RESUMO
Selection pressures exerted on Staphylococcus aureus by host factors during infection may lead to the emergence of regulatory phenotypes better adapted to the infection site. Traits convenient for persistence may be fixed by mutation thus turning these mutants into microevolution endpoints. The feasibility that stable, non-encapsulated S. aureus mutants can regain expression of key virulence factors for survival in the bloodstream was investigated. S. aureus agr mutant HU-14 (IS256 insertion in agrC) from a patient with chronic osteomyelitis was passed through the bloodstream using a bacteriemia mouse model and derivative P3.1 was obtained. Although IS256 remained inserted in agrC, P3.1 regained production of capsular polysaccharide type 5 (CP5) and staphyloxanthin. Furthermore, P3.1 expressed higher levels of asp23/SigB when compared with parental strain HU-14. Strain P3.1 displayed decreased osteoclastogenesis capacity, thus indicating decreased adaptability to bone compared with strain HU-14 and exhibited a trend to be more virulent than parental strain HU-14. Strain P3.1 exhibited the loss of one IS256 copy, which was originally located in the HU-14 noncoding region between dnaG (DNA primase) and rpoD (sigA). This loss may be associated with the observed phenotype change but the mechanism remains unknown. In conclusion, S. aureus organisms that escape the infected bone may recover the expression of key virulence factors through a rapid microevolution pathway involving SigB regulation of key virulence factors.
Assuntos
Cápsulas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Staphylococcus aureus/genética , Transativadores/genética , Xantofilas/metabolismo , Adulto , Animais , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Bacteriemia/microbiologia , Cápsulas Bacterianas/genética , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla/genética , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Osteomielite/microbiologia , Deleção de Sequência/genética , Staphylococcus aureus/isolamento & purificação , Staphylococcus aureus/patogenicidade , Virulência/genética , Fatores de Virulência/genéticaRESUMO
Selection pressures exerted on Staphylococcus aureus by host factors may lead to the emergence of mutants better adapted to the evolving conditions at the infection site. This study was aimed at identifying the changes that occur in S. aureus exposed to the host defense mechanisms during chronic osteomyelitis and evaluating whether these changes affect the virulence of the organism. Genome assessment of two S. aureus isolates collected 13 months apart (HU-85a and HU-85c) from a host with chronic osteomyelitis was made by whole genome sequencing. Agr functionality was assessed by qRT-PCR. Isolates were tested in a rat model of osteomyelitis and the bacterial load (CFU/tibia) and the morphometric osteomyelitic index (OI) were determined. The ability of the isolates to trigger the release of proinflammatory cytokines was determined on macrophages in culture. Persistence of S. aureus within the host resulted in an agrC frameshift mutation that likely led to the observed phenotype. The capacity to cause bone tissue damage and trigger proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages of the agr-deficient, unencapsulated derivative (HU-85c) was decreased when compared with those of the isogenic CP8-capsulated parental strain (HU-85a). By comparison, no significant differences were found in the bacterial load or the OI from rats challenged with isogenic Reynolds strains [CP5, CP8, and non-typeable (NT)], indicating that lack of CP expression alone was not likely responsible for the reduced capacity to cause tissue damage in HU-85c compared with HU-85a. The production of biofilm was significantly increased in the isogenic derivative HU-85c. Lack of agr-dependent factors makes S. aureus less virulent during chronic osteomyelitis and alteration of the agr functionality seems to permit better adaptation of S. aureus to the chronically infected host.
Assuntos
Adaptação Biológica/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Mutação , Osteomielite/microbiologia , Infecções Estafilocócicas/microbiologia , Staphylococcus aureus/fisiologia , Transativadores/genética , Animais , Carga Bacteriana , Biofilmes , Doença Crônica , Citocinas/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Suscetibilidade a Doenças , Humanos , Macrófagos/imunologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Aspirin has provided clear benefits to human health. But salicylic acid (SAL) -the main aspirin biometabolite- exerts several effects on eukaryote and prokaryote cells. SAL can affect, for instance, the expression of Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors. SAL can also form complexes with iron cations and it has been shown that different iron chelating molecules diminished the formation of S. aureus biofilm. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the iron content limitation caused by SAL can modify the S. aureus metabolism and/or metabolic regulators thus changing the expression of the main polysaccharides involved in biofilm formation. The exposure of biofilm to 2 mM SAL induced a 27% reduction in the intracellular free Fe2+ concentration compared with the controls. In addition, SAL depleted 23% of the available free Fe2+ cation in culture media. These moderate iron-limited conditions promoted an intensification of biofilms formed by strain Newman and by S. aureus clinical isolates related to the USA300 and USA100 clones. The slight decrease in iron bioavailability generated by SAL was enough to induce the increase of PIA expression in biofilms formed by methicillin-resistant as well as methicillin-sensitive S. aureus strains. S. aureus did not produce capsular polysaccharide (CP) when it was forming biofilms under any of the experimental conditions tested. Furthermore, SAL diminished aconitase activity and stimulated the lactic fermentation pathway in bacteria forming biofilms. The polysaccharide composition of S. aureus biofilms was examined and FTIR spectroscopic analysis revealed a clear impact of SAL in a codY-dependent manner. Moreover, SAL negatively affected codY transcription in mature biofilms thus relieving the CodY repression of the ica operon. Treatment of mice with SAL induced a significant increase of S aureus colonization. It is suggested that the elevated PIA expression induced by SAL might be responsible for the high nasal colonization observed in mice. SAL-induced biofilms may contribute to S. aureus infection persistence in vegetarian individuals as well as in patients that frequently consume aspirin.
RESUMO
This study aimed to determine the clonal relationship among 137 Streptococcus uberis isolates from bovine milk with subclinical or clinical mastitis in Argentina and to assess the prevalence and conservation of pauA and sua genes. This information is critical for the rational design of a vaccine for the prevention of bovine mastitis caused by S. uberis. The isolates were typed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The 137 isolates exhibited 61 different PFGE types and 25 distinct RAPD profiles. Simpson's diversity index was calculated both for PFGE (0.983) and for RAPD (0.941), showing a high discriminatory power in both techniques. The analysis of the relationship between pairs of isolates showed 92.6 % concordance between both techniques indicating that any given pair of isolates distinguished by one method tended to be distinguished by the other. The prevalence of the sua and pauA genes was 97.8 % (134/137) and 94.9 % (130/137), respectively. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the sua and pauA genes from 20 S. uberis selected isolates, based on their PFGE and RAPD types and geographical origin, showed an identity between 95 % and 100 % with respect to all reference sequences registered in GenBank. These results demonstrate that, in spite of S. uberis clonal diversity, the sua and pauA genes are prevalent and highly conserved, showing their importance to be included in future vaccine studies to prevent S. uberis bovine mastitis.
Este estudio pretendió determinar la relación clonal entre 137 aislamientos de S. uberis obtenidos de leche de bovinos con mastitis clínica o subclínica en la Argentina, como así también la prevalencia y la conservación de los genes sua y PauA entre dichos aislamientos. Esta información es crítica para el diseño racional de una vacuna que prevenga la mastitis bovina por S. uberis. Los aislamientos se tipificaron molecularmente por amplificación al azar del ADN polimórfico (RAPD) y mediante electroforesis de campos pulsados (PFGE). Los 137 aislamientos mostraron 61 pulsotipos mediante PFGE y 25 tipos de RAPD diferentes. Los índices de Simpson calculados fueron 0,983 por PFGE y 0,941 por RAPD; esto evidencia el elevado poder discriminatorio de ambas técnicas. El análisis de la relación entre pares de aislamientos mostró un 92,6 % de concordancia entre ambas técnicas, lo que indica que cualquier par de aislamientos que fue distinguido por un método tendió a ser distinguido por el otro. La prevalencia de los genes sua y puaA fue del 97,8 % (134/137) y 94,9 % (130/137), respectivamente. Las secuencias de nucleótidos y de aminoácidos codificados por los genes sua y pauA de los 20 aislamientos de S. uberis seleccionados sobre la base de su tipo de PFGE y RAPD y origen geográfico tuvieron un porcentaje de identidad de entre 95 % y 100 % con respecto a todas las secuencias de referencia registradas en GenBank. Estos resultados demuestran que, a pesar de la diversidad clonal de S. uberis, los genes sua y pauA son prevalentes y están altamente conservados y deberían ser incluidos en futuros estudios de vacunas para prevenir mastitis bovina causada por S. uberis.
Assuntos
Animais , Bovinos , Infecções Estreptocócicas/veterinária , Streptococcus/isolamento & purificação , Streptococcus/genética , Mastite Bovina/prevenção & controle , Infecções Estreptocócicas/imunologia , Prevalência , Perfil GenéticoRESUMO
This study aimed to determine the clonal relationship among 137 Streptococcus uberis isolates from bovine milk with subclinical or clinical mastitis in Argentina and to assess the prevalence and conservation of pauA and sua genes. This information is critical for the rational design of a vaccine for the prevention of bovine mastitis caused by S. uberis. The isolates were typed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The 137 isolates exhibited 61 different PFGE types and 25 distinct RAPD profiles. Simpson's diversity index was calculated both for PFGE (0.983) and for RAPD (0.941), showing a high discriminatory power in both techniques. The analysis of the relationship between pairs of isolates showed 92.6% concordance between both techniques indicating that any given pair of isolates distinguished by one method tended to be distinguished by the other. The prevalence of the sua and pauA genes was 97.8% (134/137) and 94.9% (130/137), respectively. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the sua and pauA genes from 20 S. uberis selected isolates, based on their PFGE and RAPD types and geographical origin, showed an identity between 95% and 100% with respect to all reference sequences registered in GenBank. These results demonstrate that, in spite of S. uberis clonal diversity, the sua and pauA genes are prevalent and highly conserved, showing their importance to be included in future vaccine studies to prevent S. uberis bovine mastitis.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Mastite Bovina/microbiologia , Infecções Estreptocócicas/veterinária , Streptococcus/genética , Animais , Proteínas de Bactérias/classificação , Bovinos , Eletroforese em Gel de Campo Pulsado , Feminino , Genótipo , Técnicas de Genotipagem , Técnica de Amplificação ao Acaso de DNA Polimórfico , Infecções Estreptocócicas/microbiologia , Streptococcus/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Salmonellosis is a major health problem worldwide. Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) has been a primary cause of Salmonella outbreaks in many countries. AvrA is an SPI-1 effector protein involved in the enteritis pathway, with critical roles in inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. In this work, we constructed an AvrA-FLAG-tagged strain of S. Enteritidis to analyse the expression profile of AvrA in vitro, in cell culture and in vivo. AvrA expression and secretion were observed in vitro under culture conditions that mimicked intestinal and intracellular environments. In agreement, bacteria isolated from infected cell monolayers expressed and translocated AvrA for at least 24 h post-inoculation. For in vivo experiments, BALB/c mice were inoculated by the natural route of infection with the AvrA-FLAG strain. Infecting bacteria and infected cells were recovered from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). Our results showed that AvrA continues to be synthesized in vivo up to day 8 post-inoculation. Moreover, AvrA translocation was detected in the cytosol of cells isolated from MLN 8 days after infection. Interestingly, we observed that AvrA is secreted by both type three secretion system (T3SS)-1 and T3SS-2. In summary, these findings indicate that AvrA expression is not constrained to the initial host-bacteria encounter in the intestinal environment as defined previously. The AvrA effector may participate also in systemic S. Enteritidis infection.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica , Linfonodos/microbiologia , Salmonelose Animal/microbiologia , Salmonella enteritidis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Transporte Proteico , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Staphylococcus aureus is an invasive bacterial pathogen, and antibiotic resistance has impeded adequate control of infections caused by this microbe. Moreover, efforts to prevent human infections with single-component S. aureus vaccines have failed. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy in rats of vaccines containing both S. aureus capsular polysaccharides (CPs) and proteins. The serotypes 5 CP (CP5) and 8 CP (CP8) were conjugated to tetanus toxoid and administered to rats alone or together with domain A of clumping factor A (ClfA) or genetically detoxified alpha-toxin (dHla). The vaccines were delivered according to a preventive or a therapeutic regimen, and their protective efficacy was evaluated in a rat model of osteomyelitis. Addition of dHla (but not ClfA) to the CP5 or CP8 vaccine induced reductions in bacterial load and bone morphological changes compared with immunization with either conjugate vaccine alone. Both the prophylactic and therapeutic regimens were protective. Immunization with dHla together with a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine used as a control did not reduce staphylococcal osteomyelitis. The emergence of unencapsulated or small-colony variants during infection was negligible and similar for all of the vaccine groups. In conclusion, addition of dHla to a CP5 or CP8 conjugate vaccine enhanced its efficacy against S. aureus osteomyelitis, indicating that the inclusion of multiple antigens will likely enhance the efficacy of vaccines against both chronic and acute forms of staphylococcal disease.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Bactérias/imunologia , Cápsulas Bacterianas/imunologia , Osteomielite/prevenção & controle , Infecções Estafilocócicas/prevenção & controle , Vacinas Antiestafilocócicas/imunologia , Staphylococcus aureus/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/imunologia , Antígenos de Bactérias/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Bactérias/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Bactérias/imunologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Osteomielite/imunologia , Osteomielite/microbiologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Infecções Estafilocócicas/imunologia , Infecções Estafilocócicas/microbiologia , Vacinas Antiestafilocócicas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Conjugadas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Conjugadas/imunologiaRESUMO
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for individuals suffering from trauma, surgical procedures, invasive devices, and/or decreased immunity. Recently, we demonstrated that artificial nasal colonization with an attenuated S. aureus mutant reduced by bacterial interference with the colonization of pathogenic strains of S. aureus. This could be an optional tool to diminish the rate of S. aureus infections in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to construct a safe ΔaroA mutant of S. aureus and to discriminate it from nasal colonizing and osteomyelitis S. aureus isolates by SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. The ΔaroA mutant, named RD17, exhibited an LD(50) (3.2 × 10(6) colony-forming unit (CFU)) significantly higher than that of the parental strain (2.2 × 10(3) CFU). The colony number of the RD17 mutants recovered from nares of leukopenic mice was similar to that observed in the animals of the control group. Therefore, the ΔaroA mutant was demonstrated to be safe due to maintaining low growth levels in the nares regardless of immune status of the animals. PFGE typing allowed the unequivocal identification of the S. aureus and differentiation of aroA mutants in nasal colonizing and osteomyelitis isolates. This information could be important to discriminate endogenous infections from laboratory strains of S. aureus.
RESUMO
One of the virulence factors required by Staphylococcus aureus at the early stages of infection is Eap, a secreted adhesin that binds many host proteins and is upregulated by the two-component regulatory system saeRS. The S. aureus Newman strain harbors a mutation in saeS that is thought to be responsible for the high level of Eap expression in this strain. This study was designed to ascertain whether salicylic acid (SAL) affects the expression of Eap and the internalization of S. aureus into epithelial cells. The strain Newman treated with SAL exhibited increased levels of eap transcription and protein expression. Furthermore, SAL treatment increased the eap promoter activity. SAL treatment enhanced Eap expression in the Newman and in other S. aureus strains that do not carry the mutation in saeS. Internalization of S. aureus eap and sae mutants into the MAC-T epithelial cells was significantly decreased compared with the wild-type counterparts. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a low concentration of SAL increased S. aureus Eap expression possibly due to enhancement of sae. SAL may create the conditions for S. aureus persistence in the host, not only by decreasing the capsular polysaccharide expression as shown before, but also by enhancing Eap expression.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/metabolismo , Ácido Salicílico/farmacologia , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus/fisiologia , Animais , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Bovinos , Linhagem Celular , Células Epiteliais/microbiologia , Feminino , Mutação , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Proteínas Quinases/genética , Proteínas Quinases/metabolismo , RNA Bacteriano/genética , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Especificidade da Espécie , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz , Staphylococcus aureus/genética , Fatores de Transcrição , Fatores de Virulência/genética , Fatores de Virulência/metabolismoRESUMO
Capsular polysaccharides (CP) of serotypes 5 (CP5) and 8 (CP8) are major Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors. Previous studies have shown that salicylic acid (SAL), the main aspirin metabolite, affects the expression of certain bacterial virulence factors. In the present study, we found that S. aureus strain Reynolds (CP5) cultured with SAL was internalized by MAC-T cells in larger numbers than strain Reynolds organisms not exposed to SAL. Furthermore, the internalization of the isogenic nonencapsulated Reynolds strain into MAC-T cells was not significantly affected by preexposure to SAL. Pretreatment of S. aureus strain Newman with SAL also enhanced internalization into MAC-T cells compared with that of untreated control strains. Using strain Newman organisms, we evaluated the activity of the major cap5 promoter, which was significantly decreased upon preexposure to SAL. Diminished transcription of mgrA and upregulation of the saeRS transcript, both global regulators of CP expression, were found in S. aureus cultured in the presence of SAL, as ascertained by real-time PCR analysis. In addition, CP5 production by S. aureus Newman was also decreased by treatment with SAL. Collectively, our data demonstrate that exposure of encapsulated S. aureus strains to low concentrations of SAL reduced CP production, thus unmasking surface adhesins and leading to an increased capacity of staphylococci to invade epithelial cells. The high capacity of internalization of the encapsulated S. aureus strains induced by SAL pretreatment may contribute to the persistence of bacteria in certain hosts.