From insect to man: Photorhabdus sheds light on the emergence of human pathogenicity

Photorhabdus are highly effective insect pathogenic bacteria that exist in a mutualistic relationship with Heterorhabditid nematodes. Unlike other members of the genus, Photorhabdus asymbiotica can also infect humans. Most Photorhabdus cannot replicate above 34°C, limiting their host-range to poikilothermic invertebrates. In contrast, P. asymbiotica must necessarily be able to replicate at 37°C or above. Many well-studied mammalian pathogens use the elevated temperature of their host as a signal to regulate the necessary changes in gene expression required for infection. Here we use RNA-seq, proteomics and phenotype microarrays to examine temperature dependent differences in transcription, translation and phenotype of P. asymbiotica at 28°C versus 37°C, relevant to the insect or human hosts respectively. Our findings reveal relatively few temperature dependant differences in gene expression. There is however a striking difference in metabolism at 37°C, with a significant reduction in the range of carbon and nitrogen sources that otherwise support respiration at 28°C. We propose that the key adaptation that enables P. asymbiotica to infect humans is to aggressively acquire amino acids, peptides and other nutrients from the human host, employing a so called “nutritional virulence” strategy. This would simultaneously cripple the host immune response while providing nutrients sufficient for reproduction. This might explain the severity of ulcerated lesions observed in clinical cases of Photorhabdosis. Furthermore, while P. asymbiotica can invade mammalian cells they must also resist immediate killing by humoral immunity components in serum. We observed an increase in the production of the insect Phenol-oxidase inhibitor Rhabduscin normally deployed to inhibit the melanisation immune cascade. Crucially we demonstrated this molecule also facilitates protection against killing by the alternative human complement pathway

Autoimmune inflammatory disorders, systemic corticosteroids and pneumocystis pneumonia: A strategy for prevention

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an increasing problem amongst patients on immunosuppression with autoimmune inflammatory disorders (AID). The disease presents acutely and its diagnosis requires bronchoalveolar lavage in most cases. Despite treatment with intravenous antibiotics, PCP carries a worse prognosis in AID patients than HIV positive patients. The overall incidence of PCP in patients with AID remains low, although patients with Wegener's granulomatosis are at particular risk. DISCUSSION: In adults with AID, the risk of PCP is related to treatment with systemic steroid, ill-defined individual variation in steroid sensitivity and CD4+ lymphocyte count. Rather than opting for PCP prophylaxis on the basis of disease or treatment with cyclophosphamide, we argue the case for carrying out CD4+ lymphocyte counts on selected patients as a means of identifying individuals who are most likely to benefit from PCP prophylaxis. SUMMARY: Corticosteroids, lymphopenia and a low CD4+ count in particular, have been identified as risk factors for the development of PCP in adults with AID. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole) is an effective prophylactic agent, but indications for its use remain ill-defined. Further prospective trials are required to validate our proposed prevention strategy

Pdl1 Is a Putative Lipase that Enhances Photorhabdus Toxin Complex Secretion

The Toxin Complex (TC) is a large multi-subunit toxin first characterized in the insect pathogens Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus, but now seen in a range of pathogens, including those of humans. These complexes comprise three protein subunits, A, B and C which in the Xenorhabdus toxin are found in a 4∶1∶1 stoichiometry. Some TCs have been demonstrated to exhibit oral toxicity to insects and have the potential to be developed as a pest control technology. The lack of recognisable signal sequences in the three large component proteins hinders an understanding of their mode of secretion. Nevertheless, we have shown the Photorhabdus luminescens (Pl) Tcd complex has been shown to associate with the bacteria's surface, although some strains can also release it into the surrounding milieu. The large number of tc gene homologues in Pl make study of the export process difficult and as such we have developed and validated a heterologous Escherichia coli expression model to study the release of these important toxins. In addition to this model, we have used comparative genomics between a strain that releases high levels of Tcd into the supernatant and one that retains the toxin on its surface, to identify a protein responsible for enhancing secretion and release of these toxins. This protein is a putative lipase (Pdl1) which is regulated by a small tightly linked antagonist protein (Orf53). The identification of homologues of these in other bacteria, linked to other virulence factor operons, such as type VI secretion systems, suggests that these genes represent a general and widespread mechanism for enhancing toxin release in Gram negative pathogens

Oestradiol enhances tumour regression induced by B7-1/IL-2 adenoviral gene transfer in a murine model of breast cancer

The majority of breast cancers are oestrogen dependent and although current treatment strategies have improved, approximately 50% of the patients will develop metastasis. New treatments that result in long-term systemic immunity are therefore being developed. We have previously shown that adenoviral gene transfer of B7-I/IL-2 to murine breast cancer induces a high rate of complete turnout regression and systemic immunity. Since oestrogens not only affect breast cancer but also have been shown to modulate immune function and secretion of immune-regulatory cytokines, we explored whether administration of oestradiol altered the immune response induced by an adenoviral vector expressing B7-I/IL-2. An oestrogen-dependent murine breast cancer tumour was used in ovariectomised mice, supplemented either oestradiol or placebo. We report the somewhat unexpected finding that intratumoral injection of adenovirus expressing B7-I/IL-2 induces complete turnout regression in 76% of oestradiol-supplemented mice, while only 18% of the tumours regressed in the oestrogen-depleted group. Cured mice in both groups exhibited a similar CTL response against the tumour antigen. However, intratumoral IFN-? levels, 2 days after B7-I/IL-2 injection, were significantly higher in mice treated with oestradiol compared to placebo. This may be one mechanism explaining the higher response rate of tumours in oestradiol-replenished mice.</p

Iliotibial band release as an adjunct to the surgical management of patellar stress fracture in the athlete: a case report and review of the literature

Stress fracture of the patella is rare. In this report, a case of patellar stress fracture occurring in an amateur athlete is presented, and an operative adjunct to the surgical management of this condition is proposed

Unexpected High Digestion Rate of Cooked Starch by the Ct-Maltase-Glucoamylase Small Intestine Mucosal α-Glucosidase Subunit

For starch digestion to glucose, two luminal α-amylases and four gut mucosal α-glucosidase subunits are employed. The aim of this research was to investigate, for the first time, direct digestion capability of individual mucosal α-glucosidases on cooked (gelatinized) starch. Gelatinized normal maize starch was digested with N- and C-terminal subunits of recombinant mammalian maltase-glucoamylase (MGAM) and sucrase-isomaltase (SI) of varying amounts and digestion periods. Without the aid of α-amylase, Ct-MGAM demonstrated an unexpected rapid and high digestion degree near 80%, while other subunits showed 20 to 30% digestion. These findings suggest that Ct-MGAM assists α-amylase in digesting starch molecules and potentially may compensate for developmental or pathological amylase deficiencies

The influence of albumin and calcium on human platelet arachidonic acid metabolism

The effects of in vitro changes in calcium and albumin on human platelet arachidonic acid metabolism were evaluated. Hypoalbuminemia enhanced the conversion of released 14C-arachidonic acid from prelabeled platelet phospholipids to the metabolites of the platelet cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. This effect was, however, associated with a decreased release of arachidonic acid in the presence of hypoalbuminemia, such that the overall conversion of released 14C- arachidonic acid to platelet thromboxane B2 was similar in the presence of physiologic albumin concentration (3.5 g/dl) or at decreased albumin concentrations of 0.7 and 0.0 g/dl. External calcium was shown to be important for optimal platelet arachidonic acid release, with maximal release occurring at 1 mM calcium.</jats:p

The influence of albumin and calcium on human platelet arachidonic acid metabolism

Abstract The effects of in vitro changes in calcium and albumin on human platelet arachidonic acid metabolism were evaluated. Hypoalbuminemia enhanced the conversion of released 14C-arachidonic acid from prelabeled platelet phospholipids to the metabolites of the platelet cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. This effect was, however, associated with a decreased release of arachidonic acid in the presence of hypoalbuminemia, such that the overall conversion of released 14C- arachidonic acid to platelet thromboxane B2 was similar in the presence of physiologic albumin concentration (3.5 g/dl) or at decreased albumin concentrations of 0.7 and 0.0 g/dl. External calcium was shown to be important for optimal platelet arachidonic acid release, with maximal release occurring at 1 mM calcium.</jats:p