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CodY Is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Required for Virulence in Group B Streptococcus.

ABSTRACT: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a Gram-positive bacterium able to switch from a harmless commensal of healthy adults to a pathogen responsible for invasive infections in neonates. The signals and regulatory mechanisms governing this transition are still largely unknown. CodY is a highly conserved global transcriptional regulator that links nutrient availability to the regulation of major metabolic and virulence pathways in low-G+C Gram-positive bacteria. In this work, we investigated the role of CodY in BM110, a GBS strain representative of a hypervirulent lineage associated with the majority of neonatal meningitis. Deletion of codY resulted in a reduced ability of the mutant strain to cause infections in neonatal and adult animal models. The observed decreased in vivo lethality was associated with an impaired ability of the mutant to persist in the blood, spread to distant organs, and cross the blood-brain barrier. Notably, the codY null mutant showed reduced adhesion to monolayers of human epithelial cells in vitro and an increased ability to form biofilms, a phenotype associated with strains able to asymptomatically colonize the host. RNA-seq analysis showed that CodY controls about 13% of the genome of GBS, acting mainly as a repressor of genes involved in amino acid transport and metabolism and encoding surface anchored proteins, including the virulence factor Srr2. CodY activity was shown to be dependent on the availability of branched-chain amino acids, which are the universal cofactors of this regulator. These results highlight a key role for CodY in the control of GBS virulence.

SUBMITTER: Pellegrini A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9096947 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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CodY Is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Required for Virulence in Group B <i>Streptococcus</i>.

Pellegrini Angelica A Lentini Germana G Famà Agata A Bonacorsi Andrea A Scoffone Viola Camilla VC Buroni Silvia S Trespidi Gabriele G Postiglione Umberto U Sassera Davide D Manai Federico F Pietrocola Giampiero G Firon Arnaud A Biondo Carmelo C Teti Giuseppe G Beninati Concetta C Barbieri Giulia G

Frontiers in microbiology 20220428

Group B <i>Streptococcus</i> (GBS) is a Gram-positive bacterium able to switch from a harmless commensal of healthy adults to a pathogen responsible for invasive infections in neonates. The signals and regulatory mechanisms governing this transition are still largely unknown. CodY is a highly conserved global transcriptional regulator that links nutrient availability to the regulation of major metabolic and virulence pathways in low-G+C Gram-positive bacteria. In this work, we investigated the r ...[more]

PMID: 35572655

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Project description:CodY is known to regulate various virulence properties in several Gram-positive bacteria but has not yet been studied in the important histotoxic and intestinal pathogen Clostridium perfringens. The present study prepared an isogenic codY-null mutant in C. perfringens type D strain CN3718 by insertional mutagenesis using the Targetron system. Western blot analysis indicated that, relative to wild-type CN3718 or a complementing strain, this isogenic codY mutant produces reduced levels of epsilon toxin (ETX). Using supernatants from cultures of the wild-type, codY-null mutant, and complementing strains, CodY regulation of ETX production was shown to have cytotoxic consequences for MDCK cells. The CodY regulatory effect on ETX production was specific, since the codY-null mutant still made wild-type levels of alpha-toxin and perfringolysin O. Sialidase activity measurements and sialidase Western blot analysis of supernatants from CN3718 and its isogenic derivatives showed that CodY represses overall exosialidase activity due to a reduced presence of NanH in culture supernatants. Inactivation of the codY gene significantly decreased the adherence of CN3718 vegetative cells or spores to host Caco-2 cells. Finally, the codY mutant showed increased spore formation under vegetative growth conditions, although germination of these spores was impaired. Overall, these results identify CodY as a global regulator of many C. perfringens virulence-associated properties. Furthermore, they establish that, via CodY, CN3718 coordinately regulates many virulence-associated properties likely needed for intestinal infection.Clostridium perfringens is a major human and livestock pathogen because it produces many potent toxins. C. perfringens type D strains cause intestinal infections by producing toxins, especially epsilon toxin (ETX). Previous studies identified CodY as a regulator of certain virulence properties in other Gram-positive bacteria. Our study now demonstrates that CodY is a global regulator of virulence-associated properties for type D strain CN3718. It promotes production of ETX, attachment of CN3718 vegetative cells or spores to host enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells, and spore germination; the last two effects may assist intestinal colonization. In contrast, CodY represses sporulation. These results provide the first evidence that CodY can function as a global regulator of C. perfringens virulence-associated properties and that this strain coordinately regulates its virulence-associated properties using CodY to increase ETX production, host cell attachment, and spore germination but to repress sporulation, as would be optimal during type D intestinal infection.

Project description:UNLABELLED:To survive a dynamic host environment, Mycobacterium tuberculosis must endure a series of challenges, from reactive oxygen and nitrogen stress to drastic shifts in oxygen availability. The mycobacterial Lsr2 protein has been implicated in reactive oxygen defense via direct protection of DNA. To examine the role of Lsr2 in pathogenesis and physiology of M. tuberculosis, we generated a strain deleted for lsr2. Analysis of the M. tuberculosis ?lsr2 strain demonstrated that Lsr2 is not required for DNA protection, as this strain was equally susceptible as the wild type to DNA-damaging agents. The lsr2 mutant did display severe growth defects under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions, but it was not required for growth under low-oxygen conditions. However, it was also required for adaptation to anaerobiosis. The defect in anaerobic adaptation led to a marked decrease in viability during anaerobiosis, as well as a lag in recovery from it. Gene expression profiling of the ?lsr2 mutant under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in conjunction with published DNA binding-site data indicates that Lsr2 is a global transcriptional regulator controlling adaptation to changing oxygen levels. The ?lsr2 strain was capable of establishing an early infection in the BALB/c mouse model; however, it was severely defective in persisting in the lungs and caused no discernible lung pathology. These findings demonstrate M. tuberculosis Lsr2 is a global transcriptional regulator required for control of genes involved in adaptation to extremes in oxygen availability and is required for persistent infection. IMPORTANCE:M. tuberculosis causes nearly two million deaths per year and infects nearly one-third of the world population. The success of this aerobic pathogen is due in part to its ability to successfully adapt to constantly changing oxygen availability throughout the infectious cycle, from the high oxygen tension during aerosol transmission to anaerobiosis within necrotic lesions. An understanding of how M. tuberculosis copes with these changes in oxygen tension is critical for its eventual eradication. Using a mutation in lsr2, we demonstrate that the Lsr2 protein present in all mycobacteria is a global transcriptional regulator in control of genes required for adaptation to changes in oxygen levels. M. tuberculosis lacking lsr2 was unable to adapt to both high and very low levels of oxygen and was defective in long-term anaerobic survival. Lsr2 was also required for disease pathology and for chronic infection in a mouse model of TB.

Dataset Information

CodY Is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Required for Virulence in Group B Streptococcus.

Publications

CodY Is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Required for Virulence in Group B <i>Streptococcus</i>.

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