scholarly journals The Formation of Streptococcus mutans Persisters Induced by the Quorum-Sensing Peptide Pheromone Is Affected by the LexA Regulator

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (6) ◽  
pp. 1083-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Leung ◽  
Dragana Ajdic ◽  
Stephanie Koyanagi ◽  
Céline M. Lévesque
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Bacterial Survival ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Persister Cells ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Peptide Pheromone

The presence of multidrug-tolerant persister cells within microbial populations has been implicated in the resiliency of bacterial survival against antibiotic treatments and is a major contributing factor in chronic infections. The mechanisms by which these phenotypic variants are formed have been linked to stress response pathways in various bacterial species, but many of these mechanisms remain unclear. We have previously shown that in the cariogenic organismStreptococcus mutans, the quorum-sensing peptide CSP (competence-stimulating peptide) pheromone was a stress-inducible alarmone that triggered an increased formation of multidrug-tolerant persisters. In this study, we characterized SMU.2027, a CSP-inducible gene encoding a LexA ortholog. We showed that in addition to exogenous CSP exposure, stressors, including heat shock, oxidative stress, and ofloxacin antibiotic, were capable of triggering expression oflexAin an autoregulatory manner akin to that of LexA-like transcriptional regulators. We demonstrated the role of LexA and its importance in regulating tolerance toward DNA damage in a noncanonical SOS mechanism. We showed its involvement and regulatory role in the formation of persisters induced by the CSP-ComDE quorum-sensing regulatory system. We further identified key genes involved in sugar and amino acid metabolism, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system, and autolysin from transcriptomic analyses that contribute to the formation of quorum-sensing-induced persister cells.

scholarly journals Competence without a Competence Pheromone in a Natural Isolate of Streptococcus infantis

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (13) ◽  
pp. 3426-3432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola Ween ◽  
Svanhild Teigen ◽  
Peter Gaustad ◽  
Mogens Kilian ◽  
Leiv Sigve Håvarstein
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Genetic Transformation ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Natural Isolate ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Peptide Pheromone ◽  
Streptococcal Species ◽  
Type Strains

ABSTRACT Many streptococcal species belonging to the mitis and anginosus phylogenetic groups are known to be naturally competent for genetic transformation. Induction of the competent state in these bacteria is regulated by a quorum-sensing mechanism consisting of a secreted peptide pheromone encoded by comC and a two-component regulatory system encoded by comDE. Here we report that a natural isolate of a mitis group streptococcus (Atu-4) is competent for genetic transformation even though it has lost the gene encoding the competence pheromone. In contrast to other strains, induction of competence in Atu-4 is not regulated by cell density, since highly diluted cultures of this strain are still competent. Interestingly, competence in the Atu-4 strain is lost if the gene encoding the response regulator ComE is disrupted, demonstrating that this component of the quorum-sensing apparatus is still needed for competence development. These results indicate that mutations in ComD or ComE have resulted in a gain-of-function phenotype that allows competence without a competence pheromone. A highly similar strain lacking comC was isolated independently from another individual, suggesting that strains with this phenotype are able to survive in nature in competition with wild-type strains.

scholarly journals Multiple regulation mechanisms of bacterial quorum sensing

BIOMATH ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1607291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kumberger ◽  
Christina Kuttler ◽  
Peter Czuppon ◽  
Burkhard A. Hense
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Gene Regulatory System ◽  
Bacterial Quorum Sensing ◽  
Regulation Mechanisms ◽  
Bacterial Quorum ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences ◽  
Biological Outcomes

Many bacteria have developed a possibility to recognise aspects of their environment or to communicate with each other by chemical signals. The so-called Quorum sensing (QS) is a special case of this kind of communication. Such an extracellular signalling via small diffusible compounds (called autoinducers) is known for many bacterial species, including pathogenic and beneficial bacteria. Using this mechanism allows them to regulate their behaviour, e.g. virulence. We will focus on the typical QS system of Gram negative bacteria of the so-called lux type, based on a gene regulatory system with a positive feedback loop. There is increasing evidence that autoinducer systems themselves are controlled by various factors, often reflecting the cells’ nutrient or stress state. We model and analyse three possible interaction patterns. Typical aspects are e.g. the range of bistability, the activation threshold and the long term behaviour. Additionally, we aim towards understanding the differences with respect to the biological outcomes and estimating potential ecological or evolutionary consequences, respectively.

scholarly journals Modulating Pathogenesis with Mobile-CRISPRi

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiuxin Qu ◽  
Neha K. Prasad ◽  
Michelle A. Yu ◽  
Shuyan Chen ◽  
Amy Lyden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Bacterial Genomes ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Animal Infection

ABSTRACT Conditionally essential (CE) genes are required by pathogenic bacteria to establish and maintain infections. CE genes encode virulence factors, such as secretion systems and effector proteins, as well as biosynthetic enzymes that produce metabolites not found in the host environment. Due to their outsized importance in pathogenesis, CE gene products are attractive targets for the next generation of antimicrobials. However, the precise manipulation of CE gene expression in the context of infection is technically challenging, limiting our ability to understand the roles of CE genes in pathogenesis and accordingly design effective inhibitors. We previously developed a suite of CRISPR interference-based gene knockdown tools that are transferred by conjugation and stably integrate into bacterial genomes that we call Mobile-CRISPRi. Here, we show the efficacy of Mobile-CRISPRi in controlling CE gene expression in an animal infection model. We optimize Mobile-CRISPRi in Pseudomonas aeruginosa for use in a murine model of pneumonia by tuning the expression of CRISPRi components to avoid nonspecific toxicity. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate that knock down of a CE gene encoding the type III secretion system (T3SS) activator ExsA blocks effector protein secretion in culture and attenuates virulence in mice. We anticipate that Mobile-CRISPRi will be a valuable tool to probe the function of CE genes across many bacterial species and pathogenesis models. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to global health. To optimize the use of our existing antibiotics and identify new targets for future inhibitors, understanding the fundamental drivers of bacterial growth in the context of the host immune response is paramount. Historically, these genetic drivers have been difficult to manipulate precisely, as they are requisite for pathogen survival. Here, we provide the first application of Mobile-CRISPRi to study conditionally essential virulence genes in mouse models of lung infection through partial gene perturbation. We envision the use of Mobile-CRISPRi in future pathogenesis models and antibiotic target discovery efforts.

scholarly journals Stochastic Variation in Expression of the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Produces Persister Cells

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliza A. Zalis ◽  
Austin S. Nuxoll ◽  
Sylvie Manuse ◽  
Geremy Clair ◽  
Lauren C. Radlinski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Persister Cells ◽  
Stochastic Variation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Atp Levels

ABSTRACT Chronic bacterial infections are difficult to eradicate, though they are caused primarily by drug-susceptible pathogens. Antibiotic-tolerant persisters largely account for this paradox. In spite of their significance in the recalcitrance of chronic infections, the mechanism of persister formation is poorly understood. We previously reported that a decrease in ATP levels leads to drug tolerance in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. We reasoned that stochastic fluctuation in the expression of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes can produce cells with low energy levels. S. aureus knockouts in glutamate dehydrogenase, 2-oxoketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinyl coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase, and fumarase have low ATP levels and exhibit increased tolerance of fluoroquinolone, aminoglycoside, and β-lactam antibiotics. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis of TCA genes shows a broad Gaussian distribution in a population, with differences of over 3 orders of magnitude in the levels of expression between individual cells. Sorted cells with low levels of TCA enzyme expression have an increased tolerance of antibiotic treatment. These findings suggest that fluctuations in the levels of expression of energy-generating components serve as a mechanism of persister formation. IMPORTANCE Persister cells are rare phenotypic variants that are able to survive antibiotic treatment. Unlike resistant bacteria, which have specific mechanisms to prevent antibiotics from binding to their targets, persisters evade antibiotic killing by entering a tolerant nongrowing state. Persisters have been implicated in chronic infections in multiple species, and growing evidence suggests that persister cells are responsible for many cases of antibiotic treatment failure. New antibiotic treatment strategies aim to kill tolerant persister cells more effectively, but the mechanism of tolerance has remained unclear until now.

scholarly journals Quorum Sensing Influences Burkholderia thailandensis Biofilm Development and Matrix Production

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (19) ◽  
pp. 2643-2650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boo Shan Tseng ◽  
Charlotte D. Majerczyk ◽  
Daniel Passos da Silva ◽  
Josephine R. Chandler ◽  
E. Peter Greenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Matrix Material ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Burkholderia Thailandensis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biofilm Development

ABSTRACTMembers of the genusBurkholderiaare known to be adept at biofilm formation, which presumably assists in the survival of these organisms in the environment and the host. Biofilm formation has been linked to quorum sensing (QS) in several bacterial species. In this study, we characterizedBurkholderia thailandensisbiofilm development under flow conditions and sought to determine whether QS contributes to this process.B. thailandensisbiofilm formation exhibited an unusual pattern: the cells formed small aggregates and then proceeded to produce mature biofilms characterized by “dome” structures filled with biofilm matrix material. We showed that this process was dependent on QS.B. thailandensishas three acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) QS systems (QS-1, QS-2, and QS-3). An AHL-negative strain produced biofilms consisting of cell aggregates but lacking the matrix-filled dome structures. This phenotype was rescued via exogenous addition of the three AHL signals. Of the threeB. thailandensisQS systems, we show that QS-1 is required for proper biofilm development, since abtaR1mutant, which is defective in QS-1 regulation, forms biofilms without these dome structures. Furthermore, our data show that the wild-type biofilm biomass, as well as the material inside the domes, stains with a fucose-binding lectin. ThebtaR1mutant biofilms, however, are negative for fucose staining. This suggests that the QS-1 system regulates the production of a fucose-containing exopolysaccharide in wild-type biofilms. Finally, we present data showing that QS ability during biofilm development produces a biofilm that is resistant to dispersion under stress conditions.IMPORTANCEThe saprophyteBurkholderia thailandensisis a close relative of the pathogenic bacteriumBurkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, which is contracted from its environmental reservoir. Since most bacteria in the environment reside in biofilms,B. thailandensisis an ideal model organism for investigating questions inBurkholderiaphysiology. In this study, we characterizedB. thailandensisbiofilm development and sought to determine if quorum sensing (QS) contributes to this process. Our work shows thatB. thailandensisproduces biofilms with unusual dome structures under flow conditions. Our findings suggest that these dome structures are filled with a QS-regulated, fucose-containing exopolysaccharide that may be involved in the resilience ofB. thailandensisbiofilms against changes in the nutritional environment.

scholarly journals Potentiation of Tobramycin by Silver Nanoparticles against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc B. Habash ◽  
Mara C. Goodyear ◽  
Amber J. Park ◽  
Matthew D. Surette ◽  
Emily C. Vis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Increasing antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacterial species is a serious public health problem and has prompted research examining the antibacterial effects of alternative compounds and novel treatment strategies. Compounding this problem is the ability of many pathogenic bacteria to form biofilms during chronic infections. Importantly, these communities are often recalcitrant to antibiotic treatments that show effectiveness against acute infection. The antimicrobial properties of silver have been known for decades, but recently silver and silver-containing compounds have seen renewed interest as antimicrobial agents for treating bacterial infections. The goal of this study was to assess the ability of citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of various sizes, alone and in combination with the aminoglycoside antibiotic tobramycin, to inhibit established Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Our results demonstrate that smaller 10-nm and 20-nm AgNPs were more effective at synergistically potentiating the activity of tobramycin. Visualization of biofilms treated with combinations of 10-nm AgNPs and tobramycin reveals that the synergistic bactericidal effect may be caused by disrupting cellular membranes. Minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) assays using clinical P. aeruginosa isolates shows that small AgNPs are more effective than larger AgNPs at inhibiting biofilms, but that the synergy effect is likely a strain-dependent phenomenon. These data suggest that small AgNPs synergistically potentiate the activity of tobramycin against P. aeruginosa in vitro and may reveal a potential role for AgNP/antibiotic combinations in treating patients with chronic infections in a strain-specific manner.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Feruloyl Esterase from Lactobacillus plantarum

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (17) ◽  
pp. 5130-5136 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Esteban-Torres ◽  
Inés Reverón ◽  
José Miguel Mancheño ◽  
Blanca de las Rivas ◽  
Rosario Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Lactobacillus Plantarum ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Hydrolytic Activity ◽  
Feruloyl Esterase ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Methyl Ferulate ◽  
Methyl Caffeate

ABSTRACTLactobacillus plantarumis frequently found in the fermentation of plant-derived food products, where hydroxycinnamoyl esters are abundant.L. plantarumWCFS1 cultures were unable to hydrolyze hydroxycinnamoyl esters; however, cell extracts from the strain partially hydrolyze methyl ferulate and methylp-coumarate. In order to discover whether the protein Lp_0796 is the enzyme responsible for this hydrolytic activity, it was recombinantly overproduced and enzymatically characterized. Lp_0796 is an esterase that, among other substrates, is able to efficiently hydrolyze the four model substrates for feruloyl esterases (methyl ferulate, methyl caffeate, methylp-coumarate, and methyl sinapinate). A screening test for the detection of the gene encoding feruloyl esterase Lp_0796 revealed that it is generally present amongL. plantarumstrains. The present study constitutes the description of feruloyl esterase activity inL. plantarumand provides new insights into the metabolism of hydroxycinnamic compounds in this bacterial species.

scholarly journals Molecular Determinants of the Thickened Matrix in a Dual-Species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keehoon Lee ◽  
Kang-Mu Lee ◽  
Donggeun Kim ◽  
Sang Sun Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biofilm Matrix

ABSTRACT Biofilms are microbial communities that inhabit various surfaces and are surrounded by extracellular matrices (ECMs). Clinical microbiologists have shown that the majority of chronic infections are caused by biofilms, following the introduction of the first biofilm infection model by J. W. Costerton and colleagues (J. Lam, R. Chan, K. Lam, and J. W. Costerton, Infect Immun 28:546–556, 1980). However, treatments for chronic biofilm infections are still limited to surgical removal of the infected sites. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis are two frequently identified bacterial species in biofilm infections; nevertheless, the interactions between these two species, especially during biofilm growth, are not clearly understood. In this study, we observed phenotypic changes in a dual-species biofilm of P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis, including a dramatic increase in biofilm matrix thickness. For clear elucidation of the spatial distribution of the dual-species biofilm, P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis were labeled with red and green fluorescence, respectively. E. faecalis was located at the lower part of the dual-species biofilm, while P. aeruginosa developed a structured biofilm on the upper part. Mutants with altered exopolysaccharide (EPS) productions were constructed in order to determine the molecular basis for the synergistic effect of the dual-species biofilm. Increased biofilm matrix thickness was associated with EPSs, not extracellular DNA. In particular, Pel and Psl contributed to interspecies and intraspecies interactions, respectively, in the dual-species P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis biofilm. Accordingly, targeting Pel and Psl might be an effective part of eradicating P. aeruginosa polymicrobial biofilms. IMPORTANCE Chronic infection is a serious problem in the medical field. Scientists have observed that chronic infections are closely associated with biofilms, and the vast majority of infection-causing biofilms are polymicrobial. Many studies have reported that microbes in polymicrobial biofilms interact with each other and that the bacterial interactions result in elevated virulence, in terms of factors, such as infectivity and antibiotic resistance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis are frequently isolated pathogens in chronic biofilm infections. Nevertheless, while both bacteria are known to be agents of numerous nosocomial infections and can cause serious diseases, interactions between the bacteria in biofilms have rarely been examined. In this investigation, we aimed to characterize P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis dual-species biofilms and to determine the molecular factors that cause synergistic effects, especially on the matrix thickening of the biofilm. We suspect that our findings will contribute to the development of more efficient methods for eradicating polymicrobial biofilm infections.

scholarly journals LitR of Vibrio salmonicida Is a Salinity-Sensitive Quorum-Sensing Regulator of Phenotypes Involved in Host Interactions and Virulence

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 1681-1689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane Mohn Bjelland ◽  
Henning Sørum ◽  
Daget Ayana Tegegne ◽  
Hanne C. Winther-Larsen ◽  
Nils Peder Willassen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Cell Aggregation ◽  
Fish Host ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vibrio Salmonicida

ABSTRACTVibrio(Aliivibrio)salmonicidais the causal agent of cold-water vibriosis, a fatal bacterial septicemia primarily of farmed salmonid fish. The molecular mechanisms of invasion, colonization, and growth ofV. salmonicidain the host are still largely unknown, and few virulence factors have been identified. Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication system known to regulate virulence and other activities in several bacterial species. The genome ofV. salmonicidaLFI1238 encodes products presumably involved in several QS systems. In this study, the gene encoding LitR, a homolog of the master regulator of QS inV. fischeri, was deleted. Compared to the parental strain, thelitRmutant showed increased motility, adhesion, cell-to-cell aggregation, and biofilm formation. Furthermore, thelitRmutant produced less cryptic bioluminescence, whereas production of acylhomoserine lactones was unaffected. Our results also indicate a salinity-sensitive regulation of LitR. Finally, reduced mortality was observed in Atlantic salmon infected with thelitRmutant, implying that the fish were more susceptible to infection with the wild type than with the mutant strain. We hypothesize that LitR inhibits biofilm formation and favors planktonic growth, with the latter being more adapted for pathogenesis in the fish host.

scholarly journals Surface Lipoprotein PpiA of Streptococcus mutans Suppresses Scavenger Receptor MARCO-Dependent Phagocytosis by Macrophages

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 4933-4940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadashi Mukouhara ◽  
Takafumi Arimoto ◽  
Kasei Cho ◽  
Matsuo Yamamoto ◽  
Takeshi Igarashi
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
Scavenger Receptor ◽  
Peritoneal Macrophages ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Macrophage Response ◽  
Human Macrophages ◽  
Scavenger Receptor A ◽  
Collagenous Structure

ABSTRACTStreptococcus mutansis associated with the initiation and progression of human dental caries and is occasionally isolated from the blood of patients with bacteremia and infective endocarditis. For the pathogen to survive in the infected host, surface lipoproteins ofS. mutansare likely to play important roles in interactions with the innate immune system. To clarify the role that a putative lipoprotein, peptidyl-prolylcis/trans-isomerase (PpiA), ofS. mutansplays in the macrophage response, we investigated the response of THP-1-derived macrophages toS. mutanschallenge. The deletion of the gene encoding Lgt eliminated PpiA on the cell surface ofS. mutans, which implies that PpiA is a lipoprotein that is lipid anchored in the cell membrane by Lgt. Human and murine peritoneal macrophages both showed higher phagocytic activities for theppiAandlgtmutants than the wild type, which indicates that the presence of PpiA reducesS. mutansphagocytosis. In addition, infection withS. mutansmarkedly induced mRNAs of macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) and scavenger receptor A (SR-A) in human macrophages. In particular, transcriptional and translational levels of MARCO in human macrophages infected with theppiAmutant were higher than those in macrophages infected with the wild type. Phagocytosis ofS. mutansby human macrophages markedly decreased after treatment with anti-MARCO IgG. These results demonstrate that theS. mutanslipoprotein PpiA contributes to suppression of MARCO-mediated phagocytosis of this bacterium by macrophages.

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