scholarly journals Genetic Basis and Physiological Effects of Lipid A Hydroxylation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Lo Sciuto ◽  
Matteo Cervoni ◽  
Roberta Stefanelli ◽  
Maria Concetta Spinnato ◽  
Alessandra Di Giamberardino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Human Blood ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Acyl Chains

Modifications of the lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccharide influence the physicochemical properties of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Some bacteria produce lipid A with a single hydroxylated secondary acyl chain. This hydroxylation is catalyzed by the dioxygenase LpxO, and is important for resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides (e.g., polymyxins), survival in human blood, and pathogenicity in animal models. The lipid A of the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be hydroxylated in both secondary acyl chains, but the genetic basis and physiological role of these hydroxylations are still unknown. Through the generation of single and double deletion mutants in the lpxO1 and lpxO2 homologs of P. aeruginosa PAO1 and lipid A analysis by mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that both LpxO1 and LpxO2 are responsible for lipid A hydroxylation, likely acting on different secondary acyl chains. Lipid A hydroxylation does not appear to affect in vitro growth, cell wall stability, and resistance to human blood or antibiotics in P. aeruginosa. In contrast, it is required for infectivity in the Galleria mellonella infection model, without relevantly affecting in vivo persistence. Overall, these findings suggest a role for lipid A hydroxylation in P. aeruginosa virulence that could not be directly related to outer membrane integrity.

scholarly journals The Lipopolysaccharide of Brucella abortus BvrS/BvrR Mutants Contains Lipid A Modifications and Has Higher Affinity for Bactericidal Cationic Peptides

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (16) ◽  
pp. 5631-5639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorea Manterola ◽  
Ignacio Moriyón ◽  
Edgardo Moreno ◽  
Alberto Sola-Landa ◽  
David S. Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Brucella Abortus ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Outer Membrane Proteins ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Polymyxin B ◽  
Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
Membrane Components

ABSTRACT The two-component BvrS/BvrR system is essential for Brucella abortus virulence. It was shown previously that its dysfunction abrogates expression of some major outer membrane proteins and increases bactericidal peptide sensitivity. Here, we report that BvrS/BvrR mutants have increased surface hydrophobicity and susceptibility to killing by nonimmune serum. The bvrS and bvrR mutant lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) bound more polymyxin B, chimeras constructed with bvrS mutant cells and parental LPS showed augmented polymyxin B resistance, and, conversely, parental cells and bvrS mutant LPS chimeras were more sensitive and displayed polymyxin B-characteristic outer membrane lesions, implicating LPS as being responsible for the phenotype of the BvrS/BvrR mutants. No qualitative or quantitative changes were detected in other envelope and outer membrane components examined: periplasmic β(1-2) glucans, native hapten polysaccharide, and phospholipids. The LPS of the mutants was similar to parental LPS in O-polysaccharide polymerization and fine structure but showed both increased underacylated lipid A species and higher acyl-chain fluidity that correlated with polymyxin B binding. These lipid A changes did not alter LPS cytokine induction, showing that in contrast to other gram-negative pathogens, recognition by innate immune receptors is not decreased by these changes in LPS structure. Transcription of Brucella genes required for incorporating long acyl chains into lipid A (acpXL and lpxXL) or implicated in lipid A acylation control (bacA) was not affected. We propose that in Brucella the outer membrane homeostasis depends on the functioning of BvrS/BvrR. Accordingly, disruption of BvrS/BvrR damages the outer membrane, thus contributing to the severe attenuation manifested by bvrS and bvrR mutants.

scholarly journals Granulibacter bethesdensis, a Pathogen from Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease, Produces a Penta-Acylated Hypostimulatory Glycero-d-talo-oct-2-ulosonic Acid–Lipid A Glycolipid (Ko-Lipid A)

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3303
Author(s):  
Artur Muszyński ◽  
Kol A. Zarember ◽  
Christian Heiss ◽  
Joseph Shiloach ◽  
Lars J. Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Granulomatous Disease ◽  
Human Blood ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Acid Resistance ◽  
Strong Acid ◽  
Granulomatous Disease ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Phagocyte Nadph Oxidase ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
Ulosonic Acid

Granulibacter bethesdensis can infect patients with chronic granulomatous disease, an immunodeficiency caused by reduced phagocyte NADPH oxidase function. Intact G. bethesdensis (Gb) is hypostimulatory compared to Escherichia coli, i.e., cytokine production in human blood requires 10–100 times more G. bethesdensis CFU/mL than E. coli. To better understand the pathogenicity of G. bethesdensis, we isolated its lipopolysaccharide (GbLPS) and characterized its lipid A. Unlike with typical Enterobacteriaceae, the release of presumptive Gb lipid A from its LPS required a strong acid. NMR and mass spectrometry demonstrated that the carbohydrate portion of the isolated glycolipid consists of α-Manp-(1→4)-β-GlcpN3N-(1→6)-α-GlcpN-(1⇿1)-α-GlcpA tetra-saccharide substituted with five acyl chains: the amide-linked N-3′ 14:0(3-OH), N-2′ 16:0(3-O16:0), and N-2 18:0(3-OH) and the ester-linked O-3 14:0(3-OH) and 16:0. The identification of glycero-d-talo-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Ko) as the first constituent of the core region of the LPS that is covalently attached to GlcpN3N of the lipid backbone may account for the acid resistance of GbLPS. In addition, the presence of Ko and only five acyl chains may explain the >10-fold lower proinflammatory potency of GbKo–lipidA compared to E. coli lipid A, as measured by cytokine induction in human blood. These unusual structural properties of the G.bethesdensis Ko–lipid A glycolipid likely contribute to immune evasion during pathogenesis and resistance to antimicrobial peptides.

scholarly journals Shortening the Lipid A Acyl Chains of Bordetella pertussis Enables Depletion of Lipopolysaccharide Endotoxic Activity

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 594
Author(s):  
Jesús Arenas ◽  
Elder Pupo ◽  
Coen Phielix ◽  
Dionne David ◽  
Afshin Zariri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bordetella Pertussis ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Whooping Cough ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Whole Cells ◽  
Acyl Chain Length ◽  
Acyl Chains

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Whole-cell vaccines, which were introduced in the fifties of the previous century and proved to be effective, showed considerable reactogenicity and were replaced by subunit vaccines around the turn of the century. However, there is a considerable increase in the number of cases in industrialized countries. A possible strategy to improve vaccine-induced protection is the development of new, non-toxic, whole-cell pertussis vaccines. The reactogenicity of whole-cell pertussis vaccines is, to a large extent, derived from the lipid A moiety of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the bacteria. Here, we engineered B. pertussis strains with altered lipid A structures by expressing genes for the acyltransferases LpxA, LpxD, and LpxL from other bacteria resulting in altered acyl-chain length at various positions. Whole cells and extracted LPS from the strains with shorter acyl chains showed reduced or no activation of the human Toll-like receptor 4 in HEK-Blue reporter cells, whilst a longer acyl chain increased activation. Pyrogenicity studies in rabbits confirmed the in vitro assays. These findings pave the way for the development of a new generation of whole-cell pertussis vaccines with acceptable side effects.

scholarly journals Poly (acetyl arginyl) glucosamine attenuates Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a rat lung infection model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Garcia ◽  
Melissa S. McDaniel ◽  
Allister J. Loughran ◽  
J. Dixon Johns ◽  
Vidya Narayanaswamy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Chronic Infections

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common opportunistic pathogen that can cause chronic infections in multiple disease states, including respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis. Like many opportunists, P. aeruginosa forms multicellular biofilm communities that are widely thought to be an important determinant of bacterial persistence and resistance to antimicrobials and host immune effectors during chronic/recurrent infections. Poly (acetyl, arginyl) glucosamine (PAAG) is a glycopolymer which has antimicrobial activity against a broad range of bacterial species, and also has mucolytic activity which can normalize rheologic properties of cystic fibrosis mucus. In this study, we sought to evaluate the effect of PAAG on P. aeruginosa bacteria within biofilms in vitro, and in the context of experimental pulmonary infection in a rodent infection model. PAAG treatment caused significant bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa biofilms, and a reduction in the total biomass of preformed P. aeruginosa biofilms on abiotic surfaces, as well as on the surface of immortalized cystic fibrosis human bronchial epithelial cells. Studies of membrane integrity indicated that PAAG causes changes to P. aeruginosa cell morphology and dysregulates membrane polarity. PAAG treatment reduced infection and consequent tissue inflammation in experimental P. aeruginosa rat infections. Based on these findings we conclude that PAAG represents a novel means to combat P. aeruginosa infection, which may warrant further evaluation as a therapeutic.

scholarly journals Leptospira interrogans lpxDHomologue Is Required for Thermal Acclimatization and Virulence

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 4314-4321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azad Eshghi ◽  
Jeremy Henderson ◽  
M. Stephen Trent ◽  
Mathieu Picardeau
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Leptospira Interrogans ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Physiological Temperature ◽  
Animal Infection

ABSTRACTLeptospirosis is an emerging disease with an annual occurrence of over 1 million human cases worldwide. PathogenicLeptospirabacteria are maintained in zoonotic cycles involving a diverse array of mammals, with the capacity to survive outside the host in aquatic environments. Survival in the diverse environments encountered byLeptospiralikely requires various adaptive mechanisms. Little is known aboutLeptospiraouter membrane modification systems, which may contribute to the capacity of these bacteria to successfully inhabit and colonize diverse environments and animal hosts.Leptospirabacteria carry two genes annotated as UDP-3-O-[3-hydroxymyristoyl] glucosamineN-acyltransferase genes (la0512 and la4326 [lpxD1andlpxD2]) that in other bacteria are involved in the early steps of biosynthesis of lipid A, the membrane lipid anchor of lipopolysaccharide. Inactivation of only one of these genes, la0512/lpxD1, imparted sensitivity to the host physiological temperature (37°C) and rendered the bacteria avirulent in an animal infection model. Polymyxin B sensitivity assays revealed compromised outer membrane integrity in thelpxD1mutant at host physiological temperature, but structural analysis of lipid A in the mutant revealed only minor changes in the lipid A moiety compared to that found in the wild-type strain. In accordance with this, anin transcomplementation restored the phenotypes to a level comparable to that of the wild-type strain. These results suggest that the gene annotated aslpxD1inLeptospira interrogansplays an important role in temperature adaptation and virulence in the animal infection model.

scholarly journals A Live-Attenuated Pseudomonas aeruginosa Vaccine Elicits Outer Membrane Protein-Specific Active and Passive Protection against Corneal Infection

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 975-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanweer S. Zaidi ◽  
Gregory P. Priebe ◽  
Gerald B. Pier
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Contact Lenses ◽  
Outer Membrane Proteins ◽  
Rabbit Antiserum ◽  
Passive Immunization ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Corneal Infection ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Protective Antibodies

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause sight-threatening corneal infections in humans, particularly those who wear contact lenses. We have previously shown that a live-attenuated P. aeruginosa vaccine given intranasally protected mice against acute lethal pneumonia in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) serogroup-specific manner. In the current study, we evaluated the protective and therapeutic efficacies, as well as the target antigens, of this vaccine in a murine corneal infection model. C3H/HeN mice were nasally immunized with the vaccine (an aroA deletion mutant of strain PAO1, designated PAO1ΔaroA) or with Escherichia coli as a control and were challenged 3 weeks later by inoculating the scratch-injured cornea with P. aeruginosa. For passive prophylaxis and therapy, we utilized a serum raised in rabbits nasally immunized with PAO1ΔaroA or E. coli. Outcome measures included corneal pathology scores and, in some experiments, reductions in total and internalized bacterial CFU. We found that both active and passive immunization reduced corneal pathology scores after challenge with a variety of P. aeruginosa strains, including several serogroup-heterologous strains. Even when given therapeutically starting as late as 24 h after infection, the rabbit antiserum to PAO1ΔaroA was effective at reducing corneal pathology scores. Immunotherapy of established infections also reduced the numbers of total and internalized corneal P. aeruginosa bacteria. Experiments using absorbed sera showed that the protective antibodies are specific to outer membrane proteins. Thus, live-attenuated P. aeruginosa vaccines delivered nasally protect against corneal infections in mice and potentially can be used to prepare passive therapy reagents for the treatment of established P. aeruginosa corneal infections caused by diverse LPS serogroups.

scholarly journals An “Uncommon” Role for Cyclic Enterobacterial Common Antigen in Maintaining Outer Membrane Integrity

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey S. Westfall
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Common Antigen ◽  
Enterobacterial Common Antigen ◽  
Inner Membrane Protein ◽  
Outer Membrane Permeability

ABSTRACTAlthough discovered over 50 years ago, the physiological role of enterobacterial common antigen, a surface antigen produced by all members of theEnterobacteriaceae, has been poorly understood. In the work of Mitchell et al. (mBio 9:e01321-18, 2018,https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01321-18), the cyclized version of enterobacterial common antigen has been shown to play a role in maintaining the outer membrane permeability barrier, possibly through the inner membrane protein YhdP. This work also provides the tests needed to separate true effects from the numerous possible artifacts possible with mutations in enterobacterial common antigen synthesis.

scholarly journals Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Inner-Core Phosphates Are Required for Complete LPS Synthesis and Transport to the Outer Membrane in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

mBio ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. DeLucia ◽  
David A. Six ◽  
Ruth E. Caughlan ◽  
Patricia Gee ◽  
Ian Hunt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Inner Core ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ms Analysis

ABSTRACTGram-negative outer membrane (OM) integrity is maintained in part by Mg2+cross-links between phosphates on lipid A and on core sugars of adjacent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules. In contrast to other Gram-negative bacteria,waaP, encoding an inner-core kinase, could not be inactivated inPseudomonas aeruginosa. To examine this further, expression of the kinases WaaP or WapP/WapQ/PA5006 was placed under the control of the arabinose-regulated pBAD promoter. Growth of these strains was arabinose dependent, confirming that core phosphorylation is essential inP. aeruginosa. Transmission electron micrographs of kinase-depleted cells revealed marked invaginations of the inner membrane. SDS-PAGE of total LPS from WaaP-depleted cells showed accumulation of a fast-migrating band. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis revealed that LPS from these cells exhibits a unique truncated core consisting of two 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acids (Kdo), twol-glycero-d-manno-heptoses (Hep), and one hexose but completely devoid of phosphates, indicating that phosphorylation by WaaP is necessary for subsequent core phosphorylations. MS analysis of lipid A from WaaP-depleted cells revealed extensive 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose modification. OM prepared from these cells by Sarkosyl extraction of total membranes or by sucrose density gradient centrifugation lacked truncated LPS. Instead, truncated LPS was detected in the inner membrane fractions, consistent with impaired transport/assembly of this species into the OM.IMPORTANCEGram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane (OM) comprised of a phospholipid inner leaflet and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) outer leaflet. The OM protects cells from toxic molecules and is important for survival during infection. The LPS core kinase genewaaPcan be deleted in several Gram-negative bacteria but not inPseudomonas aeruginosa. We used a controlled-expression system to deplete WaaP directly inP. aeruginosacells, which halted growth. WaaP depletion also caused gross changes in cell morphology and led to the accumulation of an aberrant LPS lacking several core sugars and all core phosphates. The aberrant LPS failed to reach the OM, suggesting that WaaP is essential inP. aeruginosabecause it is required to produce the full-length LPS that is recognized by the OM transport/assembly machinery in this organism. Therefore, WaaP may constitute a good target for the development of novel antipseudomonal agents.

scholarly journals RickettsiaLipid A Biosynthesis Utilizes the Late Acyltransferase LpxJ for Secondary Fatty Acid Addition

2018 ◽  
Vol 200 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark L. Guillotte ◽  
Joseph J. Gillespie ◽  
Courtney E. Chandler ◽  
M. Sayeedur Rahman ◽  
Robert K. Ernst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Membrane Dynamics ◽  
Rickettsia Typhi ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Host Pathogen

ABSTRACTMembers of theRickettsiagenus are obligate intracellular, Gram-negative coccobacilli that infect mammalian and arthropod hosts. Several rickettsial species are human pathogens and are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods. In Gram-negative parasites, the outer membrane (OM) sits at the nexus of the host-pathogen interaction and is rich in lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The lipid A component of LPS anchors the molecule to the bacterial surface and is an endotoxic agonist of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Despite the apparent importance of lipid A in maintaining OM integrity, as well as its inflammatory potential during infection, this molecule is poorly characterized inRickettsiapathogens. In this work, we have identified and characterized new members of the recently discovered LpxJ family of lipid A acyltransferases in bothRickettsia typhiandRickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agents of murine typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, respectively. Our results demonstrate that these enzymes catalyze the addition of a secondary acyl chain (C14/C16) to the 3′-linked primary acyl chain of the lipid A moiety in the final steps of the Raetz pathway of lipid A biosynthesis. Since lipid A architecture is fundamental to bacterial OM integrity, we believe that rickettsial LpxJ may be important in maintaining membrane dynamics to facilitate molecular interactions at the host-pathogen interface that are required for adhesion and invasion of mammalian cells. This work contributes to our understanding of rickettsial outer membrane physiology and sets a foundation for further exploration of the envelope and its role in pathogenesis.IMPORTANCELipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers an inflammatory response through the TLR4-MD2 receptor complex and inflammatory caspases, a process mediated by the lipid A moiety of LPS. Species ofRickettsiadirectly engage both extracellular and intracellular immunosurveillance, yet little is known about rickettsial lipid A. Here, we demonstrate that the alternative lipid A acyltransferase, LpxJ, fromRickettsia typhiandR. rickettsiicatalyzes the addition of C16fatty acid chains into the lipid A 3′-linked primary acyl chain, accounting for major structural differences relative to the highly inflammatory lipid A ofEscherichia coli.

scholarly journals TolA, TolB, and TolR Are Critical Cell Envelope Proteins of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Choleraesuis Affecting Cell Morphology, OMVs Production, and Virulence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Li ◽  
Zheng Li ◽  
Xia Fei ◽  
Yichen Tian ◽  
Guodong Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Sodium Deoxycholate ◽  
Envelope Proteins ◽  
Outer Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Infection Model

Abstract The Tol-Pal system of Gram-negative bacteria is necessary for maintaining outer membrane integrity. It is a multiprotein complex of five envelope proteins, TolQ, TolR, TolA, TolB, and Pal. These proteins were first investigated in E. coli, and subsequently been identified in many other bacterial genera. However, the function of the Tol-Pal system in Salmonella Choleraesuis pathogenesis is still unclear. Here, we reported the role of three of these proteins in the phenotype and biology of S. Choleraesuis. We found that mutations in tolA, tolB, and tolR caused severe damage to the cell wall, which was supported by observing the microstructure of spherical forms, long chains, flagella defects, and membrane blebbing. We confirmed that all the mutants significantly decreased S. Choleraesuis survival when exposed to sodium deoxycholate and exhibited a high sensitivity to vancomycin, which may be explained by the disruption of envelope integrity. In addition, tolA, tolB, and tolR mutants displayed attenuated virulence in a mouse infection model. This could be interpreted as a series of defective phenotypes in the mutants, such as severe defects in envelope integrity, growth, and motility. Further investigation showed that all the genes participate in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) biogenesis. Interestingly, immunization with OMVs from ΔtolB efficiently enhanced murine viability in contrast to OMVs from the wild-type S. Choleraesuis, suggesting its potential use in vaccination strategies. Collectively, this study provides an insight into the biological role of the S. Choleraesuis Tol-Pal system.

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