Genomics-guided identification of a conserved CptBA-like toxin-antitoxin system in Acinetobacter baumannii.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread among bacteria, archaea and fungi. They are classified into six types (I-VI) and have recently been proposed as novel drug targets.

Objectives

This study aimed to screen the pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii, known for its alarming antimicrobial resistance, for TA systems and identified a CptBA-like type IV TA, one of the least characterized systems.

Methods

In silico methods included secondary structure prediction, comparative genomics, multiple sequence alignment, and phylogenetic analysis, while in vitro strategies included plasmid engineering and expression of the TA system in Escherichia coli BL21, growth measurement, and transcription analysis with quantitative reverse-transcription pol

SUBMITTER: ElBanna SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8132199 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature