Archana Yadav, Melissa N Brewer, Mostafa S Elshahed, Edward I Shaw
{"title":"Comparative transcriptomics and genomics from continuous axenic media growth identifies Coxiella burnetii intracellular survival strategies.","authors":"Archana Yadav, Melissa N Brewer, Mostafa S Elshahed, Edward I Shaw","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad009","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femspd/ftad009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coxiella burnetii (Cb) is an obligate intracellular pathogen in nature and the causative agent of acute Q fever as well as chronic diseases. In an effort to identify genes and proteins crucial to their normal intracellular growth lifestyle, we applied a 'reverse evolution' approach where the avirulent Nine Mile Phase II strain of Cb was grown for 67 passages in chemically defined ACCM-D media and gene expression patterns and genome integrity from various passages was compared to passage number one following intracellular growth. Transcriptomic analysis identified a marked downregulation of the structural components of the type 4B secretion system (T4BSS), the general secretory (Sec) pathway, as well as 14 out of 118 previously identified genes encoding effector proteins. Additional downregulated pathogenicity determinants genes included several chaperones, LPS, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. A general marked downregulation of central metabolic pathways was also observed, which was balanced by a marked upregulation of genes encoding transporters. This pattern reflected the richness of the media and diminishing anabolic, and ATP-generation needs. Finally, genomic sequencing and comparative genomic analysis demonstrated an extremely low level of mutation across passages, despite the observed Cb gene expression changes following acclimation to axenic media.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10237335/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10125158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis exhibit differential lipid metabolism-associated transcriptome changes in in vitro cholesterol and infection models.","authors":"Kynesha Moopanar, Asanda Nomfundo Graduate Nyide, Sibusiso Senzani, Nontobeko Eunice Mvubu","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftac046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftac046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many studies have identified host-derived lipids, characterised by the abundance of cholesterol, as a major source of carbon nutrition for Mycobacterium tuberculosis during infection. Members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex are biologically different with regards to degree of disease, host range, pathogenicity and transmission. Therefore, the current study aimed at elucidating transcriptome changes during early infection of pulmonary epithelial cells and on an in vitro cholesterol-rich minimal media, in M. tuberculosis clinical strains F15/LAM4/KZN and Beijing, and the laboratory H37Rv strain. Infection of pulmonary epithelial cells elicited the upregulation of fadD28 and hsaC in both the F15/LAM4/KZN and Beijing strains and the downregulation of several other lipid-associated genes. Growth curve analysis revealed F15/LAM4/KZN and Beijing to be slow growers in 7H9 medium and cholesterol-supplemented media. RNA-seq analysis revealed strain-specific transcriptomic changes, thereby affecting different metabolic processes in an in vitro cholesterol model. The differential expression of these genes suggests that the genetically diverse M. tuberculosis clinical strains exhibit strain-specific behaviour that may influence their ability to metabolise lipids, specifically cholesterol, which may account for phenotypic differences observed during infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9936260/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9382274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Reginaldo Brito, Erina Masayo Hassegawa, Patrick Camardelli, Kalene Elpídio, Juliana de Menezes, Cláudio Pereira Figueira, Washington L C Dos-Santos
{"title":"Leishmania amazonensis infection impairs VLA-4 clustering and adhesion complex assembly at the adhesion site of J774 cells.","authors":"Reginaldo Brito, Erina Masayo Hassegawa, Patrick Camardelli, Kalene Elpídio, Juliana de Menezes, Cláudio Pereira Figueira, Washington L C Dos-Santos","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftad013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that may lead to a single or multiple disseminated cutaneous lesions. The mechanisms involved in Leishmania dissemination to different areas of the skin and the internal organs remain poorly understood. Evidence shows that Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4)-dependent phagocyte adhesion is impaired by Leishmania infection, which may be related to the mechanisms of parasite dissemination. We investigated factors potentially associated with decreased VLA-4-mediated adhesion in Leishmania-infected macrophages, including lipid raft-mediated VLA-4 mobilization along the cellular membrane, integrin cluster formation at the cell base (adhesion site), and focal adhesion complex assembly. Phagocytes treated with Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin (MβCD) demonstrated reduced adhesion, similarly to Leishmania amazonensis-infected J774 cells. Infected and MβCD-treated macrophages presented decreased VLA-4 mobilization to the adhesion plane, as well as reduced integrin clustering. Leishmania amazonensis-infected cells exhibited talin depletion, as well as a decreased mobilization of adhesion complex proteins, such as talin and viculin, which were associated with lower VLA-4 concentrations at the adhesion site and limited cell-spreading. Our results suggest that Leishmania infection may modulate the firm adhesion phase of the cell-spreading process, which could contribute to the bloodstream dissemination of infected cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9908768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amber Crabtree, Kit Neikirk, Andrea Marshall, Taylor Barongan, Heather K Beasley, Edgar Garza Lopez, Dominique Stephens, Sandra Murray, Elsie C Spencer, Denise Martinez, Chia Vang, Felysha Jenkins, Steven Damo, Zer Vue
{"title":"Strategies for change: thriving as an individual with a disabilty in STEMM.","authors":"Amber Crabtree, Kit Neikirk, Andrea Marshall, Taylor Barongan, Heather K Beasley, Edgar Garza Lopez, Dominique Stephens, Sandra Murray, Elsie C Spencer, Denise Martinez, Chia Vang, Felysha Jenkins, Steven Damo, Zer Vue","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftac045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftac045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Disability remains an underacknowledged and underdiscussed topic in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). Social stigma and fear of negative outcomes have resulted in a consistent lack of disclosure. Disabilities cause social and professional difficulties for those that have them. While some faculty can be allies, past literature shows that steps must be taken to make disabilities visible in STEMM at both student and faculty levels. Here, we offer suggestions to better support faculty and students in enhancing the outcomes of individuals who have invisible disabilities. Critically, techniques such as abolishing stigma, universal learning, and better mentoring may improve the challenges faced by those who self-identify as an individual with a disability.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10111627/pdf/ftac045.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9834526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of IL-17-producing γδ T cells on chronic otitis media induced by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in a mouse model.","authors":"Takashi Hirano, Toshiaki Kawano, Yoshinori Kadowaki, Munehito Moriyama, Shingo Umemoto, Kazuhiro Yoshinaga, Takayuki Matsunaga, Masashi Suzuki","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad029","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femspd/ftad029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is considered a major pathogen underlying middle ear infection. This study aimed to investigate the impact of IL-17 on chronic otitis media (COM) induced by NTHi in mice. NTHi was inoculated into the tympanic bulla with eustachian tubal obstruction. Middle ear effusions (MEEs) and tissues were collected on days 3, 14, and at 1, 2, and 6 months after injection. The expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in MEEs was significantly elevated compared to that in the control group at the translational and transcriptional levels during the experiments. The quantities of IL-17-producing γδ T cells were significantly increased compared to that in the control group during COM, but that of Th17 cells did not. Depletion of γδ T cells by anti-γδ T-cell receptor (TCR) monoclonal antibody (mAb) administration significantly decreased the bacteria counts and the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-α, and IL-10 in MEEs. Our results suggest that IL-17 may play an important role in prolonging the inflammation in the middle ear in COM and that IL-17-producing γδ T cells may contribute to the exacerbated inflammatory response in the middle ear. In this study, anti-γδ TCR mAb administration was found to improve chronic middle ear inflammatory conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41208256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Induction and sustenance of antibacterial activities distinguishes response of mice to Salmonella Typhi from response to Salmonella Typhimurium.","authors":"Jitender Yadav, Ayub Qadri","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftad002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), the causative agent of typhoid in humans, shares a high degree of homology with a closely related serovar, S. Typhimurium. Yet, unlike S. Typhimurium, S. Typhi does not establish infection in mice, the reasons for which are not well understood. Here, we present evidence that the response of mice to infection with S. Typhi is marked by early antibacterial activities. Cell-free peritoneal fluids from S. Typhi but not S. Typhimurium-infected mice inhibited the replication of Salmonella ex vivo. The production of this activity was reduced in the presence of the serine protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonlyl fluoride (PMSF). PMSF also inhibited the generation of antibacterial activity released from in vitro S. Typhi-infected peritoneal macrophages in a cell death-dependent manner. Infection with S. Typhimurium but not S. Typhi was associated with reduction in the mRNA levels of iron-regulating molecules, ferroportin and lipocalin. These results suggest that early induction and sustenance of antibacterial activities may contribute to the nonestablishment of infection with S. Typhi in mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10810138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Meropenem in combination with baicalein exhibits synergism against extensively drug resistant and pan-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates in vitro.","authors":"Mümtaz Güran, Kadir Çakıral, Kerem Teralı, Tülay Kandemir, Gizem Şanlıtürk, Melda Meral Öcal, Toğrul Nagiyev, Fatih Köksal","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftad007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Several studies have demonstrated that the effectiveness of carbapenems against drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections has been decreasing. Combination therapy with two or more drugs is currently under investigation to overcome the emerging resistance against carbapenems. In this study, we tested the possible synergistic interactions of a potent antibacterial flavonoid, baicalein, with meropenem to illustrate this duo's antibacterial and antibiofilm effects on 15 extensively drug resistant or pan-drug-resistant (XDR/PDR) A. baumannii clinical isolates in vitro. Isolates included in the study were identified with MALDI-TOF MS, and antibiotic resistance patterns were studied according to EUCAST protocols. Carbapenem resistance was confirmed with the modified Hodge test, and resistance genes were also analyzed with genotypical methods. Then, checkerboard and time-kill assays were performed to analyze antibacterial synergism. Additionally, a biofilm inhibition assay was performed for screening the antibiofilm activity. To provide structural and mechanistic insights into baicalein action, protein-ligand docking, and interaction profiling calculations were conducted. Our study shed light on the remarkable potential of the baicalein-meropenem combination, since either synergistic or additive antibacterial activity was observed against every XDR/PDR A. baumannii strain in question. Furthermore, the baicalein-meropenem combination displayed significantly better antibiofilm activity in contrast to standalone use. In silico studies predicted that these positive effects arose from inhibition by baicalein of A. baumannii beta-lactamases and/or penicillin-binding proteins. Overall, our findings highlight the prospective potential benefits of baicalein in combination with meropenem for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10246815/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10043870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carlos Manuel Baroli, Juan Pablo Gorgojo, Bruno Martín Blancá, Martina Debandi, Maria Eugenia Rodriguez
{"title":"Bordetella pertussis targets the basolateral membrane of polarized respiratory epithelial cells, gets internalized, and survives in intracellular locations.","authors":"Carlos Manuel Baroli, Juan Pablo Gorgojo, Bruno Martín Blancá, Martina Debandi, Maria Eugenia Rodriguez","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad035","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femspd/ftad035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The airway epithelial barrier is a continuous highly organized cell layer that separates the exterior from the underlying mucosal tissue, preventing pathogen invasion. Several respiratory pathogens have evolved mechanisms to compromise this barrier, invade and even reside alive within the epithelium. Bordetella pertussis is a persistent pathogen that infects the human airway epithelium, causing whooping cough. Previous studies have shown that B. pertussis survives inside phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells, suggesting that there might be an intracellular stage involved in the bacterial infectious process and/or in the pathogen persistence inside the host. In this study we found evidence that B. pertussis is able to survive inside respiratory epithelial cells. According to our results, this pathogen preferentially attaches near or on top of the tight junctions in polarized human bronchial epithelial cells and disrupts these structures in an adenylate cyclase-dependent manner, exposing their basolateral membrane. We further found that the bacterial internalization is significantly higher in cells exposing this membrane compared with cells only exposing the apical membrane. Once internalized, B. pertussis mainly remains in nondegradative phagosomes with access to nutrients. Taken together, these results point at the respiratory epithelial cells as a potential niche of persistence.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138470638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Una Karanovic, Lei Lei, Craig A Martens, Kent Barbian, Grant McClarty, Harlan D Caldwell, Chunfu Yang
{"title":"TargeTron inactivation of plasmid-regulated Chlamydia trachomatis CT084 results in a nonlytic phenotype.","authors":"Una Karanovic, Lei Lei, Craig A Martens, Kent Barbian, Grant McClarty, Harlan D Caldwell, Chunfu Yang","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad026","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femspd/ftad026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes blinding trachoma and sexually transmitted disease. The chlamydial plasmid is a critical virulence factor in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Plasmid gene protein 4 (Pgp4) plays a major role in chlamydial virulence by regulating the expression of both chromosomal genes and Pgp3. Despite the importance of Pgp4 in mediating lytic exit from host cells the pathogenic mechanism by which it functions is unknown. CT084 is a highly conserved chromosomal gene with homology to phospholipase D. We showed CT084 expression is regulated by Pgp4 and expressed late in the chlamydial developmental cycle. To investigate the function of CT084 in chlamydial lytic exit from infected cells, we made a CT084 null strain (ct084::bla) by using Targetron. The ct084::bla strain grew normally in vitro compared to wild-type strain; however, the strain did not lyse infected cells and produced significantly less and smaller plaques. Collectively, our finding shows Pgp4-regulated CT084-mediated chlamydia lytic exit from infected host cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10589100/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41147417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chlamydia trachomatis infection regulates the expression of tetraspanins, activin-A, and inhibin-A in tubal ectopic pregnancy.","authors":"Shipra Pant, Tanu Bhati, Astha Dimri, Renu Arora, Fouzia Siraj, Sheikh Raisuddin, Sangita Rastogi","doi":"10.1093/femspd/ftad018","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femspd/ftad018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mechanism of Chlamydia trachomatis causing tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) is not well understood. Tetraspanins (tspans), activin-A, and inhibin-A might play a role in the development of pathological conditions leading to EP. The study aimed to elucidate the expression of tspans, activin-A, and inhibin-A with a role of associated cytokines in C. trachomatis-associated EP and analyze interacting partners of DEGs, with an expression of a few important interacting genes. Fallopian tissue and serum were collected from 100 EP (Group I) and 100 controls (Group II) from SJH, New Delhi, India. Detection of C. trachomatis was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IgG antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of tspans, activin-A, inhibin-A, and cytokines was analyzed by real time (RT)-PCR and their interacting genes were assessed by STRING. Expression of few disease-associated interacting genes was studied by RT-PCR. A total of 29% (Group I) were C. trachomatis positive. Tspans and activin-A were significantly upregulated, while inhibin-A was significantly downregulated in Group Ia. ITGA1, TLR-2, ITGB2, and Smad-3 were a few interacting genes. Expression of ITGA1, TLR-2, and Smad-3 was significantly upregulated in C. trachomatis-positive EP. Results suggested dysregulated tspans, activin-A, and inhibin-A might play a role in C. trachomatis-infected tubal EP.</p>","PeriodicalId":19795,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and disease","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9958365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}