scholarly journals The Selective Advantage of the lac Operon for Escherichia coli Is Conditional on Diet and Microbiota Composition

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Pinto ◽  
Rita Melo-Miranda ◽  
Isabel Gordo ◽  
Ana Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Lac Operon ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
Regulatory Circuits ◽  
Primary Habitat ◽  
Gene Regulatory Circuits ◽  
Its Polymorphism ◽  
Mammalian Intestine

The lac operon is one of the best known gene regulatory circuits and constitutes a landmark example of how bacteria tune their metabolism to nutritional conditions. It is nearly ubiquitous in Escherichia coli strains justifying the use of its phenotype, the ability to consume lactose, for species identification. Lactose is the primary sugar found in milk, which is abundant in mammals during the first weeks of life. However, lactose is virtually non-existent after the weaning period, with humans being an exception as many consume dairy products throughout their lives. The absence of lactose during adulthood in most mammals and the rarity of lactose in the environment, means that the selective pressure for maintaining the lac operon could be weak for long periods of time. Despite the ability to metabolize lactose being a hallmark of E. coli’s success when colonizing its primary habitat, the mammalian intestine, the selective value of this trait remains unknown in this ecosystem during adulthood. Here we determine the competitive advantage conferred by the lac operon to a commensal strain of E. coli when colonizing the mouse gut. We find that its benefit, which can be as high as 11%, is contingent on the presence of lactose in the diet and on the presence of other microbiota members in the gut, but the operon is never deleterious. These results help explaining the pervasiveness of the lac operon in E. coli, but also its polymorphism, as lac-negative E. coli strains albeit rare can naturally occur in the gut.

scholarly journals High-density transposon libraries utilising outward-oriented promoters identify mechanisms of action and resistance to antimicrobials

2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Coward ◽  
Gopujara Dharmalingham ◽  
Omar Abdulle ◽  
Tim Avis ◽  
Stephan Beisken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Synthase Inhibitor ◽  
Established Technique ◽  
Bacterial Transposon

ABSTRACT The use of bacterial transposon mutant libraries in phenotypic screens is a well-established technique for determining which genes are essential or advantageous for growth in conditions of interest. Standard, inactivating, transposon libraries cannot give direct information about genes whose over-expression gives a selective advantage. We report the development of a system wherein outward-oriented promoters are included in mini-transposons, generation of transposon mutant libraries in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their use to probe genes important for growth under selection with the antimicrobial fosfomycin, and a recently-developed leucyl-tRNA synthase inhibitor. In addition to the identification of known mechanisms of action and resistance, we identify the carbon–phosphorous lyase complex as a potential resistance liability for fosfomycin in E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The use of this technology can facilitate the development of novel mechanism-of-action antimicrobials that are urgently required to combat the increasing threat worldwide from antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria.

scholarly journals OmpC regulation differs between ST131 and non-ST131 Escherichia coli clinical isolates and involves differential expression of the small RNA MicC

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 1151-1158
Author(s):  
Corey S Suelter ◽  
Nancy D Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Northern Blotting ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Porin Proteins ◽  
Mrna Half Life

Abstract Background Virulence genes and the expression of resistance mechanisms undoubtedly play a role in the successful spread of the pandemic clone Escherichia coli ST131. Porin down-regulation is a chromosomal mechanism associated with antibiotic resistance. Translation of porin proteins can be impacted by modifications in mRNA half-life and the interaction among small RNAs (sRNAs), the porin transcript and the sRNA chaperone Hfq. Modifications in the translatability of porin proteins could impact the fitness and therefore the success of E. coli ST131 isolates in the presence of antibiotic. Objectives To identify differences in the translatability of OmpC and OmpF porins for different STs of E. coli by comparing steady-state RNA levels, mRNA half-life, regulatory sRNA expression and protein production. Methods RNA expression was evaluated using real-time RT–PCR and OmpC mRNA half-life by northern blotting. OmpC, OmpF and Hfq protein levels were evaluated by immunoblotting. Results Differences between ST131 and non-ST131 isolates included: (i) the level of OmpC RNA and protein produced with mRNA expression higher for ST131 but OmpC protein levels lower compared with non-ST131 isolates; (ii) OmpC mRNA half-life (21–30 min for ST131 isolates compared with <2–23 min for non-ST131 isolates); and (iii) levels of the sRNA MicC (2- to 120-fold for ST131 isolates compared with −4- to 70-fold for non-ST131 isolates). Conclusions Mechanisms involved in the translatability of porin proteins differed among different STs of E. coli. These differences could provide a selective advantage to ST131 E. coli when confronted with an antibiotic-rich environment.

scholarly journals Cloning and Heterologous Expression of Plantaricin ZJ5, a Novel Bacteriocin from Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ5, in Escherichia coli

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1801301
Author(s):  
Dafeng Song ◽  
Ping Li ◽  
Qing Gu
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Lactobacillus Plantarum ◽  
Micrococcus Luteus ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Biological Method ◽  
Lac Operon ◽  
E Coli ◽  
First Time ◽  
Soluble Material

A novel bacteriocin, plantaricin ZJ5 (PZJ5) was yielded from Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ5, cloned, and produced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) pLys. The PZJ5 structural gene was fused with a Trx tag, and cloned into the pET32a plasmid under the control of the inducible lac operon. Induction was performed with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), with subsequent overexpression of the fusion protein, followed by purification to homogeneity via His affinity chromatography. Recombinant E. coli produced greater quantities of PZJ5 than L. plantarum ZJ5, and PZJ5 in E. coli was expressed in the form of soluble material. Biologically active PZJ5 was recovered by cleaving the purified fusion protein using enterokinase. The released PZJ5 demonstrated antibacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus. In this study, an inexpensive biological method using a Trx fusion system was presented, and for the first time, bacteriocin PZJ5 was expressed and purified in E. coli.

scholarly journals Nickel Promotes Biofilm Formation by Escherichia coli K-12 Strains That Produce Curli

2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 1723-1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Perrin ◽  
Romain Briandet ◽  
Gregory Jubelin ◽  
Philippe Lejeune ◽  
Marie-Andrée Mandrand-Berthelot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Bacterial Survival ◽  
Toxic Compounds ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Transcriptional Effect ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Encoding Genes

ABSTRACT The survival of bacteria exposed to toxic compounds is a multifactorial phenomenon, involving well-known molecular mechanisms of resistance but also less-well-understood mechanisms of tolerance that need to be clarified. In particular, the contribution of biofilm formation to survival in the presence of toxic compounds, such as nickel, was investigated in this study. We found that a subinhibitory concentration of nickel leads Escherichia coli bacteria to change their lifestyle, developing biofilm structures rather than growing as free-floating cells. Interestingly, whereas nickel and magnesium both alter the global cell surface charge, only nickel promotes biofilm formation in our system. Genetic evidence indicates that biofilm formation induced by nickel is mediated by the transcriptional induction of the adhesive curli-encoding genes. Biofilm formation induced by nickel does not rely on efflux mechanisms using the RcnA pump, as these require a higher concentration of nickel to be activated. Our results demonstrate that the nickel-induced biofilm formation in E. coli is an adaptational process, occurring through a transcriptional effect on genes coding for adherence structures. The biofilm lifestyle is obviously a selective advantage in the presence of nickel, but the means by which it improves bacterial survival needs to be investigated.

scholarly journals The Streptomycin-Sulfadiazine-Tetracycline Antimicrobial Resistance Element of Calf-Adapted Escherichia coli Is Widely Distributed among Isolates from Washington State Cattle

2007 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artashes R. Khachatryan ◽  
Thomas E. Besser ◽  
Douglas R. Call
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Resistance Pattern ◽  
Genetic Element ◽  
Dairy Calf ◽  
Genetic Traits ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT Association of specific antimicrobial resistance patterns with unrelated selective traits has long been implicated in the maintenance of antimicrobial resistance in a population. Previously we demonstrated that Escherichia coli strains with a specific resistance pattern (resistant to streptomycin, sulfadiazine, and tetracycline [SSuT]) have a selective advantage in dairy calf intestinal environments and in the presence of a milk supplement commonly fed to the calves. In the present study we identified the sequence of the genetic element that confers the SSuT phenotype and show that this element is present in a genetically diverse group of E. coli isolates, as assessed by macrorestriction digestion and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. This element was also found in E. coli isolates from 18 different cattle farms in Washington State. Using in vitro competition experiments we further demonstrated that SSuT strains from 17 of 18 farms were able to outcompete pansusceptible strains. In a separate set of experiments, we were able to transfer the antimicrobial resistance phenotype by electroporation to a laboratory strain of E. coli (DH10B), making that new strain more competitive during in vitro competition with the parental DH10B strain. These data indicate that a relatively large genetic element conferring the SSuT phenotype is widely distributed in E. coli from cattle in Washington State. Furthermore, our results indicate that this element is responsible for maintenance of these traits owing to linkage to genetic traits that confer a selective advantage in the intestinal lumens of dairy calves.

scholarly journals Selection for non-specific adhesion is a driver of FimH evolution increasing Escherichia coli biofilm capacity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari YOSHIDA ◽  
Stanislas THIRIET-RUPERT ◽  
Leonie MAYER ◽  
Christophe BELOIN ◽  
Jean-Marc GHIGO
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Adhesion Properties ◽  
Lectin Domain ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Type 1 Fimbriae ◽  
Abiotic Surfaces ◽  
Selection For

Bacterial interactions with surfaces rely on the coordinated expression and interplay of surface exposed adhesion factors. However, how bacteria dynamically modulate their vast repertoire of adhesins to achieve surface colonization is not yet well-understood. We used experimental evolution and positive selection for improved adhesion to investigate how an initially poorly adherent Escherichia coli strain increased its adhesion capacities to abiotic surfaces. We showed that all identified evolved clones acquired mutations located almost exclusively in the lectin domain of fimH, the gene coding for the alpha-D-mannose-specific tip adhesin of type 1 fimbriae. While most of these fimH mutants showed reduced mannose-binding ability, they all displayed enhanced binding to abiotic surfaces, indicating a trade-off between FimH-mediated specific and non-specific adhesion properties. Several of the identified mutations were already reported in FimH lectin domain of pathogenic and environmental E. coli, suggesting that, beyond patho-adaptation, FimH microevolution favoring non-specific surface adhesion could constitute a selective advantage for natural E. coli isolates. Consistently, although E. coli deleted for the fim operon still evolves an increased adhesion capacity, mutants selected in the ∆fim background are outcompeted by fimH mutants revealing clonal interference for adhesion. Our study therefore provides insights into the plasticity of E. coli adhesion potential and shows that evolution of type 1 fimbriae is a major driver of the adaptation of natural E. coli to colonization.

Plasmid-mediated ciprofloxacin resistance imparts a selective advantage on Escherichia coli ST131

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minh-Duy Phan ◽  
Kate M. Peters ◽  
Laura Alvarez Fraga ◽  
Steven C. Wallis ◽  
Steven Hancock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Rapid Dissemination

Escherichia coli ST131 is a recently emerged antibiotic resistant clone responsible for high rates of urinary tract and bloodstream infections. Despite its global dominance, the precise mechanisms that have driven the rapid dissemination of ST131 remain unknown. Here, we show that the plasmid-associated resistance gene encoding the AAC(6’)-Ib-cr enzyme that inactivates the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin is present in >70% of strains from the most rapidly expanding subgroup of multidrug resistant ST131. Using a series of genome-edited and plasmid-cured isogenic strains, we demonstrate that the aac(6’)-Ib-cr gene confers a selective advantage on ST131 in the presence of ciprofloxacin, even in strains containing chromosomal GyrA and ParC FQ-resistance mutations. Further, we identify a pattern of emerging carbapenem resistance in other common E. coli clones carrying both aac(6’)-Ib-cr and chromosomal FQ-resistance mutations, suggesting this dual resistance combination may also impart a selective advantage on these non-ST131 antibiotic resistant lineages.

KINETICS OF THREONINE DEAMINASE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI K-12 AND A STREPTOMYCIN-DEPENDENT MUTANT

1967 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. D. Desai ◽  
W. J. Polglase
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Threonine Deaminase ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Type K ◽  
Hyperbolic Curve ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Kinetics Of

The relation between threonine deaminase activity and threonine concentration in sonic extracts of wild-type and streptomycin-dependent Escherichia coli K-12 was found to follow a hyperbolic curve. A similar relationship was obtained between enzyme activity and pyridoxal concentration. However, when serine was used as substrate, the activity–concentration curve was sigmoid, suggesting that serine may be a weaker effector of allosteric transition than threonine. The kinetic properties of the (derepressed) threonine deaminase of streptomycin-dependent E. coli K-12 were found to be similar to those of the enzyme of the wild-type K-12.It is postulated that derepression of threonine deaminase in streptomycin-dependent E. coli K-12 provides a selective advantage which permits exponential growth of this mutant in the presence of L-valine, which is an excretory product of streptomycin-dependent microorganisms.

scholarly journals RNA polymerase supply and flux through the lac operon in Escherichia coli

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1707) ◽  
pp. 20160080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bandar Sendy ◽  
David J. Lee ◽  
Stephen J. W. Busby ◽  
Jack A. Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Lac Operon ◽  
Lactose Operon ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Synthetic Promoters ◽  
Promoter Occupancy ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Polymerase Binding ◽  
Transcript Initiation

Chromatin immunoprecipitation, followed by quantification of immunoprecipitated DNA, can be used to measure RNA polymerase binding to any DNA segment in Escherichia coli . By calibrating measurements against the signal from a single RNA polymerase bound at a single promoter, we can calculate both promoter occupancy levels and the flux of transcribing RNA polymerase through transcription units. Here, we have applied the methodology to the E. coli lactose operon promoter. We confirm that promoter occupancy is limited by recruitment and that the supply of RNA polymerase to the lactose operon promoter depends on its location in the E. coli chromosome. Measurements of RNA polymerase binding to DNA segments within the lactose operon show that flux of RNA polymerase through the operon is low, with, on average, over 18 s elapsing between the passage of transcribing polymerases. Similar low levels of flux were found when semi-synthetic promoters were used to drive transcript initiation, even when the promoter elements were changed to ensure full occupancy of the promoter by RNA polymerase. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The new bacteriology’.

The Escherichia coli multiple antibiotic resistance activator protein represses transcription of the lac operon

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 671-677
Author(s):  
Anna Lankester ◽  
Shafayeth Ahmed ◽  
Lisa E. Lamberte ◽  
Rachel A. Kettles ◽  
David C. Grainger
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Lac Operon ◽  
Multiple Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Response Systems ◽  
A Site

AbstractIn Escherichia coli, the marRAB operon is a determinant for antibiotic resistance. Such phenotypes require the encoded transcription factor MarA that activates efflux pump expression. To better understand all genes controlled by MarA, we recently mapped binding of the regulator across the E. coli genome. As expected, many MarA targets were adjacent to genes encoding stress response systems. Surprisingly, one MarA-binding site overlapped the lac operon regulatory region. Here, we show that MarA specifically targets this locus and can block transcription of the lac genes. Repression is mediated by binding of MarA to a site overlapping the lacP1 promoter −35 element. Control of the lac operon by MarA does not impact antibiotic resistance.

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