scholarly journals Activity of a Holin-Endolysin System in the Insecticidal Pathogenicity Island ofYersinia enterocolitica

2018 ◽  
Vol 200 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Springer ◽  
Sandra Reuter ◽  
Mandy Knüpfer ◽  
Lukas Schmauder ◽  
Philipp-Albert Sänger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insecticidal Activity ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Pathogenicity Island ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Toxin Complex ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Conserved Genes ◽  
Nematocidal Activity ◽  
Lysis Cassette

ABSTRACTYersinia enterocoliticais a pathogen that causes gastroenteritis in humans. Because of its low-temperature-dependent insecticidal activity, it can oscillate between invertebrates and mammals as host organisms. The insecticidal activity of strain W22703 is associated with a pathogenicity island of 19 kb (Tc-PAIYe), which carries regulators and genes encoding the toxin complex (Tc). The island also harbors four phage-related and highly conserved genes of unknown functions, which are polycistronically transcribed. Two open reading frames showed significant homologies to holins and endolysins and exhibited lytic activity inEscherichia colicells upon overexpression. When a set ofYersiniastrains was tested in an equivalent manner, highly diverse susceptibilities to lysis were observed, and some strains were resistant to lysis. If cell lysis occurred (as demonstrated by membrane staining), it was more pronounced when two accessory elements of the cassette coding for an i-spanin and an o-spanin were included in the overexpression construct. The pore-forming function of the putative holin, HolY, was demonstrated by complementation of the lysis defect of a phage λ S holin mutant. In experiments performed with membrane preparations, ElyY exhibited high specificity for W22703 peptidoglycan, with a cleavage activity resembling that of lysozyme. Although the functionality of the lysis cassette from Tc-PAIYewas demonstrated in this study, its biological role remains to be elucidated.IMPORTANCEThe knowledge of how pathogens survive in the environment is pivotal for our understanding of bacterial virulence. The insecticidal and nematocidal activity ofYersiniaspp., by which the bacteria gain access to nutrients and thus improve their environmental fitness, is conferred by the toxin complex (Tc) encoded on a highly conserved pathogenicity island termed Tc-PAIYe. While the regulators and the toxin subunits of the island had been characterized in some detail, the role of phage-related genes within the island remained to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that this cassette encodes a holin, an endolysin, and two spanins that, at least upon overexpression, lyseYersiniastrains.

scholarly journals Competition between Metals for Binding to Methanobactin Enables Expression of Soluble Methane Monooxygenase in the Presence of Copper

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1024-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhagyalakshmi Kalidass ◽  
Muhammad Farhan Ul-Haque ◽  
Bipin S. Baral ◽  
Alan A. DiSpirito ◽  
Jeremy D. Semrau
Keyword(s):  
Methane Monooxygenase ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Copper Uptake ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Soluble Methane Monooxygenase ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Membrane Bound

ABSTRACTIt is well known that copper is a key factor regulating expression of the two forms of methane monooxygenase found in proteobacterial methanotrophs. Of these forms, the cytoplasmic, or soluble, methane monooxygenase (sMMO) is expressed only at low copper concentrations. The membrane-bound, or particulate, methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is constitutively expressed with respect to copper, and such expression increases with increasing copper. Recent findings have shown that copper uptake is mediated by a modified polypeptide, or chalkophore, termed methanobactin. Although methanobactin has high specificity for copper, it can bind other metals, e.g., gold. Here we show that inMethylosinus trichosporiumOB3b, sMMO is expressed and active in the presence of copper if gold is also simultaneously present. Such expression appears to be due to gold binding to methanobactin produced byM. trichosporiumOB3b, thereby limiting copper uptake. Such expression and activity, however, was significantly reduced if methanobactin preloaded with copper was also added. Further, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) of transcripts of genes encoding polypeptides of both forms of MMO and SDS-PAGE results indicate that both sMMO and pMMO can be expressed when copper and gold are present, as gold effectively competes with copper for binding to methanobactin. Such findings suggest that under certain geochemical conditions, both forms of MMO may be expressed and activein situ. Finally, these findings also suggest strategies whereby field sites can be manipulated to enhance sMMO expression, i.e., through the addition of a metal that can compete with copper for binding to methanobactin.

scholarly journals Tn6350, a Novel Transposon Carrying Pyocin S8 Genes Encoding a Bacteriocin with Activity against Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Turano ◽  
Fernando Gomes ◽  
Gesiele A. Barros-Carvalho ◽  
Ralf Lopes ◽  
Louise Cerdeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Type A ◽  
Sequence Type ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Hypothetical Proteins ◽  
Immunity Protein ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Commensal Strain ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACT A novel transposon belonging to the Tn3-like family was identified on the chromosome of a commensal strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sequence type 2343 (ET02). Tn6350 is 7,367 bp long and harbors eight open reading frames (ORFs), an ATPase (IS481 family), a transposase (DDE catalytic type), a Tn3 resolvase, three hypothetical proteins, and genes encoding the new pyocin S8 with its immunity protein. We show that pyocin S8 displays activity against carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa, including IMP-1, SPM-1, VIM-1, GES-5, and KPC-2 producers.

scholarly journals The Concerted Action of Two B3-Like Prophage Genes Excludes Superinfecting Bacteriophages by Blocking DNA Entry into Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Antonio Carballo-Ontiveros ◽  
Adrián Cazares ◽  
Pablo Vinuesa ◽  
Luis Kameyama ◽  
Gabriel Guarneros
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Infections ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT In this study, we describe seven vegetative phage genomes homologous to the historic phage B3 that infect Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Like other phage groups, the B3-like group contains conserved (core) and variable (accessory) open reading frames (ORFs) grouped at fixed regions in their genomes; however, in either case, many ORFs remain without assigned functions. We constructed lysogens of the seven B3-like phages in strain Ps33 of P. aeruginosa, a novel clinical isolate, and assayed the exclusion phenotype against a variety of temperate and virulent superinfecting phages. In addition to the classic exclusion conferred by the phage immunity repressor, the phenotype observed in B3-like lysogens suggested the presence of other exclusion genes. We set out to identify the genes responsible for this exclusion phenotype. Phage Ps56 was chosen as the study subject since it excluded numerous temperate and virulent phages. Restriction of the Ps56 genome, cloning of several fragments, and resection of the fragments that retained the exclusion phenotype allowed us to identify two core ORFs, so far without any assigned function, as responsible for a type of exclusion. Neither gene expressed separately from plasmids showed activity, but the concurrent expression of both ORFs is needed for exclusion. Our data suggest that phage adsorption occurs but that phage genome translocation to the host’s cytoplasm is defective. To our knowledge, this is the first report on this type of exclusion mediated by a prophage in P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium frequently isolated from infected immunocompromised patients, and the strains are resistant to a broad spectrum of antibiotics. Recently, the use of phages has been proposed as an alternative therapy against multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, this approach may present various hurdles. This work addresses the problem that pathogenic bacteria may be lysogenized by phages carrying genes encoding resistance against secondary infections, such as those used in phage therapy. Discovering phage genes that exclude superinfecting phages not only assigns novel functions to orphan genes in databases but also provides insight into selection of the proper phages for use in phage therapy.

scholarly journals Faustovirus, an Asfarvirus-Related New Lineage of Giant Viruses Infecting Amoebae

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (13) ◽  
pp. 6585-6594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorine Gaëlle Reteno ◽  
Samia Benamar ◽  
Jacques Bou Khalil ◽  
Julien Andreani ◽  
Nicholas Armstrong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Swine Fever Virus ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Gene Repertoire ◽  
Significant Similarity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Giant Viruses ◽  
Almost All

ABSTRACTGiant viruses are protist-associated viruses belonging to the proposed orderMegavirales; almost all have been isolated fromAcanthamoebaspp. Their isolation in humans suggests that they are part of the human virome. Using a high-throughput strategy to isolate new giant viruses from their original protozoan hosts, we obtained eight isolates of a new giant viral lineage fromVermamoebavermiformis, the most common free-living protist found in human environments. This new lineage was proposed to be the faustovirus lineage. The prototype member, faustovirus E12, forms icosahedral virions of ≈200 nm that are devoid of fibrils and that encapsidate a 466-kbp genome encoding 451 predicted proteins. Of these, 164 are found in the virion. Phylogenetic analysis of the core viral genes showed that faustovirus is distantly related to the mammalian pathogen African swine fever virus, but it encodes ≈3 times more mosaic gene complements. About two-thirds of these genes do not show significant similarity to genes encoding any known proteins. These findings show that expanding the panel of protists to discover new giant viruses is a fruitful strategy.IMPORTANCEBy usingVermamoeba, a protist living in humans and their environment, we isolated eight strains of a new giant virus that we named faustovirus. The genomes of these strains were sequenced, and their sequences showed that faustoviruses are related to but different from the vertebrate pathogen African swine fever virus (ASFV), which belongs to the familyAsfarviridae. Moreover, the faustovirus gene repertoire is ≈3 times larger than that of ASFV and comprises approximately two-thirds ORFans (open reading frames [ORFs] with no detectable homology to other ORFs in a database).

scholarly journals Lon protease- and temperature-dependent activity of a lysis cassette located in the insecticidal island of Yersinia enterocolitica

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Springer ◽  
Philipp-Albert Sänger ◽  
Angela Felsl ◽  
Thilo M. Fuchs
Keyword(s):  
Yersinia Enterocolitica ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Pathogenicity Island ◽  
Gene Cassette ◽  
Life Cycle Stage ◽  
Lon Protease ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Nematocidal Activity ◽  
Lysis Cassette

The Yersinia genus comprises pathogens that are able to adapt to an environmental life cycle stage as well as to mammals. Yersinia enterocolitica strain W22703 exhibits both insecticidal and nematocidal activity conferred by the tripartite toxin complex (Tc) that is encoded on the 19 kb pathogenicity island Tc-PAIYe. All tc genes follow a strict temperature regulation in that they are silenced at 37°C, but activated at lower temperatures. Four highly-conserved phage-related genes, located within the Tc-PAIYe, were recently demonstrated to encode a biologically functional holin-endolysin gene cassette that lyses its own host W22703 at 37°C (1). Conditions transcriptionally activating the cassette are yet unknown. In contrast to E. coli, the overproduction of holin and endolysin did not result in cell lysis of strain W22703 15°C. When the holin-endolysin genes were overexpressed at 15°C in four Y. enterocolitica biovars and in four other Yersinia spp., a heterogenous pattern of phenotypes was observed, ranging from lysis resistance of a biovar 1A strain to a complete growth arrest of a Y. kristensenii strain. To decipher the molecular mechanism underlying this temperature-dependent lysis, we constructed a Lon protease negative mutant of W22703 in which overexpression of the lysis cassette leads to cell death at 15°C. Overexpressed endolysin exhibited a high proteolytic susceptibility in strain W22703, but remained stable in strain W22703 Δlon or in Y. pseudotuberculosis. Although artificial overexpression was applied here, the data indicate that Lon protease plays a role in the control of the temperature-dependent lysis in Y. enterocolitica W22703. IMPORTANCE The investigation of the mechanisms that help pathogens to survive in the environment is a prerequisite to understand their evolution and their virulence capacities. In members of the genus Yersinia, many factors involved in virulence, metabolism, motility or biofilm formation follow a strict temperature-dependent regulation. While the molecular mechanisms underlying activation of determinants at body temperature have been analysed in detail, the molecular basis of low temperature-dependent phenotypes is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a novel phage-related lysis cassette, which is part of the insecticidal and nematocidal pathogenicity island of Y. enterocolitica, does not lyse its own host following overexpression at 15°C, and that the Lon protease is involved in this phenotype.

scholarly journals The tet39 Determinant and the msrE-mphE Genes in Acinetobacter Plasmids Are Each Part of Discrete Modules Flanked by Inversely Oriented pdif (XerC-XerD) Sites

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace A. Blackwell ◽  
Ruth M. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Insertion Sequence ◽  
Insertion Site ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
System A ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Putative Toxin ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACT The tet39 tetracycline resistance determinant and the macrolide resistance genes msrE and mphE were found in an 18.2-kb plasmid, pS30-1, recovered from a global clone 2 (GC2) Acinetobacter baumannii isolate from Singapore, that conferred resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin. pS30-1 also contains mobA and mobC genes encoding MOBQ family proteins, but attempts to mobilize pS30-1 utilizing a coresident conjugative repAci6 plasmid were unsuccessful. Eight pdif sites, consisting of inversely oriented binding sites for the XerC and XerD recombinases separated by 6 bp, were detected in pS30-1. The tet39 determinant and the msrE-mphE gene pair are each surrounded by two pdif sites in inverse orientation. Identical regions in different contexts and many previously unnoticed pdif sites were found in a number of different plasmids in GenBank, showing that the tet39 and msrE-mphE dif modules are mobile. A putative toxin/antitoxin system, a gene encoding a serine recombinase, and open reading frames of unknown function were also part of dif modules in pS30-1. In general, modules with internal XerC or XerD sites alternate. Two copies of ISAjo2-1 (94% identical to ISAjo2) in pS30-1 were inserted 5 bp from a XerC site, and this appears to be the preferred insertion site for this insertion sequence (IS) group. Apparently, Acinetobacter plasmids exploit the Acinetobacter XerC-XerD recombinases to mobilize DNA units containing resistance and other genes, via an uncharacterized mechanism. The tet39 and msrE-mphE dif modules add to the oxa24 module and the oxa58 module redefined here, bringing the total of resistance gene-containing dif modules in Acinetobacter plasmids to four.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Novel Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL)-Encoding Staphylococcal Phage and Its Naturally PVL-Lacking Variant

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 2828-2832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn El Haddad ◽  
Sylvain Moineau
Keyword(s):  
Raw Milk ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Direct Repeats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Tail Protein ◽  
Reading Frames ◽  
Panton Valentine Leukocidin ◽  
Valentine Leukocidin

ABSTRACTA new siphophage (LH1) was isolated from raw milk using aStaphylococcus aureusST352 host. Its genome (46,048 bp, 57 open reading frames) includes the two genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a virulence factor usually harbored byS. aureusprophages. Nine structural proteins were identified, including a tail protein generated through a +1 frameshift. A phage lytic mutant was isolated, and its analysis revealed the deletion of genes coding for the PVL and an integrase. The deletion likely occurred through recombination between direct repeats.

scholarly journals Two Phages, phiIPLA-RODI and phiIPLA-C1C, Lyse Mono- and Dual-Species Staphylococcal Biofilms

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 3336-3348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Gutiérrez ◽  
Dieter Vandenheuvel ◽  
Beatriz Martínez ◽  
Ana Rodríguez ◽  
Rob Lavigne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Gene Organization ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Group I Introns ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staphylococcal Infections ◽  
Group I ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACTPhage therapy is a promising option for fighting against staphylococcal infections. Two lytic phages, vB_SauM_phiIPLA-RODI (phiIPLA-RODI) and vB_SepM_phiIPLA-C1C (phiIPLA-C1C), belonging to theMyoviridaefamily and exhibiting wide host ranges, were characterized in this study. The complete genome sequences comprised 142,348 bp and 140,961 bp and contained 213 and 203 open reading frames, respectively. The gene organization was typical ofSpounavirinaemembers, with long direct terminal repeats (LTRs), genes grouped into modules not clearly separated from each other, and several group I introns. In addition, four genes encoding tRNAs were identified in phiIPLA-RODI. Comparative DNA sequence analysis showed high similarities with two phages, GH15 and 676Z, belonging to theTwort-like virusgenus (nucleotide identities of >84%); for phiIPLA-C1C, a high similarity with phage phiIBB-SEP1 was observed (identity of 80%). Challenge assays of phages phiIPLA-RODI and phiIPLA-C1C against planktonic staphylococcal cells confirmed their lytic ability, as they were able to remove 5 log units in 8 h. Exposure of biofilms to phages phiIPLA-RODI and phiIPLA-C1C reduced the amount of adhered bacteria to about 2 log units in both monospecies and dual-species biofilms, but phiIPLA-RODI turned out to be as effective as the mixture of both phages. Moreover, the frequencies of bacteriophage-insensitive mutants (BIMs) ofStaphylococcus aureusandS. epidermidiswith resistance to phiIPLA-RODI and phiIPLA-C1C were low, at 4.05 × 10−7± 2.34 × 10−9and 1.1 × 10−7± 2.08 × 10−9, respectively. Overall, a generally reduced fitness in the absence of phages was observed for BIMs, which showed a restored phage-sensitive phenotype in a few generations. These results confirm that lytic bacteriophages can be efficient biofilm-disrupting agents, supporting their potential as antimicrobials against staphylococcal infections.

scholarly journals YMC-2011, a Temperate Phage of Streptococcus salivarius 57.I

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Chun Chou ◽  
Szu-Chuan Huang ◽  
Cheng-Hsun Chiu ◽  
Yi-Ywan M. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Mitomycin C ◽  
Electron Microscopic Examination ◽  
Streptococcus Thermophilus ◽  
Hypothetical Protein ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Streptococcus Salivarius ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT Streptococcus salivarius is an abundant isolate of the oral cavity. The genome of S. salivarius 57.I consists of a 2-Mb chromosome and a 40,758-bp circular molecule, designated YMC-2011. Annotation of YMC-2011 revealed 55 open reading frames, most of them associated with phage production, although plaque formation is not observed in S. salivarius 57.I after lytic induction using mitomycin C. Results from Southern hybridization and quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that YMC-2011 exists extrachromosomally, with an estimated copy number of 3 to 4. Phage particles were isolated from the supernatant of mitomycin C-treated S. salivarius 57.I cultures, and transmission electron microscopic examination indicated that YMC-2011 belongs to the Siphoviridae family. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that phage YMC-2011 and the cos-type phages of Streptococcus thermophilus originated from a common ancestor. An extended −10 element (p L ) and a σ70-like promoter (p R ) were mapped 5′ to Ssal_phage00013 (encoding a CI-like repressor) and Ssal_phage00014 (encoding a hypothetical protein), respectively, using 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends, indicating that YMC-2011 transcribes at least two mRNAs in opposite orientations. Studies using promoter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene fusions revealed that p R , but not p L , was sensitive to mitomycin C induction, suggesting that the switch from lysogenic growth to lytic growth was controlled mainly by the activity of these two promoters. In conclusion, a lysogenic state is maintained in S. salivarius 57.I, presumably by the repression of genes encoding proteins for lytic growth. IMPORTANCE The movement of mobile genetic elements such as bacteriophages and the establishment of lysogens may have profound effects on the balance of microbial ecology where lysogenic bacteria reside. The discovery of phage YMC-2011 from Streptococcus salivarius 57.I suggests that YMC-2011 and Streptococcus thermophilus-infecting phages share an ancestor. Although S. salivarius and S. thermophilus are close phylogenetically, S. salivarius is a natural inhabitant of the human mouth, whereas S. thermophilus is commonly found in the mammary mucosa of bovine species. Thus, the identification of YMC-2011 suggests that horizontal gene transfer via phage infection could take place between species from different ecological niches.

scholarly journals Eisosome Ultrastructure and Evolution in Fungi, Microalgae, and Lichens

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 1017-1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Hyeok Lee ◽  
John E. Heuser ◽  
Robyn Roth ◽  
Ursula Goodenough
Keyword(s):  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Lipid Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bar Domain ◽  
Bar Domain Proteins ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Conserved Genes ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Target Membrane ◽  
Positively Charged

ABSTRACTEisosomes are among the few remaining eukaryotic cellular differentations that lack a defined function(s). These trough-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane have largely been studied inSaccharomyces cerevisiae, in which their associated proteins, including two BAR domain proteins, have been identified, and homologues have been found throughout the fungal radiation. Using quick-freeze deep-etch electron microscopy to generate high-resolution replicas of membrane fracture faces without the use of chemical fixation, we report that eisosomes are also present in a subset of red and green microalgae as well as in the cysts of the ciliateEuplotes. Eisosome assembly is closely correlated with both the presence and the nature of cell walls. Microalgal eisosomes vary extensively in topology and internal organization. Unlike fungi, their convex fracture faces can carry lineage-specific arrays of intramembranous particles, and their concave fracture faces usually display fine striations, also seen in fungi, that are pitched at lineage-specific angles and, in some cases, adopt a broad-banded patterning. The conserved genes that encode fungal eisosome-associated proteins are not found in sequenced algal genomes, but we identified genes encoding two algal lineage-specific families of predicted BAR domain proteins, called Green-BAR and Red-BAR, that are candidate eisosome organizers. We propose a model for eisosome formation wherein (i) positively charged recognition patches first establish contact with target membrane regions and (ii) a (partial) unwinding of the coiled-coil conformation of the BAR domains then allows interactions between the hydrophobic faces of their amphipathic helices and the lipid phase of the inner membrane leaflet, generating the striated patterns.

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