scholarly journals The Sbi Protein Is a Multifunctional Immune Evasion Factor of Staphylococcus aureus

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (9) ◽  
pp. 3801-3809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Jane Smith ◽  
Livia Visai ◽  
Steven W. Kerrigan ◽  
Pietro Speziale ◽  
Timothy J. Foster
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Complement Protein ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Terminal Domains

ABSTRACTThe second immunoglobulin-binding protein (Sbi) ofStaphylococcus aureushas two N-terminal domains that bind the Fc region of IgG in a fashion similar to that of protein A and two domains that can bind to the complement protein C3 and promote its futile consumption in the fluid phase. It has been proposed that Sbi helps bacteria to avoid innate immune defenses. By comparing a mutant defective in Sbi with mutants defective in protein A, clumping factor A, iron-regulated surface determinant H, and capsular polysaccharide, it was shown that Sbi is indeed an immune evasion factor that promotes bacterial survival in whole human blood and the avoidance of neutrophil-mediated opsonophagocytosis. Sbi is present in the culture supernatant and is also associated with the cell envelope.S. aureusstrains that expressed truncates of Sbi lacking N-terminal domains D1 and D2 (D1D2) or D3 and D4 (D3D4) or a C-terminal truncate that was no longer retained in the cell envelope were analyzed. Both the secreted and envelope-associated forms of Sbi contributed to immune evasion. The IgG-binding domains contributed only when Sbi was attached to the cell, while only the secreted C3-binding domains were biologically active.

scholarly journals Staphylococcus aureus Protein A Promotes Immune Suppression

mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott D. Kobayashi ◽  
Frank R. DeLeo
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a prominent cause of human infections worldwide and is notorious for its ability to acquire resistance to antibiotics. Methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA), in particular, is endemic in hospitals and is the most frequent cause of community-associated bacterial infections in the United States. Inasmuch as treatment options for severe MRSA infections are limited, there is need for a vaccine that protects against such infections. However, recent efforts to generate a staphylococcal vaccine have met with little success in human clinical trials. These failures are somewhat puzzling, since the vaccine antigens tested promote opsonophagocytosisin vitroand confer protection in animal infection models. One possibility is that the pathogen inhibits (and/or fails to elicit) the development of protective immunity in humans. Indeed,S. aureusproduces numerous molecules that can potentially promote immune evasion, including protein A (SpA), an immunoglobulin (Ig)-binding protein present on the bacterial surface and freely secreted into the extracellular environment. SpA binds the Fc region of antibody and the Fab regions of the B-cell receptor, processes that are known to block opsonophagocytosis and cause B-cell deathin vitro. In a recent study, Falugi et al. [F. Falugi, H. K. Kim, D. M. Missiakas, and O. Schneewind, mBio 4(5):e00575-13, 2013] showed that vaccination withspamutantS. aureusstrains lacking antibody Fc- and/or Fab-binding capacity protects against subsequent challenge with the USA300 epidemic strain. The findings provide strong support for the idea that SpA promotesS. aureusimmune evasionin vivoand form the foundation for a new approach in our efforts to develop a vaccine that prevents severeS. aureusinfections.

scholarly journals Protein A-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies and Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus Disease in Mice

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (10) ◽  
pp. 3460-3470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwan Keun Kim ◽  
Carla Emolo ◽  
Andrea C. DeDent ◽  
Fabiana Falugi ◽  
Dominique M. Missiakas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Abscess Formation ◽  
Staphylococcal Protein A ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Binding Domains

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a leading cause of human soft tissue infections and bacterial sepsis. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains (methicillin-resistantS. aureus[MRSA]) has prompted research into staphylococcal vaccines and preventive measures. The envelope ofS. aureusis decorated with staphylococcal protein A (SpA), which captures the Fcγ portion of immunoglobulins to prevent opsonophagocytosis and associates with the Fab portion of VH3-type B cell receptors to trigger B cell superantigen activity. Nontoxigenic protein A (SpAKKAA), when used as an immunogen in mice, stimulates humoral immune responses that neutralize the Fcγ and the VH3+Fab binding activities of SpA and provide protection from staphylococcal abscess formation in mice. Here, we isolated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against SpAKKAAthat, by binding to the triple-helical bundle fold of its immunoglobulin binding domains (IgBDs), neutralize the Fcγ and Fab binding activities of SpA. SpAKKAAMAbs promoted opsonophagocytic killing of MRSA in mouse and human blood, provided protection from abscess formation, and stimulated pathogen-specific immune responses in a mouse model of staphylococcal disease. Thus, SpAKKAAMAbs may be useful for the prevention and therapy of staphylococcal disease in humans.

scholarly journals Loss of Very-Long O-Antigen Chains Optimizes Capsule-Mediated Immune Evasion by Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi

mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Crawford ◽  
Tamding Wangdi ◽  
Alanna M. Spees ◽  
Mariana N. Xavier ◽  
Renée M. Tsolis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Pathogenicity Island ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
O Antigen ◽  
Vi Capsular Polysaccharide

ABSTRACTExpression of capsular polysaccharides is a variable trait often associated with more-virulent forms of a bacterial species. For example, typhoid fever is caused by the capsulatedSalmonella entericaserovar Typhi, while nontyphoidalSalmonellaserovars associated with gastroenteritis are noncapsulated. Here we show that optimization of the immune evasive properties conferred by the virulence-associated (Vi) capsular polysaccharide involved an additional alteration to the cell envelope ofS. Typhi, namely inactivation of thefepEgene, encoding the regulator of very-long O-antigen chains. Introduction of the capsule-encodingviaBlocus into the nontyphoidalS. entericaserovar Typhimurium reduced complement depositionin vitroand intestinal inflammation in a mouse colitis model. However, both phenotypes were markedly enhanced when theviaBlocus was introduced into anS. TyphimuriumfepEmutant, which lacks very-long O-antigen chains. Collectively, these data suggest that during the evolution of theS. Typhi lineage, loss of very-long O-antigen chains by pseudogene formation was an adaptation to maximize the anti-inflammatory properties of the Vi capsular polysaccharide.IMPORTANCEGenomic comparison illustrates that acquisition of virulence factors by horizontal gene transfer is an important contributor to the evolution of enteric pathogens. Acquisition of complex virulence traits commonly involves horizontal transfer of a large gene cluster, and integration of the gene cluster into the host genome results in the formation of a pathogenicity island. Acquisition of the virulence-associated (Vi) capsular polysaccharide encoded by SPI7 (Salmonellapathogenicity island 7) was accompanied in the human-adaptedSalmonella entericaserovar Typhi by inactivation of thefepEgene, encoding the regulator of very-long O-antigen chains. We show that the resulting loss of very-long O-antigen chains was an important mechanism for maximizing immune evasion mediated by the Vi capsular polysaccharide. These data suggest that successful incorporation of a capsular polysaccharide requires changes in the cell envelope of the hosting pathogen.

scholarly journals CD4 T Cell Antigens from Staphylococcus aureus Newman Strain Identified following Immunization with Heat-Killed Bacteria

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulraj K. Lawrence ◽  
Bachra Rokbi ◽  
Nadège Arnaud-Barbe ◽  
Eric L. Sutten ◽  
Junzo Norimine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intramammary Infections ◽  
T Cell Antigens ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a commensal bacterium associated with the skin and mucosal surfaces of humans and animals that can also cause chronic infection. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains such as methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) and strains causing chronic intramammary infections (IMI) in cows results in severe human and livestock infections. Conventional approaches to vaccine development have yielded only a few noneffective vaccines against MRSA or IMI strains, so there is a need for improved vaccine development. CD4 T lymphocytes are required for promoting gamma interferon (IFN-γ) mediated immunoglobulin isotype switching in B lymphocytes to produce high-affinity IgG antibodies and IFN-γ-mediated phagocyte activation for an effective resolution of bacterial infection. However, the lack of known CD4 T cell antigens fromS. aureushas made it difficult to design effective vaccines. The goal of this study was to identifyS. aureusproteins recognized by immune CD4 T cells. Using a reverse genetics approach, 43 antigens were selected from theS. aureusNewman strain. These included lipoproteins, proteases, transcription regulators, an alkaline shock protein, conserved-domain proteins, hemolysins, fibrinogen-binding protein, staphylokinase, exotoxin, enterotoxin, sortase, and protein A. Screening of expressed proteins for recall T cell responses in outbred, immune calves identified 13 proteins that share over 80% sequence identity among MRSA or IMI strains. These may be useful for inclusion in a broadly protective multiantigen vaccine against MRSA or IMI.

scholarly journals Staphylococcus aureus CcpA Affects Virulence Determinant Production and Antibiotic Resistance

2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1183-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kati Seidl ◽  
Martin Stucki ◽  
Martin Ruegg ◽  
Christiane Goerke ◽  
Christiane Wolz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Exponential Growth Phase ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Resistance Level ◽  
Virulence Gene Expression ◽  
Oxacillin Resistance

ABSTRACT Carbon catabolite protein A (CcpA) is known to function as a major regulator of gene expression in different gram-positive organisms. Deletion of the ccpA homologue (saCOL1786) in Staphylococcus aureus was found to affect growth, glucose metabolization, and transcription of selected virulence determinants. In liquid culture, deletion of CcpA decreased the growth rate and yield; however, the effect was only transient during the exponential-growth phase as long as glucose was present in the medium. Depletion of glucose and production of lactate was delayed, while the level of excretion of acetate was less affected and was even higher in the mutant culture. On solid medium, in contrast, growth of the ΔccpA mutant resulted in smaller colonies containing a lower number of CFU per colony. Deletion of CcpA had an effect on the expression of important virulence factors of S. aureus by down-regulating RNAIII, the effector molecule of the agr locus, and altering the transcription patterns of hla, encoding α-hemolysin, and spa, encoding protein A. CcpA inactivation markedly reduced the oxacillin resistance levels in the highly methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain COLn and the teicoplanin resistance level in a glycopeptide-intermediate-resistant S. aureus strain. The presence of CcpA in the capsular polysaccharide serotype 5 (CP5)-producing strain Newman abolished capsule formation and decreased cap operon transcription in the presence of glucose. The staphylococcal CcpA thus not only is involved in the regulation of carbon metabolism but seems to function as a modulator of virulence gene expression as well.

scholarly journals Identification, Cloning, and Characterization ofStaphylococcus pseudintermediusCoagulase

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa H. Sewid ◽  
M. Nabil Hassan ◽  
A. M. Ammar ◽  
David A. Bemis ◽  
Stephen A. Kania
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Recombinant Protein ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Complement C3 ◽  
Fibrin Deposition ◽  
Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chromogenic Assay ◽  
Prothrombin Activation ◽  
Multifunctional Properties

ABSTRACTCoagulase activation of prothrombin by staphylococcus induces the formation of fibrin deposition that facilitates the establishment of infection byStaphylococcusspecies. Coagulase activity is a key characteristic ofStaphylococcus pseudintermedius; however, no coagulase gene or associated protein has been studied to characterize this activity. We report a recombinant protein sharing 40% similarity toStaphylococcus aureuscoagulase produced from a putativeS. pseudintermediuscoagulase gene. Prothrombin activation by the protein was measured with a chromogenic assay using thrombin tripeptide substrate. Stronger interaction with bovine prothrombin than with human prothrombin was observed. TheS. pseudintermediuscoagulase protein also bound complement C3 and immunoglobulin. Recombinant coagulase facilitated the escape ofS. pseudintermediusfrom phagocytosis, presumably by forming a bridge between opsonizing antibody, complement, and fibrinogen. Evidence from this work suggests thatS. pseudintermediuscoagulase has multifunctional properties that contribute to immune evasion that likely plays an important role in virulence.

scholarly journals Lipoprotein N-Acylation in Staphylococcus aureus Is Catalyzed by a Two-Component Acyl Transferase System

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Gardiner ◽  
Gloria Komazin ◽  
Miki Matsuo ◽  
Kaitlin Cole ◽  
Friedrich Götz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Structural Heterogeneity ◽  
Cysteine Residue ◽  
Acyl Transfer ◽  
Acyl Transferase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tailoring Enzymes ◽  
And Shifts

ABSTRACT Bacterial lipoproteins (Lpps) are a class of membrane-associated proteins universally distributed among all bacteria. A characteristic N-terminal cysteine residue that is variably acylated anchors C-terminal globular domains to the extracellular surface, where they serve numerous roles, including in the capture and transport of essential nutrients. Lpps are also ligands for the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) family, a key component of the innate immune system tasked with bacterial recognition. While Lpp function is conserved in all prokaryotes, structural heterogeneity in the N-terminal acylation state is widespread among Firmicutes and can differ between otherwise closely related species. In this study, we identify a novel two-gene system that directs the synthesis of N-acylated Lpps in the commensal and opportunistic pathogen subset of staphylococci. The two genes, which we have named the lipoprotein N-acylation transferase system (Lns), bear no resemblance to previously characterized N-terminal Lpp tailoring enzymes. LnsA (SAOUHSC_00822) is an NlpC/P60 superfamily enzyme, whereas LnsB (SAOHSC_02761) has remote homology to the CAAX protease and bacteriocin-processing enzyme (CPBP) family. Both LnsA and LnsB are together necessary and alone sufficient for N-acylation in Staphylococcus aureus and convert the Lpp chemotype from diacyl to triacyl when heterologously expressed in Listeria monocytogenes. Acquisition of lnsAB decreases TLR2-mediated detection of S. aureus by nearly 10-fold and shifts the activated TLR2 complex from TLR2/6 to TLR2/1. LnsAB thus has a dual role in attenuating TLR2 signaling in addition to a broader role in bacterial cell envelope physiology. IMPORTANCE Although it has long been known that S. aureus forms triacylated Lpps, a lack of homologs to known N-acylation genes found in Gram-negative bacteria has until now precluded identification of the genes responsible for this Lpp modification. Here, we demonstrate N-terminal Lpp acylation and chemotype conversion to the tri-acylated state is directed by a unique acyl transferase system encoded by two noncontiguous staphylococci genes (lnsAB). Since triacylated Lpps stimulate TLR2 more weakly than their diacylated counterparts, Lpp N-acylation is an important TLR2 immunoevasion factor for determining tolerance or nontolerance in niches such as in the skin microbiota. The discovery of the LnsAB system expands the known diversity of Lpp biosynthesis pathways and acyl transfer biochemistry in bacteria, advances our understanding of Lpp structural heterogeneity, and helps differentiate commensal and noncommensal microbiota.

scholarly journals CidR and CcpA Synergistically Regulate Staphylococcus aureus cidABC Expression

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marat R. Sadykov ◽  
Ian H. Windham ◽  
Todd J. Widhelm ◽  
Vijaya Kumar Yajjala ◽  
Sean M. Watson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Carbon Metabolism ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Transcriptional Regulators ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biofilm Development

ABSTRACT The death and lysis of a subpopulation of Staphylococcus aureus cells during biofilm development benefit the whole bacterial population through the release of an important component of the biofilm matrix, extracellular DNA. Previously, we have demonstrated that these processes are affected by the gene products of the cidABC operon, the expression of which is controlled by the LysR-type transcriptional regulator, CidR. In this study, we characterized cis- and trans-acting elements essential for the induction of the cidABC operon. In addition to a CidR-binding site located within the cidABC promoter region, sequence analysis revealed the presence of a putative catabolite responsive element (cre box), suggestive of the involvement of the catabolite control protein A (CcpA) in the regulation of cidABC expression. This was confirmed using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and real-time reverse transcriptase PCR analysis demonstrating the direct positive control of cidABC transcription by the master regulator of carbon metabolism. Furthermore, the importance of CcpA and the identified cre site for the induction of the cidABC operon was demonstrated by examining the expression of PcidABC-lacZ reporter fusions in various mutant strains in which the genes involved in carbon metabolism and carbon catabolite repression were disrupted. Together the results of this study demonstrate the necessity of both transcriptional regulators, CidR and CcpA, for the induction of the cidABC operon and reveal the complexity of molecular interactions controlling its expression. IMPORTANCE This work focuses on the characterization of cis- and trans-acting elements essential for the induction of the cidABC operon in S. aureus. The results of this study are the first to demonstrate the synergistic control of cidABC expression by transcriptional regulators CidR and CcpA during carbohydrate metabolism. We established that the full induction of cidABC expression depends on the metabolic state of bacteria and requires both CidR and CcpA. Together, these findings delineate regulatory control of cidABC expression under different metabolic conditions and provide important new insights into our understanding of cell death mechanisms during biofilm development in S. aureus.

scholarly journals In Staphylococcus aureus, the Particulate State of the Cell Envelope Is Required for the Efficient Induction of Host Defense Responses

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
ByungHyun Kim ◽  
TingTing Jiang ◽  
Jun-Hyun Bae ◽  
Hye Su Yun ◽  
Seong Han Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Peritoneal Cavity ◽  
Immune Activation ◽  
Bacterial Cell ◽  
Physical State ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bacterial Cell Envelope

ABSTRACT Upon microbial infection, host immune cells recognize bacterial cell envelope components through cognate receptors. Although bacterial cell envelope components function as innate immune molecules, the role of the physical state of the bacterial cell envelope (i.e., particulate versus soluble) in host immune activation has not been clearly defined. Here, using two different forms of the staphylococcal cell envelope of Staphylococcus aureus RN4220 and USA300 LAC strains, we provide biochemical and immunological evidence that the particulate state is required for the effective activation of host innate immune responses. In a murine model of peritoneal infection, the particulate form of the staphylococcal cell envelope (PCE) induced the production of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) and CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), the chemotactic cytokines for neutrophils and monocytes, respectively, resulting in a strong influx of the phagocytes into the peritoneal cavity. In contrast, compared with PCE, the soluble form of cell envelope (SCE), which was derived from PCE by treatment with cell wall-hydrolyzing enzymes, showed minimal activity. PCE also induced the secretion of calprotectin (myeloid-related protein 8/14 [MRP8/14] complex), a phagocyte-derived antimicrobial protein, into the peritoneal cavity at a much higher level than did SCE. The injected PCE particles were phagocytosed by the infiltrated neutrophils and monocytes and then delivered to mediastinal draining lymph nodes. More importantly, intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected PCE efficiently protected mice from S. aureus infection, which was abolished by the depletion of either monocytes/macrophages or neutrophils. This study demonstrated that the physical state of bacterial cells is a critical factor for efficient host immune activation and the protection of hosts from staphylococcal infections.

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