Project description:Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equeisimilis (SDSE) has Lancefield group G or C antigens. Recent epidemiological studies reveal that invasive SDSE infections have been increasing in Asia, Europe and US. Although SDSE possesses similar virulence factors to S. pyogenes including streptolysin S (SLS) and streptolysin O (SLO), some important S. pyogenes virulence factors including active superantigens, SpeB and a hyarulonic acids capsule are missing in SDSE genome. The mechanisms and the key virulence factors for causing invasive diseases by SDSE are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the transcriptome of SDSE in vivo using the murine sepsis model, revealing the strategy of SDSE to destruct host tissues with the virulence factors and to scavenge depleted nutrients. The expression of SLO operon increased at relatively early stage of infection while the SLS and hyaluronidases upregulated after 4h post infection. Microarray data suggested that SDSE degraded host tissue polysaccharides by streptococcal-secreting poly/oligosaccharide lyases and simultaneously used the Entner-Doudoroff pathway to metabolize acquired carbohydrates. A global negative virulence gene regulator CsrRS of SDSE modulated the expressions of genes encoding SLS and the carbohydrate metabolism enzymes. Moreover, csrS deficient mutant induced sever systemic hemolysis in mice. The most frequently isolated stG6792 strains from invasive disease secreted abundant SLS and SLO rather than other SDSE emm types, indicating the relationship between the SLS and SLO productions and poor outcome by the stG6792 strain infection. Our findings suggest that the concomitant regulation of virulence factors destructing the host tissues and metabolic enzymes play an important role to produce invasive diseases by SDSE. To analyze gene expressions in group G streptococci with the murine infection model, we developed a custom microarray for Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) based on the genome sequences of three SDSE strains; GGS_124, ATCC12923 and RE378. We intraperitoneally inoculated 10^8 CFU of GGS_124 stain and the csrS deficient mutant into ddY mice. Bacterial cells were collected from the abdominal cavity at 0, 2, 4 and 8 h post infection. GGS_124 cells were also collected from OD600=0.6 culture in brain heart infusion broth as a control.
Project description:The two-component system qseBC is a putative prokaryotic adrenergic receptor. In Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), it was shown that the qseBC responds significantly to the presence of both catecholamines and ferrous iron. In addition, growth is significantly increased in the presence of both. Therefore, we performed a custom Aa microarray in order to determine the effects of catecholamines and catecholamines and iron (CAT-Fe) on Aa. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was grown in triplicate in a chemically defined media (CDM) supplemented with either 100uM of ferrous chloride or 50uM of norepinephrine or both. At mid-log, RNA was harvested using the Qiagen Lipid Tissue Minikit.
Project description:The aim of this study is to investigate the alterations in gene expression in Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 after inoculation in rat oral cavity. P.gingivalis W83 inoculation in rat oral cavity caused inflammatory responses in gingival tissues and destroyed host alveolar bone. Microarray analysis revealed that 42 genes were upregulated, and 22 genes were downregulated in the detected 1786 genes in the inoculated P.gingivalis W83. Products of these upregulated and downregulated genes are mainly related to transposon functions, cell transmembrane transportation, protein and nucleic acid metabolism, energy metabolism, cell division and bacterial pathogenicity.P.gingivalis W83 has a pathogenic effect on host oral cavity. Meanwhile, inflammatory oral environment alters P.gingivalis W83 gene expression profile. These changes in gene expression may limit the proliferation and weaken the pathogenicity of P.gingivalis W83, and favor themselves to adapt local environment for survival. 3 samples were picked up from wild strain P.gingivalis W83 and inoculated P.gingivalis W83, respectively. The total RNA was extracted and labeled with Klenow, and then hybridism with P.gingivalis W83 chip. The commercial GeneChip P.gingivalis W83 Genome Array used here was provided by CapitalBio Corporation (http://www.capitalbio.com/en/index.asp, Beijing, China), a service provider authorized by Roche NimbleGen (Wisconsin, USA). Five replicates of the genome were included per chip. An average of 19 different 60-base oligonucleotides (60-mer probes) represented each gene in the genome. Array hybridization, washing, scanning and data analysis were performed at the CapitalBio Corporation, Beijing, China and carried out according to the NimbleGen’s Expression user’s guide. The arrays were scanned using MS200 scanner (NimbleGen), and NimbleScan software (NimbleGen) was used to extract fluorescent intensity raw data from the scanned images. The expression data of probes were normalized using quantile normalization and expression data of genes were generated using the Robust Multichip Average (RMA) algorithm. In a comparison analysis, two class unpaired method in the Significant Analysis of Microarray software (SAM, version 3.02) was performed to identify significantly differentially expressed genes between TEST and CONTROL groups. Genes were determined to be significantly differentially expressed with a selection threshold of false discovery rate, FDR<5% and fold change>2.0 in the SAM output result.
Project description:Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen that tightly regulates the activities of various virulence factors during infection. A mutant strain (the plcBM-NM-^Tpro mutant) that has lost the ability to control the activity of a phospholipase C (PC-PLC) is attenuated a hundred fold in mice. This attenuation is not due to a lack of bacterial fitness, but appears to result from a modified host response to infection. The transcriptomic pattern of immunerelated genes in infected macrophages indicated no differential response to wild-type L. monocytogenes vs the plcBM-NM-^Tpro mutant. Cultures of bone marrow derived macrophages from BALB/c were infected with either wild type or mutant L. monocytogens for 3, 6, or 9 hrs. The macrophages were then collected and RNA isolated for microarray analysis of gene expression.
Project description:A previously described low-fitness, high stress-resistant, variant of Listeria monocytogenes LO28 WT was subjected to an experimental evolution regime, selecting (in two parallel lines) for increased fitness in unstressed conditions. Evolved variants with increased fitness reverted to WT-like stress resistance. Whole genome sequencing and proteomics were used to identify differences between the ancestral and evolved strains.
Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in Salmonella enterica serova Enteritidis and Typhimurium under chlorine treatment An eighteen chip study using total RNA isolated from three separate cultures of (1) S. Enteritidis in BHI broth (2) S. Typhimurium in BHI broth (3) S. Enteritidis in BHI broth w/ 130 ppm chlorine (4) S. Typhimurium in BHI w/ 130 ppm chlorine (5) S. Enteritidis in BHI broth w/ 390 ppm (6) S. Typhimurium in BHI broth w/ 390 ppm. Each chip measures the expression level of 5,027 ORFs covering the whole genome of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium.
Project description:Oral streptococci metabolize carbohydrate to produce organic acids, not only decrease the environmental pH, but also increase osmolality of dental plaque fluid due to tooth demineralization and consequent calcium and phosphate accumulation. Thus, to persevere in the dental plaque, acidogenic bacteria should evolve sophisticated molecular machineries to counter the detrimental effect of elevated osmolality. This study was aimed to obtain a global view on strategies taken by streptococcus mutans to deal with physiologically relevant elevated osmolality, and preserves within a cariogenic dental plaque. We investigated phenotypic change of S. mutans biofilm upon sub-lethal level of hyperosmotic challenge. We found that hyperosmotic condition was able to initiate S. mutans biofilm dispersal by reducing both microbial content and extracellular polysaccharides matrix. We then used DNA microarray with qPCR validation to systemically investigate the underlying molecular machinery of this bacteria in response to hyperosmotic stimuli. Among those identified 50 differentially regulated genes, down-regulation of gtfB and comC were believed to be responsible for the observed biofilm dispersal. Further analysis of microarray data showed significant up-regulation of genes and pathways involved in carbohydrates metabolism. Specific genes involved in heat shock response and acid tolerance were also upregulated, indicating potential cross-talk between hyperosmotic and other environmental stress. Based on the data obtained in this study, we believe that although hyperosmotic condition may induce significant stress response on S. mutans, this cariogenic bacterium has evolved sophisticated molecular machineries to counter those elicited detrimental effects. In the meantime, it will take full advantage of these environmental stimuli to better fit the fluctuating environments within oral cavity, and thus emerge as numeric-predominant bacteria under cariogenic conditions. A six-chip study using total RNA recovered from mid-logarithmic phase of S. mutans UA159 from three separate cultures of strains submitted for 15 minutes to hyperosmotic stimuli (0.4M NaCl) and three separate cultures of strains kept under no stress condition.
Project description:P. multocida is the causative agent of a wide range of diseases of animals, including fowl cholera in birds. Fowl cholera isolates of P. multocida generally express a capsular polysaccharide composed of hyaluronic acid. There have been reports of spontaneous capsule loss in P. multocida fowl cholera-causing strains but the mechanism by which this occurs has not been determined. In this study, we identified three independent strains that had spontaneously lost the ability to produce capsular polysaccharide. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that these strains had significantly reduced transcription of the capsule biosynthetic genes, but DNA sequence analysis identified no mutations within the cap biosynthetic locus. However, whole genome sequencing of paired capsulated and acapsular strains identified a single nucleotide polymorphism within fis that was present only in the acapsular strain. Sequencing of fis from two independently derived spontaneous acapsular strains showed that each contained a mutation within fis. Complementation of these strains with an intact copy of fis returned normal capsule expression to all strains. Therefore, expression of a functional Fis protein is absolutely required for normal capsule expression in P. multocida.DNA microarray studies comparing one of the acapsular pairs (AL114 to AL1115) identified approximately 30 genes as down-regulated in the mutant; including pfh_B2 which encodes the filamentous hemagglutinin, a known P. multocida virulence factor and the cross protective surface antigen plpE. Biological triplicates of each strain were analysed in a single colour experimental design
Project description:Listeria monocytogenes strain 10403S has been studied extensively for stress response activity toward multiple stressors (acid, osmotic, cold, high temperature, etc.) as well as multiple stress regulons (SigB, CtsR, HrcA, etc.). Here we aimed to determine the transcriptional response of Listeria monocytogenes in early log phase towards the strong oxidative stress imposed by ClO2. The elucidation of such a response allows for further a more completel understanding of the mechanism of inactivation by sanitizers, specifically ClO2. Independent RNA isolations were performed for strain 10403S with and without exposure to ClO2 from cells grown to early log phase. Four biological replicates were used in competitive whole-genome microarray experiments. For each set of hybridizations, RNA from a control sample of Listeria monocytogenes was hybridized with RNA from a culture of L. monocytogenes following exposure to ClO2. Dye swapping was performed for the four replicates to mitigate any concerns of dye bias.
Project description:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen associated with severe periodontitis and non-oral diseases. Clinical isolates of Aa display a rough (R) colony phenotype with strong adherent properties. Upon prolonged culturing, non-adherent strains with a smooth (S) colony phenotype emerge. To date, most virulence studies on Aa have been performed with S strains of Aa, whereas the virulence of clinical R isolates received relatively little attention. Since the extracellular proteome is the main bacterial reservoir of virulence factors, the present study was aimed at a comparative analysis of this sub-proteome fraction for a collection of R isolates and derivative S strains, in order to link particular proteins to the virulence of Aa with serotype b. To assess the bacterial virulence, we applied different infection models based on larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, a human salivary gland-derived epithelial cell line, and freshly isolated neutrophils from healthy human volunteers. A total number of 351 extracellular Aa proteins was identified by mass spectrometry, with the S strains consistently showing more extracellular proteins than their parental R isolates. A total of 50 known extracellular virulence factors was identified, of which 15 were expressed by all investigated bacteria. Importantly, the comparison of differences in exoproteome composition and virulence highlights critical roles of 10 extracellular proteins in the different infection models. Altogether, our present study provides novel cues for understanding the virulence of Aa, and for development of potential preventive or therapeutic avenues to neutralize this important oral pathogen.