RESUMO
Listeria monocytogenes is notorious for persistence in food facilities. Phages can significantly impact the ecology of Listeria, but there is a dearth of genome sequence data for Listeria phages from food processing ecosystems. We report the genome sequences of two Listeria phages from turkey processing facilities in the USA.
RESUMO
The rapid increase of circulating, antibiotic-resistant pathogens is a major ongoing global health crisis, and arguably, the end of the "golden age of antibiotics" is looming. This has led to a surge in research and development of alternative antimicrobials, including bacteriophages, to treat such infections (phage therapy). Isolating natural phage variants for the treatment of individual patients is an arduous and time-consuming task. Furthermore, the use of natural phages is frequently hampered by natural limitations, such as moderate in vivo activity, the rapid emergence of resistance, insufficient host range, or the presence of undesirable genetic elements within the phage genome. Targeted genetic editing of wild-type phages (phage engineering) has successfully been employed in the past to mitigate some of these pitfalls and to increase the therapeutic efficacy of the underlying phage variants. Clearly, there is a large potential for the development of novel, marker-less genome-editing methodologies to facilitate the engineering of therapeutic phages. Steady advances in synthetic biology have facilitated the in vitro assembly of modified phage genomes, which can be activated ("rebooted") upon transformation of a suitable host cell. However, this can prove challenging, especially in difficult-to-transform Gram-positive bacteria. In this chapter, we detail the production of cell wall-deficient L-form bacteria and their application to activate synthetic genomes of phages infecting Gram-positive host species.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos , Humanos , Bacteriófagos/fisiologia , Bactérias/genética , Engenharia Genética , Bactérias Gram-Positivas/genética , Edição de Genes , AntibacterianosRESUMO
Bacteriophages operate via pathogen-specific mechanisms of action distinct from conventional, broad-spectrum antibiotics and are emerging as promising alternative antimicrobials. However, phage-mediated killing is often limited by bacterial resistance development. Here, we engineer phages for target-specific effector gene delivery and host-dependent production of colicin-like bacteriocins and cell wall hydrolases. Using urinary tract infection (UTI) as a model, we show how heterologous effector phage therapeutics (HEPTs) suppress resistance and improve uropathogen killing by dual phage- and effector-mediated targeting. Moreover, we designed HEPTs to control polymicrobial uropathogen communities through production of effectors with cross-genus activity. Using phage-based companion diagnostics, we identified potential HEPT responder patients and treated their urine ex vivo. Compared to wildtype phage, a colicin E7-producing HEPT demonstrated superior control of patient E. coli bacteriuria. Arming phages with heterologous effectors paves the way for successful UTI treatment and represents a versatile tool to enhance and adapt phage-based precision antimicrobials.
Assuntos
Infecções Bacterianas , Bacteriófagos , Colicinas , Humanos , Bacteriófagos/genética , Escherichia coli , Antibacterianos/farmacologiaRESUMO
The rapid detection and species-level differentiation of bacterial pathogens facilitates antibiotic stewardship and improves disease management. Here, we develop a rapid bacteriophage-based diagnostic assay to detect the most prevalent pathogens causing urinary tract infections: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and Klebsiella spp. For each uropathogen, two virulent phages were genetically engineered to express a nanoluciferase reporter gene upon host infection. Using 206 patient urine samples, reporter phage-induced bioluminescence was quantified to identify bacteriuria and the assay was benchmarked against conventional urinalysis. Overall, E. coli, Enterococcus spp., and Klebsiella spp. were each detected with high sensitivity (68%, 78%, 87%), specificity (99%, 99%, 99%), and accuracy (90%, 94%, 98%) at a resolution of ≥103 CFU/ml within 5 h. We further demonstrate how bioluminescence in urine can be used to predict phage antibacterial activity, demonstrating the future potential of reporter phages as companion diagnostics that guide patient-phage matching prior to therapeutic phage application.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos , Infecções Urinárias , Humanos , Escherichia coli/genética , Bacteriófagos/genética , Klebsiella/genética , Enterococcus/genética , Infecções Urinárias/microbiologia , Antibacterianos/farmacologiaRESUMO
At the end of a lytic bacteriophage replication cycle in Gram-positive bacteria, peptidoglycan-degrading endolysins that cause explosive cell lysis of the host can also attack non-infected bystander cells. Here we show that in osmotically stabilized environments, Listeria monocytogenes can evade phage predation by transient conversion to a cell wall-deficient L-form state. This L-form escape is triggered by endolysins disintegrating the cell wall from without, leading to turgor-driven extrusion of wall-deficient, yet viable L-form cells. Remarkably, in the absence of phage predation, we show that L-forms can quickly revert to the walled state. These findings suggest that L-form conversion represents a population-level persistence mechanism to evade complete eradication by phage attack. Importantly, we also demonstrate phage-mediated L-form switching of the urinary tract pathogen Enterococcus faecalis in human urine, which underscores that this escape route may be widespread and has important implications for phage- and endolysin-based therapeutic interventions.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos , Formas L , Humanos , Bacteriófagos/genética , Bactérias Gram-Positivas , PeptidoglicanoRESUMO
The alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance coupled with a lack of innovation in antibiotics has renewed interest in the development of alternative therapies to combat bacterial infections. Despite phage therapy demonstrating success in various individual cases, a comprehensive and unequivocal demonstration of the therapeutic potential of phages remains to be shown. The co-evolution of phages and their bacterial hosts resulted in several inherent limitations for the use of natural phages as therapeutics such as restricted host range, moderate antibacterial efficacy, and frequent emergence of phage-resistance. However, these constraints can be overcome by leveraging recent advances in synthetic biology and genetic engineering to provide phages with additional therapeutic capabilities, improved safety profiles, and adaptable host ranges. Here, we examine different ways phages can be engineered to deliver heterologous therapeutic payloads to enhance their antibacterial efficacy and discuss their versatile applicability to combat bacterial pathogens.
Assuntos
Infecções Bacterianas , Bacteriófagos , Terapia por Fagos , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Bactérias/genética , Infecções Bacterianas/terapia , Bacteriófagos/genética , HumanosRESUMO
The antimicrobial and therapeutic efficacy of bacteriophages is currently limited, mostly due to rapid emergence of phage-resistance and the inability of most phage isolates to bind and infect a broad range of clinical strains. Here, we discuss how phage therapy can be improved through recent advances in genetic engineering. First, we outline how receptor-binding proteins and their relevant structural domains are engineered to redirect phage specificity and to avoid resistance. Next, we summarize how phages are reprogrammed as prokaryotic gene therapy vectors that deliver antimicrobial 'payload' proteins, such as sequence-specific nucleases, to target defined cells within complex microbiomes. Finally, we delineate big data- and novel artificial intelligence-driven approaches that may guide the design of improved synthetic phage in the future.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos , Terapia por Fagos , Inteligência Artificial , Bacteriófagos/genética , Engenharia Genética , Biologia SintéticaRESUMO
Fast and reliable detection of bacterial pathogens in clinical samples, contaminated food products, and water supplies can drastically improve clinical outcomes and reduce the socio-economic impact of disease. As natural predators of bacteria, bacteriophages (phages) have evolved to bind their hosts with unparalleled specificity and to rapidly deliver and replicate their viral genome. Not surprisingly, phages and phage-encoded proteins have been used to develop a vast repertoire of diagnostic assays, many of which outperform conventional culture-based and molecular detection methods. While intact phages or phage-encoded affinity proteins can be used to capture bacteria, most phage-inspired detection systems harness viral genome delivery and amplification: to this end, suitable phages are genetically reprogrammed to deliver heterologous reporter genes, whose activity is typically detected through enzymatic substrate conversion to indicate the presence of a viable host cell. Infection with such engineered reporter phages typically leads to a rapid burst of reporter protein production that enables highly sensitive detection. In this review, we highlight recent advances in infection-based detection methods, present guidelines for reporter phage construction, outline technical aspects of reporter phage engineering, and discuss some of the advantages and pitfalls of phage-based pathogen detection. Recent improvements in reporter phage construction and engineering further substantiate the potential of these highly evolved nanomachines as rapid and inexpensive detection systems to replace or complement traditional diagnostic approaches.
Assuntos
Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Bacteriófagos , Bactérias/genética , Bacteriólise , Bacteriófagos/genética , Bacteriófagos/fisiologia , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Clonagem Molecular , Colorimetria , Genes Reporter , Engenharia Genética , Genoma Viral , Medições Luminescentes , Microscopia de FluorescênciaRESUMO
Bacteriophages must rapidly deploy anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) to inactivate the RNA-guided nucleases that enforce CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity in their bacterial hosts. Listeria monocytogenes temperate phages encode up to three anti-Cas9 proteins, with acrIIA1 always present. AcrIIA1 binds and inhibits Cas9 with its C-terminal domain; however, the function of its highly conserved N-terminal domain (NTD) is unknown. Here, we report that the AcrIIA1NTD is a critical transcriptional repressor of the strong anti-CRISPR promoter. A rapid burst of anti-CRISPR transcription occurs during phage infection and the subsequent negative feedback by AcrIIA1NTD is required for optimal phage replication, even in the absence of CRISPR-Cas immunity. In the presence of CRISPR-Cas immunity, full-length AcrIIA1 uses its two-domain architecture to act as a "Cas9 sensor," tuning acr expression according to Cas9 levels. Finally, we identify AcrIIA1NTD homologs in other Firmicutes and demonstrate that they have been co-opted by hosts as "anti-anti-CRISPRs," repressing phage anti-CRISPR deployment.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos/fisiologia , Proteína 9 Associada à CRISPR/antagonistas & inibidores , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/metabolismo , Listeria monocytogenes/virologia , Proteínas Repressoras/metabolismo , Proteínas Virais/metabolismo , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Repetições Palindrômicas Curtas Agrupadas e Regularmente Espaçadas , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Engenharia Genética , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Ligação Proteica , Proteínas Repressoras/genética , Proteínas Virais/genéticaRESUMO
Bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems employ RNA-guided nucleases to destroy phage (viral) DNA. Phages, in turn, have evolved diverse "anti-CRISPR" proteins (Acrs) to counteract acquired immunity. In Listeria monocytogenes, prophages encode two to three distinct anti-Cas9 proteins, with acrIIA1 always present. However, the significance of AcrIIA1's pervasiveness and its mechanism are unknown. Here, we report that AcrIIA1 binds with high affinity to Cas9 via the catalytic HNH domain. During lysogeny in Listeria, AcrIIA1 triggers Cas9 degradation. During lytic infection, however, AcrIIA1 fails to block Cas9 due to its multi-step inactivation mechanism. Thus, phages encode an additional Acr that rapidly binds and inactivates Cas9. AcrIIA1 also uniquely inhibits a highly diverged Cas9 found in Listeria (similar to SauCas9) and Type II-C Cas9s, likely due to Cas9 HNH domain conservation. In summary, Listeria phages inactivate Cas9 in lytic growth using variable, narrow-spectrum inhibitors, while the broad-spectrum AcrIIA1 stimulates Cas9 degradation for protection of the lysogenic genome.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos/genética , Listeria , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Repetições Palindrômicas Curtas Agrupadas e Regularmente Espaçadas , LisogeniaRESUMO
The pathogen Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a severe foodborne disease associated with high mortality. Rapid and sensitive methods are required for specific detection of this pathogen during food production. Bioluminescence-based reporter bacteriophages are genetically engineered viruses that infect their host cells with high specificity and transduce a heterologous luciferase gene whose activity can be detected with high sensitivity to indicate the presence of viable target cells. Here, we use synthetic biology for de novo genome assembly and activation as well as CRISPR-Cas-assisted phage engineering to construct a set of reporter phages for the detection and differentiation of viable Listeria cells. Based on a single phage backbone, we compare the performance of four reporter phages that encode different crustacean, cnidarian, and bacterial luciferases. From this panel of reporter proteins, nanoluciferase (NLuc) was identified as a superior enzyme and was subsequently introduced into the genomes of a broad host range phage (A511) and two serovar 1/2- and serovar 4b/6a-specific Listeria phages (A006 and A500, respectively). The broad-range NLuc-based phage A511::nlucCPS detects one CFU of L. monocytogenes in 25 g of artificially contaminated milk, cold cuts, and lettuce within less than 24 h. In addition, this reporter phage successfully detected Listeria spp. in potentially contaminated natural food samples without producing false-positive or false-negative results. Finally, A006::nluc and A500::nluc enable serovar-specific Listeria diagnostics. In conclusion, these NLuc-based reporter phages enable rapid, ultrasensitive detection and differentiation of viable Listeria cells using a simple protocol that is 72 h faster than culture-dependent approaches.IMPORTANCE Culture-dependent methods are the gold standard for sensitive and specific detection of pathogenic bacteria within the food production chain. In contrast to molecular approaches, these methods detect viable cells, which is a key advantage for foods generated from heat-inactivated source material. However, culture-based diagnostics are typically much slower than molecular or proteomic strategies. Reporter phage assays combine the best of both worlds and allow for near online assessment of microbial safety because phage replication is extremely fast, highly target specific, and restricted to metabolically active host cells. In addition, reporter phage assays are inexpensive and do not require highly trained personnel, facilitating their on-site implementation. The reporter phages presented in this study not only allow for rapid detection but also enable an early estimation of the potential virulence of Listeria isolates from food production and processing sites.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos/química , Listeria/fisiologia , Luciferases/química , Medições Luminescentes/métodos , Viabilidade MicrobianaRESUMO
Bacteriophages provide excellent tools for diagnostics, remediation, and targeted microbiome manipulation, yet isolating viruses with suitable host specificity remains challenging. Using Listeria phage PSA, we present a synthetic biology blueprint for host-range engineering through targeted modification of serovar-specific receptor binding proteins (RBPs). We identify Gp15 as the PSA RBP and construct a synthetic phage library featuring sequence-randomized RBPs, from which host range mutants are isolated and subsequently integrated into a synthetic, polyvalent phage with extended host range. To enable rational design of chimeric RBPs, we determine the crystal structure of the Gp15 receptor-binding carboxyl terminus at 1.7-Å resolution and employ bioinformatics to identify compatible, prophage-encoded RBPs targeting different Listeria serovars. Structure-guided design enables exchange of heterologous RBP head, neck, or shoulder domains to generate chimeric phages with predictable and extended host ranges. These strategies will facilitate the development of phage biologics based on standardized virus scaffolds with tunable host specificities.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos/metabolismo , Especificidade de Hospedeiro , Listeria monocytogenes/virologia , Receptores Virais/metabolismo , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Sequência Conservada , Cristalografia por Raios X , Galactose/metabolismo , Mutação/genética , Ligação Proteica , Domínios Proteicos , Receptores Virais/química , Homologia Estrutural de Proteína , Ácidos Teicoicos/metabolismoRESUMO
The intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is distinguished by its ability to invade and replicate within mammalian cells. Remarkably, of the 15 serovars within the genus, strains belonging to serovar 4b cause the majority of listeriosis clinical cases and outbreaks. The Listeria O-antigens are defined by subtle structural differences amongst the peptidoglycan-associated wall-teichoic acids (WTAs), and their specific glycosylation patterns. Here, we outline the genetic determinants required for WTA decoration in serovar 4b L. monocytogenes, and demonstrate the exact nature of the 4b-specific antigen. We show that challenge by bacteriophages selects for surviving clones that feature mutations in genes involved in teichoic acid glycosylation, leading to a loss of galactose from both wall teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid molecules, and a switch from serovar 4b to 4d. Surprisingly, loss of this galactose decoration not only prevents phage adsorption, but leads to a complete loss of surface-associated Internalin B (InlB),the inability to form actin tails, and a virulence attenuation in vivo. We show that InlB specifically recognizes and attaches to galactosylated teichoic acid polymers, and is secreted upon loss of this modification, leading to a drastically reduced cellular invasiveness. Consequently, these phage-insensitive bacteria are unable to interact with cMet and gC1q-R host cell receptors, which normally trigger cellular uptake upon interaction with InlB. Collectively, we provide detailed mechanistic insight into the dual role of a surface antigen crucial for both phage adsorption and cellular invasiveness, demonstrating a trade-off between phage resistance and virulence in this opportunistic pathogen.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Bacteriófagos/patogenicidade , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Galactose/metabolismo , Listeria monocytogenes/virologia , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Ácidos Teicoicos/metabolismo , Virulência , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Bacteriófagos/genética , Células CACO-2 , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Listeria monocytogenes/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Mutação , SorogrupoRESUMO
RNA interference (RNAi) allows for transient, targeted depletion of cellular or viral proteins. Previously, small interfering RNA (siRNA) screens targeting cellular factors successfully identified several host genes that are required for VACV infection, and other viruses such as HIV. In this chapter, we outline how RNAi can be adapted to unravel the functions of poxvirus genes, using a 96-well format. Additionally, we describe two different high-throughput methods (flow cytometry and automated microscopy) to assess infection levels of an engineered VACV that encodes a fluorescent reporter protein under an early and/or late viral gene promoter.
Assuntos
Poxviridae/genética , Interferência de RNA/fisiologia , Células HeLa , Humanos , RNA Interferente Pequeno , Proteínas Virais/genética , Proteínas Virais/metabolismo , Replicação Viral/genética , Replicação Viral/fisiologiaRESUMO
Viruses of bacteria (bacteriophages or phages) are highly evolved nanomachines that recognize bacterial cell walls, deliver genetic information, and kill or transform their targets with unparalleled specificity. For a long time, the use of genetically modified phages was limited to phage display approaches and fundamental research. This is mostly because phage engineering has been a complex and time-consuming task, applicable for only a few well characterized model phages. Recent advances in sequencing technology and molecular biology gave rise to rapid and precise tools that enable modification of less-well-characterized phages. These methods will pave the way for the development of modular designer-phages as versatile biologics that efficiently control multidrug-resistant bacteria and provide novel tools for pathogen detection, drug development, and beyond.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos/genética , Engenharia Genética , Terapia por Fagos , Bactérias/virologia , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla , Edição de Genes , Genoma Viral , Recombinação Homóloga , Humanos , Montagem de VírusRESUMO
Cell motility is essential for viral dissemination1. Vaccinia virus (VACV), a close relative of smallpox virus, is thought to exploit cell motility as a means to enhance the spread of infection1. A single viral protein, F11L, contributes to this by blocking RhoA signalling to facilitate cell retraction2. However, F11L alone is not sufficient for VACV-induced cell motility, indicating that additional viral factors must be involved. Here, we show that the VACV epidermal growth factor homologue, VGF, promotes infected cell motility and the spread of viral infection. We found that VGF secreted from early infected cells is cleaved by ADAM10, after which it acts largely in a paracrine manner to direct cell motility at the leading edge of infection. Real-time tracking of cells infected in the presence of EGFR, MAPK, FAK and ADAM10 inhibitors or with VGF-deleted and F11-deleted viruses revealed defects in radial velocity and directional migration efficiency, leading to impaired cell-to-cell spread of infection. Furthermore, intravital imaging showed that virus spread and lesion formation are attenuated in the absence of VGF. Our results demonstrate how poxviruses hijack epidermal growth factor receptor-induced cell motility to promote rapid and efficient spread of infection in vitro and in vivo.
Assuntos
Movimento Celular , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Peptídeos/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Vaccinia virus/fisiologia , Vacínia/virologia , Proteína ADAM10/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteína ADAM10/metabolismo , Secretases da Proteína Precursora do Amiloide/antagonistas & inibidores , Secretases da Proteína Precursora do Amiloide/metabolismo , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Movimento Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Efeito Citopatogênico Viral/genética , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Receptores ErbB/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores ErbB/metabolismo , Deleção de Genes , Células HeLa , Humanos , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Camundongos , Peptídeos/deficiência , Peptídeos/genética , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Vacínia/metabolismo , Vacínia/patologia , Vaccinia virus/genética , Vaccinia virus/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Vaccinia virus/metabolismo , Proteínas Virais/genética , Proteínas Virais/metabolismoRESUMO
CRISPR-Cas systems provide bacteria with adaptive immunity against invading DNA elements including bacteriophages and plasmids. While CRISPR technology has revolutionized eukaryotic genome engineering, its application to prokaryotes and their viruses remains less well established. Here we report the first functional CRISPR-Cas system from the genus Listeria and demonstrate its native role in phage defense. LivCRISPR-1 is a type II-A system from the genome of L. ivanovii subspecies londoniensis that uses a small, 1078 amino acid Cas9 variant and a unique NNACAC protospacer adjacent motif. We transferred LivCRISPR-1 cas9 and trans-activating crRNA into Listeria monocytogenes. Along with crRNA encoding plasmids, this programmable interference system enables efficient cleavage of bacterial DNA and incoming phage genomes. We used LivCRISPR-1 to develop an effective engineering platform for large, non-integrating Listeria phages based on allelic replacement and CRISPR-Cas-mediated counterselection. The broad host-range Listeria phage A511 was engineered to encode and express lysostaphin, a cell wall hydrolase that specifically targets Staphylococcus peptidoglycan. In bacterial co-culture, the armed phages not only killed Listeria hosts but also lysed Staphylococcus cells by enzymatic collateral damage. Simultaneous killing of unrelated bacteria by a single phage demonstrates the potential of CRISPR-Cas-assisted phage engineering, beyond single pathogen control.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos/genética , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas/fisiologia , Edição de Genes/métodos , Genoma Viral , Listeria/enzimologia , Bacteriólise , Bacteriófagos/enzimologia , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas/genética , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Técnicas de Cocultura , DNA Viral/genética , DNA Viral/metabolismo , Deleção de Genes , Listeria/genética , Lisostafina/biossíntese , Mutagênese Sítio-Dirigida , Domínios Proteicos , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Homologia de Sequência do Ácido Nucleico , Staphylococcus , Transformação BacterianaRESUMO
To orchestrate context-dependent signalling programmes, poxviruses encode two dual-specificity enzymes, the F10 kinase and the H1 phosphatase. These signalling mediators are essential for poxvirus production, yet their substrate profiles and systems-level functions remain enigmatic. Using a phosphoproteomic screen of cells infected with wild-type, F10 and H1 mutant vaccinia viruses, we systematically defined the viral signalling network controlled by these enzymes. Quantitative cross-comparison revealed 33 F10 and/or H1 phosphosites within 17 viral proteins. Using this proteotype dataset to inform genotype-phenotype relationships, we found that H1-deficient virions harbour a hidden hypercleavage phenotype driven by reversible phosphorylation of the virus protease I7 (S134). Quantitative phosphoproteomic profiling further revealed that the phosphorylation-dependent activity of the viral early transcription factor, A7 (Y367), underlies the transcription-deficient phenotype of H1 mutant virions. Together, these results highlight the utility of combining quantitative proteotype screens with mutant viruses to uncover proteotype-phenotype-genotype relationships that are masked by classical genetic studies.
Assuntos
Mutação , Fosfoproteínas/metabolismo , Monoéster Fosfórico Hidrolases/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/genética , Proteômica/métodos , Vaccinia virus/fisiologia , Proteínas Virais/genética , Regulação Viral da Expressão Gênica , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Células HeLa , Humanos , Fenótipo , Fosfoproteínas/química , Transdução de Sinais , Montagem de VírusRESUMO
Engineered bacteriophages provide powerful tools for biotechnology, diagnostics, pathogen control, and therapy. However, current techniques for phage editing are experimentally challenging and limited to few phages and host organisms. Viruses that target Gram-positive bacteria are particularly difficult to modify. Here, we present a platform technology that enables rapid, accurate, and selection-free construction of synthetic, tailor-made phages that infect Gram-positive bacteria. To this end, custom-designed, synthetic phage genomes were assembled in vitro from smaller DNA fragments. We show that replicating, cell wall-deficient Listeria monocytogenes L-form bacteria can reboot synthetic phage genomes upon transfection, i.e., produce virus particles from naked, synthetic DNA. Surprisingly, Listeria L-form cells not only support rebooting of native and synthetic Listeria phage genomes but also enable cross-genus reactivation of Bacillus and Staphylococcus phages from their DNA, thereby broadening the approach to phages that infect other important Gram-positive pathogens. We then used this platform to generate virulent phages by targeted modification of temperate phage genomes and demonstrated their superior killing efficacy. These synthetic, virulent phages were further armed by incorporation of enzybiotics into their genomes as a genetic payload, which allowed targeting of phage-resistant bystander cells. In conclusion, this straightforward and robust synthetic biology approach redefines the possibilities for the development of improved and completely new phage applications, including phage therapy.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos/genética , Listeria monocytogenes/virologia , Bacteriófagos/classificação , Bacteriófagos/fisiologia , Genoma Viral , Bactérias Gram-Positivas/fisiologia , Bactérias Gram-Positivas/virologia , Listeria monocytogenes/fisiologia , Biologia SintéticaRESUMO
Despite recent advances to control the spatial composition and dynamic functionalities of bacteria embedded in materials, bacterial localization into complex three-dimensional (3D) geometries remains a major challenge. We demonstrate a 3D printing approach to create bacteria-derived functional materials by combining the natural diverse metabolism of bacteria with the shape design freedom of additive manufacturing. To achieve this, we embedded bacteria in a biocompatible and functionalized 3D printing ink and printed two types of "living materials" capable of degrading pollutants and of producing medically relevant bacterial cellulose. With this versatile bacteria-printing platform, complex materials displaying spatially specific compositions, geometry, and properties not accessed by standard technologies can be assembled from bottom up for new biotechnological and biomedical applications.