Use of in vivo Expression Technology for the Identification of Putative Host Adaptation Factors of the Lyme Disease Spirochete

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 349-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Casselli ◽  
Troy Bankhead
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
In Vitro Selection ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Promoter Sequences ◽  
Trap System ◽  
In Vivo Expression ◽  
Promoter Trap ◽  
Bacterial Genes

The causative agent of Lyme disease, <i>Borrelia burgdorferi,</i> is an obligate parasite that requires either a tick vector or a mammalian host for survival. Identification of the bacterial genes that are specifically expressed during infection of the mammalian host could provide targets for novel therapeutics and vaccines. In vivo expression technology (IVET) is a reporter-based promoter trap system that utilizes selectable markers to identify promoters of bacterial host-specific genes. Using previously characterized genes for in vivo and in vitro selection, this study utilized an IVET system that allows for selection of <i>B. burgdorferi</i> sequences that act as active promoters only during murine infection. This promoter trap system was able to successfully distinguish active promoter sequences both in vivo and in vitro from control sequences and a library of cloned <i>B. burgdorferi</i> genomic fragments. However, a bottleneck effect during the experimental mouse infection limited the utility for genome-wide promoter screening. Overall, IVET was demonstrated as a tool for the identification of in vivo-induced promoter elements of <i>B. burgdorferi,</i> and the observed infection bottleneck apparent using a polyclonal infection pool provides insight into the dynamics of experimental infection with <i>B. burgdorferi.</i>

scholarly journals Role of the BBA64 Locus of Borrelia burgdorferi in Early Stages of Infectivity in a Murine Model of Lyme Disease

2007 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 391-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahulena Maruskova ◽  
M. Dolores Esteve-Gassent ◽  
Valerie L. Sexton ◽  
J. Seshu
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Immunoblot Analysis ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Linear Plasmid 54

ABSTRACT Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, undergoes rapid adaptive gene expression in response to environmental signals encountered during different stages of its life cycle in the arthropod vector or the mammalian host. Among all the plasmid-encoded genes of B. burgdorferi, several linear plasmid 54 (lp54)-encoded open reading frames (ORFs) exhibit the greatest differential expression in response to mammalian host-specific temperature, pH, and other uncharacterized signals. These ORFs include members of the paralogous gene family 54 (pgf 54), such as BBA64, BBA65, and BBA66, present on lp54. In an attempt to correlate transcriptional up-regulation of these pgf 54 members to their role in infectivity, we inactivated BBA64 and characterized the phenotype of this mutant both in vitro and in vivo. There were no major differences in the protein profiles between the BBA64 mutant and the control strains, while immunoblot analysis indicated that inactivation of BBA64 resulted in increased levels of BBA65. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the ability of the BBA64 mutant to infect C3H/HeN mice compared to that of its parental or complemented control strains as determined by culturing of viable spirochetes from infected tissues. However, enumeration of spirochetes using quantitative real-time PCR revealed tissue-specific differences, suggesting a minimal role for BBA64 in the survival of B. burgdorferi in select tissues. Infectivity analysis of the BBA64 mutant suggests that B. burgdorferi may utilize multiple determinants to establish infection in mammalian hosts.

scholarly journals Unraveling the Secret Lives of Bacteria: Use of In Vivo Expression Technology and Differential Fluorescence Induction Promoter Traps as Tools for Exploring Niche-Specific Gene Expression

2005 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Rediers ◽  
Paul B. Rainey ◽  
Jos Vanderleyden ◽  
René De Mot
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescence Induction ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Promoter Trapping ◽  
Selection Strategies ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
In Vivo Expression ◽  
Promoter Trap

SUMMARY A major challenge for microbiologists is to elucidate the strategies deployed by microorganisms to adapt to and thrive in highly complex and dynamic environments. In vitro studies, including those monitoring genomewide changes, have proven their value, but they can, at best, mimic only a subset of the ensemble of abiotic and biotic stimuli that microorganisms experience in their natural habitats. The widely used gene-to-phenotype approach involves the identification of altered niche-related phenotypes on the basis of gene inactivation. However, many traits contributing to ecological performance that, upon inactivation, result in only subtle or difficult to score phenotypic changes are likely to be overlooked by this otherwise powerful approach. Based on the premise that many, if not most, of the corresponding genes will be induced or upregulated in the environment under study, ecologically significant genes can alternatively be traced using the promoter trap techniques differential fluorescence induction and in vivo expression technology (IVET). The potential and limitations are discussed for the different IVET selection strategies and system-specific variants thereof. Based on a compendium of genes that have emerged from these promoter-trapping studies, several functional groups have been distinguished, and their physiological relevance is illustrated with follow-up studies of selected genes. In addition to confirming results from largely complementary approaches such as signature-tagged mutagenesis, some unexpected parallels as well as distinguishing features of microbial phenotypic acclimation in diverse environmental niches have surfaced. On the other hand, by the identification of a large proportion of genes with unknown function, these promoter-trapping studies underscore how little we know about the secret lives of bacteria and other microorganisms.

Polyamines and Related Nitrogen Compounds in the Chemotherapy of Neglected Diseases Caused by Kinetoplastids

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 321-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Bisceglia ◽  
Maria C. Mollo ◽  
Nadia Gruber ◽  
Liliana R. Orelli
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Nitrogen Compounds ◽  
Chemical Structures

Neglected diseases due to the parasitic protozoa Leishmania and Trypanosoma (kinetoplastids) affect millions of people worldwide, and the lack of suitable treatments has promoted an ongoing drug discovery effort to identify novel nontoxic and cost-effective chemotherapies. Polyamines are ubiquitous small organic molecules that play key roles in kinetoplastid parasites metabolism, redox homeostasis and in the normal progression of cell cycles, which differ from those found in the mammalian host. These features make polyamines attractive in terms of antiparasitic drug development. The present work provides a comprehensive insight on the use of polyamine derivatives and related nitrogen compounds in the chemotherapy of kinetoplastid diseases. The amount of literature on this subject is considerable, and a classification considering drug targets and chemical structures were made. Polyamines, aminoalcohols and basic heterocycles designed to target the relevant parasitic enzyme trypanothione reductase are discussed in the first section, followed by compounds directed to less common targets, like parasite SOD and the aminopurine P2 transporter. Finally, the third section comprises nitrogen compounds structurally derived from antimalaric agents. References on the chemical synthesis of the selected compounds are reported together with their in vivo and/or in vitro IC50 values, and structureactivity relationships within each group are analyzed. Some favourable structural features were identified from the SAR analyses comprising protonable sites, hydrophobic groups and optimum distances between them. The importance of certain pharmacophoric groups or amino acid residues in the bioactivity of polyamine derived compounds is also discussed.

scholarly journals Identification of Resistance Determinants for a Promising Antileishmanial Oxaborole Series

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1408
Author(s):  
Magali Van den Kerkhof ◽  
Philippe Leprohon ◽  
Dorien Mabille ◽  
Sarah Hendrickx ◽  
Lindsay B. Tulloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Exposure ◽  
In Vitro Selection ◽  
Selection Procedure ◽  
Cosmid Library ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Chromosome 2 ◽  
Resistance Determinants ◽  
A Genome

Current treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis have several drawbacks, and clinicians are confronted with an increasing number of treatment failures. To overcome this, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) has invested in the development of novel antileishmanial leads, including a very promising class of oxaboroles. The mode of action/resistance of this series to Leishmania is still unknown and may be important for its further development and implementation. Repeated in vivo drug exposure and an in vitro selection procedure on both extracellular promastigote and intracellular amastigote stages were both unable to select for resistance. The use of specific inhibitors for ABC-transporters could not demonstrate the putative involvement of efflux pumps. Selection experiments and inhibitor studies, therefore, suggest that resistance to oxaboroles may not emerge readily in the field. The selection of a genome-wide cosmid library coupled to next-generation sequencing (Cos-seq) was used to identify resistance determinants and putative targets. This resulted in the identification of a highly enriched cosmid, harboring genes of chromosome 2 that confer a subtly increased resistance to the oxaboroles tested. Moderately enriched cosmids encompassing a region of chromosome 34 contained the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (cpsf) gene, encoding the molecular target of several related benzoxaboroles in other organisms.

scholarly journals Streptococcal Adhesion and Colonization

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F. Jenkinson ◽  
RJ Lamont
Keyword(s):  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Repeated Sequence ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Acellular Vaccines

Streptococci express arrays of adhesins on their cell surfaces that facilitate adherence to substrates present in their natural environment within the mammalian host. A consequence of such promiscuous binding ability is that streptococcal cells may adhere simultaneously to a spectrum of substrates, including salivary glycoproteins, extracellular matrix and serum components, host cells, and other microbial cells. The multiplicity of streptococcal adherence interactions accounts, at least in part, for their success in colonizing the oral and epithelial surfaces of humans. Adhesion facilitates colonization and may be a precursor to tissue invasion and immune modulation, events that presage the development of disease. Many of the streptococcal adhesins and virulence-related factors are cell-wall-associated proteins containing repeated sequence blocks of amino acids. Linear sequences, both within the blocks and within non-repetitive regions of the proteins, have been implicated in substrate binding. Sequences and functions of these proteins among the streptococci have become assorted through gene duplication and horizontal transfer between bacterial populations. Several adhesins identified and characterized through in vitro binding assays have been analyzed for in vivo expression and function by means of animal models used for colonization and virulence. Information on the molecular structure of adhesins as related to their in vivo function will allow for the rational design of novel acellular vaccines, recombinant antibodies, and adhesion agonists for the future control or prevention of streptococcal colonization and streptococcal diseases.

In vitro and in vivo expression of a nephritogenic Ig heavy chain determinant: Pathogenic autoreactivity requires permissive light chains

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda G Cooperstone ◽  
Mohammed M Rahman ◽  
Earl H Rudolph ◽  
Mary H Foster
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Light Chains ◽  
In Vivo Expression ◽  
Ig Heavy Chain

In Vitro and in Vivo Expression α7 Integrin and Desmin Define the Primary and Secondary Myogenic Lineages

1993 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mindy George-Weinstein ◽  
Rachel F. Foster ◽  
Jacquelyn V. Gerhart ◽  
Stephen J. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
In Vivo Expression

scholarly journals Leishmania mexicana Mutants Lacking Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI):Protein Transamidase Provide Insights into the Biosynthesis and Functions of GPI-anchored Proteins

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1183-1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Hilley ◽  
Jody L. Zawadzki ◽  
Malcolm J. McConville ◽  
Graham H. Coombs ◽  
Jeremy C. Mottram
Keyword(s):  
Normal Growth ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Putative Protein ◽  
Major Class ◽  
Major Surface Proteins ◽  
Major Surface

The major surface proteins of the parasitic protozoonLeishmania mexicana are anchored to the plasma membrane by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors. We have cloned the L. mexicana GPI8 gene that encodes the catalytic component of the GPI:protein transamidase complex that adds GPI anchors to nascent cell surface proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Mutants lacking GPI8 (ΔGPI8) do not express detectable levels of GPI-anchored proteins and accumulate two putative protein–anchor precursors. However, the synthesis and cellular levels of other non–protein-linked GPIs, including lipophosphoglycan and a major class of free GPIs, are not affected in the ΔGPI8 mutant. Significantly, the ΔGPI8 mutant displays normal growth in liquid culture, is capable of differentiating into replicating amastigotes within macrophages in vitro, and is infective to mice. These data suggest that GPI-anchored surface proteins are not essential to L. mexicana for its entry into and survival within mammalian host cells in vitro or in vivo and provide further support for the notion that free GPIs are essential for parasite growth.

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