RESUMO
Peptidoglycan (PGN) and associated surface structures such as secondary polymers and capsules have a central role in the physiology of bacteria. The exoskeletal PGN heteropolymer is the major determinant of cell shape and allows bacteria to withstand cytoplasmic turgor pressure. Thus, its assembly, expansion, and remodeling during cell growth and division need to be highly regulated to avoid compromising cell survival. Similarly, regulation of the assembly impacts bacterial cell shape; distinct shapes enhance fitness in different ecological niches, such as the host. Because bacterial cell wall components, in particular PGN, are exposed to the environment and unique to bacteria, these have been coopted during evolution by eukaryotes to detect bacteria. Furthermore, the essential role of the cell wall in bacterial survival has made PGN an important signaling molecule in the dialog between host and microbes and a target of many host responses. Millions of years of coevolution have resulted in a pivotal role for PGN fragments in shaping host physiology and in establishing a long-lasting symbiosis between microbes and the host. Thus, perturbations of this dialog can lead to pathologies such as chronic inflammatory diseases. Similarly, pathogens have devised sophisticated strategies to manipulate the system to enhance their survival and growth.
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Leptospira interrogans are pathogenic bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, a worldwide zoonosis. All vertebrates can be infected, and some species like humans are susceptible to the disease whereas rodents such as mice are resistant and become asymptomatic renal carriers. Leptospires are stealth bacteria that are known to escape several immune recognition pathways and resist killing mechanisms. We recently published that leptospires may survive intracellularly in and exit macrophages, avoiding xenophagy, a pathogen-targeting form of autophagy. Interestingly, the latter is one of the antimicrobial mechanisms often highjacked by bacteria to evade the host immune response. In this study we explored whether leptospires subvert the key molecular players of autophagy to facilitate infection. We showed in macrophages that leptospires triggered a specific accumulation of autophagy-adaptor p62 in puncta-like structures, without altering autophagic flux. We demonstrated that Leptospira-induced p62 accumulation is a passive mechanism depending on the leptospiral virulence factor LPS signaling via TLR4/TLR2. p62 is a central pleiotropic protein, also mediating cell stress and death, via the translocation of transcription factors. We demonstrated that Leptospira-driven accumulation of p62 induced the translocation of transcription factor NRF2, a key player in the anti-oxidant response. However, NRF2 translocation upon Leptospira infection did not result as expected in antioxydant response, but dampened the production of inflammatory mediators such as iNOS/NO, TNF and IL6. Overall, these findings highlight a novel passive bacterial mechanism linked to LPS and p62/NRF2 signaling that decreases inflammation and contributes to the stealthiness of leptospires.
Assuntos
Leptospira , Leptospirose , Humanos , Camundongos , Animais , Lipopolissacarídeos , Fator 2 Relacionado a NF-E2/metabolismo , Regulação para Cima , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Inflamação , AutofagiaRESUMO
Leptospira interrogans are bacteria that can infect all vertebrates and are responsible for leptospirosis, a neglected zoonosis. Some hosts, such as humans, are susceptible to the disease, whereas mice are resistant and get chronically colonized. Although leptospires escape recognition by some immune receptors, they activate the NOD-like receptor pyrin 3-inflammasome and trigger IL-1ß secretion. Classically, IL-1ß secretion is associated with lytic inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis, resulting from cytosolic LPS binding to inflammatory caspases, such as caspase 11. Interestingly, we showed that L. interrogans and Leptospira biflexa do not trigger cell death in either murine, human, hamster, or bovine macrophages, escaping both pyroptosis and apoptosis. We showed, in murine cells, that the mild IL-1ß secretion induced by leptospires occurred through nonlytic caspase 8-dependent gasdermin D pore formation and not through activation of caspase 11/noncanonical inflammasome. Strikingly, we demonstrated a potent antagonistic effect of pathogenic L. interrogans and their atypical LPS on spontaneous and Escherichia coli LPS-induced cell death. Indeed, LPS of L. interrogans efficiently prevents caspase 11 dimerization and subsequent massive gasdermin D cleavage. Finally, we showed that pyroptosis escape by leptospires prevents massive IL-1ß release, and we consistently found no major role of IL-1R in controlling experimental leptospirosis in vivo. Overall, to our knowledge, our findings described a novel mechanism by which leptospires dampen inflammation, thus potentially contributing to their stealthiness.
Assuntos
Leptospira interrogans , Leptospirose , Animais , Bovinos , Cricetinae , Humanos , Camundongos , Caspases/metabolismo , Gasderminas , Inflamassomos/metabolismo , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Leptospira interrogans/metabolismo , Leptospirose/metabolismo , Leptospirose/microbiologia , Lipopolissacarídeos , Macrófagos , Proteína 3 que Contém Domínio de Pirina da Família NLR/metabolismo , Piroptose , Morte CelularRESUMO
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02007.].
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Leptospira interrogans is a pathogenic spirochete responsible for leptospirosis, a neglected, zoonotic reemerging disease. Humans are sensitive hosts and may develop severe disease. Some animal species, such as rats and mice can become asymptomatic renal carriers. More than 350 leptospiral serovars have been identified, classified on the basis of the antibody response directed against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Similarly to whole inactivated bacteria used as human vaccines, this response is believed to confer only short-term, serogroup-specific protection. The immune response of hosts against leptospires has not been thoroughly studied, which complicates the testing of vaccine candidates. In this work, we studied the immunoglobulin (Ig) profiles in mice infected with L. interrogans over time to determine whether this humoral response confers long-term protection after homologous challenge six months post-infection. Groups of mice were injected intraperitoneally with 2×107 leptospires of one of three pathogenic serovars (Manilae, Copenhageni or Icterohaemorrhagiae), attenuated mutants or heat-killed bacteria. Leptospira-specific immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, IgG and 4 subclasses) produced in the first weeks up to 6 months post-infection were measured by ELISA. Strikingly, we found sustained high levels of IgM in mice infected with the pathogenic Manilae and Copenhageni strains, both colonizing the kidney. In contrast, the Icterohaemorrhagiae strain did not lead to kidney colonization, even at high dose, and triggered a classical IgM response that peaked at day 8 post-infection and disappeared. The virulent Manilae and Copenhageni serovars elicited high levels and similar profiles of IgG subclasses in contrast to Icterohaemorrhagiae strains that stimulated weaker antibody responses. Inactivated heat-killed Manilae strains elicited very low responses. However, all mice pre-injected with leptospires challenged with high doses of homologous bacteria did not develop acute leptospirosis, and all antibody responses were boosted after challenge. Furthermore, we showed that 2 months post-challenge, mice pre-infected with the attenuated M895 Manilae LPS mutant or heat-killed bacterin were completely protected against renal colonization. In conclusion, we observed a sustained IgM response potentially associated with chronic leptospiral renal infection. We also demonstrated in mice different profiles of protective and cross-reactive antibodies after L. interrogans infection, depending on the serovar and virulence of strains.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antibacterianos/sangue , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Leptospira interrogans/imunologia , Leptospirose/imunologia , Leptospirose/prevenção & controle , Animais , Carga Bacteriana/imunologia , Reações Cruzadas/imunologia , Feminino , Imunoglobulina A/sangue , Rim/microbiologia , Leptospirose/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
Microbiota, and the plethora of signalling molecules that they generate, are a major driving force that underlies a striking range of inter-individual physioanatomic and behavioural consequences for the host organism. Among the bacterial effectors, one finds peptidoglycan, the major constituent of the bacterial cell surface. In the steady-state, fragments of peptidoglycan are constitutively liberated from bacterial members of the gut microbiota, cross the gut epithelial barrier and enter the host system. The fate of these peptidoglycan fragments, and the outcome for the host, depends on the molecular nature of the peptidoglycan, as well the cellular profile of the recipient tissue, mechanism of cell entry, the expression of specific processing and recognition mechanisms by the cell, and the local immune context. At the target level, physiological processes modulated by peptidoglycan are extremely diverse, ranging from immune activation to small molecule metabolism, autophagy and apoptosis. In this review, we bring together a fragmented body of literature on the kinetics and dynamics of peptidoglycan interactions with the mammalian host, explaining how peptidoglycan functions as a signalling molecule in the host under physiological conditions, how it disseminates within the host, and the cellular responses to peptidoglycan.
Assuntos
Bactérias/química , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno/imunologia , Peptidoglicano/metabolismo , Animais , Humanos , Mamíferos , Peptidoglicano/imunologia , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
Lipoproteins are characterized by a fatty acid moiety at their amino-terminus through which they are anchored into membranes. They fulfill a variety of essential functions in bacterial cells, such as cell wall maintenance, virulence, efflux of toxic elements including antibiotics, and uptake of nutrients. The posttranslational modification process of lipoproteins involves the sequential action of integral membrane enzymes and phospholipids as acyl donors. In recent years, the structures of the lipoprotein modification enzymes have been solved by X-ray crystallography leading to a greater insight into their function and the molecular mechanism of the reactions. The catalytic domains of the enzymes are exposed to the periplasm or external milieu and are readily accessible to small molecules. Since the lipoprotein modification pathway is essential in proteobacteria, it is a potential target for the development of novel antibiotics. In this review, we discuss recent literature on the structural characterization of the enzymes, and the in vitro activity assays compatible with high-throughput screening for inhibitors, with perspectives on the development of new antimicrobial agents.
Assuntos
Bactérias/enzimologia , Bactérias/metabolismo , Domínio Catalítico , Enzimas/química , Enzimas/metabolismo , Lipoproteínas/metabolismo , Processamento de Proteína Pós-Traducional , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Bactérias/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Cristalografia por Raios X , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Lipoproteínas/química , Sistemas de Translocação de ProteínasRESUMO
Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU) disease, is unique amongst human pathogens in its capacity to produce a lipid toxin called mycolactone. While previous studies have demonstrated that bacterially-released mycolactone diffuses beyond infection foci, the spatiotemporal distribution of mycolactone remained largely unknown. Here, we used the zebrafish model to provide the first global kinetic analysis of mycolactone's diffusion in vivo, and multicellular co-culture systems to address the critical question of the toxin's access to the brain. Zebrafish larvae were injected with a fluorescent-derivative of mycolactone to visualize the in vivo diffusion of the toxin from the peripheral circulation. A rapid, body-wide distribution of mycolactone was observed, with selective accumulation in tissues near the injection site and brain, together with an important excretion through the gastro-intestinal tract. Our conclusion that mycolactone reached the central nervous system was reinforced by an in cellulo model of human blood brain barrier and a mouse model of M. ulcerans-infection. Here we show that mycolactone has a broad but heterogenous profile of distribution in vivo. Our investigations in vitro and in vivo support the view that a fraction of bacterially-produced mycolactone gains access to the central nervous system. The relative persistence of mycolactone in the bloodstream suggests that assays of circulating mycolactone are relevant for BU disease monitoring and treatment optimization.
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Toxinas Bacterianas/farmacocinética , Sistema Nervoso Central/metabolismo , Macrolídeos/farmacocinética , Animais , Astrócitos/fisiologia , Toxinas Bacterianas/administração & dosagem , Barreira Hematoencefálica , Linhagem Celular , Células Endoteliais/fisiologia , Humanos , Larva , Macrolídeos/administração & dosagem , Mycobacterium ulcerans , Imagem Óptica , Análise Espaço-Temporal , Peixe-ZebraRESUMO
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008639.].
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Toxin-antitoxin systems are found in many bacterial chromosomes and plasmids with roles ranging from plasmid stabilization to biofilm formation and persistence. In these systems, the expression/activity of the toxin is counteracted by an antitoxin, which, in type I systems, is an antisense RNA. While the regulatory mechanisms of these systems are mostly well defined, the toxins' biological activity and expression conditions are less understood. Here, these questions were investigated for a type I toxin-antitoxin system (AapA1-IsoA1) expressed from the chromosome of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori We show that expression of the AapA1 toxin in H. pylori causes growth arrest associated with rapid morphological transformation from spiral-shaped bacteria to round coccoid cells. Coccoids are observed in patients and during in vitro growth as a response to different stress conditions. The AapA1 toxin, first molecular effector of coccoids to be identified, targets H. pylori inner membrane without disrupting it, as visualized by cryoelectron microscopy. The peptidoglycan composition of coccoids is modified with respect to spiral bacteria. No major changes in membrane potential or adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) concentration result from AapA1 expression, suggesting coccoid viability. Single-cell live microscopy tracking the shape conversion suggests a possible association of this process with cell elongation/division interference. Oxidative stress induces coccoid formation and is associated with repression of the antitoxin promoter and enhanced processing of its transcript, leading to an imbalance in favor of AapA1 toxin expression. Our data support the hypothesis of viable coccoids with characteristics of dormant bacteria that might be important in H. pylori infections refractory to treatment.
Assuntos
Helicobacter pylori/citologia , Helicobacter pylori/efeitos dos fármacos , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Sistemas Toxina-Antitoxina , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Helicobacter pylori/ultraestrutura , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/toxicidade , Espaço Intracelular/metabolismo , Cinética , Potenciais da Membrana/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Peptidoglicano/metabolismoRESUMO
Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic and spore-forming bacterium responsible for 15-25% of postantibiotic diarrhea and 95% of pseudomembranous colitis. Peptidoglycan is a crucial element of the bacterial cell wall that is exposed to the host, making it an important target for the innate immune system. The C. difficile peptidoglycan is largely N-deacetylated on its glucosamine (93% of muropeptides) through the activity of enzymes known as N-deacetylases, and this N-deacetylation modulates host-pathogen interactions, such as resistance to the bacteriolytic activity of lysozyme, virulence, and host innate immune responses. C. difficile genome analysis showed that 12 genes potentially encode N-deacetylases; however, which of these N-deacetylases are involved in peptidoglycan N-deacetylation remains unknown. Here, we report the enzymes responsible for peptidoglycan N-deacetylation and their respective regulation. Through peptidoglycan analysis of several mutants, we found that the N-deacetylases PdaV and PgdA act in synergy. Together they are responsible for the high level of peptidoglycan N-deacetylation in C. difficile and the consequent resistance to lysozyme. We also characterized a third enzyme, PgdB, as a glucosamine N-deacetylase. However, its impact on N-deacetylation and lysozyme resistance is limited, and its physiological role remains to be dissected. Finally, given the influence of peptidoglycan N-deacetylation on host defense against pathogens, we investigated the virulence and colonization ability of the mutants. Unlike what has been shown in other pathogenic bacteria, a lack of N-deacetylation in C. difficile is not linked to a decrease in virulence.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Clostridioides difficile/enzimologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno/fisiologia , Hidrolases/metabolismo , Peptidoglicano/análise , Acilação , Animais , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Clostridioides difficile/efeitos dos fármacos , Clostridioides difficile/genética , Clostridioides difficile/patogenicidade , Infecções por Clostridium/mortalidade , Infecções por Clostridium/patologia , Infecções por Clostridium/veterinária , Cricetinae , Feminino , Glucosamina/metabolismo , Hidrolases/genética , Imunidade Inata , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Muramidase/metabolismo , Muramidase/farmacologia , Mutagênese , Peptidoglicano/metabolismo , Virulência/genéticaRESUMO
Leptospira (L.) interrogans are invasive bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, a worldwide zoonosis. They possess two periplasmic endoflagellae that allow their motility. L. interrogans are stealth pathogens that escape the innate immune recognition of the NOD-like receptors NOD1/2, and the human Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, which senses peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively. TLR5 is another receptor of bacterial cell wall components, recognizing flagellin subunits. To study the contribution of TLR5 in the host defense against leptospires, we infected WT and TLR5 deficient mice with pathogenic L. interrogans and tracked the infection by in vivo live imaging of bioluminescent bacteria or by qPCR. We did not identify any protective or inflammatory role of murine TLR5 for controlling pathogenic Leptospira. Likewise, subsequent in vitro experiments showed that infections with different live strains of L. interrogans and L. biflexa did not trigger TLR5 signaling. However, unexpectedly, heat-killed bacteria stimulated human and bovine TLR5, but did not, or barely induced stimulation via murine TLR5. Abolition of TLR5 recognition required extensive boiling time of the bacteria or proteinase K treatment, showing an unusual high stability of the leptospiral flagellins. Interestingly, after using antimicrobial peptides to destabilize live leptospires, we detected TLR5 activity, suggesting that TLR5 could participate in the fight against leptospires in humans or cattle. Using different Leptospira strains with mutations in the flagellin proteins, we further showed that neither FlaA nor Fcp participated in the recognition by TLR5, suggesting a role for the FlaB. FlaB have structural homology to Salmonella FliC, and possess conserved residues important for TLR5 activation, as shown by in silico analyses. Accordingly, we found that leptospires regulate the expression of FlaB mRNA according to the growth phase in vitro, and that infection with L. interrogans in hamsters and in mice downregulated the expression of the FlaB, but not the FlaA subunits. Altogether, in contrast to different bacteria that modify their flagellin sequences to escape TLR5 recognition, our study suggests that the peculiar central localization and stability of the FlaB monomers in the periplasmic endoflagellae, associated with the downregulation of FlaB subunits in hosts, constitute an efficient strategy of leptospires to escape the TLR5 recognition and the induced immune response.
Assuntos
Flagelos/fisiologia , Flagelina/metabolismo , Leptospira/fisiologia , Leptospirose/imunologia , Receptor 5 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Animais , Bovinos , Feminino , Flagelina/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Humanos , Evasão da Resposta Imune , Imunidade Inata , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Mutação/genética , Receptor 5 Toll-Like/genéticaRESUMO
Leptospirosis is a worldwide re-emerging zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. All vertebrate species can be infected; humans are sensitive hosts whereas other species, such as rodents, may become long-term renal carrier reservoirs. Upon infection, innate immune responses are initiated by recognition of Microbial Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs) by Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs). Among MAMPs, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is recognized by the Toll-Like-Receptor 4 (TLR4) and activates both the MyD88-dependent pathway at the plasma membrane and the TRIF-dependent pathway after TLR4 internalization. We previously showed that leptospiral LPS is not recognized by the human-TLR4, whereas it signals through mouse-TLR4 (mTLR4), which mediates mouse resistance to acute leptospirosis. However, although resistant, mice are known to be chronically infected by leptospires. Interestingly, the leptospiral LPS has low endotoxicity in mouse cells and is an agonist of TLR2, the sensor for bacterial lipoproteins. Here, we investigated the signaling properties of the leptospiral LPS in mouse macrophages. Using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, we showed that the LPS of L. interrogans did not induce internalization of mTLR4, unlike the LPS of Escherichia coli. Consequently, the LPS failed to induce the production of the TRIF-dependent nitric oxide and RANTES, both important antimicrobial responses. Using shorter LPS and LPS devoid of TLR2 activity, we further found this mTLR4-TRIF escape to be dependent on both the co-purifying lipoproteins and the full-length O antigen. Furthermore, our data suggest that the O antigen could alter the binding of the leptospiral LPS to the co-receptor CD14 that is essential for TLR4-TRIF activation. Overall, we describe here a novel leptospiral immune escape mechanism from mouse macrophages and hypothesize that the LPS altered signaling could contribute to the stealthiness and chronicity of the leptospires in mice.
Assuntos
Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transporte Vesicular/metabolismo , Leptospira/imunologia , Leptospirose/imunologia , Lipopolissacarídeos/metabolismo , Lipoproteínas/metabolismo , Antígenos O/metabolismo , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/fisiologia , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transporte Vesicular/genética , Animais , Citocinas/metabolismo , Feminino , Leptospirose/metabolismo , Leptospirose/microbiologia , Leptospirose/patologia , Receptores de Lipopolissacarídeos/genética , Receptores de Lipopolissacarídeos/metabolismo , Lipoproteínas/genética , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Fator 88 de Diferenciação Mieloide/fisiologia , Antígenos O/genética , Transdução de Sinais , Receptor 2 Toll-Like/fisiologiaRESUMO
Leptospira interrogans are pathogenic spirochetes responsible for leptospirosis, a worldwide reemerging zoonosis. Many Leptospira serovars have been described, and prophylaxis using inactivated bacteria provides only short-term serovar-specific protection. Therefore, alternative approaches to limit severe leptospirosis in humans and morbidity in cattle would be welcome. Innate immune cells, including macrophages, play a key role in fighting infection and pathogen clearance. Recently, it has been shown that functional reprograming of innate immune cells through the activation of pattern recognition receptors leads to enhanced nonspecific antimicrobial responses upon a subsequent microbial encounter. This mechanism is known as trained immunity or innate immune memory. We have previously shown that oral treatment with Lactobacillus plantarum confers a beneficial effect against acute leptospirosis. Here, using a macrophage depletion protocol and live imaging in mice, we established the role of peritoneal macrophages in limiting the initial dissemination of leptospires. We further showed that intraperitoneal priming of mice with CL429, a TLR2 and NOD2 agonist known to mimic the modulatory effect of Lactobacillus, alleviated acute leptospiral infection. The CL429 treatment was characterized as a training effect since i.) it was linked to peritoneal macrophages that produced ex vivo more pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines against 3 different pathogenic serovars of Leptospira, independently of the presence of B and T cells, ii.) it had systemic effects on splenic cells and bone marrow derived macrophages, and iii.) it was sustained for 3 months. Importantly, trained macrophages produced more nitric oxide, a potent antimicrobial compound, which has not been previously linked to trained immunity. Accordingly, trained macrophages better restrict leptospiral survival. Finally, we could use CL429 to train ex vivo human monocytes that produced more cytokines upon leptospiral stimulation. In conclusion, host-directed treatment using a TLR2/NOD2 agonist could be envisioned as a novel prophylactic strategy against acute leptospirosis.
Assuntos
Memória Imunológica/imunologia , Leptospira interrogans/imunologia , Leptospirose/prevenção & controle , Macrófagos Peritoneais/imunologia , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD2/agonistas , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/farmacologia , Receptor 2 Toll-Like/agonistas , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Citocinas/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Memória Imunológica/efeitos dos fármacos , Leptospirose/imunologia , Leptospirose/metabolismo , Macrófagos Peritoneais/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos Peritoneais/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis, potentially severe in humans, caused by spirochetal bacteria, Leptospira interrogans (L. interrogans). Host defense mechanisms involved in leptospirosis are poorly understood. Recognition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoproteins by Toll-Like Receptors (TLR)4 and TLR2 is crucial for clearance of leptospires in mice, yet the role of Nucleotide Oligomerization Domain (NOD)-like receptors (NOD)1 and NOD2, recognizing peptidoglycan (PG) fragments has not previously been examined. Here, we show that pathogenic leptospires escape from NOD1 and NOD2 recognition both in vitro and in vivo, in mice. We found that leptospiral PG is resistant to digestion by certain hydrolases and that a conserved outer membrane lipoprotein of unknown function, LipL21, specific for pathogenic leptospires, is tightly bound to the PG. Leptospiral PG prepared from a mutant not expressing LipL21 (lipl21-) was more readily digested than the parental or complemented strains. Muropeptides released from the PG of the lipl21- mutant, or prepared using a procedure to eliminate the LipL21 protein from the PG of the parental strain, were recognized in vitro by the human NOD1 (hNOD1) and NOD2 (hNOD2) receptors, suggesting that LipL21 protects PG from degradation into muropeptides. LipL21 expressed in E. coli also resulted in impaired PG digestion and NOD signaling. We found that murine NOD1 (mNOD1) did not recognize PG of L. interrogans. This result was confirmed by mass spectrometry showing that leptospiral PG was primarily composed of MurTriDAP, the natural agonist of hNOD1, and contained only trace amounts of the tetra muropeptide, the mNOD1 agonist. Finally, in transgenic mice expressing human NOD1 and deficient for the murine NOD1, we showed enhanced clearance of a lipl21- mutant compared to the complemented strain, or to what was observed in NOD1KO mice, suggesting that LipL21 facilitates escape from immune surveillance in humans. These novel mechanisms allowing L. interrogans to escape recognition by the NOD receptors may be important in circumventing innate host responses.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Bactérias/metabolismo , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/metabolismo , Evasão da Resposta Imune , Leptospira interrogans/imunologia , Leptospira interrogans/patogenicidade , Lipoproteínas/metabolismo , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD1/imunologia , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD2/imunologia , Peptidoglicano/metabolismo , Animais , Antígenos de Bactérias/genética , Antígenos de Bactérias/imunologia , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/imunologia , Feminino , Humanos , Evasão da Resposta Imune/genética , Imunidade Inata , Leptospira/imunologia , Leptospira interrogans/genética , Leptospirose/genética , Leptospirose/imunologia , Leptospirose/microbiologia , Lipoproteínas/genética , Lipoproteínas/imunologia , Masculino , Espectrometria de Massas , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Camundongos Transgênicos , Mutação , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD1/deficiência , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD1/genética , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD2/deficiência , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD2/genética , Peptidoglicano/química , Peptidoglicano/imunologia , Ligação Proteica , Transdução de Sinais , Especificidade da Espécie , Virulência/genética , Virulência/imunologiaRESUMO
Bacterial cell wall biosynthesis is an essential process that requires the coordinated activity of peptidoglycan biosynthesis enzymes within multi-protein complexes involved in cell division (the "divisome") and lateral wall growth (the "elongasome"). MreC is a structural protein that serves as a platform during wall elongation, scaffolding other essential peptidoglycan biosynthesis macromolecules, such as penicillin-binding proteins. Despite the importance of these multi-partite complexes, details of their architecture have remained elusive due to the transitory nature of their interactions. Here, we present the crystal structures of the soluble PBP2:MreC core elongasome complex from Helicobacter pylori, and of uncomplexed PBP2. PBP2 recognizes the two-winged MreC molecule upon opening of its N-terminal region, revealing a hydrophobic zipper that serves as binding platform. The PBP2:MreC interface is essential both for protein recognition in vitro and maintenance of bacterial shape and growth. This work allows visualization as to how peptidoglycan machinery proteins are scaffolded, revealing interaction regions that could be targeted by tailored inhibitors.Bacterial wall biosynthesis is a complex process that requires the coordination of multiple enzymes. Here, the authors structurally characterize the PBP2:MreC complex involved in peptidoglycan elongation and cross-linking, and demonstrate that its disruption leads to loss of H. pylori shape and inability to sustain growth.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Helicobacter pylori/genética , Proteínas de Ligação às Penicilinas/química , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Sítios de Ligação , Cristalografia por Raios X , Helicobacter pylori/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Proteínas de Ligação às Penicilinas/genética , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Alinhamento de SequênciaRESUMO
Helicobacter pullorum is an avian bacterium that causes gastroenteritis, intestinal bowel and hepatobiliary diseases in humans. Although H. pullorum has been shown to activate the mammalian innate immunity with release of nitric oxide (NO), the proteins that afford protection against NO and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) remain unknown. Here several protein candidates of H. pullorum, namely a truncated (TrHb) and a single domain haemoglobin (SdHb), and three peroxiredoxin-like proteins (Prx1, Prx2 and Prx3) were investigated. We report that the two haemoglobin genes are induced by RNS, and that SdHb confers resistance to nitrosative stress both in vitro and in macrophages. For peroxiredoxins, the prx2 and prx3 expression is enhanced by peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide, respectively. Mutation of prx1 does not alter the resistance to these stresses, while the single ∆prx2 and double ∆prx1∆prx2 mutants have decreased viability. To corroborate the physiological data, the biochemical analysis of the five recombinant enzymes was done, namely by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. It is shown that H. pullorum SdHb reacts with NO much more quickly than TrHb, and that the three Prxs react promptly with peroxynitrite, Prx3 displaying the highest reactivity. Altogether, the results unveil SdHb and Prx3 as major protective systems of H. pullorum against nitrosative stress.
Assuntos
Infecções por Helicobacter/microbiologia , Helicobacter/patogenicidade , Estresse Nitrosativo , Animais , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Helicobacter/genética , Helicobacter/metabolismo , Infecções por Helicobacter/patologia , Humanos , Intestinos/microbiologia , Intestinos/patologia , Fígado/microbiologia , Fígado/patologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/microbiologia , Viabilidade Microbiana/genética , Mutação , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Peroxirredoxinas/genética , Peroxirredoxinas/metabolismo , VirulênciaRESUMO
Lytic transglycosylases (Lts) are involved in recycling, cell division, and metabolism of the peptidoglycan. They have been understudied for their usefulness as potential antibacterial targets due to their high redundancy in Gram-negative bacteria. Bulgecin A is an O-sulphonated glycopeptide that targets primarily soluble lytic tranglycosylases (Slt). It has been shown that bulgecin A increases the efficacy of ß-lactams that target penicillin bindings proteins (PBPs). Here, we present the high-resolution crystal structure of LtgA from Neisseria meningitidis strain MC58, a membrane bound homolog of Escherichia coli Slt, in complex with bulgecin A. The LtgA-bulgecin A complex reveals the mechanism of inhibition by bulgecin A at near atomic resolution. We further demonstrate that bulgecin A is not only a potent inhibitor of LtgA, but most importantly, it restores the efficacy of ß-lactam antibiotics in strains of N. meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae that have reduced susceptibility to ß-lactams. This is particularly relevant for N. gonorrhoeae where no vaccines are available. This work illustrates how best to target dangerous pathogens using a multiple drug target approach, a new and alternative approach to fighting antibiotic resistance.