scholarly journals A Novel Phosphodiesterase of the GdpP Family Modulates Cyclic di-AMP Levels in Response to Cell Membrane Stress in Daptomycin-Resistant Enterococci

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Wang ◽  
Milya Davlieva ◽  
Jinnethe Reyes ◽  
Diana Panesso ◽  
Cesar A. Arias ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Substitutions in the LiaFSR membrane stress pathway are frequently associated with the emergence of antimicrobial peptide resistance in both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP) is an important signal molecule that affects many aspects of bacterial physiology, including stress responses. We have previously identified a mutation in a gene (designated yybT) in E. faecalis that was associated with the development of daptomycin resistance, resulting in a change at position 440 (yybT I440S) in the predicted protein. Here, we show that intracellular c-di-AMP signaling is present in enterococci, and on the basis of in vitro physicochemical characterization, we show that E. faecalis yybT encodes a cyclic dinucleotide phosphodiesterase of the GdpP family that exhibits specific activity toward c-di-AMP by hydrolyzing it to 5′pApA. The E. faecalis GdpPI440S substitution reduces c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase activity more than 11-fold, leading to further increases in c-di-AMP levels. Additionally, deletions of liaR (encoding the response regulator of the LiaFSR system) that lead to daptomycin hypersusceptibility in both E. faecalis and E. faecium also resulted in increased c-di-AMP levels, suggesting that changes in the LiaFSR stress response pathway are linked to broader physiological changes. Taken together, our data show that modulation of c-di-AMP pools is strongly associated with antibiotic-induced cell membrane stress responses via changes in GdpP activity or signaling through the LiaFSR system.

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (14) ◽  
pp. 4410-4420 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Harp ◽  
Holly E. Saito ◽  
Allen K. Bourdon ◽  
Jinnethe Reyes ◽  
Cesar A. Arias ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecalisis a commensal bacterium of the gastrointestinal tract that can cause nosocomial infections in immunocompromised humans. The hallmarks of this organism are its ability to survive in a variety of stressful habitats and, in particular, its ability to withstand membrane damage. One strategy used byE. faecalisto protect itself from membrane-damaging agents, including the antibiotic daptomycin, involves incorporation of exogenous fatty acids from bile or serum into the cell membrane. Additionally, the response regulator LiaR (a member of the LiaFSR [lipid II-interacting antibiotic response regulator and sensor] system associated with cell envelope stress responses) is required for the basal level of resistanceE. faecalishas to daptomycin-induced membrane damage. This study aimed to determine if membrane fatty acid changes could provide protection against membrane stressors in a LiaR-deficient strain ofE. faecalis. We noted that despite the loss of LiaR, the organism readily incorporated exogenous fatty acids into its membrane, and indeed growth in the presence of exogenous fatty acids increased the survival of LiaR-deficient cells when challenged with a variety of membrane stressors, including daptomycin. Combined, our results suggest thatE. faecaliscan utilize both LiaR-dependent and -independent mechanisms to protect itself from membrane damage.IMPORTANCEEnterococcus faecalisis responsible for a significant number of nosocomial infections. Worse, many of the antibiotics used to treatE. faecalisinfection are no longer effective, as this organism has developed resistance to them. The drug daptomycin has been successfully used to treat some of these resistant strains; however, daptomycin-resistant isolates have been identified in hospitals. Many daptomycin-resistant isolates are found to harbor mutations in the genetic locusliaFSR, which is involved in membrane stress responses. Another mechanism shown to increase tolerance to daptomycin involves the incorporation of exogenous fatty acids from host fluids like serum or bile. This improved tolerance was found to be independent ofliaFSRand suggests that there are additional ways to impact sensitivity to daptomycin. Thus, further studies are needed to understand how host fatty acid sources can influence antibiotic susceptibility.


2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (11) ◽  
pp. 1886-1892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Tsang ◽  
Takanori Hirano ◽  
Timothy R. Hoover ◽  
Jonathan L. McMurry

ABSTRACTFlagellar biogenesis is a complex process that involves multiple checkpoints to coordinate transcription of flagellar genes with the assembly of the flagellum. InHelicobacter pylori, transcription of the genes needed in the middle stage of flagellar biogenesis is governed by RpoN and the two-component system consisting of the histidine kinase FlgS and response regulator FlgR. In response to an unknown signal, FlgS autophosphorylates and transfers the phosphate to FlgR, initiating transcription from RpoN-dependent promoters. In the present study, export apparatus protein FlhA was examined as a potential signal protein. Deletion of its N-terminal cytoplasmic sequence dramatically decreased expression of two RpoN-dependent genes,flaBandflgE. Optical biosensing demonstrated a high-affinity interaction between FlgS and a peptide consisting of residues 1 to 25 of FlhA (FlhANT). TheKD(equilibrium dissociation constant) was 21 nM and was characterized by fast-on (kon= 2.9 × 104M−1s−1) and slow-off (koff= 6.2 × 10−4s−1) kinetics. FlgS did not bind peptides consisting of smaller fragments of the FlhANTsequence. Analysis of binding to purified fragments of FlgS demonstrated that the C-terminal portion of the protein containing the kinase domain binds FlhANT. FlhANTbinding did not stimulate FlgS autophosphorylationin vitro, suggesting that FlhA facilitates interactions between FlgS and other structures required to stimulate autophosphorylation.IMPORTANCEThe high-affinity binding of FlgS to FlhA characterized in this study points to an additional role for FlhA in flagellar assembly. Beyond its necessity for type III secretion, the N-terminal cytoplasmic sequence of FlhA is required for RpoN-dependent gene expression via interaction with the C-terminal kinase domain of FlgS.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 356-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley Wu ◽  
Zachary Herrera ◽  
Danny Ebert ◽  
Katie Baska ◽  
Seok H. Cho ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe apicoplast is an essential plastid organelle found inPlasmodiumparasites which contains several clinically validated antimalarial-drug targets. A chemical rescue screen identified MMV-08138 from the “Malaria Box” library of growth-inhibitory antimalarial compounds as having specific activity against the apicoplast. MMV-08138 inhibition of blood-stagePlasmodium falciparumgrowth is stereospecific and potent, with the most active diastereomer demonstrating a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 110 nM. Whole-genome sequencing of 3 drug-resistant parasite populations from two independent selections revealed E688Q and L244I mutations inP. falciparumIspD, an enzyme in the MEP (methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate) isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis pathway in the apicoplast. The active diastereomer of MMV-08138 directly inhibited PfIspD activityin vitrowith a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 7.0 nM. MMV-08138 is the first PfIspD inhibitor to be identified and, together with heterologously expressed PfIspD, provides the foundation for further development of this promising antimalarial drug candidate lead. Furthermore, this report validates the use of the apicoplast chemical rescue screen coupled with target elucidation as a discovery tool to identify specific apicoplast-targeting compounds with new mechanisms of action.


2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (22) ◽  
pp. 6358-6365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Wolański ◽  
Rafał Donczew ◽  
Agnieszka Kois-Ostrowska ◽  
Paweł Masiewicz ◽  
Dagmara Jakimowicz ◽  
...  

AdpA is a key regulator of morphological differentiation inStreptomyces. In contrast toStreptomyces griseus, relatively little is known about AdpA protein functions inStreptomyces coelicolor. Here, we report for the first time the translation accumulation profile of theS. coelicoloradpA(adpASc) gene; the level ofS. coelicolorAdpA (AdpASc) increased, reaching a maximum in the early stage of aerial mycelium formation (after 36 h), and remained relatively stable for the next several hours (48 to 60 h), and then the signal intensity decreased considerably. AdpAScspecifically binds theadpAScpromoter regionin vitroandin vivo, suggesting that its expression is autoregulated; surprisingly, in contrast toS. griseus, the protein presumably acts as a transcriptional activator. We also demonstrate a direct influence of AdpAScon the expression of several genes whose products play key roles in the differentiation ofS. coelicolor: STI, a protease inhibitor; RamR, an atypical response regulator that itself activates expression of the genes for a small modified peptide that is required for aerial growth; and ClpP1, an ATP-dependent protease. The diverse influence of AdpAScprotein on the expression of the analyzed genes presumably results mainly from different affinities of AdpAScprotein to individual promoters.


2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 791-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong-Bao Liu ◽  
Yina Wang ◽  
Sabriya Stukes ◽  
Qing Chen ◽  
Arturo Casadevall ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCryptococcus neoformansis the leading cause of fungal meningitis in immunocomprised populations. Although extensive studies have been conducted on signal transduction pathways important for fungal sexual reproduction and virulence, how fungal virulence is regulated during infection is still not understood. In this study, we identified the F-box protein Fbp1, which contains a putative F-box domain and 12 leucine-rich repeats (LRR). Althoughfbp1mutants showed normal growth and produced normal major virulence factors, such as melanin and capsule, Fbp1 was found to be essential for fungal virulence, asfbp1mutants were avirulent in a murine systemic-infection model. Fbp1 is also important for fungal sexual reproduction. Basidiospore production was blocked in bilateral mating betweenfbp1mutants, even though normal dikaryotic hyphae were observed during mating.In vitroassays of stress responses revealed thatfbp1mutants are hypersensitive to SDS, but not calcofluor white (CFW) or Congo red, indicating that Fbp1 may regulate cell membrane integrity. Fbp1 physically interacts with Skp1 homologues in bothSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandC. neoformansvia its F-box domain, suggesting it may function as part of an SCF (Skp1, Cullins, F-box proteins) E3 ligase. Overall, our study revealed that the F-box protein Fbp1 is essential for fungal sporulation and virulence inC. neoformans, which likely represents a conserved novel virulence control mechanism that involves the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase-mediated proteolysis pathway.


2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 3757-3769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Janoir ◽  
Cécile Denève ◽  
Sylvie Bouttier ◽  
Frédéric Barbut ◽  
Sandra Hoys ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTClostridium difficileis currently the major cause of nosocomial intestinal diseases associated with antibiotic therapy in adults. In order to improve our knowledge ofC. difficile-host interactions, we analyzed the genome-wide temporal expression ofC. difficile630 genes during the first 38 h of mouse colonization to identify genes whose expression is modulatedin vivo, suggesting that they may play a role in facilitating the colonization process. In the ceca of theC. difficile-monoassociated mice, 549 genes of theC. difficilegenome were differentially expressed compared to their expression duringin vitrogrowth, and they were distributed in several functional categories. Overall, our results emphasize the roles of genes involved in host adaptation. Colonization results in a metabolic shift, with genes responsible for the fermentation as well as several other metabolic pathways being regulated inversely to those involved in carbon metabolism. In addition, several genes involved in stress responses, such as ferrous iron uptake or the response to oxidative stress, were regulatedin vivo. Interestingly, many genes encoding conserved hypothetical proteins (CHP) were highly and specifically upregulatedin vivo. Moreover, genes for all stages of sporulation were quickly inducedin vivo, highlighting the observation that sporulation is central to the persistence ofC. difficilein the gut and to its ability to spread in the environment. Finally, we inactivated two genes that were differentially expressedin vivoand evaluated the relative colonization fitness of the wild-type and mutant strains in coinfection experiments. We identified a CHP as a putative colonization factor, supporting the suggestion that thein vivotranscriptomic approach can unravel newC. difficilevirulence genes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 2926-2933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kesaven Bhubalan ◽  
Jo-Ann Chuah ◽  
Fumi Shozui ◽  
Christopher J. Brigham ◽  
Seiichi Taguchi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe synthesis of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is very much dependent on the expression and activity of a key enzyme, PHA synthase (PhaC). Many efforts are being pursued to enhance the activity and broaden the substrate specificity of PhaC. Here, we report the identification of a highly active wild-type PhaC belonging to the recently isolatedChromobacteriumsp. USM2 (PhaCCs). PhaCCsshowed the ability to utilize 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) monomers in PHA biosynthesis. Anin vitroassay of recombinant PhaCCsexpressed inEscherichia colishowed that its polymerization of 3-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A activity was nearly 8-fold higher (2,462 ± 80 U/g) than that of the synthase from the model strainC. necator(307 ± 24 U/g). Specific activity using a Strep2-tagged, purified PhaCCswas 238 ± 98 U/mg, almost 5-fold higher than findings of previous studies using purified PhaC fromC. necator. Efficient poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] accumulation inEscherichia coliexpressing PhaCCsof up to 76 ± 2 weight percent was observed within 24 h of cultivation. To date, this is the highest activity reported for a purified PHA synthase. PhaCCsis a naturally occurring, highly active PHA synthase with superior polymerizing ability.


mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Celine Vidaillac ◽  
Valerie Fei Lee Yong ◽  
Marie-Stephanie Aschtgen ◽  
Jing Qu ◽  
Shuowei Yang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Estrogen, a major female sex steroid hormone, has been shown to promote the selection of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the airways of patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including cystic fibrosis. This results in long-term persistence, poorer clinical outcomes, and limited therapeutic options. In this study, we demonstrate that at physiological concentrations, sex steroids, including testosterone and estriol, induce membrane stress responses in P. aeruginosa. This is characterized by increased virulence and consequent inflammation and release of proinflammatory outer membrane vesicles promoting in vivo persistence of the bacteria. The steroid-induced P. aeruginosa response correlates with the molecular polarity of the hormones and membrane fluidic properties of the bacteria. This novel mechanism of interaction between sex steroids and P. aeruginosa explicates the reported increased disease severity observed in females with cystic fibrosis and provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of the modulation of sex steroids to achieve better clinical outcomes in patients with hormone-responsive strains. IMPORTANCE Molecular mechanisms by which sex steroids interact with P. aeruginosa to modulate its virulence have yet to be reported. Our work provides the first characterization of a steroid-induced membrane stress mechanism promoting P. aeruginosa virulence, which includes the release of proinflammatory outer membrane vesicles, resulting in inflammation, host tissue damage, and reduced bacterial clearance. We further demonstrate that at nanomolar (physiological) concentrations, male and female sex steroids promote virulence in clinical strains of P. aeruginosa based on their dynamic membrane fluidic properties. This work provides, for the first-time, mechanistic insight to better understand and predict the P. aeruginosa related response to sex steroids and explain the interindividual patient variability observed in respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis that are complicated by gender differences and chronic P. aeruginosa infection.


mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirthana M. V. Sindhe ◽  
Wesley Wu ◽  
Jenny Legac ◽  
Yong-Kang Zhang ◽  
Eric E. Easom ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT New antimalarial drugs are needed. The benzoxaborole AN13762 showed excellent activity against cultured Plasmodium falciparum, against fresh Ugandan P. falciparum isolates, and in murine malaria models. To gain mechanistic insights, we selected in vitro for P. falciparum isolates resistant to AN13762. In all of 11 independent selections with 100 to 200 nM AN13762, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) increased from 18–118 nM to 180–890 nM, and whole-genome sequencing of resistant parasites demonstrated mutations in prodrug activation and resistance esterase (PfPARE). The introduction of PfPARE mutations led to a similar level of resistance, and recombinant PfPARE hydrolyzed AN13762 to the benzoxaborole AN10248, which has activity similar to that of AN13762 but for which selection of resistance was not readily achieved. Parasites further selected with micromolar concentrations of AN13762 developed higher-level resistance (IC50, 1.9 to 5.0 μM), and sequencing revealed additional mutations in any of 5 genes, 4 of which were associated with ubiquitination/sumoylation enzyme cascades; the introduction of one of these mutations, in SUMO-activating enzyme subunit 2, led to a similar level of resistance. The other gene mutated in highly resistant parasites encodes the P. falciparum cleavage and specificity factor homolog PfCPSF3, previously identified as the antimalarial target of another benzoxaborole. Parasites selected for resistance to AN13762 were cross-resistant with a close analog, AN13956, but not with standard antimalarials, AN10248, or other benzoxaboroles known to have different P. falciparum targets. Thus, AN13762 appears to have a novel mechanism of antimalarial action and multiple mechanisms of resistance, including loss of function of PfPARE preventing activation to AN10248, followed by alterations in ubiquitination/sumoylation pathways or PfCPSF3. IMPORTANCE Benzoxaboroles are under study as potential new drugs to treat malaria. One benzoxaborole, AN13762, has potent activity and promising features, but its mechanisms of action and resistance are unknown. To gain insights into these mechanisms, we cultured malaria parasites with nonlethal concentrations of AN13762 and generated parasites with varied levels of resistance. Parasites with low-level resistance had mutations in PfPARE, which processes AN13762 into an active metabolite; PfPARE mutations prevented this processing. Parasites with high-level resistance had mutations in any of a number of enzymes, mostly those involved in stress responses. Parasites selected for AN13762 resistance were not resistant to other antimalarials, suggesting novel mechanisms of action and resistance for AN13762, a valuable feature for a new class of antimalarial drugs.


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 5046-5053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Berti ◽  
Justine E. Wergin ◽  
Gary G. Girdaukas ◽  
Scott J. Hetzel ◽  
George Sakoulas ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTDaptomycin (DAP) is increasingly used as a part of combination therapy, particularly in complex methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) infections. While multiple studies have reported the potential for synergy between DAP and adjunctive anti-infectives, few have examined the influence of adjunctive therapy on the emergence of DAP resistance. This study examined eight adjunctive antimicrobial combinations with DAPin vitroand the emergence of DAP resistance over time (up to 4 weeks) using clinical isolates of DAP-susceptible MRSA (MIC, 0.5 μg/ml) in which DAP resistance subsequently developed during patient therapy (MIC, 3 μg/ml). In addition to DAP susceptibility testing, selected strains were examined for phenotypic changes associated with DAP resistance, including changes to cell wall thickness (CWT) and cell membrane alterations. The addition of either oxacillin or clarithromycin in medium containing DAP significantly inhibited the development of DAP resistance through the entirety of the 4-week exposure (10- to 32-fold MIC reduction from that of DAP alone). Combinations with rifampin or fosfomycin were effective in delaying the emergence of DAP resistance through the end of week one only (week one MIC, 0.5 μg/ml; week four MIC, 24 μg/ml). Cell wall thickening was observed for all antibiotic combinations regardless of their effect on the DAP MIC (14 to 70% increase in CWT), while changes in cell membrane fluidity were variable and treatment dependent. DAP showed reduced activity against strains with DAP MICs of 1 to 12 μg/ml, but cell membrane integrity was still disrupted at concentrations achieved with doses greater than 10 mg/kg of body weight. The emergence of DAP resistance in MRSA is strongly influenced by the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of adjunctive antimicrobials. These data suggest that combining DAP with oxacillin or clarithromycin may delay the development of DAP resistance in cases requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy.


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