammation to tumorigenesis is unknown. We investigated whether NPY could modulate epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis, and thus regulate tumorigenesis. Repeated cycles of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) were used to model inflammation-induced tumorigenesis in wild-type (WT) and NPY knockout ( NPY−/−) mice. Intestinal epithelial cell lines (T84) were used to assess the effects of NPY (0.1 µM) on epithelial proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. DSS-WT mice exhibited enhanced intestinal inflammation, polyp size, and polyp number (7.5 ± 0.8) compared with DSS- NPY−/− mice (4 ± 0.5, P < 0.01). Accordingly, DSS-WT mice also showed increased colonic epithelial proliferation (PCNA, Ki67) and reduced apoptosis (TUNEL) compared with DSS- NPY−/− mice. The apoptosis regulating microRNA, miR-375, was significantly downregulated in the colon of DSS-WT (2-fold, P < 0.01) compared with DSS- NPY−/−-mice. In vitro studies indicated that NPY promotes cell proliferation (increase in PCNA and β-catenin, P < 0.05) via phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3-K)-β-catenin signaling, suppressed miR-375 expression, and reduced apoptosis (increase in phospho-Bad). NPY-treated cells also displayed increased c-Myc and cyclin D1, and reduction in p21 ( P < 0.05). Addition of miR-375 inhibitor to cells already treated with NPY did not further enhance the effects induced by NPY alone. Our findings demonstrate a novel regulation of inflammation-induced tumorigenesis by NPY-epithelial cross talk as mediated by activation of PI3-K signaling and downregulation of miR-375. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our work exemplifies a novel role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in regulating inflammation-induced tumorigenesis via two modalities: first by enhanced proliferation (PI3-K/pAkt), and second by downregulation of microRNA-375 (miR-375)-dependent apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells. Our data establish the existence of a microRNA-mediated cross talk between enteric neurons producing NPY and intestinal epithelial cells, and the potential of neuropeptide-regulated miRNAs as potential therapeutic molecules for the management of inflammation-associated tumors in the gut.

scholarly journals Dual Role of Integrin Alpha-6 in Glioblastoma: Supporting Stemness in Proneural Stem-Like Cells While Inducing Radioresistance in Mesenchymal Stem-Like Cells

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3055
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Stanzani ◽  
Leire Pedrosa ◽  
Guillaume Bourmeau ◽  
Oceane Anezo ◽  
Aleix Noguera-Castells ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Heterogeneity ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
Integrin Alpha 6 ◽  
And Control ◽  
Improve Patient

Therapeutic resistance after multimodal therapy is the most relevant cause of glioblastoma (GBM) recurrence. Extensive cellular heterogeneity, mainly driven by the presence of GBM stem-like cells (GSCs), strongly correlates with patients’ prognosis and limited response to therapies. Defining the mechanisms that drive stemness and control responsiveness to therapy in a GSC-specific manner is therefore essential. Here we investigated the role of integrin a6 (ITGA6) in controlling stemness and resistance to radiotherapy in proneural and mesenchymal GSCs subtypes. Using cell sorting, gene silencing, RNA-Seq, and in vitro assays, we verified that ITGA6 expression seems crucial for proliferation and stemness of proneural GSCs, while it appears not to be relevant in mesenchymal GSCs under basal conditions. However, when challenged with a fractionated protocol of radiation therapy, comparable to that used in the clinical setting, mesenchymal GSCs were dependent on integrin a6 for survival. Specifically, GSCs with reduced levels of ITGA6 displayed a clear reduction of DNA damage response and perturbation of cell cycle pathways. These data indicate that ITGA6 inhibition is able to overcome the radioresistance of mesenchymal GSCs, while it reduces proliferation and stemness in proneural GSCs. Therefore, integrin a6 controls crucial characteristics across GBM subtypes in GBM heterogeneous biology and thus may represent a promising target to improve patient outcomes.

scholarly journals C3 Promotes Clearance of Klebsiella pneumoniae by A549 Epithelial Cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1767-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz de Astorza ◽  
Guadalupe Cortés ◽  
Catalina Crespí ◽  
Carles Saus ◽  
José María Rojo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Complement Components ◽  
Innate Defense ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial

ABSTRACT The airway epithelium represents a primary site for contact between microbes and their hosts. To assess the role of complement in this event, we studied the interaction between the A549 cell line derived from human alveolar epithelial cells and a major nosocomial pathogen, Klebsiella pneumoniae, in the presence of serum. In vitro, we found that C3 opsonization of poorly encapsulated K. pneumoniae clinical isolates and an unencapsulated mutant enhanced dramatically bacterial internalization by A549 epithelial cells compared to highly encapsulated clinical isolates. Local complement components (either present in the human bronchoalveolar lavage or produced by A549 epithelial cells) were sufficient to opsonize K. pneumoniae. CD46 could competitively inhibit the internalization of K. pneumoniae by the epithelial cells, suggesting that CD46 is a receptor for the binding of complement-opsonized K. pneumoniae to these cells. We observed that poorly encapsulated strains appeared into the alveolar epithelial cells in vivo but that (by contrast) they were completely avirulent in a mouse model of pneumonia compared to the highly encapsulated strains. Our results show that bacterial opsonization by complement enhances the internalization of the avirulent microorganisms by nonphagocytic cells such as A549 epithelial cells and allows an efficient innate defense.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document