Genomic Sequencing of High-Efficiency Transducing Streptococcal Bacteriophage A25: Consequences of Escape from Lysogeny.

Lytic bacteriophage A25, which infects Streptococcus pyogenes and several related species, has been used to better understand phage-microbe interactions due to its ability to mediate high-efficiency transduction. Most of these studies, however, are decades old and were conducted prior to the advent of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics. The aim of our study was to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of high-efficiency transduction through analysis of the A25 genome. We show here that phage A25 is related to a family of genome prophages and became a lytic phage following escape from lysogeny. A lambdoid-like residual lysogeny module consisting of an operator site with two promoters and a cro-like antirepressor gene was identified, but the genes for the cI-like repressor and integrase are missing. Additionally, the genetic organization of the A25 genome was found to be modular in nature and similar to that of many prophages of S. pyogenes as well as from other streptococcal species. A study of A25 homology to all annotated prophages within S. pyogenes revealed near identity within the remnant lysogeny module of the A25 phage genome to the corresponding regions in resident prophages of genome strains MGAS10270 (M2), MGAS315 (M3), MGAS10570 (M4), and STAB902 (M4). Host range studies of MGAS10270, MGAS315, and MGAS10750 demonstrated that these strains were resistant to A25 infection. The resistance mechanism of superinfection immunity was confirmed experimentally through complementation of the operator region and cI-like repressor from prophage MGAS10270.2 into susceptible strains SF370, CEM1Δ4 (SF370ΔSpyCIM1), and ATCC 12204, which rendered all three strains resistant to A25 infection. In silico prediction of packaging through homology analysis of the terminase large subunit from bacteriophages within the known packaging mechanism of Gram-positive bacteria as well as the evidence of terminally redundant and/or circularly permuted sequences suggested that A25 grouped with phages employing the less stringent pac-type packaging mechanisms, which likely explains the characteristic A25 high-efficiency transduction capabilities. Only a few examples of lytic phages appearing following loss of part or all of the lysogeny module have been reported previously, and the genetic mosaicism of A25 suggests that this event may not have been a recent one. However, the discovery that this lytic bacteriophage shares some of the genetic pool of S. pyogenes prophages emphasizes the importance of genetic and biological characterization of bacteriophages when selecting phages for therapeutics or disinfectants, as phage-phage and phage-microbe interactions can be complex, requiring more than just assessment of host range and carriage of toxoid or virulence genes.IMPORTANCE Bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) play an important role in the shaping of bacterial populations as well as the dissemination of bacterial genetic material to new strains, resulting in the spread of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes. This study identified the genetic origins of Streptococcus pyogenes phage A25 and uncovered the molecular mechanism employed to promote horizontal transfer of DNA by transduction to new strains of this bacterium as well as identified the basis for its host range.

Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies neddylation as a regulator of neuronal aging and AD neurodegeneration.

Aging is the biggest risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we performed a whole-genome CRISPR screen to identify regulators of neuronal age and show that the neddylation pathway regulates both cellular age and AD neurodegeneration in a human stem cell model. Specifically, we demonstrate that blocking neddylation increased cellular hallmarks of aging and led to an increase in Tau aggregation and phosphorylation in neurons carrying the APPswe/swe mutation. Aged APPswe/swe but not isogenic control neurons also showed a progressive decrease in viability. Selective neuronal loss upon neddylation inhibition was similarly observed in other isogenic AD and in Parkinson's disease (PD) models, including PSENM146V/M146V cortical and LRRK2G2019S/G2019S midbrain dopamine neurons, respectively. This study indicates that cellular aging can reveal late-onset disease phenotypes, identifies new potential targets to modulate AD progression, and describes a strategy to program age-associated phenotypes into stem cell models of disease.

The TOG protein Stu2/XMAP215 interacts covalently and noncovalently with SUMO.

Stu2p is the yeast member of the XMAP215/Dis1/ch-TOG family of microtubule-associated proteins that promote microtubule polymerization. However, the factors that regulate its activity are not clearly understood. Here we report that Stu2p in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae interacts with SUMO by covalent and noncovalent mechanisms. Stu2p interacted by two-hybrid analysis with the yeast SUMO Smt3p, its E2 Ubc9p, and the E3 Nfi1p. A region of Stu2p containing the dimerization domain was both necessary and sufficient for interaction with SUMO and Ubc9p. Stu2p was found to be sumoylated both in vitro and in vivo. Stu2p copurified with SUMO in a pull-down assay and vice versa. Stu2p also bound to a nonconjugatable form of SUMO, suggesting that Stu2p can interact noncovalently with SUMO. In addition, Stu2p interacted with the STUbL enzyme Ris1p. Stu2p also copurified with ubiquitin in a pull-down assay, suggesting that it can be modified by both SUMO and ubiquitin. Tubulin, a major binding partner of Stu2p, also interacted noncovalently with SUMO. By two-hybrid analysis, the beta-tubulin Tub2p interacted with SUMO independently of the microtubule stressor, benomyl. Together, these findings raise the possibility that the microtubule polymerization activities mediated by Stu2p are regulated through sumoylation pathways.

Comparative Genome Analysis of the Daptomycin-Resistant Streptococcus anginosus Strain J4206 Associated with Breakthrough Bacteremia.

Streptococcus anginosus is a member of the normal oral flora that can become a pathogen causing pyogenic infections in humans. The genome of daptomycin-resistant strain J4206, originally isolated from a patient suffering from breakthrough bacteremia and septic shock at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, was determined. The circular genome is 2,001,352 bp long with a GC content of 38.62% and contains multiple mobile genetic elements, including the phage-like chromosomal island SanCI that mediates a mutator phenotype, transposons, and integrative conjugative elements. Daptomycin resistance involves multiple alterations in the cell membrane and cell wall, and unique features were identified in J4206 that may contribute to resistance. A cluster of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) genes for choline metabolism and transport are present that may help neutralize cell surface charges, destabilizing daptomycin binding. Further, unique J4206 genes encoding sortases and LPXTG-target proteins that are involved in cell wall modification were present. The J4206 genome is phylogenetically closely related to the recently reported vancomycin-resistant SA1 strain; however, these genomes differ with SNPs in cardiolipin synthetase, histidine kinase yycG, teichoic acid modification genes, and other genes involved in cell surface modification. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the cell walls of both strains J4206 and SA1 were significantly thicker and more electron dense than daptomycin- and vancomycin-sensitive strain J4211. This comparative genomic study has identified unique genes as well as allelic variants in the J4206 genome that are involved in cell surface modification and thus might contribute to the acquisition of daptomycin resistance.

Elimination of Chromosomal Island SpyCIM1 from Streptococcus pyogenes Strain SF370 Reverses the Mutator Phenotype and Alters Global Transcription.

Streptococcus pyogenes chromosomal island M1 (SpyCIM1) integrates by site-specific recombination into the 5' end of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutL in strain SF370SmR, blocking transcription of it and the downstream operon genes. During exponential growth, SpyCIM1 excises from the chromosome and replicates as an episome, restoring mutL transcription. This process is reversed in stationary phase with SpyCIM1 re-integrating into mutL, returning the cells to a mutator phenotype. Here we show that elimination of SpyCIM1 relieves this mutator phenotype. The downstream MMR operon genes, multidrug efflux pump lmrP, Holliday junction resolution helicase ruvA, and DNA base excision repair glycosylase tag, are also restored to constitutive expression by elimination of SpyCIM1. The presence of SpyCIM1 alters global transcription patterns in SF370SmR. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) demonstrated that loss of SpyCIM1 in the SpyCIM1 deletion mutant, CEM1Δ4, impacted the expression of over 100 genes involved in virulence and metabolism both in early exponential phase, when the SpyCIM1 is episomal, as well as at the onset of stationary phase, when SpyCIM1 has reintegrated into mutL. Among these changes, the up-regulation of the genes for the antiphagocytic M protein (emm1), streptolysin O (slo), capsule operon (hasABC), and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (speB), are particularly notable. The expression pattern of the MMR operon confirmed our earlier observations that these genes are transcribed in early exponential phase but silenced as stationary phase is approached. Thus, the direct role of SpyCIM1 in causing the mutator phenotype is confirmed, and further, its influence upon the biology of S. pyogenes was found to impact multiple genes in addition to the MMR operon, which is a novel function for a mobile genetic element. We suggest that such chromosomal islands are a remarkable evolutionary adaptation to promote the survival of its S. pyogenes host cell in changing environments.

Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus anginosus J4211, a Clinical Isolate.

Streptococcus anginosus is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes abscesses of the brain, liver, and other organs. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of a clinically isolated strain of S. anginosus J4211. The genome sequence contains two prophages and multiple mobile genetic elements.

The yeast homologue of the microtubule-associated protein Lis1 interacts with the sumoylation machinery and a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase.

Microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins are fundamental for multiple cellular processes, including mitosis and intracellular motility, but the factors that control microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are poorly understood. Here we show that two MAPs-the CLIP-170 homologue Bik1p and the Lis1 homologue Pac1p-interact with several proteins in the sumoylation pathway. Bik1p and Pac1p interact with Smt3p, the yeast SUMO; Ubc9p, an E2; and Nfi1p, an E3. Bik1p interacts directly with SUMO in vitro, and overexpression of Smt3p and Bik1p results in its in vivo sumoylation. Modified Pac1p is observed when the SUMO protease Ulp1p is inactivated. Both ubiquitin and Smt3p copurify with Pac1p. In contrast to ubiquitination, sumoylation does not directly tag the substrate for degradation. However, SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs) can recognize a sumoylated substrate and promote its degradation via ubiquitination and the proteasome. Both Pac1p and Bik1p interact with the STUbL Nis1p-Ris1p and the protease Wss1p. Strains deleted for RIS1 or WSS1 accumulate Pac1p conjugates. This suggests a novel model in which the abundance of these MAPs may be regulated via STUbLs. Pac1p modification is also altered by Kar9p and the dynein regulator She1p. This work has implications for the regulation of dynein's interaction with various cargoes, including its off-loading to the cortex.