scholarly journals The Tat Substrate SufI Is Critical for the Ability of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis To Cause Systemic Infection

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ummehan Avican ◽  
Tugrul Doruk ◽  
Yngve Östberg ◽  
Anna Fahlgren ◽  
Åke Forsberg
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Twin Arginine Translocation ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Folded Proteins

ABSTRACT The twin arginine translocation (Tat) system targets folded proteins across the inner membrane and is crucial for virulence in many important human-pathogenic bacteria. Tat has been shown to be required for the virulence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and we recently showed that the system is critical for different virulence-related stress responses as well as for iron uptake. In this study, we wanted to address the role of the Tat substrates in in vivo virulence. Therefore, 22 genes encoding potential Tat substrates were mutated, and each mutant was evaluated in a competitive oral infection of mice. Interestingly, a ΔsufI mutant was essentially as attenuated for virulence as the Tat-deficient strain. We also verified that SufI was Tat dependent for membrane/periplasmic localization in Y. pseudotuberculosis. In vivo bioluminescent imaging of orally infected mice revealed that both the ΔsufI and ΔtatC mutants were able to colonize the cecum and Peyer's patches (PPs) and could spread to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). Importantly, at this point, neither the ΔtatC mutant nor the ΔsufI mutant was able to spread systemically, and they were gradually cleared. Immunostaining of MLNs revealed that both the ΔtatC and ΔsufI mutants were unable to spread from the initial infection foci and appeared to be contained by neutrophils, while wild-type bacteria readily spread to establish multiple foci from day 3 postinfection. Our results show that SufI alone is required for the establishment of systemic infection and is the major cause of the attenuation of the ΔtatC mutant.

scholarly journals Adaptive Strategies and Pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile fromIn VivoTranscriptomics

2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 3757-3769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Janoir ◽  
Cécile Denève ◽  
Sylvie Bouttier ◽  
Frédéric Barbut ◽  
Sandra Hoys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Colonization Factor ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Colonization Process

ABSTRACTClostridium difficileis currently the major cause of nosocomial intestinal diseases associated with antibiotic therapy in adults. In order to improve our knowledge ofC. difficile-host interactions, we analyzed the genome-wide temporal expression ofC. difficile630 genes during the first 38 h of mouse colonization to identify genes whose expression is modulatedin vivo, suggesting that they may play a role in facilitating the colonization process. In the ceca of theC. difficile-monoassociated mice, 549 genes of theC. difficilegenome were differentially expressed compared to their expression duringin vitrogrowth, and they were distributed in several functional categories. Overall, our results emphasize the roles of genes involved in host adaptation. Colonization results in a metabolic shift, with genes responsible for the fermentation as well as several other metabolic pathways being regulated inversely to those involved in carbon metabolism. In addition, several genes involved in stress responses, such as ferrous iron uptake or the response to oxidative stress, were regulatedin vivo. Interestingly, many genes encoding conserved hypothetical proteins (CHP) were highly and specifically upregulatedin vivo. Moreover, genes for all stages of sporulation were quickly inducedin vivo, highlighting the observation that sporulation is central to the persistence ofC. difficilein the gut and to its ability to spread in the environment. Finally, we inactivated two genes that were differentially expressedin vivoand evaluated the relative colonization fitness of the wild-type and mutant strains in coinfection experiments. We identified a CHP as a putative colonization factor, supporting the suggestion that thein vivotranscriptomic approach can unravel newC. difficilevirulence genes.

scholarly journals Evolutionary Adaptation of an AraC-Like Regulatory Protein in Citrobacter rodentium and Escherichia Species

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 1384-1395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee Tan ◽  
Nicola K. Petty ◽  
Dianna Hocking ◽  
Vicki Bennett-Wood ◽  
Matthew Wakefield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Gene Repertoire ◽  
Citrobacter Rodentium ◽  
Environmental Strain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Genes Encoding

The evolution of pathogenic bacteria is a multifaceted and complex process, which is strongly influenced by the horizontal acquisition of genetic elements and their subsequent expression in their new hosts. A well-studied example is the RegA regulon of the enteric pathogenCitrobacter rodentium. The RegA regulatory protein is a member of the AraC/XylS superfamily, which coordinates the expression of a gene repertoire that is necessary for full pathogenicity of this murine pathogen. Upon stimulation by an exogenous, gut-associated signal, namely, bicarbonate ions, RegA activates the expression of a series of genes, including virulence factors, such as autotransporters, fimbriae, a dispersin-like protein, and thegrlRAoperon on the locus of enterocyte effacement pathogenicity island. Interestingly, the genes encoding RegA homologues are distributed across the genusEscherichia, encompassing pathogenic and nonpathogenic subtypes. In this study, we carried out a series of bioinformatic, transcriptional, and functional analyses of the RegA regulons of these bacteria. Our results demonstrated thatregAhas been horizontally transferred toEscherichiaspp. andC. rodentium. Comparative studies of two RegA homologues, namely, those fromC. rodentiumandE. coliSMS-3-5, a multiresistant environmental strain ofE. coli, showed that the two regulators acted similarlyin vitrobut differed in terms of their abilities to activate the virulence ofC. rodentiumin vivo, which evidently was due to their differential activation ofgrlRA. Our data indicate that RegA fromC. rodentiumhas strain-specific adaptations that facilitate infection of its murine host. These findings shed new light on the development of virulence byC. rodentiumand on the evolution of virulence-regulatory genes of bacterial pathogens in general.

scholarly journals Transcriptomic and Phenotypic Analysis Reveals New Functions for the Tat Pathway in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (20) ◽  
pp. 2876-2886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ummehan Avican ◽  
Michael Beckstette ◽  
Ann Kathrin Heroven ◽  
Moa Lavander ◽  
Petra Dersch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis ◽  
Growth Defect ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tat System ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTThe twin-arginine translocation (Tat) system mediates the secretion of folded proteins that are identified via an N-terminal signal peptide in bacteria, plants, and archaea. Tat systems are associated with virulence in many bacterial pathogens, and our previous studies revealed that Tat-deficientYersinia pseudotuberculosiswas severely attenuated for virulence. Aiming to identify Tat-dependent pathways and phenotypes of relevance forin vivoinfection, we analyzed the global transcriptome of parental and ΔtatCmutant strains ofY. pseudotuberculosisduring exponential and stationary growth at 26°C and 37°C. The most significant changes in the transcriptome of the ΔtatCmutant were seen at 26°C during stationary-phase growth, and these included the altered expression of genes related to virulence, stress responses, and metabolism. Subsequent phenotypic analysis based on these transcriptome changes revealed several novel Tat-dependent phenotypes, including decreased YadA expression, impaired growth under iron-limited and high-copper conditions, as well as acidic pH and SDS. Several functionally related Tat substrates were also verified to contribute to these phenotypes. Interestingly, the phenotypic defects observed in the Tat-deficient strain were generally more pronounced than those in mutants lacking the Tat substrate predicted to contribute to that specific function. Altogether, this provides new insight into the impact of Tat deficiency onin vivofitness and survival/replication ofY. pseudotuberculosisduring infection.IMPORTANCEIn addition to its established role in mediating the secretion of housekeeping enzymes, the Tat system has been recognized as being involved in infection. In some clinically relevant bacteria, such asPseudomonasspp., several key virulence determinants can readily be identified among the Tat substrates. In enteropathogens, such asYersiniaspp., there are no obvious virulence determinants among the Tat substrates. Tat mutants show no growth defectin vitrobut are highly attenuated inin vivo. This makes Tat an attractive target for the development of novel antimicrobials. Therefore, it is important to establish the causes of the attenuation. Here, we show that the attenuation is likely due to synergistic effects of different Tat-dependent phenotypes that each contributes to loweredin vivofitness.

scholarly journals TheIn VitroRedundant Enzymes PurN and PurT Are Both Essential for Systemic Infection of Mice in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (7) ◽  
pp. 2076-2085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte Jelsbak ◽  
Mie I. B. Mortensen ◽  
Mogens Kilstrup ◽  
John E. Olsen
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Gene Deletions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Glycine Cleavage

Metabolic enzymes show a high degree of redundancy, and for that reason they are generally ignored in searches for novel targets for anti-infective substances. The enzymes PurN and PurT are redundantin vitroinSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium, in which they perform the third step of purine synthesis. Surprisingly, the results of the current study demonstrated that single-gene deletions of each of the genes encoding these enzymes caused attenuation (competitive infection indexes [CI] of <0.03) in mouse infections. While the ΔpurTmutant multiplied as fast as the wild-type strain in cultured J774A.1 macrophages, net multiplication of the ΔpurNmutant was reduced approximately 50% in 20 h. The attenuation of the ΔpurTmutant was abolished by simultaneous removal of the enzyme PurU, responsible for the formation of formate, indicating that the attenuation was related to formate accumulation or wasteful consumption of formyl tetrahydrofolate by PurU. In the process of further characterization, we disclosed that the glycine cleavage system (GCV) was the most important for formation of C1unitsin vivo(CI = 0.03 ± 0.03). In contrast, GlyA was the only important enzyme for the formation of C1unitsin vitro. The results with the ΔgcvTmutant further revealed that formation of serine by SerA and further conversion of serine into C1units and glycine by GlyA were not sufficient to ensure C1formation inS. Typhimuriumin vivo. The results of the present study call for reinvestigations of the concept of metabolic redundancy inS. Typhimuriumin vivo.

scholarly journals Yersinia-induced Apoptosis In Vivo Aids in the Establishment of a Systemic Infection of Mice

1998 ◽  
Vol 188 (11) ◽  
pp. 2127-2137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise M. Monack ◽  
Joan Mecsas ◽  
Donna Bouley ◽  
Stanley Falkow
Keyword(s):  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Factor Α

Pathogenic Yersinia cause a systemic infection in mice that is dependent on the presence of a large plasmid encoding a number of secreted virulence proteins called Yops. We previously demonstrated that a plasmid-encoded Yop, YopJ, was essential for inducing apoptosis in cultured macrophages. Here we report that YopJ is a virulence factor in mice and is important for the establishment of a systemic infection. The oral LD50 for a yopJ mutant Yersinia pseudotuberculosis increases 64-fold compared with wild-type. Although the yopJ mutant strain is able to reach the spleen of infected mice, the mutant strain seldom reaches the same high bacterial load that is seen with wild-type Yersinia strain and begins to be cleared from infected spleens on day 4 after infection. Furthermore, when in competition with wild-type Yersinia in a mixed infection, the yopJ mutant strain is deficient for spread from the Peyer's patches to other lymphoid tissue. We also show that wild-type Yersinia induces apoptosis in vivo of Mac-1+ cells from infected mesenteric lymph nodes or spleens, as measured by quantitative flow cytometry of TUNEL (Tdt-mediated dUTP–biotin nick-end labeling)-positive cells. The levels of Mac-1+, TUNEL+ cells from tissue infected with the yopJ mutant strain were equivalent to the levels detected in cells from uninfected tissue. YopJ is necessary for the suppression of TNF-α production seen in macrophages infected with wild-type Yersinia, based on previous in vitro studies (Palmer, L.E., S. Hobbie, J.E. Galan, and J.B. Bliska. 1998. Mol. Microbiol. 27:953–965). We conclude here that YopJ plays a role in the establishment of a systemic infection by inducing apoptosis and that this is consistent with the ability to suppress the production of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α.

scholarly journals hfqPlays Important Roles in Virulence and Stress Adaptation in Cronobacter sakazakii ATCC 29544

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 2089-2098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seongok Kim ◽  
Hyelyeon Hwang ◽  
Kwang-Pyo Kim ◽  
Hyunjin Yoon ◽  
Dong-Hyun Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Soft Agar ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Neonatal Meningitis ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flagellar Biosynthesis

Cronobacterspp. are opportunistic pathogens that cause neonatal meningitis and sepsis with high mortality in neonates. Despite the peril associated withCronobacterinfection, the mechanisms of pathogenesis are still being unraveled. Hfq, which is known as an RNA chaperone, participates in the interaction with bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) to regulate posttranscriptionally the expression of various genes. Recent studies have demonstrated that Hfq contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous species of bacteria, and its roles are varied between bacterial species. Here, we tried to elucidate the role of Hfq inC. sakazakiivirulence. In the absence ofhfq,C. sakazakiiwas highly attenuated in disseminationin vivo, showed defects in invasion (3-fold) into animal cells and survival (103-fold) within host cells, and exhibited low resistance to hydrogen peroxide (102-fold). Remarkably, the loss ofhfqled to hypermotility on soft agar, which is contrary to what has been observed in other pathogenic bacteria. The hyperflagellated bacteria were likely to be attributable to the increased transcription of genes associated with flagellar biosynthesis in a strain lackinghfq. Together, these data strongly suggest thathfqplays important roles in the virulence ofC. sakazakiiby participating in the regulation of multiple genes.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation Inhibits Candida albicans Virulence Factors and ReducesIn VivoPathogenicity

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 445-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilka Tiemy Kato ◽  
Renato Araujo Prates ◽  
Caetano Padial Sabino ◽  
Beth Burgwyn Fuchs ◽  
George P. Tegos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Photodynamic Inactivation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daughter Cells

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to evaluate whetherCandida albicansexhibits altered pathogenicity characteristics following sublethal antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (APDI) and if such alterations are maintained in the daughter cells.C. albicanswas exposed to sublethal APDI by using methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer (0.05 mM) combined with a GaAlAs diode laser (λ 660 nm, 75 mW/cm2, 9 to 27 J/cm2).In vitro, we evaluated APDI effects onC. albicansgrowth, germ tube formation, sensitivity to oxidative and osmotic stress, cell wall integrity, and fluconazole susceptibility.In vivo, we evaluatedC. albicanspathogenicity with a mouse model of systemic infection. Animal survival was evaluated daily. Sublethal MB-mediated APDI reduced the growth rate and the ability ofC. albicansto form germ tubes compared to untreated cells (P< 0.05). Survival of mice systemically infected withC. albicanspretreated with APDI was significantly increased compared to mice infected with untreated yeast (P< 0.05). APDI increasedC. albicanssensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate, caffeine, and hydrogen peroxide. The MIC for fluconazole forC. albicanswas also reduced following sublethal MB-mediated APDI. However, none of those pathogenic parameters was altered in daughter cells ofC. albicanssubmitted to APDI. These data suggest that APDI may inhibit virulence factors and reducein vivopathogenicity ofC. albicans. The absence of alterations in daughter cells indicates that APDI effects are transitory. The MIC reduction for fluconazole following APDI suggests that this antifungal could be combined with APDI to treatC. albicansinfections.

scholarly journals Manipulation of Autophagy in Phagocytes Facilitates Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 3445-3457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate M. O'Keeffe ◽  
Mieszko M. Wilk ◽  
John M. Leech ◽  
Alison G. Murphy ◽  
Maisem Laabei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Intracellular Survival ◽  
Autophagic Flux ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bactericidal Effects ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Direct Killing

The capacity for intracellular survival within phagocytes is likely a critical factor facilitating the dissemination ofStaphylococcus aureusin the host. To date, the majority of work onS. aureus-phagocyte interactions has focused on neutrophils and, to a lesser extent, macrophages, yet we understand little about the role played by dendritic cells (DCs) in the direct killing of this bacterium. Using bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs), we demonstrate for the first time that DCs can effectively killS. aureusbut that certain strains ofS. aureushave the capacity to evade DC (and macrophage) killing by manipulation of autophagic pathways. Strains with high levels of Agr activity were capable of causing autophagosome accumulation, were not killed by BMDCs, and subsequently escaped from the phagocyte, exerting significant cytotoxic effects. Conversely, strains that exhibited low levels of Agr activity failed to accumulate autophagosomes and were killed by BMDCs. Inhibition of the autophagic pathway by treatment with 3-methyladenine restored the bactericidal effects of BMDCs. Using anin vivomodel of systemic infection, we demonstrated that the ability ofS. aureusstrains to evade phagocytic cell killing and to survive temporarily within phagocytes correlated with persistence in the periphery and that this effect is critically Agr dependent. Taken together, our data suggest that strains ofS. aureusexhibiting high levels of Agr activity are capable of blocking autophagic flux, leading to the accumulation of autophagosomes. Within these autophagosomes, the bacteria are protected from phagocytic killing, thus providing an intracellular survival niche within professional phagocytes, which ultimately facilitates dissemination.

scholarly journals Activation of Toxin-Antitoxin System Toxins Suppresses Lethality Caused by the Loss of σEin Escherichia coli

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (14) ◽  
pp. 2316-2324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasushi Daimon ◽  
Shin-ichiro Narita ◽  
Yoshinori Akiyama
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Envelope Stress ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Σ Factor ◽  
Mutant Forms

ABSTRACTσE, an alternative σ factor that governs a major signaling pathway in envelope stress responses in Gram-negative bacteria, is essential for growth ofEscherichia colinot only under stressful conditions, such as elevated temperature, but also under normal laboratory conditions. A mutational inactivation of thehicBgene has been reported to suppress the lethality caused by the loss of σE.hicBencodes the antitoxin of the HicA-HicB toxin-antitoxin (TA) system; overexpression of the HicA toxin, which exhibits mRNA interferase activity, causes cleavage of mRNAs and an arrest of cell growth, while simultaneous expression of HicB neutralizes the toxic effects of overproduced HicA. To date, however, how the loss of HicB rescues the cell lethality in the absence of σEand, more specifically, whether HicA is involved in this process remain unknown. Here we showed that simultaneous disruption ofhicAabolished suppression of the σEessentiality in the absence ofhicB, while ectopic expression of wild-type HicA, but not that of its mutant forms without mRNA interferase activity, restored the suppression. Furthermore, HicA and two other mRNA interferase toxins, HigB and YafQ, suppressed the σEessentiality even in the presence of chromosomally encoded cognate antitoxins when these toxins were overexpressed individually. Interestingly, when the growth media were supplemented with low levels of antibiotics that are known to activate toxins,E. colicells with no suppressor mutations grew independently of σE. Taken together, our results indicate that the activation of TA system toxins can suppress the σEessentiality and affect the extracytoplasmic stress responses.IMPORTANCEσEis an alternative σ factor involved in extracytoplasmic stress responses. Unlike other alternative σ factors, σEis indispensable for the survival ofE. colieven under unstressed conditions, although the exact reason for its essentiality remains unknown. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widely distributed in prokaryotes and are composed of two adjacent genes, encoding a toxin that exerts harmful effects on the toxin-producing bacterium itself and an antitoxin that neutralizes the cognate toxin. Curiously, it is known that inactivation of an antitoxin rescues the σEessentiality, suggesting a connection between TA systems and σEfunction. We demonstrate here that toxin activation is necessary for this rescue and suggest the possible involvement of TA systems in extracytoplasmic stress responses.

scholarly journals An iron-regulated LysR-type element mediates antimicrobial peptide resistance and virulence in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (7) ◽  
pp. 2168-2181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Arafah ◽  
Marie-Laure Rosso ◽  
Linda Rehaume ◽  
Robert E. W. Hancock ◽  
Michel Simonet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis ◽  
Polymyxin B ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Iron Starvation ◽  
Iron Deprivation ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide Resistance

During the course of its infection of the mammalian digestive tract, the entero-invasive, Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis must overcome various hostile living conditions (notably, iron starvation and the presence of antimicrobial compounds produced in situ). We have previously reported that in vitro bacterial growth during iron deprivation raises resistance to the antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B; here, we show that this phenotype is mediated by a chromosomal gene (YPTB0333) encoding a transcriptional regulator from the LysR family. We determined that the product of YPTB0333 is a pleiotropic regulator which controls (in addition to its own expression) genes encoding the Yfe iron-uptake system and polymyxin B resistance. Lastly, by using a mouse model of oral infection, we demonstrated that YPTB0333 is required for colonization of Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes by Y. pseudotuberculosis.

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