scholarly journals A polyQ membrane protein of Vibrio cholerae acts as the receptor for phage infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenxia Fan ◽  
Zhenpeng Li ◽  
Jiazheng Wang ◽  
Baowei Diao ◽  
Weili Liang ◽  
...  

Bacteriophage VP1 is a typing phage used for the phage subtyping of Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor, but the molecular mechanisms of its receptor recognition and the resistance of its host to infection are mostly unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify the host receptor and its role in resistance in natural VP1-resistant strains. Generating spontaneous resistance mutations and genome sequencing mutant strains found the polyQ protein VcpQ, which carries 46 glutamine residues in its Q-rich region, to be responsible for infection by VP1. VcpQ is a membrane protein and possibly forms homotrimers. VP1 adsorbed to V. cholerae through VcpQ. Sequence comparisons showed that 72% of natural VP1-resistant strains have fewer glutamines in the VcpQ Q-rich stretch than VP1-sensitive strains. This difference did not affect the membrane location and oligomer of VcpQ but abrogated VP1 adsorption. These mutant VcpQs did not recover VP1 infection sensitivity in a V. cholerae strain with vcpQ deleted. Our study revealed that the polyQ protein VcpQ is responsible for the binding of VP1 during its infection of V. cholerae and that glutamine residue reduction in VcpQ affects VP1 adsorption to likely be the main cause of VP1 resistance in natural resistant strains. The physiological functions of this polyQ protein in bacteria need further clarification; however, mutations in the polyQ stretch may endow V. cholerae with phage resistance and enhance survival against VP1 or related phages. Importance Receptor recognition and binding by bacteriophage is the first step for its infection to bacterial cells. In this study, we found the Vibrio cholerae subtyping phage VP1 uses a polyQ protein named VcpQ (V. cholerae polyQ protein) as the receptor for VP1 infection. Our study reveals the receptors recognition of phage VP1 during its adsorption, and the VP1 resistance mechanism of the wild resistant V. cholerae strains bearing the mutagenesis in the receptor VcpQ. These mutations may confer the survival advantage on these resistant strains in the environment containing VP1 or its similar phages.

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 3826-3832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuella Catel-Ferreira ◽  
Rony Nehmé ◽  
Virginie Molle ◽  
Jesús Aranda ◽  
Emeline Bouffartigues ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe increasing number of carbapenem-resistantAcinetobacter baumanniiisolates is a major cause for concern which restricts therapeutic options to treat severe infections caused by this emerging pathogen. To identify the molecular mechanisms involved in carbapenem resistance, we studied the contribution of an outer membrane protein homologue of thePseudomonas aeruginosaOprD porin. Suspected to be the preferred pathway of carbapenems inA. baumannii, theoprDhomologue gene was inactivated in strain ATCC 17978. Comparison of wild-type and mutant strains did not confirm the expected increased resistance to any antibiotic tested. OprD homologue sequence analysis revealed that this protein actually belongs to an OprD subgroup but is closer to theP. aeruginosaOprQ protein, with which it could share some functions, e.g., allowing bacterial survival under low-iron or -magnesium growth conditions or under poor oxygenation. We thus overexpressed and purified a recombinant OprD homologue protein to further examine its functional properties. As a specific channel, this porin presented rather low single-channel conductance, i.e., 28 pS in 1 M KCl, and was partially closed by micro- and millimolar concentrations of Fe3+and Mg2+, respectively, but not by imipenem and meropenem or basic amino acids. TheA. baumanniiOprD homologue is likely not involved in the carbapenem resistance mechanism, but as an OprQ-like protein, it could contribute to the adaptation of this bacterium to magnesium- and/or iron-depleted environments.


Author(s):  
A. V. Davydov ◽  
L. P. Titov ◽  
A. N. Kharkhal ◽  
V. G. Baraulya ◽  
Y. V. Gusakova

Studies on pneumococcal resistome and molecular antimicrobial resistance mechanisms are relevant and may be used in large-scale epidemiological researches and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.A study of antimicrobial molecular resistance in the pneumococcal strains, that were isolated from the patients having the different forms of the pneumococcal infection or carriage, and association of it with phenotypes, clinical and epidemiological features of the strains (serotype, form of the infection).We studied 546 pneumococcal strains and 5 specimens, that were isolated/obtained from the patients of various age (5 days – 81 years) having the different forms of the pneumococcal infection (meningitis and other invasive forms – 28, pneumonia – 27, acute rhinosinusitis – 18, acute otitis media – 118, conjunctivitis – 26) or carriage (331).We used multiplex PCR to detect the following molecular pneumococcal antimicrobial resistance determinants – genes mefA, ermB and mutations in the penicillin-binding proteins: pbp1a (574T→N, 575S→T, 576Q→G and 577F→Y); pbp2b (431T→K, 432Q→L) and pbp2x (338T→A).Among studied strains 60 % of 551 possess at least one resistance mechanism to macrolides/lincosamides, while 22 % were heteroresistant (mefA + ermB). About 65 % of the strains carry at least one pbp modification, 26 % – two modifications and 24 % – three pbp modifications. 23S RNA methylase (ermB gene) were discovered as a dominating mechanism and was detected in 43 % of genetically resistant strains. Pbp 1a + 2x + 2b and pbp 1a + 2x were more frequent modifications among penicillin genetically resistant pneumococci, while pbp2b genotype was not detected.


Author(s):  
О.В. Шамова ◽  
М.С. Жаркова ◽  
П.М. Копейкин ◽  
Д.С. Орлов ◽  
Е.А. Корнева

Антимикробные пептиды (АМП) системы врожденного иммунитета - соединения, играющие важную роль в патогенезе инфекционных заболеваний, так как обладают свойством инактивировать широкий спектр патогенных бактерий, обеспечивая противомикробную защиту живых организмов. В настоящее время АМП рассматриваются как потенциальные соединения-корректоры инфекционной патологии, вызываемой антибиотикорезистентными бактериями (АБР). Цель данной работы состояла в изученим механизмов антибактериального действия трех пептидов, принадлежащих к семейству бактенецинов - ChBac3.4, ChBac5 и mini-ChBac7.5Nb. Эти химически синтезированные пептиды являются аналогами природных пролин-богатых АМП, обнаруженных в лейкоцитах домашней козы Capra hircus и проявляющих высокую антимикробную активность, в том числе и в отношении грамотрицательных АБР. Методы. Минимальные ингибирующие и минимальные бактерицидные концентрации пептидов (МИК и МБК) определяли методом серийных разведений в жидкой питательной среде с последующим высевом на плотную питательную среду. Эффекты пептидов на проницаемость цитоплазматической мембраны бактерий для хромогенного маркера исследовали с использованием генетически модифицированного штамма Escherichia coli ML35p. Действие бактенецинов на метаболическую активность бактерий изучали с применением маркера резазурина. Результаты. Показано, что все исследованные пептиды проявляют высокую антимикробную активность в отношении Escherichia coli ML35p и антибиотикоустойчивых штаммов Escherichia coli ESBL и Acinetobacter baumannii in vitro, но их действие на бактериальные клетки разное. Использован комплекс методик, позволяющих наблюдать в режиме реального времени динамику действия бактенецинов в различных концентрациях (включая их МИК и МБК) на барьерную функцию цитоплазматической мембраны и на интенсивность метаболизма бактериальных клеток, что дало возможность выявить различия в характере воздействия бактенецинов, отличающихся по структуре молекулы, на исследуемые микроорганизмы. Установлено, что действие каждого из трех исследованных бактенецинов в бактерицидных концентрациях отличается по эффективности нарушения целостности бактериальных мембран и в скорости подавления метаболизма клеток. Заключение. Полученная информация дополнит существующие фундаментальные представления о механизмах действия пролин-богатых пептидов врожденного иммунитета, а также послужит основой для биотехнологических исследований, направленных на разработку на базе этих соединений новых антибиотических препаратов для коррекции инфекционных заболеваний, вызываемых АБР и являющимися причинами тяжелых внутрибольничных инфекций. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of the innate immunity are compounds that play an important role in pathogenesis of infectious diseases due to their ability to inactivate a broad array of pathogenic bacteria, thereby providing anti-microbial host defense. AMPs are currently considered promising compounds for treatment of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate molecular mechanisms of the antibacterial action of three peptides from the bactenecin family, ChBac3.4, ChBac5, and mini-ChBac7.5Nb. These chemically synthesized peptides are analogues of natural proline-rich AMPs previously discovered by the authors of the present study in leukocytes of the domestic goat, Capra hircus. These peptides exhibit a high antimicrobial activity, in particular, against antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Methods. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of the peptides (MIC and MBC) were determined using the broth microdilution assay followed by subculturing on agar plates. Effects of the AMPs on bacterial cytoplasmic membrane permeability for a chromogenic marker were explored using a genetically modified strain, Escherichia coli ML35p. The effect of bactenecins on bacterial metabolic activity was studied using a resazurin marker. Results. All the studied peptides showed a high in vitro antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ML35p and antibiotic-resistant strains, Escherichia coli ESBL and Acinetobacter baumannii, but differed in features of their action on bacterial cells. The used combination of techniques allowed the real-time monitoring of effects of bactenecin at different concentrations (including their MIC and MBC) on the cell membrane barrier function and metabolic activity of bacteria. The differences in effects of these three structurally different bactenecins on the studied microorganisms implied that these peptides at bactericidal concentrations differed in their capability for disintegrating bacterial cell membranes and rate of inhibiting bacterial metabolism. Conclusion. The obtained information will supplement the existing basic concepts on mechanisms involved in effects of proline-rich peptides of the innate immunity. This information will also stimulate biotechnological research aimed at development of new antibiotics for treatment of infectious diseases, such as severe in-hospital infections, caused by antibiotic-resistant strains.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 891-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wissam Zam

Probiotics are viable microorganisms widely used for their claimed beneficial effects on the host health. A wide number of researchers proved that the intake of probiotic bacteria has numerous health benefits which created a big market of probiotic foods worldwide. The biggest challenge in the development of these products is to maintain the viability of bacterial cells during the storage of the product as well as throughout the gastrointestinal tract transit after consumption, so that the claimed health benefits can be delivered to the consumer. Different approaches have been proposed for increasing the resistance of these sensitive microorganisms, including the selection of resistant strains, incorporation of micronutrients, and most recently the use of microencapsulation techniques. Microencapsulation has resulted in enhancing the viability of these microorganisms which allows its wide use in the food industry. In this review, the most common techniques used for microencapsulation of probiotics will be presented, as well as the most usual microcapsule shell materials.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S730-S731
Author(s):  
Bing Bai ◽  
Zewen Wen ◽  
Zhiwei Lin ◽  
Tam Vincent H ◽  
Zhijian Yu

Abstract Background Enterococcus faecalis have been regarded as one of the leading causes of the nosocomial infections worldwide. Tigecycline (TGC) is considered as a choice of last resort for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant E. faecalis, however, the emergence of TGC non-susceptibility has posted the therapeutic challenge. Non-susceptibility in clinical strains could be due to resistance (MIC >0.5 mg/l) or heteroresistance. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of TGC resistance and heteroresistance in E. faecalis. Methods In vitro induction experiments were carried out under TGC pressure with two TGC- sensitive E. faecalis strains. Heteroresistance was evaluated by population analysis profiling (PAP) in 270 clinical TGC- sensitive E. faecalis strains. TGC susceptibility was determined by the agar dilution method. Resistance and heteroresistance mechanisms were investigated by identifying genetic mutations in tetracycline (Tet) target sites and susceptibility testing in the presence of the efflux protein inhibitors phenylalanine-arginine-β-naphthylamide (PaβN) and carbonyl cyanide m chlorophenylhydrazine (CCCP). Comparison of single nucleotide polymorphism in the whole genome between the parental isolate and two TGC-resistant strains were investigated by next-generation sequencing. Results No mutations in Tet target sites in seven TGC heteroresistant strains were present, whereas the mutations in Tet target sites of seven TGC-resistant E. faecalis were frequently found (Table 1). TGC MICs in heteroresistant strains were reduced by CCCP (Table 2). Whole genome sequencing revealed the same non-synonymous mutations and transcoding deletions in the exons of several genes encoding for various enzymes or transfer systems (Table 3). Table 1. The characteristics of the antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance mechanism of TGC-induced resistant isolates Table 2. Characteristics of clinical heteroresistant mother E. faecalis strains and heteroresistance-derived E. faecalis clones Table 3. List of mutation-related genes, amino acids and proteins by comparison of whole genome between the parental isolate and the TGC-induced resistant strains Conclusion Our data indicated that the main mechanism of TGC heteroresistance in E. faecalis might be associated with the efflux pumps. TGC resistance in E. faecalis was associated with mutations in the 16SrRNA site or 30S ribosome protein S10. The genetic mutations in several enzymes and transfer systems might also participate in the resistance development to TGC in E. faecalis. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1700
Author(s):  
Yun-Yun Fan ◽  
Yu-Wei Zhong ◽  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Yao Chi ◽  
Sophie Bouvaine ◽  
...  

Begomoviruses cause substantial losses to agricultural production, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, and are exclusively transmitted by members of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci species complex. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the transmission of begomoviruses by their whitefly vector are not clear. In this study, we found that B. tabaci vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (BtVAMP2) interacts with the coat protein (CP) of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), an emergent begomovirus that seriously impacts tomato production globally. After infection with TYLCV, the transcription of BtVAMP2 was increased. When the BtVAMP2 protein was blocked by feeding with a specific BtVAMP2 antibody, the quantity of TYLCV in B. tabaci whole body was significantly reduced. BtVAMP2 was found to be conserved among the B. tabaci species complex and also interacts with the CP of Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV). When feeding with BtVAMP2 antibody, the acquisition quantity of SLCMV in whitefly whole body was also decreased significantly. Overall, our results demonstrate that BtVAMP2 interacts with the CP of begomoviruses and promotes their acquisition by whitefly.


BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Wen He ◽  
Xue-Fei Cui ◽  
Shao-Jie Ma ◽  
Qin Xu ◽  
Yan-Peng Ran ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The vacuole/lysosome is the final destination of autophagic pathways, but can also itself be degraded in whole or in part by selective macroautophagic or microautophagic processes. Diverse molecular mechanisms are involved in these processes, the characterization of which has lagged behind those of ATG-dependent macroautophagy and ESCRT-dependent endosomal multivesicular body pathways. Results Here we show that as yeast cells gradually exhaust available nutrients and approach stationary phase, multiple vacuolar integral membrane proteins with unrelated functions are degraded in the vacuolar lumen. This degradation depends on the ESCRT machinery, but does not strictly require ubiquitination of cargos or trafficking of cargos out of the vacuole. It is also temporally and mechanistically distinct from NPC-dependent microlipophagy. The turnover is facilitated by Atg8, an exception among autophagy proteins, and an Atg8-interacting vacuolar membrane protein, Hfl1. Lack of Atg8 or Hfl1 led to the accumulation of enlarged lumenal membrane structures in the vacuole. We further show that a key function of Hfl1 is the membrane recruitment of Atg8. In the presence of Hfl1, lipidation of Atg8 is not required for efficient cargo turnover. The need for Hfl1 can be partially bypassed by blocking Atg8 delipidation. Conclusions Our data reveal a vacuolar membrane protein degradation process with a unique dependence on vacuole-associated Atg8 downstream of ESCRTs, and we identify a specific role of Hfl1, a protein conserved from yeast to plants and animals, in membrane targeting of Atg8.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3731
Author(s):  
Andrea Kunova ◽  
Luca Palazzolo ◽  
Fabio Forlani ◽  
Giorgia Catinella ◽  
Loana Musso ◽  
...  

The increasing emergence of fungicide-resistant pathogens requires urgent solutions for crop disease management. Here, we describe a structural investigation of new fungicides obtained by combining strobilurin and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor pharmacophores. We identified compounds endowed with very good activity against wild-type Pyricularia oryzae, combined in some cases with promising activity against strobilurin-resistant strains. The first three-dimensional model of P. oryzae cytochrome bc1 complex containing azoxystrobin as a ligand was developed. The model was validated with a set of commercially available strobilurins, and it well explains both the resistance mechanism to strobilurins mediated by the mutation G143A and the activity of metyltetraprole against strobilurin-resistant strains. The obtained results shed light on the key recognition determinants of strobilurin-like derivatives in the cytochrome bc1 active site and will guide the further rational design of new fungicides able to overcome resistance caused by G143A mutation in the rice blast pathogen.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bai Wei ◽  
Min Kang

We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying macrolide resistance in 38 strains ofCampylobacterisolated from poultry. Twenty-seven strains were resistant to azithromycin and erythromycin, five showed intermediate azithromycin resistance and erythromycin susceptibility, and six showed azithromycin resistance and erythromycin susceptibility. FourCampylobacter jejuniand sixCampylobacter colistrains had azithromycin MICs which were 8–16 and 2–8-fold greater than those of erythromycin, respectively. The A2075G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene was detected in 11 resistant strains with MICs ranging from 64 to ≥ 512μg/mL. Mutations including V137A, V137S, and a six-amino acid insertion (114-VAKKAP-115) in ribosomal protein L22 were detected in theC. jejunistrains. Erythromycin ribosome methylase B-erm(B) was not detected in any strain. All strains except three showed increased susceptibility to erythromycin with twofold to 256-fold MIC change in the presence of phenylalanine arginine ß-naphthylamide (PAßN); the effects of PAßN on azithromycin MICs were limited in comparison to those on erythromycin MICs, and 13 strains showed no azithromycin MIC change in the presence of PAßN. Differences between azithromycin and erythromycin resistance and macrolide resistance phenotypes and genotypes were observed even in highly resistant strains. Further studies are required to better understand macrolide resistance inCampylobacter.


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