scholarly journals From (p)ppGpp to (pp)pGpp: Characterization of Regulatory Effects of pGpp Synthesized by the Small Alarmone Synthetase of Enterococcus faecalis

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (18) ◽  
pp. 2908-2919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony O. Gaca ◽  
Pavel Kudrin ◽  
Cristina Colomer-Winter ◽  
Jelena Beljantseva ◽  
Kuanqing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Second Messengers ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Synthetase Activity ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulatory Effects ◽  
Complex Target

ABSTRACTThe bacterial stringent response (SR) is a conserved stress tolerance mechanism that orchestrates physiological alterations to enhance cell survival. This response is mediated by the intracellular accumulation of the alarmones pppGpp and ppGpp, collectively called (p)ppGpp. InEnterococcus faecalis, (p)ppGpp metabolism is carried out by the bifunctional synthetase/hydrolaseE. faecalisRel (RelEf) and the small alarmone synthetase (SAS) RelQEf. Although Rel is the main enzyme responsible for SR activation inFirmicutes, there is emerging evidence that SASs can make important contributions to bacterial homeostasis. Here, we showed that RelQEfsynthesizes ppGpp more efficiently than pppGpp without the need for ribosomes, tRNA, or mRNA. In addition to (p)ppGpp synthesis from GDP and GTP, RelQEfalso efficiently utilized GMP to form GMP 3′-diphosphate (pGpp). Based on this observation, we sought to determine if pGpp exerts regulatory effects on cellular processes affected by (p)ppGpp. We found that pGpp, like (p)ppGpp, strongly inhibits the activity ofE. faecalisenzymes involved in GTP biosynthesis and, to a lesser extent, transcription ofrrnBbyEscherichia coliRNA polymerase. Activation ofE. coliRelA synthetase activity was observed in the presence of both pGpp and ppGpp, while RelQEfwas activated only by ppGpp. Furthermore, enzymatic activity of RelQEfis insensitive to relacin, a (p)ppGpp analog developed as an inhibitor of “long” RelA/SpoT homolog (RSH) enzymes. We conclude that pGpp can likely function as a bacterial alarmone with target-specific regulatory effects that are similar to what has been observed for (p)ppGpp.IMPORTANCEAccumulation of the nucleotide second messengers (p)ppGpp in bacteria is an important signal regulating genetic and physiological networks contributing to stress tolerance, antibiotic persistence, and virulence. Understanding the function and regulation of the enzymes involved in (p)ppGpp turnover is therefore critical for designing strategies to eliminate the protective effects of this molecule. While characterizing the (p)ppGpp synthetase RelQ ofEnterococcus faecalis(RelQEf), we found that, in addition to (p)ppGpp, RelQEfis an efficient producer of pGpp (GMP 3′-diphosphate).In vitroanalysis revealed that pGpp exerts complex, target-specific effects on processes known to be modulated by (p)ppGpp. These findings provide a new regulatory feature of RelQEfand suggest that pGpp may represent a new member of the (pp)pGpp family of alarmones.

scholarly journals (p)ppGpp and CodY Promote Enterococcus faecalis Virulence in a Murine Model of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Colomer-Winter ◽  
A. L. Flores-Mireles ◽  
S. Kundra ◽  
S. J. Hultgren ◽  
J. A. Lemos
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract Infection ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Tract Infection ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Nutrient Sensing ◽  
Transcriptional Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACT In Firmicutes, the nutrient-sensing regulators (p)ppGpp, the effector molecule of the stringent response, and CodY work in tandem to maintain bacterial fitness during infection. Here, we tested (p)ppGpp and codY mutant strains of Enterococcus faecalis in a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) mouse model and used global transcriptional analysis to investigate the relationship of (p)ppGpp and CodY. The absence of (p)ppGpp or single inactivation of codY led to lower bacterial loads in catheterized bladders and diminished biofilm formation on fibrinogen-coated surfaces under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Single inactivation of the bifunctional (p)ppGpp synthetase/hydrolase rel did not affect virulence, supporting previous evidence that the association of (p)ppGpp with enterococcal virulence is not dependent on the activation of the stringent response. Inactivation of codY in the (p)ppGpp0 strain restored E. faecalis virulence in the CAUTI model as well as the ability to form biofilms in vitro. Transcriptome analysis revealed that inactivation of codY restores, for the most part, the dysregulated metabolism of (p)ppGpp0 cells. While a clear linkage between (p)ppGpp and CodY with expression of virulence factors could not be established, targeted transcriptional analysis indicates that a possible association between (p)ppGpp and c-di-AMP signaling pathways in response to the conditions found in the bladder may play a role in enterococcal CAUTI. Collectively, data from this study identify the (p)ppGpp-CodY network as an important contributor to enterococcal virulence in catheterized mouse bladder and support that basal (p)ppGpp pools and CodY promote virulence through maintenance of a balanced metabolism under adverse conditions. IMPORTANCE Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are one of the most frequent types of infection found in the hospital setting that can develop into serious and potentially fatal bloodstream infections. One of the infectious agents that frequently causes complicated CAUTI is the bacterium Enterococcus faecalis, a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections that are often difficult to treat due to the exceptional multidrug resistance of some isolates. Understanding the mechanisms by which E. faecalis causes CAUTI will aid in the discovery of new druggable targets to treat these infections. In this study, we report the importance of two nutrient-sensing bacterial regulators, named (p)ppGpp and CodY, for the ability of E. faecalis to infect the catheterized bladder of mice.

scholarly journals Exogenous Alginate Protects Staphylococcus aureus from Killing by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E. Price ◽  
Dustin G. Brown ◽  
Dominique H. Limoli ◽  
Vanessa V. Phelan ◽  
George A. O’Toole
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Late Time ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alginate Production ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients chronically infected with both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus have worse health outcomes than patients who are monoinfected with either P. aeruginosa or S. aureus. We showed previously that mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa can coexist with S. aureus in vitro due to the transcriptional downregulation of several toxic exoproducts typically produced by P. aeruginosa, including siderophores, rhamnolipids, and HQNO (2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide). Here, we demonstrate that exogenous alginate protects S. aureus from P. aeruginosa in both planktonic and biofilm coculture models under a variety of nutritional conditions. S. aureus protection in the presence of exogenous alginate is due to the transcriptional downregulation of pvdA, a gene required for the production of the iron-scavenging siderophore pyoverdine as well as the downregulation of the PQS (Pseudomonas quinolone signal) (2-heptyl-3,4-dihydroxyquinoline) quorum sensing system. The impact of exogenous alginate is independent of endogenous alginate production. We further demonstrate that coculture of mucoid P. aeruginosa with nonmucoid P. aeruginosa strains can mitigate the killing of S. aureus by the nonmucoid strain of P. aeruginosa, indicating that the mechanism that we describe here may function in vivo in the context of mixed infections. Finally, we investigated a panel of mucoid clinical isolates that retain the ability to kill S. aureus at late time points and show that each strain has a unique expression profile, indicating that mucoid isolates can overcome the S. aureus-protective effects of mucoidy in a strain-specific manner. IMPORTANCE CF patients are chronically infected by polymicrobial communities. The two dominant bacterial pathogens that infect the lungs of CF patients are P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, with ∼30% of patients coinfected by both species. Such coinfected individuals have worse outcomes than monoinfected patients, and both species persist within the same physical space. A variety of host and environmental factors have been demonstrated to promote P. aeruginosa-S. aureus coexistence, despite evidence that P. aeruginosa kills S. aureus when these organisms are cocultured in vitro. Thus, a better understanding of P. aeruginosa-S. aureus interactions, particularly mechanisms by which these microorganisms are able to coexist in proximal physical space, will lead to better-informed treatments for chronic polymicrobial infections.

scholarly journals Prostaglandin E2Receptor Antagonist with Antimicrobial Activity against Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie A. C. Ikeh ◽  
Paul L. Fidel ◽  
Mairi C. Noverr
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Enzyme Inhibitors ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Prostaglandin E ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Physiological Concentration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Abdominal Infections

ABSTRACTPolymicrobial intra-abdominal infections (IAI) involvingCandida albicansandStaphylococcus aureusare associated with severe morbidity and mortality (∼80%). Our laboratory discovered that the immunomodulatory eicosanoid prostaglandin E2(PGE2) plays a key role in the lethal inflammatory response during polymicrobial IAI using a mouse model of infection. In studies designed to uncover key PGE2biosynthesis/signaling components involved in the response, selective eicosanoid enzyme inhibitors and receptor antagonists were selected and prescreened for antimicrobial activity againstC. albicansorS. aureus. Unexpectedly, we found that the EP4receptor antagonist L-161,982 had direct growth-inhibitory effects onS. aureusin vitroat the physiological concentration required to block the PGE2interaction with EP4. This antimicrobial activity was observed with methicillin-sensitiveS. aureusand methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) strains, with the MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration values for planktonic cells being 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, L-161,982 inhibitedS. aureusbiofilm formation and had activity against preformed mature biofilms. More importantly, treatment of mice with L-161,982 following intraperitoneal inoculation with a lethal dose of MRSA significantly reduced the bioburden and enhanced survival. Furthermore, L-161,982 protected mice against the synergistic lethality induced by coinfection withC. albicansandS. aureus. The antimicrobial activity of L-161,982 is independent of EP4receptor inhibitory activity; an alternative EP4receptor antagonist exerted no antimicrobial or protective effects. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that L-161,982 has potent antimicrobial activity against MRSA and may represent a significant therapeutic alternative in improving the prognosis of mono- or polymicrobial infections involving MRSA.

scholarly journals LEA Proteins and the Evolution of the WHy Domain

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Mertens ◽  
Habibu Aliyu ◽  
Don A. Cowan
Keyword(s):  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Protein Denaturation ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Late Embryogenesis Abundant ◽  
Abiotic Stress Response ◽  
Lea Proteins ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reading Frame

ABSTRACT The late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) family is composed of a diverse collection of multidomain and multifunctional proteins found in all three domains of the tree of life, but they are particularly common in plants. Most members of the family are known to play an important role in abiotic stress response and stress tolerance in plants but are also part of the plant hypersensitive response to pathogen infection. The mechanistic basis for LEA protein functionality is still poorly understood. The group of LEA 2 proteins harbor one or more copies of a unique domain, the water stress and hypersensitive response (WHy) domain. This domain sequence has recently been identified as a unique open reading frame (ORF) in some bacterial genomes (mostly in the phylum Firmicutes), and the recombinant bacterial WHy protein has been shown to exhibit a stress tolerance phenotype in Escherichia coli and an in vitro protein denaturation protective function. Multidomain phylogenetic analyses suggest that the WHy protein gene sequence may have ancestral origins in the domain Archaea, with subsequent acquisition in Bacteria and eukaryotes via endosymbiont or horizontal gene transfer mechanisms. Here, we review the structure, function, and nomenclature of LEA proteins, with a focus on the WHy domain as an integral component of the LEA constructs and as an independent protein.

scholarly journals Expression of Adhesive Pili and the Collagen-Binding Adhesin Ace Is Activated by ArgR Family Transcription Factors inEnterococcus faecalis

2018 ◽  
Vol 200 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn A. Manias ◽  
Gary M. Dunny
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Collagen Binding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Surface Adhesins

ABSTRACTIt was shown previously that the disruption of theahrCgene encoding a predicted ArgR family transcription factor results in a severe defect in biofilm formationin vitro, as well as a significant attenuation of virulence ofEnterococcus faecalisstrain OG1RF in multiple experimental infection models. Using transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), we observedahrC-dependent changes in the expression of more than 20 genes. AhrC-repressed genes included predicted determinants of arginine catabolism and several other metabolic genes and predicted transporters, while AhrC-activated genes included determinants involved in the production of surface protein adhesins. Most notably, the structural and regulatory genes of theebplocus encoding adhesive pili were positively regulated, as well as theacegene, encoding a collagen-binding adhesin. UsinglacZtranscription reporter fusions, we determined thatahrCand a secondargRtranscription factor gene,argR2, both function to activate the expression ofebpR, which directly activates the transcription of the pilus structural genes. Our data suggest that in the wild-typeE. faecalis, the low levels of EbpR limit the expression of pili and that biofilm biomass is also limited by the amount of pili expressed by the bacteria. The expression ofaceis similarly enhanced by AhrC and ArgR2, butaceexpression is not dependent on EbpR. Our results demonstrate the existence of novel regulatory cascades controlled by a pair of ArgR family transcription factors that might function as a heteromeric protein complex.IMPORTANCECell surface adhesins play critical roles in the formation of biofilms, host colonization, and the pathogenesis of opportunistic infections byEnterococcus faecalis. Here, we present new results showing that the expression of two major enterococcal surface adhesins,ebppili, and the collagen-binding protein Ace is positively regulated at the transcription level by twoargRfamily transcription factors, AhrC and ArgR2. In the case of pili, the direct target of regulation is theebpRgene, previously shown to activate the transcription of the pilus structural genes, while the activation ofacetranscription appears to be directly impacted by the two ArgR proteins. These transcription factors may represent new targets for blocking enterococcal infections.

scholarly journals Use of Recombinase-BasedIn VivoExpression Technology To Characterize Enterococcus faecalis Gene Expression during Infection IdentifiesIn Vivo-Expressed Antisense RNAs and Implicates the Protease Eep in Pathogenesis

2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi L. Frank ◽  
Aaron M. T. Barnes ◽  
Suzanne M. Grindle ◽  
Dawn A. Manias ◽  
Patrick M. Schlievert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Rabbit Model ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Antisense Transcripts ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Antisense Rnas

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecalisis a member of the mammalian gastrointestinal microflora that has become a leading cause of nosocomial infections over the past several decades.E. faecalismust be able to adapt its physiology based on its surroundings in order to thrive in a mammalian host as both a commensal and a pathogen. We employed recombinase-basedin vivoexpression technology (RIVET) to identify promoters on theE. faecalisOG1RF chromosome that were specifically activated during the course of infection in a rabbit subdermal abscess model. The RIVET screen identified 249 putativein vivo-activated loci, over one-third of which are predicted to generate antisense transcripts. Three predicted antisense transcripts were detected inin vitro- andin vivo-grown cells, providing the first evidence ofin vivo-expressed antisense RNAs inE. faecalis. Deletions in thein vivo-activated genes that encode glutamate 5-kinase (proB[EF0038]), the transcriptional regulator EbrA (ebrA[EF1809]), and the membrane metalloprotease Eep (eep[EF2380]) did not hinder biofilm formation inin vitroassays. In a rabbit model of endocarditis, the ΔebrAstrain was fully virulent, the ΔproBstrain was slightly attenuated, and the Δeepstrain was severely attenuated. The Δeepvirulence defect could be complemented by the expression of the wild-type gene intrans. Microscopic analysis of early Δeepbiofilms revealed an abundance of small cellular aggregates that were not observed in wild-type biofilms. This work illustrates the use of a RIVET screen to provide information about the temporal activation of genes during infection, resulting in the identification and confirmation of a new virulence determinant in an important pathogen.

scholarly journals Enterococcus faecalis 6-Phosphogluconolactonase Is Required for Both Commensal and Pathogenic Interactions with Manduca sexta

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 396-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan F. Holt ◽  
Megan R. Kiedrowski ◽  
Kristi L. Frank ◽  
Jing Du ◽  
Changhui Guan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Manduca Sexta ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Polystyrene Plate ◽  
Insect Gut ◽  
Insight Into

Enterococcus faecalisis a commensal and pathogen of humans and insects. InManduca sexta,E. faecalisis an infrequent member of the commensal gut community, but its translocation to the hemocoel results in a commensal-to-pathogen switch. To investigateE. faecalisfactors required for commensalism, we identifiedE. faecalisgenes that are upregulated in the gut ofM. sextausing recombinase-basedin vivoexpression technology (RIVET). The RIVET screen produced 113 clones, from which we identified 50 genes that are more highly expressed in the insect gut than in culture. The most frequently recovered gene was locus OG1RF_11582, which encodes a 6-phosphogluconolactonase that we designatedpglA. ApglAdeletion mutant was impaired in both pathogenesis and gut persistence inM. sextaand produced enhanced biofilms compared with the wild type in anin vitropolystyrene plate assay. Mutation of four other genes identified by RIVET did not affect persistence in caterpillar guts but led to impaired pathogenesis. This is the first identification of genetic determinants forE. faecaliscommensal and pathogenic interactions withM. sexta. Bacterial factors identified in this model system may provide insight into colonization or persistence in other host-associated microbial communities and represent potential targets for interventions to preventE. faecalisinfections.

scholarly journals Ampicillin in Combination with Ceftaroline, Cefepime, or Ceftriaxone Demonstrates Equivalent Activities in a High-Inoculum Enterococcus faecalis Infection Model

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 3178-3182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan K. Luther ◽  
Louis B. Rice ◽  
Kerry L. LaPlante
Keyword(s):  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Pharmacodynamic Model ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Profiles ◽  
Concentration Time ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant

ABSTRACTAmpicillin-ceftriaxone combination therapy has become a predominant treatment for seriousEnterococcus faecalisinfections, such as endocarditis. Unfortunately, ceftriaxone use is associated with future vancomycin-resistant enterococcus colonization. We evaluatedE. faecalisin anin vitropharmacodynamic model against simulated human concentration-time profiles of ampicillin plus ceftaroline, cefepime, ceftriaxone, or gentamicin. Ampicillin-cefepime and ampicillin-ceftaroline demonstrated activities similar to those of ampicillin-ceftriaxone againstE. faecalis.

scholarly journals Toxin-Mediated Paracellular Transport of Antitoxin Antibodies Facilitates Protection against Clostridium difficile Infection

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Zhang ◽  
X. Chen ◽  
L. D. Hernandez ◽  
P. Lipari ◽  
A. Flattery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
Kinetic Studies ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Similar Data ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Apical Side

The exotoxins TcdA and TcdB are the major virulence factors ofClostridium difficile. Circulating neutralizing antitoxin antibodies are protective inC. difficileinfection (CDI), as demonstrated, in part, by the protective effects of actoxumab and bezlotoxumab, which bind to and neutralize TcdA and TcdB, respectively. The question of how systemic IgG antibodies neutralize toxins in the gut lumen remains unresolved, although it has been suggested that the Fc receptor FcRn may be involved in active antibody transport across the gut epithelium. In this study, we demonstrated that genetic ablation of FcRn and excess irrelevant human IgG have no impact on actoxumab-bezlotoxumab-mediated protection in murine and hamster models of CDI, suggesting that Fc-dependent transport of antibodies across the gut wall is not required for efficacy. Tissue distribution studies in hamsters suggest, rather, that the transport of antibodies depends on toxin-induced damage to the gut lining. In anin vitrotwo-dimensional culture system that mimics the architecture of the intestinal mucosal epithelium, toxins on the apical side of epithelial cell monolayers are neutralized by basolateral antibodies, and antibody transport across the cell layer is dramatically increased upon addition of toxin to the apical side. Similar data were obtained with F(ab′)2fragments, which lack an Fc domain, consistent with FcRn-independent paracellular, rather than transcellular, transport of antibodies. Kinetic studies show that initial damage caused by apical toxin is required for efficient neutralization by basolateral antibodies. These data may represent a general mechanism of humoral response-mediated protection against enteric pathogens.

scholarly journals Activity of Moxifloxacin, Imipenem, and Ertapenem against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacteroides fragilis in Monocultures and Mixed Cultures in anIn VitroPharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model Simulating Concentrations in the Human Pancreas

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 6434-6436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Schubert ◽  
Axel Dalhoff
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Necrotizing Pancreatitis ◽  
Bacteroides Fragilis ◽  
Enterobacter Cloacae ◽  
Pharmacodynamic Model ◽  
Mixed Cultures ◽  
Human Pancreas ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe activities of moxifloxacin, imipenem, and ertapenem against pathogens causing severe necrotizing pancreatitis were studied in anin vitropharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) model.Escherichia coli,Enterobacter cloacae,Enterococcus faecalis, andBacteroides fragiliswere exposed in monocultures and mixed cultures to concentrations of the three agents comparable to those in the human pancreas. Moxifloxacin was more active than the two carbapenems in monocultures and mixed cultures, reducing the numbers of CFU more drastically and more rapidly.

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