scholarly journals Characterization of the Moraxella catarrhalis Opa-Like Protein, OlpA, Reveals a Phylogenetically Conserved Family of Outer Membrane Proteins

2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Brooks ◽  
Cassie A. Laurence ◽  
Eric J. Hansen ◽  
Scott D. Gray-Owen

ABSTRACT Moraxella catarrhalis is a human-restricted pathogen that can cause respiratory tract infections. In this study, we identified a previously uncharacterized 24-kDa outer membrane protein with a high degree of similarity to Neisseria Opa protein adhesins, with a predicted β-barrel structure consisting of eight antiparallel β-sheets with four surface-exposed loops. In striking contrast to the antigenically variable Opa proteins, the M. catarrhalis Opa-like protein (OlpA) is highly conserved and constitutively expressed, with 25 of 27 strains corresponding to a single variant. Protease treatment of intact bacteria and isolation of outer membrane vesicles confirm that the protein is surface exposed yet does not bind host cellular receptors recognized by neisserial Opa proteins. Genome-based analyses indicate that OlpA and Opa derive from a conserved family of proteins shared by a broad array of gram-negative bacteria.

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 4070-4080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makda Fisseha ◽  
Ping Chen ◽  
Brenda Brandt ◽  
Todd Kijek ◽  
Elizabeth Moran ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Native outer membrane vesicles (NOMV) of Neisseria meningitidis consist of intact outer membrane and contain outer membrane proteins (OMP) and lipooligosaccharides (LOS) in their natural conformation and membrane environment. NOMV have been safely used intranasally in P1 studies with encouraging results, but they are too toxic for parenteral vaccination. We now report the preparation and characterization of lpxL mutants that express LOS with reduced toxicity, and the evaluation of the potential of NOMV from these strains for use as a parenteral vaccine. A series of deletion mutants were prepared with knockouts of one or more of the lpxL1, lpxL2, or synX genes. The ΔlpxL2 mutants had a reduced growth rate, reduced level of LOS expression, and increased sensitivity to surfactants. In addition, ΔsynX ΔlpxL2 double mutants had reduced viability in stationary phase. The ΔlpxL1 ΔlpxL2 double mutant behaved essentially the same as the ΔlpxL2 single mutant. LOS from both lpxL mutant strains exhibited altered migration on polyacrylamide gels. The LOS of ΔlpxL2 mutants of L3,7 strains were fully sialylated. NOMV prepared from lpxL2 mutants was about 200-fold less active than wild-type NOMV in rabbit pyrogen tests and in tumor necrosis factor alpha release assays. Bactericidal titers induced in animals by ΔlpxL2 mutant NOMV were lower than those induced by ΔlpxL1 or wild-type NOMV. However, immunogenicity could be largely restored by use of an adjuvant. These results provide evidence that NOMV from ΔlpxL2 mutant strains will be safe and immunogenic in humans when given parenterally.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiajun Wang ◽  
Rémi Terrasse ◽  
Jayesh Arun Bafna ◽  
Lorraine Benier ◽  
Mathias Winterhalter

Multi-drug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is often associated with low permeability of the outer membrane. To investigate the role of membrane channels in the uptake of antibiotics, we extract, purify and reconstitute them into artificial planar membranes. To avoid this time-consuming procedure, here we show a robust approach using fusion of native outer membrane vesicles (OMV) into planar lipid bilayer which moreover allows also to some extend the characterization of membrane protein channels in their native environment. Two major membrane channels from <i>Escherichia coli</i>, OmpF and OmpC, were overexpressed from the host and the corresponding OMVs were collected. Each OMV fusion revealed surprisingly single or only few channel activities. The asymmetry of the OMV´s translates after fusion into the lipid membrane with the LPS dominantly present at the side of OMV addition. Compared to conventional reconstitution methods, the channels fused from OMVs containing LPS have similar conductance but a much broader distribution. The addition of Enrofloxacin on the LPS side yields somewhat higher association (<i>k<sub>on</sub></i>) and lower dissociation (<i>k<sub>off</sub></i>) rates compared to LPS-free reconstitution. We conclude that using outer membrane vesicles is a fast and easy approach for functional and structural studies of membrane channels in the native membrane.


2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Fischer ◽  
Martin Schorb ◽  
Greta Reintjes ◽  
Androniki Kolovou ◽  
Rachel Santarella-Mellwig ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Large surface-to-volume ratios provide optimal nutrient uptake conditions for small microorganisms in oligotrophic habitats. The surface area can be increased with appendages. Here, we describe chains of interconnecting vesicles protruding from cells of strain Hel3_A1_48, affiliating with Formosa spp. within the Flavobacteriia and originating from coastal free-living bacterioplankton. The chains were up to 10 μm long and had vesicles emanating from the outer membrane with a single membrane and a size of 80 to 100 nm by 50 to 80 nm. Cells extruded membrane tubes in the exponential phase, whereas vesicle chains dominated on cells in the stationary growth phase. This formation is known as pearling, a physical morphogenic process in which membrane tubes protrude from liposomes and transform into chains of interconnected vesicles. Proteomes of whole-cell membranes and of detached vesicles were dominated by outer membrane proteins, including the type IX secretion system and surface-attached peptidases, glycoside hydrolases, and endonucleases. Fluorescein-labeled laminarin stained the cells and the vesicle chains. Thus, the appendages provide binding domains and degradative enzymes on their surfaces and probably storage volume in the vesicle lumen. Both may contribute to the high abundance of these Formosa-affiliated bacteria during laminarin utilization shortly after spring algal blooms. IMPORTANCE Microorganisms produce membrane vesicles. One synthesis pathway seems to be pearling that describes the physical formation of vesicle chains from phospholipid vesicles via extended tubes. Bacteria with vesicle chains had been observed as well as bacteria with tubes, but pearling was so far not observed. Here, we report the observation of, initially, tubes and then vesicle chains during the growth of a flavobacterium, suggesting biopearling of vesicle chains. The flavobacterium is abundant during spring bacterioplankton blooms developing after algal blooms and has a special set of enzymes for laminarin, the major storage polysaccharide of microalgae. We demonstrated with fluorescently labeled laminarin that the vesicle chains bind laminarin or contain laminarin-derived compounds. Proteomic analyses revealed surface-attached degradative enzymes on the outer membrane vesicles. We conclude that the large surface area and the lumen of vesicle chains may contribute to the ecological success of this marine bacterium.


2018 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahito Hashimoto ◽  
Taichi Matsumoto ◽  
Miwa Tamura-Nakano ◽  
Mami Ozono ◽  
Shuhei Hashiguchi ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (7A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Yara ◽  
Regis Stentz ◽  
Tom Wileman ◽  
Stephanie Schuller

Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) may instigate bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) due to Shiga toxin (Stx) production. Stx has been detected within outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), which are membrane-derived nanosized proteoliposomes. During colonisation, EHEC encounters many environmental surroundings such as the presence of bile salts and carbon dioxide (CO2). Here, the influence of different intestinal cues on EHEC OMV production was studied. OMV yield was quantified by densitometric analysis of outer membrane proteins F/C and A, following OMV protein separation by SDS-PAGE. Compared to cultures in Luria broth, higher OMV yields were attained following culture in human cell growth medium and simulated colonic environmental medium, with further increases in the presence of bile salts. Interestingly, lower yields were attained in the presence of T84 cells and CO2. The interaction between OMVs and different human cells was also examined by fluorescence microscopy. Here, OMVs incubated with cells showed internalisation by semi confluent but not fully confluent T84 cell monolayers. OMVs were internalised into the lysosomes in confluent Vero and Caco-2 cells, with Stx being transported to the Golgi and then the Endoplasmic reticulum. OMVs were detected within polarised Caco-2 cells, with no impact on the transepithelial electrical resistance by 24 hours. These results suggest that the colonic environmental factors influences OMV production in vivo. Additionally, results highlight the discrepancies which arise when using different cells lines to examine the intestine. Nevertheless, coupled with Stx, OMVs may serve as tools of EHEC which are involved in HUS development.


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