scholarly journals The pathogenic biomarker alcohol dehydrogenase protein is involved in Bacillus cereus virulence and survival against host innate defence

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0259386
Author(s):  
Devon W. Kavanaugh ◽  
Constance Porrini ◽  
Rozenn Dervyn ◽  
Nalini Ramarao

Bacillus cereus is a spore forming bacteria recognized among the leading agents responsible for foodborne outbreaks in Europe. B. cereus is also gaining notoriety as an opportunistic human pathogen inducing local and systemic infections. The real incidence of such infection is likely underestimated and information on genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the incriminated strains is generally scarce. We have recently analyzed a large strain collection of varying pathogenic potential. Screening for biomarkers to differentiate among clinical and non-clinical strains, a gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase-like protein was identified among the leading candidates. This family of proteins has been demonstrated to be involved in the virulence of several bacterial species. The relevant gene was knocked out to elucidate its function with regards to resistance to host innate immune response, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the adhB gene plays a significant role in resistance to nitric oxide and oxidative stress in vitro, as well as its pathogenic ability with regards to in vivo toxicity. These properties may explain the pathogenic potential of strains carrying this newly identified virulence factor.

Author(s):  
V. Ramadas ◽  
G. Chandralega

Sponges, exclusively are aquatic and mostly marine, are found from the deepest oceans to the edge of the sea. There are approximately 15,000 species of sponges in the world, of which, 150 occur in freshwater, but only about 17 are of commercial value. A total of 486 species of sponges have been identified in India. In the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay a maximum of 319 species of sponges have been recorded. It has been proved that marine organisms are excellent source of bioactive secondary metabolites and number of compounds of originated from marine organisms had been reported to possess in-vitro and in-vivo immuno stimulatory activity. Extracts from 20 sponge species were tested for bacterial symbionts and bioactive compounds were isolated from such associated bacterial species in the present study.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 401
Author(s):  
Pauline Nogaret ◽  
Fatima El El Garah ◽  
Anne-Béatrice Blanc-Potard

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for a variety of acute infections and is a major cause of mortality in chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients. Due to increased resistance to antibiotics, new therapeutic strategies against P. aeruginosa are urgently needed. In this context, we aimed to develop a simple vertebrate animal model to rapidly assess in vivo drug efficacy against P. aeruginosa. Zebrafish are increasingly considered for modeling human infections caused by bacterial pathogens, which are commonly microinjected in embryos. In the present study, we established a novel protocol for zebrafish infection by P. aeruginosa based on bath immersion in 96-well plates of tail-injured embryos. The immersion method, followed by a 48-hour survey of embryo viability, was first validated to assess the virulence of P. aeruginosa wild-type PAO1 and a known attenuated mutant. We then validated its relevance for antipseudomonal drug testing by first using a clinically used antibiotic, ciprofloxacin. Secondly, we used a novel quorum sensing (QS) inhibitory molecule, N-(2-pyrimidyl)butanamide (C11), the activity of which had been validated in vitro but not previously tested in any animal model. A significant protective effect of C11 was observed on infected embryos, supporting the ability of C11 to attenuate in vivo P. aeruginosa pathogenicity. In conclusion, we present here a new and reliable method to compare the virulence of P. aeruginosa strains in vivo and to rapidly assess the efficacy of clinically relevant drugs against P. aeruginosa, including new antivirulence compounds.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (2) ◽  
pp. 554-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Mashburn ◽  
Amy M. Jett ◽  
Darrin R. Akins ◽  
Marvin Whiteley

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative opportunistic human pathogen often infecting the lungs of individuals with the heritable disease cystic fibrosis and the peritoneum of individuals undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Often these infections are not caused by colonization with P. aeruginosa alone but instead by a consortium of pathogenic bacteria. Little is known about growth and persistence of P. aeruginosa in vivo, and less is known about the impact of coinfecting bacteria on P. aeruginosa pathogenesis and physiology. In this study, a rat dialysis membrane peritoneal model was used to evaluate the in vivo transcriptome of P. aeruginosa in monoculture and in coculture with Staphylococcus aureus. Monoculture results indicate that approximately 5% of all P. aeruginosa genes are differentially regulated during growth in vivo compared to in vitro controls. Included in this analysis are genes important for iron acquisition and growth in low-oxygen environments. The presence of S. aureus caused decreased transcription of P. aeruginosa iron-regulated genes during in vivo coculture, indicating that the presence of S. aureus increases usable iron for P. aeruginosa in this environment. We propose a model where P. aeruginosa lyses S. aureus and uses released iron for growth in low-iron environments.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (6) ◽  
pp. 1954-1960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grit Zarnt ◽  
Thomas Schräder ◽  
Jan R. Andreesen

ABSTRACT The quinohemoprotein tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol dehydrogenase (THFA-DH) from Ralstonia eutropha strain Bo was investigated for its catalytic properties. The apparentk cat/Km andK i values for several substrates were determined using ferricyanide as an artificial electron acceptor. The highest catalytic efficiency was obtained with n-pentanol exhibiting a k cat/Km value of 788 × 104 M−1 s−1. The enzyme showed substrate inhibition kinetics for most of the alcohols and aldehydes investigated. A stereoselective oxidation of chiral alcohols with a varying enantiomeric preference was observed. Initial rate studies using ethanol and acetaldehyde as substrates revealed that a ping-pong mechanism can be assumed for in vitro catalysis of THFA-DH. The gene encoding THFA-DH from R. eutropha strain Bo (tfaA) has been cloned and sequenced. The derived amino acid sequence showed an identity of up to 67% to the sequence of various quinoprotein and quinohemoprotein dehydrogenases. A comparison of the deduced sequence with the N-terminal amino acid sequence previously determined by Edman degradation analysis suggested the presence of a signal sequence of 27 residues. The primary structure of TfaA indicated that the protein has a tertiary structure quite similar to those of other quinoprotein dehydrogenases.


Pharmacology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 101 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuhiro Horie ◽  
Kazuya Fukasawa ◽  
Takashi Iezaki ◽  
Gyujin Park ◽  
Yuki Onishi ◽  
...  

The availability of amino acid in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been shown to be altered under various conditions; however, little is known about the possible expression and pivotal role of amino acid transporters in BAT under physiological and pathological conditions. The present study comprehensively investigated whether amino acid transporters are regulated by obesogenic conditions in BAT in vivo. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism underlying the regulation of the expression of amino acid transporters by various stressors in brown adipocytes in vitro. The expression of solute carrier family 38 member 1 (Slc38a1; gene encoding sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 1) was preferentially upregulated in the BAT of both genetic and acquired obesity mice in vivo. Moreover, the expression of Slc38a1 was induced by hypoxic stress through hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, which is a master transcription factor of the adaptive response to hypoxic stress, in brown adipocytes in vitro. These results indicate that Slc38a1 is an obesity-associated gene in BAT and a hypoxia-responsive gene in brown adipocytes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ostadhossein ◽  
Parikshit Moitra ◽  
Esra Altun ◽  
Debapriya Dutta ◽  
Dinabandhu Sar ◽  
...  

AbstractDental plaques are biofilms that cause dental caries by demineralization with acidogenic bacteria. These bacteria reside inside a protective sheath which makes any curative treatment challenging. We propose an antibiotic-free strategy to disrupt the biofilm by engineered clustered carbon dot nanoparticles that function in the acidic environment of the biofilms. In vitro and ex vivo studies on the mature biofilms of Streptococcus mutans revealed >90% biofilm inhibition associated with the contact-mediated interaction of nanoparticles with the bacterial membrane, excessive reactive oxygen species generation, and DNA fragmentation. An in vivo examination showed that these nanoparticles could effectively suppress the growth of S. mutans. Importantly, 16S rRNA analysis of the dental microbiota showed that the diversity and richness of bacterial species did not substantially change with nanoparticle treatment. Overall, this study presents a safe and effective approach to decrease the dental biofilm formation without disrupting the ecological balance of the oral cavity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1808-1818
Author(s):  
Xiuli Li ◽  
Jigang Wang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Xiaoqian Hou ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
...  

In our current study, porous heparin-polyvinylpyrrolidone/TiO2 nanocomposite (HpPVP/TiO2) bandage were prepared via the incorporation of TiO2 into HpPVP hydrogels for biomedical applications such as burn infection. The effect of the HpPVP hydrogels and the nanoparticles of TiO2 composition on the functional group and the surface properties of the as-fabricated bandages were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The presence of TiO2 nanoparticles created the internal structure of the HpPVP hydrogel that aids in a homogeneous porous structure, as indicated by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The size distribution of the TiO2 nanoparticles was measured using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The studies on the mechanical properties of the HpPVP hydrogel indicate that the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles increases its strength. The prepared HpPVP/TiO2 nanocomposite dressing has excellent antimicrobial activity were tested against bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and has good biocompatibility against human dermal fibroblast cells (HFFF2) for biological applications. In addition, in vivo evaluations in Kunming mice exposed that the as-fabricated HpPVP/TiO2 nanocomposite bandages increased the wound curing and facilitated accelerate skin cell construction along with collagen development. The synergistic effects of the HpPVP/TiO2 nanocomposite hydrogel dressing material, such as its excellent hydrophilic nature, good bactericidal activity, biocompatibility and wound closure rate through in vivo test makes it a suitable candidate for burn infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Cuiabano Paes Leme ◽  
Raquel Bandeira da Silva

It has been demonstrated that some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like acetylsalicylic acid, diclofenac, and ibuprofen, have anti-biofilm activity in concentrations found in human pharmacokinetic studies, which could fuel an interest in repurposing these well tolerated drugs as adjunctive therapies for biofilm-related infections. Here we sought to review the currently available data on the anti-biofilm activity of NSAIDs and its relevance in a clinical context. We performed a systematic literature review to identify the most commonly tested NSAIDs drugs in the last 5 years, the bacterial species that have demonstrated to be responsive to their actions, and the emergence of resistance to these molecules. We found that most studies investigating NSAIDs’ activity against biofilms were in vitro, and frequently tested non-clinical bacterial isolates, which may not adequately represent the bacterial populations that cause clinically-relevant biofilm-related infections. Furthermore, studies concerning NSAIDs and antibiotic resistance are scarce, with divergent outcomes. Although the potential to use NSAIDs to control biofilm-related infections seems to be an exciting avenue, there is a paucity of studies that tested these drugs using appropriate in vivo models of biofilm infections or in controlled human clinical trials to support their repurposing as anti-biofilm agents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 12084
Author(s):  
Michał Śmiga ◽  
John W. Smalley ◽  
Paulina Ślęzak ◽  
Jason L. Brown ◽  
Klaudia Siemińska ◽  
...  

The non-enzymatic addition of glucose (glycation) to circulatory and tissue proteins is a ubiquitous pathophysiological consequence of hyperglycemia in diabetes. Given the high incidence of periodontitis and diabetes and the emerging link between these conditions, it is of crucial importance to define the basic virulence mechanisms employed by periodontopathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis in mediating the disease process. The aim of this study was to determine whether glycated proteins are more easily utilized by P. gingivalis to stimulate growth and promote the pathogenic potential of this bacterium. We analyzed the properties of three commonly encountered proteins in the periodontal environment that are known to become glycated and that may serve as either protein substrates or easily accessible heme sources. In vitro glycated proteins were characterized using colorimetric assays, mass spectrometry, far- and near-UV circular dichroism and UV–visible spectroscopic analyses and SDS-PAGE. The interaction of glycated hemoglobin, serum albumin and type one collagen with P. gingivalis cells or HmuY protein was examined using spectroscopic methods, SDS-PAGE and co-culturing P. gingivalis with human keratinocytes. We found that glycation increases the ability of P. gingivalis to acquire heme from hemoglobin, mostly due to heme sequestration by the HmuY hemophore-like protein. We also found an increase in biofilm formation on glycated collagen-coated abiotic surfaces. We conclude that glycation might promote the virulence of P. gingivalis by making heme more available from hemoglobin and facilitating bacterial biofilm formation, thus increasing P. gingivalis pathogenic potential in vivo.


Author(s):  
Adrian Rafael Murillo-de-Ozores ◽  
Alejandro Rodriguez-Gama ◽  
Hector Carbajal-Contreras ◽  
Gerardo Gamba ◽  
Maria Castaneda-Bueno

With No Lysine (K) kinase 4 (WNK4) belongs to a serine-threonine kinase family characterized by the atypical positioning of its catalytic lysine. Despite the fact that WNK4 has been found in many tissues, the majority of its study has revolved around its function in the kidney, specifically as a positive regulator of the thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter (NCC) in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) of the nephron. This is explained by the description of gain-of-function mutations in the gene encoding WNK4 that cause Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension (FHHt). This disease is mainly driven by increased downstream activation of the Ste20-related Proline Alanine Rich Kinase (SPAK)/Oxidative Stress Responsive Kinase 1 (OSR1)-NCC pathway, which increases salt reabsorption in the DCT and indirectly impairs renal K+ secretion. Here, we review the large volume of information that has accumulated about different aspects of WNK4 function. We first review the knowledge on WNK4 structure and enumerate the functional domains and motifs that have been characterized. Then, we discuss WNK4 physiological functions based on the information obtained from in vitro studies and from a diverse set of genetically modified mouse models with altered WNK4 function. We then review in vitro and in vivo evidence on the different levels of regulation of WNK4. Finally, we go through the evidence that has suggested how different physiological conditions act through WNK4 to modulate NCC activity.


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