scholarly journals Characterization of Monospecies Biofilm Formation by Helicobacter pylori

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (10) ◽  
pp. 3124-3132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheri P. Cole ◽  
Julia Harwood ◽  
Richard Lee ◽  
Rosemary She ◽  
Donald G. Guiney
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Scanning Electron Micrographs ◽  
Planktonic Growth ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Third Dimension ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Glass Surfaces ◽  
Air Liquid Interface ◽  
Selective Enhancement

ABSTRACT As all bacteria studied to date, the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori has an alternate lifestyle as a biofilm. H. pylori forms biofilms on glass surfaces at the air-liquid interface in stationary or shaking batch cultures. By light microscopy, we have observed attachment of individual, spiral H. pylori to glass surfaces, followed by division to form microcolonies, merging of individual microcolonies, and growth in the third dimension. Scanning electron micrographs showed H. pylori arranged in a matrix on the glass with channels for nutrient flow, typical of other bacterial biofilms. To understand the importance of biofilms to the H. pylori life cycle, we tested the effect of mucin on biofilm formation. Our results showed that 10% mucin greatly increased the number of planktonic H. pylori while not affecting biofilm bacteria, resulting in a decline in percent adherence to the glass. This suggests that in the mucus-rich stomach, H. pylori planktonic growth is favored over biofilm formation. We also investigated the effect of specific mutations in several genes, including the quorum-sensing gene, luxS, and the cagE type IV secretion gene. Both of these mutants were found to form biofilms approximately twofold more efficiently than the wild type in both assays. These results indicate the relative importance of these genes to the production of biofilms by H. pylori and the selective enhancement of planktonic growth in the presence of gastric mucin.

scholarly journals Helicobacter pylori biofilm cells are metabolically distinct, express flagella, and antibiotic tolerant

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skander Hathroubi ◽  
Julia Zerebinski ◽  
Karen M. Ottemann
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Susceptibility Gene ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Biofilm Growth ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Challenging Environment ◽  
H Pylori

ABSTRACTBiofilm growth protects bacteria against harsh environments, antimicrobials, and immune responses. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that has a robust ability to maintain colonization in a challenging environment. Over the last decade, H. pylori biofilm formation has begun to be characterized, however, there are still gaps in our understanding about how this growth mode is defined and its impact on H. pylori physiology. To provide insights into H. pylori biofilm growth properties, we characterized the antibiotic susceptibility, gene expression, and genes required for biofilm formation of a strong biofilm-producing H. pylori. H. pylori biofilms developed complex 3D structures and were recalcitrant to multiple antibiotics. Disruption of the protein-based matrix decreased this antibiotic tolerance. Using both transcriptomic and genomic approaches, we discovered that biofilm cells demonstrated lower transcripts for TCA cycle enzymes but higher ones for hydrogenase and acetone metabolism. Interestingly, several genes encoding for the natural competence Type IV secretion system 4 (tfs4) were up-regulated during biofilm formation along with several genes encoding for restriction-modification (R-M) systems, suggesting DNA exchange activities in this mode of growth. Flagella genes were also discovered through both approaches, consistent with previous reports about the importance of these filaments in H. pylori biofilm. Together, these data suggest that H. pylori is capable of adjusting its phenotype when grown as biofilm, changing its metabolism and elevating specific surface proteins including those encoding tfs4 and flagella.

scholarly journals Myricetin as an Antivirulence Compound Interfering with a Morphological Transformation into Coccoid Forms and Potentiating Activity of Antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2695
Author(s):  
Paweł Krzyżek ◽  
Paweł Migdał ◽  
Emil Paluch ◽  
Magdalena Karwańska ◽  
Alina Wieliczko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Morphological Transformation ◽  
High Tendency ◽  
Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations ◽  
Coccoid Form ◽  
Stomach Diseases ◽  
Fold Reduction ◽  
H Pylori

Helicobacter pylori, a gastric pathogen associated with a broad range of stomach diseases, has a high tendency to become resistant to antibiotics. One of the most important factors related to therapeutic failures is its ability to change from a spiral to a coccoid form. Therefore, the main aim of our original article was to determine the influence of myricetin, a natural compound with an antivirulence action, on the morphological transformation of H. pylori and check the potential of myricetin to increase the activity of antibiotics against this pathogen. We observed that sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of this compound have the ability to slow down the process of transformation into coccoid forms and reduce biofilm formation of this bacterium. Using checkerboard assays, we noticed that the exposure of H. pylori to sub-MICs of myricetin enabled a 4–16-fold reduction in MICs of all classically used antibiotics (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, tetracycline, metronidazole, and levofloxacin). Additionally, RT-qPCR studies of genes related to the H. pylori morphogenesis showed a decrease in their expression during exposure to myricetin. This inhibitory effect was more strongly seen for genes involved in the muropeptide monomers shortening (csd3, csd6, csd4, and amiA), suggesting their significant participation in the spiral-to-coccoid transition. To our knowledge, this is the first research showing the ability of any compound to synergistically interact with all five antibiotics against H. pylori and the first one showing the capacity of a natural substance to interfere with the morphological transition of H. pylori from spiral to coccoid forms.

scholarly journals The organization of Helicobacter pylori cag-pathogenicity island (cagPAI) genes in multiracial population with histopathological changes of gastric mucosa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfizah Hanafiah ◽  
Shaza Azlin Razak ◽  
Hui-min Neoh ◽  
Noraziah Mohamad Zin ◽  
Bruno S. Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Gastric Mucosa ◽  
Pathogenicity Island ◽  
Type Iv Secretion ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Gastric Diseases ◽  
Cag Pathogenicity Island ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Inflammatory Score ◽  
H Pylori

Abstract Background: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacillus that colonises only the mucus layer of the human stomach and is implicated in gastric diseases. Virulent H. pylori harbouring cag-pathogenicity island (cagPAI) which encodes genes for type IV secretion system (T4SS) and CagA protein is one of the major virulence determinants involved in disease development. We examined the entire cagPAI genes in 95 H. pylori isolates from a multiracial population and examined the intactness of cagPAI region with histopathological scores of the gastric mucosa. Results: 95.8% of H. pylori isolates were cagPAI-positive with 23.2% having an intact cagPAI, whereas 72.6% had a partial/rearranged cagPAI. In our study, cag2 and cag4 were found to be significantly higher in H. pylori isolated from Malays, whereas cag4 was predominant in Chinese isolates. We also detected cag24 in significantly high proportion in isolates from the Malays and the Indians compared to the Chinese isolates. The intactness of cagPAI region showed an association with histopathological scores of the gastric mucosa. Significant association was observed between H. pylori harbouring partial cagPAI and higher density of H. pylori and neutrophil activity, whereas strains which lacked cagPAI was associated with higher inflammatory score. Conclusions: The screening of the entire cagPAI genes provides an accurate overview of the cagPAI organisation in H. pylori isolates in a multiracial population. The genotypes of H. pylori strains with various cagPAI rearrangement associated with patients’ ethnicities and histopathological scores might contribute to the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection in a multi-ethnic population.

scholarly journals The Helicobacter pylori Autotransporter ImaA Tempers the Bacterium's Interaction with α5β1 Integrin

2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Sause ◽  
Daniela Keilberg ◽  
Soufiane Aboulhouda ◽  
Karen M. Ottemann
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Type Iv Secretion ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Α5β1 Integrin ◽  
Cell Interface

ABSTRACT The human pathogen Helicobacter pylori uses the host receptor α5β1 integrin to trigger inflammation in host cells via its cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) type IV secretion system (T4SS). Here, we report that the H. pylori ImaA protein (HP0289) decreases the action of the cag PAI T4SS via tempering the bacterium's interaction with α5β1 integrin. Previously, imaA-null mutants were found to induce an elevated inflammatory response that was dependent on the cag PAI T4SS; here we extend those findings to show that the elevated response is independent of the CagA effector protein. To understand how ImaA could be affecting cag PAI T4SS activity at the host cell interface, we utilized the Phyre structural threading program and found that ImaA has a region with remote homology to bacterial integrin-binding proteins. This region was required for ImaA function. Unexpectedly, we observed that imaA mutants bound higher levels of α5β1 integrin than wild-type H. pylori, an outcome that required the predicted integrin-binding homology region of ImaA. Lastly, we report that ImaA directly affected the amount of host cell β1 integrin but not other cellular integrins. Our results thus suggest a model in which H. pylori employs ImaA to regulate interactions between integrin and the T4SS and thus alter the host inflammatory strength.

scholarly journals Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Resistance Phenotype of Helicobacter pylori Clinical Isolates

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kartika Afrida Fauzia ◽  
Muhammad Miftahussurur ◽  
Ari Fahrial Syam ◽  
Langgeng Agung Waskito ◽  
Dalla Doohan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Crystal Violet ◽  
Antibiotic Susceptibility ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Resistance Phenotype ◽  
Resistance To Antibiotics ◽  
Inhibition Concentration ◽  
H Pylori

We evaluated biofilm formation of clinical Helicobacter pylori isolates from Indonesia and its relation to antibiotic resistance. We determined the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole and tetracycline by the Etest to measure the planktonic susceptibility of 101 H. pylori strains. Biofilms were quantified by the crystal violet method. The minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) was obtained by measuring the survival of bacteria in a biofilm after exposure to antibiotics. The majority of the strains formed a biofilm (93.1% (94/101)), including weak (75.5%) and strong (24.5%) biofilm-formers. Planktonic resistant and sensitive strains produced relatively equal amounts of biofilms. The resistance proportion, shown by the MBEC measurement, was higher in the strong biofilm group for all antibiotics compared to the weak biofilm group, especially for clarithromycin (p = 0.002). Several cases showed sensitivity by the MIC measurement, but resistance according to the MBEC measurements (amoxicillin, 47.6%; tetracycline, 57.1%; clarithromycin, 19.0%; levofloxacin, 38.1%; and metronidazole 38.1%). Thus, biofilm formation may increase the survival of H. pylori and its resistance to antibiotics. Biofilm-related antibiotic resistance should be evaluated with antibiotic susceptibility.

scholarly journals Protein-Protein Interactions among Helicobacter pylori Cag Proteins

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (13) ◽  
pp. 4787-4800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie J. Busler ◽  
Victor J. Torres ◽  
Mark S. McClain ◽  
Oscar Tirado ◽  
David B. Friedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Type Iv Secretion ◽  
Type Iv Secretion System ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
2D Dige ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
H Pylori

ABSTRACT Many Helicobacter pylori isolates contain a 40-kb region of chromosomal DNA known as the cag pathogenicity island (PAI). The risk for development of gastric cancer or peptic ulcer disease is higher among humans infected with cag PAI-positive H. pylori strains than among those infected with cag PAI-negative strains. The cag PAI encodes a type IV secretion system that translocates CagA into gastric epithelial cells. To identify Cag proteins that are expressed by H. pylori during growth in vitro, we compared the proteomes of a wild-type H. pylori strain and an isogenic cag PAI deletion mutant using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) in multiple pH ranges. Seven Cag proteins were identified by this approach. We then used a yeast two-hybrid system to detect potential protein-protein interactions among 14 Cag proteins. One heterotypic interaction (CagY/7 with CagX/8) and two homotypic interactions (involving H. pylori VirB11/ATPase and Cag5) were similar to interactions previously reported to occur among homologous components of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens type IV secretion system. Other interactions involved Cag proteins that do not have known homologues in other bacterial species. Biochemical analysis confirmed selected interactions involving five of the proteins that were identified by 2D-DIGE. Protein-protein interactions among Cag proteins are likely to have an important role in the assembly of the H. pylori type IV secretion apparatus.

scholarly journals Molecular and Structural Analysis of the Helicobacter pylori cag Type IV Secretion System Core Complex

mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arwen E. Frick-Cheng ◽  
Tasia M. Pyburn ◽  
Bradley J. Voss ◽  
W. Hayes McDonald ◽  
Melanie D. Ohi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Type Iv Secretion ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Core Complex ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Membrane Spanning ◽  
H Pylori

ABSTRACT Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) can function to export or import DNA, and can deliver effector proteins into a wide range of target cells. Relatively little is known about the structural organization of T4SSs that secrete effector proteins. In this report, we describe the isolation and analysis of a membrane-spanning core complex from the Helicobacter pylori cag T4SS, which has an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. We show that this complex contains five H. pylori proteins, CagM, CagT, Cag3, CagX, and CagY, each of which is required for cag T4SS activity. CagX and CagY are orthologous to the VirB9 and VirB10 components of T4SSs in other bacterial species, and the other three Cag proteins are unique to H. pylori . Negative stain single-particle electron microscopy revealed complexes 41 nm in diameter, characterized by a 19-nm-diameter central ring linked to an outer ring by spoke-like linkers. Incomplete complexes formed by Δ cag3 or Δ cagT mutants retain the 19-nm-diameter ring but lack an organized outer ring. Immunogold labeling studies confirm that Cag3 is a peripheral component of the complex. The cag T4SS core complex has an overall diameter and structural organization that differ considerably from the corresponding features of conjugative T4SSs. These results highlight specialized features of the H. pylori cag T4SS that are optimized for function in the human gastric mucosal environment. IMPORTANCE Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are versatile macromolecular machines that are present in many bacterial species. In this study, we investigated a T4SS found in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori is an important cause of stomach cancer, and the H. pylori T4SS contributes to cancer pathogenesis by mediating entry of CagA (an effector protein regarded as a “bacterial oncoprotein”) into gastric epithelial cells. We isolated and analyzed the membrane-spanning core complex of the H. pylori T4SS and showed that it contains unique proteins unrelated to components of T4SSs in other bacterial species. These results constitute the first structural analysis of the core complex from this important secretion system.

scholarly journals Selective Upregulation of Endothelial E-Selectin in Response to Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastritis

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 3109-3116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Svensson ◽  
Malin Hansson ◽  
Jan Kilhamn ◽  
Steffen Backert ◽  
Marianne Quiding-Järbrink
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Gastric Mucosa ◽  
Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Adhesion Protein ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Endothelial Adhesion Molecules ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Vascular Adhesion

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial pathogens, infecting up to 50% of the world's population. The host is not able to clear the infection, leading to life-long chronic inflammation with continuous infiltration of lymphocytes and granulocytes. The migration of leukocytes from the blood into inflamed tissue is dependent on adhesion molecules expressed on the vascular endothelium. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of H. pylori-induced gastritis with regard to the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules in the gastric mucosa and compare this to other types of chronic mucosal inflammations. Our results demonstrate an increased level of expression of the adhesion molecule E-selectin, but not of intracellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular adhesion molecule 1, or vascular adhesion protein 1, in H. pylori-induced gastritis but not in gastritis induced by acetylsalicylic acid or pouchitis. The upregulated E-selectin expression was determined to be localized to the gastric mucosa rather than being a systemic response to the infection. Moreover, the H. pylori type IV secretion system encoded by the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) was found to be an important determinant for the upregulation of human endothelial E-selectin expression in vitro, and this process is probably dependent on the CagL protein, mediating binding to α5β1 integrins. Thus, endothelial E-selectin expression induced by H. pylori probably contributes to the large influx of neutrophils and macrophages seen in infected individuals, and our results suggest that this process may be more pronounced in patients infected with cagPAI-positive H. pylori strains and may thereby contribute to tissue damage in these individuals.

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of Helicobacter pylori Genes Essential for Gastric Colonization

2003 ◽  
Vol 197 (7) ◽  
pp. 813-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger Kavermann ◽  
Brendan P. Burns ◽  
Katrin Angermüller ◽  
Stefan Odenbreit ◽  
Wolfgang Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Meriones Unguiculatus ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Gastric Colonization ◽  
Colonization Factors ◽  
Essential Function ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Transformation Competence

Helicobacter pylori causes one of the most common, chronic bacterial infections and is a primary cause of severe gastric disorders. To unravel the bacterial factors necessary for the process of gastric colonization and pathogenesis, signature tagged mutagenesis (STM) was adapted to H. pylori. The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) was used as model system to screen a set of 960 STM mutants. This resulted in 47 H. pylori genes, assigned to 9 different functional categories, representing a set of biological functions absolutely essential for gastric colonization, as verified and quantified for many mutants by competition experiments. Identification of previously known colonization factors, such as the urease and motility functions validated this method, but also novel and several hypothetical genes were found. Interestingly, a secreted collagenase, encoded by hp0169, could be identified and functionally verified as a new essential virulence factor for H. pylori stomach colonization. Furthermore, comB4, encoding a putative ATPase being part of a DNA transformation-associated type IV transport system of H. pylori was found to be absolutely essential for colonization, but natural transformation competence was apparently not the essential function. Thus, this first systematic STM application identified a set of previously unknown H. pylori colonization factors and may help to potentiate the development of novel therapies against gastric Helicobacter infections.

scholarly journals Analysis of Cell Type-Specific Responses Mediated by the Type IV Secretion System of Helicobacter pylori

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 4643-4652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Bauer ◽  
Stefan Moese ◽  
Sina Bartfeld ◽  
Thomas F. Meyer ◽  
Matthias Selbach
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Type Iv Secretion ◽  
Type Iv Secretion System ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Host Cell Proteins ◽  
Mammalian Cell Lines ◽  
Host Cell Factors ◽  
H Pylori

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori persistently infects the human stomach and can cause gastritis, gastric ulceration, and gastric cancer. The type IV secretion system (TFSS) of virulent H. pylori strains translocates the CagA protein, inducing the dephosphorylation of host cell proteins and leading to changes in the morphology or shape of AGS gastric epithelial cells. Furthermore, the TFSS is involved in the induction of proinflammatory cytokines. While the H. pylori genes required for TFSS function have been investigated systematically, little is known about possible host cell factors involved. We infected 19 different mammalian cell lines individually with H. pylori and analyzed CagA translocation, dephosphorylation of host cell proteins, chemokine secretion (interleukin-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2), and changes in cellular phenotypes. Our results demonstrate that not only bacterial but also host cell factors determine the cellular response to infection. The identification of such unknown host cell factors will add to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and might help in the development of new therapeutic strategies.

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