Dataset Information

SICKO: Systematic Imaging of Caenorhabditis Killing Organisms.

ABSTRACT: Caenorhabditis elegans are an important model system for research on host-microbe interaction. Their rapid life cycle, short lifespan, and transparent body structure allow simple quantification of microbial load and the influence of microbial exposure on host survival. C. elegans host-microbe interaction studies typically examine group survival and infection severity at fixed timepoints. Here we present an imaging pipeline, Systematic Imaging of Caenorhabditis Killing Organisms (SICKO), that allows longitudinal characterization of microbes colonizing isolated C. elegans, enabling dynamic tracking of tissue colonization and host survival in the same animals. Using SICKO, we show that Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa gut colonization dramatically shortens C. elegans lifespan and that immunodeficient animals lacking pmk-1 are more susceptible to colonization but display similar colony growth relative to wild type. SICKO opens new avenues for detailed research into bacterial pathogenesis, the benefits of probiotics, and the role of the microbiome in host health.

SUBMITTER: Espejo LS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11326133 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

SICKO: Systematic Imaging of Caenorhabditis Killing Organisms.

Espejo Luis S LS Freitas Samuel S Hofschneider Vanessa V Chang Leah L Antenor Angelo A Balsa Jonah J Haskins Anne A DeNicola Destiny D Dang Hope H Hamming Sage S Kelser Delaney D Sutphin George L GL

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 20240813

Caenorhabditis elegans are an important model system for research on host-microbe interaction. Their rapid life cycle, short lifespan, and transparent body structure allow simple quantification of microbial load and the influence of microbial exposure on host survival. C. elegans host-microbe interaction studies typically examine group survival and infection severity at fixed timepoints. Here we present an imaging pipeline, Systematic Imaging of Caenorhabditis Killing Organi ...[more]

PMID: 39149381

Similar Datasets

Project description:IntroductionDiabesity, characterized by obesity-driven Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), arises from intricate genetic and environmental interplays that induce various metabolic disorders. The systemic lipid and glucose homeostasis is controlled by an intricate cross-talk of internal glucose/insulin and fatty acid molecules to maintain a steady state of internal environment.MethodsIn this study, Caenorhabditis elegans were maintained to achieve glucose concentrations resembling the hyperglycemic conditions in diabetic patients to delve into the mechanistic foundations of diabesity. Various assays were conducted to measure intracellular triglyceride levels, lifespan, pharyngeal pumping rate, oxidative stress indicators, locomotor behavior, and dopamine signaling. Proteomic analysis was also performed to identify differentially regulated proteins and dysregulated KEGG pathways, and microscopy and immunofluorescence staining were employed to assess collagen production and anatomical integrity.ResultsWorms raised on diets high in glucose and cholesterol exhibited notably increased intracellular triglyceride levels, a decrease in both mean and maximum lifespan, and reduced pharyngeal pumping. The diabesity condition induced oxidative stress, evident from heightened ROS levels and distinct FT-IR spectroscopy patterns revealing lipid and protein alterations. Furthermore, impaired dopamine signaling and diminished locomotors behavior in diabesity-afflicted worms correlated with reduced motility. Through proteomic analysis, differentially regulated proteins encompassing dysregulated KEGG pathways included insulin signaling, Alzheimer's disease, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor signaling pathways were observed. Moreover, diabesity led to decreased collagen production, resulting in anatomical disruptions validated through microscopy and immunofluorescence staining.DiscussionThis underscores the impact of diabesity on cellular components and structural integrity in C. elegans, providing insights into diabesity-associated mechanisms.

Project description:Mycobacterium is an acid-fast, aerobic, non-motile, and biofilm-forming bacterium. The increasing prevalence of mycobacterial infections makes it necessary to find new methods to combat the resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics. Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging pathogen that is intrinsically drug resistant due to several factors, including an impermeable cell envelope, drug efflux pumps, target-modifying enzymes, and the ability to form thick, robust biofilms. Phytochemicals are promising antimicrobials; however, their poor solubility in water and their inability to penetrate biofilms render them inefficient in killing bacterial biofilms. In this study, we demonstrate the efficacy of polymer-stabilized phytochemical nanoemulsions in killing M. abscessus biofilms. These nanoemulsions improve the solubility and stability of the phytochemicals and enable biofilm penetration and eradication. We show that the phytochemical emulsions effectively eliminated M. abscessus in an in vitro biofilm model and killed non-replicating persister cells in the Wayne hypoxia model. These nanoemulsions were also effective in vivo in a wound infection model. These findings demonstrate the potential of polymer-stabilized phytochemical nanoemulsions as a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics for the treatment of mycobacterial infections.ImportanceMycobacterium abscessus is among the opportunistic bacterial pathogens that cause nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases. The infection caused by M. abscessus is difficult to treat because the bacterium is resistant to many of the currently available antibiotics, limiting chemotherapeutic strategies. Furthermore, it forms biofilms in clinically relevant settings, making the infection difficult to treat. Many phytochemicals have potent antimicrobial activities, but their hydrophobicity limits clinical applications. In this study, we tested a new drug delivery strategy where hydrophobic plant phytochemicals were emulsified with a biodegradable nanosponge. We show that the emulsification makes phytochemicals such as carvacrol and eugenol more effective against M. abscessus biofilms. We further demonstrate that nanoemulsified phytochemicals can kill hypoxia-induced dormant M. abscessus and effectively improve skin wound infection in mice. Our data pave the way to use phytochemical nanosponge as a platform to create synergy by combining other antimycobacterial drugs.

Dataset Information

SICKO: Systematic Imaging of Caenorhabditis Killing Organisms.

Publications

SICKO: Systematic Imaging of <i>Caenorhabditis</i> Killing Organisms.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets