scholarly journals Manganese Detoxification by MntE Is Critical for Resistance to Oxidative Stress and Virulence of Staphylococcus aureus

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline M. Grunenwald ◽  
Jacob E. Choby ◽  
Lillian J. Juttukonda ◽  
William N. Beavers ◽  
Andy Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Cation Diffusion ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Cation Diffusion Facilitator ◽  
Mn Toxicity ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient critical for the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus, a significant cause of human morbidity and mortality. Paradoxically, excess Mn is toxic; therefore, maintenance of intracellular Mn homeostasis is required for survival. Here we describe a Mn exporter in S. aureus, MntE, which is a member of the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) protein family and conserved among Gram-positive pathogens. Upregulation of mntE transcription in response to excess Mn is dependent on the presence of MntR, a transcriptional repressor of the mntABC Mn uptake system. Inactivation of mntE or mntR leads to reduced growth in media supplemented with Mn, demonstrating MntE is required for detoxification of excess Mn. Inactivation of mntE results in elevated levels of intracellular Mn, but reduced intracellular iron (Fe) levels, supporting the hypothesis that MntE functions as a Mn efflux pump and Mn efflux influences Fe homeostasis. Strains inactivated for mntE are more sensitive to the oxidants NaOCl and paraquat, indicating Mn homeostasis is critical for resisting oxidative stress. Furthermore, mntE and mntR are required for full virulence of S. aureus during infection, suggesting S. aureus experiences Mn toxicity in vivo. Combined, these data support a model in which MntR controls Mn homeostasis by balancing transcriptional repression of mntABC and induction of mntE, both of which are critical for S. aureus pathogenesis. Thus, Mn efflux contributes to bacterial survival and virulence during infection, establishing MntE as a potential antimicrobial target and expanding our understanding of Mn homeostasis. IMPORTANCE Manganese (Mn) is generally viewed as a critical nutrient that is beneficial to pathogenic bacteria due to its function as an enzymatic cofactor and its capability of acting as an antioxidant; yet paradoxically, high concentrations of this transition metal can be toxic. In this work, we demonstrate Staphylococcus aureus utilizes the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family protein MntE to alleviate Mn toxicity through efflux of excess Mn. Inactivation of mntE leads to a significant reduction in S. aureus resistance to oxidative stress and S. aureus-mediated mortality within a mouse model of systemic infection. These results highlight the importance of MntE-mediated Mn detoxification in intracellular Mn homeostasis, resistance to oxidative stress, and S. aureus virulence. Therefore, this establishes MntE as a potential target for development of anti-S. aureus therapeutics.

scholarly journals The Staphylococcus aureus KdpDE Two-Component System Couples Extracellular K+Sensing and Agr Signaling to Infection Programming

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 2154-2167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Xue ◽  
Yibo You ◽  
De Hong ◽  
Haipeng Sun ◽  
Baolin Sun
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Two Component System ◽  
Component System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Virulence Regulator ◽  
External K

ABSTRACTThe Kdp system is widely distributed among bacteria. InEscherichia coli, the Kdp-ATPase is a high-affinity K+uptake system and its expression is activated by the KdpDE two-component system in response to K+limitation or salt stress. However, information about the role of this system in many bacteria still remains obscure. Here we demonstrate that KdpFABC inStaphylococcus aureusis not a major K+transporter and that the main function of KdpDE is not associated with K+transport but that instead it regulates transcription for a series of virulence factors through sensing external K+concentrations, indicating that this bacterium might modulate its infectious status through sensing specific external K+stimuli in different environments. Our results further reveal thatS. aureusKdpDE is upregulated by the Agr/RNAIII system, which suggests that KdpDE may be an important virulence regulator coordinating the external K+sensing and Agr signaling during pathogenesis in this bacterium.

scholarly journals Transcriptional Profiling Analysis of the Global Regulator NorG, a GntR-Like Protein of Staphylococcus aureus

2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (22) ◽  
pp. 6207-6214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. C. Truong-Bolduc ◽  
P. M. Dunman ◽  
T. Eidem ◽  
D. C. Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Transcriptional Profiling ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Drug Transporter ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Regulators ◽  
Inorganic Ion

The GntR-like protein NorG has been shown to affectStaphylococcus aureusgenes involved in resistance to quinolones and β-lactams, such as those encoding the NorB and AbcA transporters. To identify the target genes regulated by NorG, we carried out transcriptional-profiling assays usingS. aureusRN6390 and its isogenicnorG::catmutant. Our data showed that NorG positively affected the transcription of global regulatorsmgrA,arlS, andsarZ. The three putative drug efflux pump genes most positively affected by NorG were the NorB efflux pump (5.1-fold), the MmpL-like protein SACOL2566 (5.2-fold), and the BcrA-like drug transporter SACOL2525 (5.7-fold) genes. TheS. aureuspredicted MmpL protein showed 53% homology with the MmpL lipid transporter ofMycobacterium tuberculosis, and the putative SACOL2525 protein showed 87% homology with the bacitracin drug transporter BcrA ofStaphylococcus hominis. Two pump genes most negatively affected by NorG were the NorC (4-fold) and AbcA (6-fold) genes. Other categories of genes, such as those participating in amino acid, inorganic ion, or nucleotide transporters and metabolism, were also affected by NorG. Real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays formgrA,arlS,sarZ,norB,norC,abcA,mmpL, andbcrA-like were carried out to verify microarray data and showed the same level of up- or downregulation by NorG. ThenorGmutant showed a 2-fold increase in resistance to norfloxacin and rhodamine, both substrates of the NorC transporter, which is consistent with the resistance phenotype conferred by overexpression ofnorCon a plasmid. These data indicate that NorG has broad regulatory function inS. aureus.

scholarly journals Systematic Analysis of Efflux Pump-Mediated Antiseptic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Suggests a Need for Greater Antiseptic Stewardship

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick T. LaBreck ◽  
Audrey C. Bochi-Layec ◽  
Joshua Stanbro ◽  
Gina Dabbah-Krancher ◽  
Mark P. Simons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Efflux Pumps ◽  
Transcriptional Analysis ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Subinhibitory Concentrations ◽  
Different Strains

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus-associated infections can be difficult to treat due to multidrug resistance. Thus, infection prevention is critical. Cationic antiseptics, such as chlorhexidine (CHX) and benzalkonium chloride (BKC), are liberally used in health care and community settings to prevent infection. However, increased administration of antiseptics has selected for S. aureus strains that show reduced susceptibilities to cationic antiseptics. This increased resistance has been associated with carriage of specific efflux pumps (QacA, QacC, and NorA). Since prior published studies focused on different strains and on strains carrying only a single efflux gene, the relative importance of these various systems to antiseptic resistance is difficult to ascertain. To overcome this, we engineered a collection of isogenic S. aureus strains that harbored norA, qacA, and qacC, individually or in combination. MIC assays showed that qacA was associated with increased resistance to CHX, cetrimide (CT), and BKC, qacC was associated with resistance to CT and BKC, and norA was necessary for basal-level resistance to the majority of tested antiseptics. When all three pumps were present in a single strain, an additive effect was observed in the MIC for CT. Transcriptional analysis revealed that expression of qacA and norA was significantly induced following exposure to BKC. Alarmingly, in a strain carrying qacA and norA, preexposure to BKC increased CHX tolerance. Overall, our results reveal increased antiseptic resistance in strains carrying multiple efflux pumps and indicate that preexposure to BKC, which is found in numerous daily-use products, can increase CHX tolerance. IMPORTANCE S. aureus remains a significant cause of disease within hospitals and communities. To reduce the burden of S. aureus infections, antiseptics are ubiquitously used in our daily lives. Furthermore, many antiseptic compounds are dual purpose and are found in household products. The increased abundance of antiseptic compounds has selected for S. aureus strains that carry efflux pumps that increase resistance to antiseptic compounds; however, the effect of carrying multiple pumps within S. aureus is unclear. We demonstrated that an isogenic strain carrying multiple efflux pumps had an additive resistance phenotype to cetrimide. Moreover, in a strain carrying qacA and norA, increased chlorhexidine tolerance was observed after the strain was preexposed to subinhibitory concentrations of a different common-use antiseptic. Taken together, our findings demonstrate cooperation between antiseptic resistance efflux pumps and suggest that their protective phenotype may be exacerbated by priming with subinhibitory concentrations of household antiseptics.

scholarly journals The Cation Diffusion Facilitator Family Protein EmfA Confers Resistance to Manganese Toxicity in Brucella abortus 2308 and Is an Essential Virulence Determinant in Mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Johnsrude ◽  
Joshua E. Pitzer ◽  
Daniel W. Martin ◽  
R. Martin Roop
Keyword(s):  
Brucella Abortus ◽  
Manganese Toxicity ◽  
Cation Diffusion ◽  
Cation Diffusion Facilitator ◽  
Mn Toxicity ◽  
Virulence Determinant ◽  
Family Protein ◽  
Cellular Components ◽  
Cation Diffusion Facilitator Family

Mn nutrition is essential for the basic physiology and virulence of Brucella strains. The results of the study presented here demonstrate that the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF)-type metal exporter EmfA plays critical roles in maintaining Mn homeostasis and preventing Mn toxicity in Brucella and is an essential virulence determinant for these bacteria. EmfA and other cellular components involved in Mn homeostasis represent attractive targets for the development of improved vaccines and chemotherapeutic strategies for preventing and treating brucellosis in humans and animals.

scholarly journals Functional Determinants of Metal Ion Transport and Selectivity in Paralogous Cation Diffusion Facilitator Transporters CzcD and MntE in Streptococcus pneumoniae

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (7) ◽  
pp. 1066-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia E. Martin ◽  
David P. Giedroc
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Divalent Metal ◽  
Cation Diffusion ◽  
Metal Specificity ◽  
Cation Diffusion Facilitator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Metal Selectivity ◽  
A Site

ABSTRACTCation diffusion facilitators (CDFs) are a large family of divalent metal transporters that collectively possess broad metal specificity and contribute to intracellular metal homeostasis and virulence in bacterial pathogens.Streptococcus pneumoniaeexpresses two homologous CDF efflux transporters, MntE and CzcD. Cells lackingmntEorczcDare sensitive to manganese (Mn) or zinc (Zn) toxicity, respectively, and specifically accumulate Mn or Zn, respectively, thus suggesting that MntE selectively transports Mn, while CzcD transports Zn. Here, we probe the origin of this metal specificity using a phenotypic growth analysis of pneumococcal variants. Structural homology toEscherichia coliYiiP predicts that both MntE and CzcD are dimeric and each protomer harbors four pairs of conserved metal-binding sites, termed the A site, the B site, and the C1/C2 binuclear site. We find that single amino acid mutations within both the transmembrane domain A site and the B site in both CDFs result in a cellular metal sensitivity similar to that of the corresponding null mutants. However, multiple mutations in the predicted cytoplasmic C1/C2 cluster of MntE have no impact on cellular Mn resistance, in contrast to the analogous substitutions in CzcD, which do have on impact on cellular Zn resistance. Deletion of the MntE-specific C-terminal tail, present only in Mn-specific bacterial CDFs, resulted in only a modest growth phenotype. Further analysis of MntE-CzcD functional chimeric transporters showed that Asn and Asp in theND-DD A-site motif of MntE and the most N-terminal His in theHD-HD site A of CzcD (the specified amino acids are underlined) play key roles in transporter metal selectivity.IMPORTANCECation diffusion facilitator (CDF) proteins are divalent metal ion transporters that are conserved in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans and that play important roles in cellular physiology, from metal homeostasis and resistance to type I diabetes in vertebrates. The respiratory pathogenStreptococcus pneumoniaeexpresses two metal CDF transporters, CzcD and MntE. How CDFs achieve metal selectivity is unclear. We show here that CzcD and MntE are true paralogs, as CzcD transports zinc, while MntE selectively transports manganese. Through the use of an extensive collection of pneumococcal variants, we show that a primary determinant for metal selectivity is the A site within the transmembrane domain. This extends our understanding of how CDFs discriminate among transition metals.

scholarly journals Transcriptional Regulator TetR21 Controls the Expression of the Staphylococcus aureus LmrS Efflux Pump

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. C. Truong-Bolduc ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
C. Chen ◽  
D. C. Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Parental Strain ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Efflux Pumps ◽  
Transcription Level ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT TetR21 controls the expression of Tet38 and LmrS efflux pumps. A tetR21 mutant, QT21, exhibited a 4-fold increase in the transcription level of lmrS. Staphylococcus aureus lmrS overexpressor showed increases of 4-fold and 2-fold, respectively, in the MICs of chloramphenicol and erythromycin, while the MICs of lmrS mutant QT18 and lmrS-tetR21 mutant QT1821 remained similar to those of parental strain RN6390. TetR21 does not bind to the promoter of lmrS, suggesting indirect regulation of lmrS.

scholarly journals Iron Acquisition in Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 198 (5) ◽  
pp. 857-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Wang ◽  
Jalal Moolji ◽  
Alex Dufort ◽  
Alfredo Staffa ◽  
Pilar Domenech ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Avium ◽  
Iron Uptake ◽  
Genomic Island ◽  
Iron Acquisition ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Iron Uptake System ◽  
Environmental Bacterium

ABSTRACTMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisis a host-adapted pathogen that evolved from the environmental bacteriumM. aviumsubsp.hominissuisthrough gene loss and gene acquisition. Growth ofM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisin the laboratory is enhanced by supplementation of the media with the iron-binding siderophore mycobactin J. Here we examined the production of mycobactins by related organisms and searched for an alternative iron uptake system inM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis. Through thin-layer chromatography and radiolabeled iron-uptake studies, we showed thatM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisis impaired for both mycobactin synthesis and iron acquisition. Consistent with these observations, we identified several mutations, including deletions, inM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisgenes coding for mycobactin synthesis. Using a transposon-mediated mutagenesis screen conditional on growth without myobactin, we identified a potential mycobactin-independent iron uptake system on aM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis-specific genomic island, LSPP15. We obtained a transposon (Tn) mutant with a disruption in the LSPP15 geneMAP3776cfor targeted study. The mutant manifests increased iron uptake as well as intracellular iron content, with genes downstream of the transposon insertion (MAP3775ctoMAP3772c[MAP3775-2c]) upregulated as the result of a polar effect. As an independent confirmation, we observed the same iron uptake phenotypes by overexpressingMAP3775-2cin wild-typeM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis. These data indicate that the horizontally acquired LSPP15 genes contribute to iron acquisition byM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis, potentially allowing the subsequent loss of siderophore production by this pathogen.IMPORTANCEMany microbes are able to scavenge iron from their surroundings by producing iron-chelating siderophores. One exception isMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis, a fastidious, slow-growing animal pathogen whose growth needs to be supported by exogenous mycobacterial siderophore (mycobactin) in the laboratory. Data presented here demonstrate that, compared to other closely relatedM. aviumsubspecies, mycobactin production and iron uptake are different inM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis, and these phenotypes may be caused by numerous deletions in its mycobactin biosynthesis pathway. Using a genomic approach, supplemented by targeted genetic and biochemical studies, we identified that LSPP15, a horizontally acquired genomic island, may encode an alternative iron uptake system. These findings shed light on the potential physiological consequence of horizontal gene transfer inM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisevolution.

scholarly journals Involvement of the AcrAB-TolC Efflux Pump in the Resistance, Fitness, and Virulence of Enterobacter cloacae

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 2084-2090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Pérez ◽  
Margarita Poza ◽  
Ana Fernández ◽  
Maria del Carmen Fernández ◽  
Susana Mallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Enterobacter Cloacae ◽  
Efflux Pumps ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTMultidrug efflux pumps have emerged as important mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens. In order to cause infection, pathogenic bacteria require mechanisms to avoid the effects of host-produced compounds, and express efflux pumps may accomplish this task. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the inactivation of AcrAB-TolC on antimicrobial resistance, fitness, and virulence inEnterobacter cloacae, an opportunistic pathogen usually involved in nosocomial infections. Two different clinical isolates ofE. cloacaewere used, EcDC64 (multidrug resistance overexpressing the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump) and Jc194 (basal AcrAB-TolC expression). TheacrAandtolCgenes were deleted in strains EcDC64 and Jc194 to produce, respectively, EcΔacrAand EcΔtolCand JcΔacrAand JcΔtolCknockout (KO) derivatives. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed with all isolates, and we discovered that these mechanisms are involved in the resistance ofE. cloacaeto several antibiotics. Competition experiments were also performed with wild-type and isogenic KO strains. The competition index (CI), defined as the mutant/wild-type ratio, revealed that theacrAandtolCgenes both affect the fitness ofE. cloacae, as fitness was clearly reduced in theacrAandtolCKO strains. The median CI values obtainedin vitroandin vivowere, respectively, 0.42 and 0.3 for EcDC64/EcΔacrA, 0.24 and 0.38 for EcDC64/EcΔtolC, 0.15 and 0.11 for Jc194/JcΔacrA, and 0.38 and 0.39 for Jc194/JcΔtolC. Use of an intraperitoneal mouse model of systemic infection revealed reduced virulence in bothE. cloacaeclinical strains when either theacrAortolCgene was inactivated. In conclusion, the structural components of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump appear to play a role in antibiotic resistance as well as environmental adaptation and host virulence in clinical isolates ofE. cloacae.

scholarly journals Overexpression offetA(ybbL) andfetB(ybbM), Encoding an Iron Exporter, Enhances Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Escherichia coli

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (23) ◽  
pp. 7210-7219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergios A. Nicolaou ◽  
Alan G. Fast ◽  
Eiko Nakamaru-Ogiso ◽  
Eleftherios T. Papoutsakis
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Parent Strain ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Paramagnetic Resonance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genomic Libraries ◽  
Metal Transporter

ABSTRACTReactive oxygen species are generated by redox reactions and the Fenton reaction of H2O2and iron that generates the hydroxyl radical that causes severe DNA, protein, and lipid damage. We screenedEscherichia coligenomic libraries to identify a fragment, containingcueR,ybbJ,qmcA,ybbL, andybbM, which enhanced resistance to H2O2stress. We report that the ΔybbLand ΔybbMstrains are more susceptible to H2O2stress than the parent strain and thatybbLandybbMoverexpression overcomes H2O2sensitivity. TheybbLandybbMgenes are predicted to code for an ATP-binding cassette metal transporter, and we demonstrate that YbbM is a membrane protein. We investigated various metals to identify iron as the likely substrate of this transporter. We propose the gene namesfetAandfetB(for Fe transport) and the gene product names FetA and FetB. FetAB allows for increased resistance to oxidative stress in the presence of iron, revealing a role in iron homeostasis. We show that iron overload coupled with H2O2stress is abrogated byfetAandfetBoverexpression in the parent strain and in the Δfurstrain, where iron uptake is deregulated. Furthermore, we utilized whole-cell electron paramagnetic resonance to show that intracellular iron levels in the Δfurstrain are decreased by 37% byfetAandfetBoverexpression. Combined, these findings show thatfetAandfetBencode an iron exporter that has a role in enhancing resistance to H2O2-mediated oxidative stress and can minimize oxidative stress under conditions of iron overload and suggest that FetAB facilitates iron homeostasis to decrease oxidative stress.

scholarly journals Signal Synthase-Type versus Catabolic Monooxygenases: Retracing 3-Hydroxylation of 2-Alkylquinolones and Their N-Oxides by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Other Pulmonary Pathogens

2021 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas H. Ritzmann ◽  
Steffen L. Drees ◽  
Susanne Fetzner
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Multidrug Efflux Pump ◽  
Therapeutic Success ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Physiological Level ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT The multiple biological activities of 2-alkylquinolones (AQs) are crucial for virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, conferring advantages during infection and in polymicrobial communities. Whereas 2-heptyl-3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-one (the “Pseudomonas quinolone signal” [PQS]) is an important quorum sensing signal molecule, 2-alkyl-1-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-ones (also known as 2-alkyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxides [AQNOs]) are antibiotics inhibiting respiration. Hydroxylation of the PQS precursor 2-heptylquinolin-4(1H)-one (HHQ) by the signal synthase PqsH boosts AQ quorum sensing. Remarkably, the same reaction, catalyzed by the ortholog AqdB, is used by Mycobacteroides abscessus to initiate degradation of AQs. The antibiotic 2-heptyl-1-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-one (HQNO) is hydroxylated by Staphylococcus aureus to the less toxic derivative PQS-N-oxide (PQS-NO), a reaction probably also catalyzed by a PqsH/AqdB ortholog. In this study, we provide a comparative analysis of four AQ 3-monooxygenases of different organisms. Due to the major impact of AQ/AQNO 3-hydroxylation on the biological activities of the compounds, we surmised adaptations on the enzymatic and/or physiological level to serve either the producer or target organisms. Our results indicate that all enzymes share similar features and are incapable of discriminating between AQs and AQNOs. PQS-NO, hence, occurs as a native metabolite of P. aeruginosa although the unfavorable AQNO 3-hydroxylation is minimized by export as shown for HQNO, involving at least one multidrug efflux pump. Moreover, M. abscessus is capable of degrading the AQNO heterocycle by concerted action of AqdB and dioxygenase AqdC. However, S. aureus and M. abscessus orthologs disfavor AQNOs despite their higher toxicity, suggesting that catalytic constraints restrict evolutionary adaptation and lead to the preference of non-N-oxide substrates by AQ 3-monooxygenases. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacteroides abscessus are major players in bacterial chronic infections and particularly common colonizers of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung tissue. Whereas S. aureus is an early onset pathogen in CF, P. aeruginosa establishes at later stages. M. abscessus occurs at all stages but has a lower epidemiological incidence. The dynamics of how these pathogens interact can affect survival and therapeutic success. 2-Alkylquinolone (AQ) and 2-alkylhydroxyquinoline N-oxide (AQNO) production is a major factor of P. aeruginosa virulence. The 3-position of the AQ scaffold is critical, both for attenuation of AQ toxicity or degradation by competitors, as well as for full unfolding of quorum sensing. Despite lacking signaling functionality, AQNOs have the strongest impact on suppression of Gram-positives. Because evidence for 3-hydroxylation of AQNOs has been reported, it is desirable to understand the extent by which AQ 3-monooxygenases contribute to manipulation of AQ/AQNO equilibrium, resistance, and degradation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document