A Serratia marcescens OxyR Homolog Mediates Surface Attachment and Biofilm Formation

OxyR is a conserved bacterial transcription factor with a regulatory role in oxidative stress response. From a genetic screen for genes that modulate biofilm formation in the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens, mutations in an oxyR homolog and predicted fimbria structural genes were identified. S. marcescens oxyR mutants were severely impaired in biofilm formation, in contrast to the hyperbiofilm phenotype exhibited by oxyR mutants of Escherichia coli and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Further analysis revealed that OxyR plays a role in the primary attachment of cells to a surface. Similar to what is observed in other bacterial species, S. marcescens OxyR is required for oxidative stress resistance. Mutations in oxyR and type I fimbrial genes resulted in severe defects in fimbria-associated phenotypes, revealing roles in cell-cell and cell-biotic surface interactions. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the absence of fimbria-like surface structures on an OxyR-deficient strain and an enhanced fimbrial phenotype in strains bearing oxyR on a multicopy plasmid. The hyperfimbriated phenotype conferred by the multicopy oxyR plasmid was absent in a type I fimbrial mutant background. Real-time reverse transcriptase PCR indicated an absence of transcripts from a fimbrial operon in an oxyR mutant that were present in the wild type and a complemented oxyR mutant strain. Lastly, chromosomal Plac-mediated expression of fimABCD was sufficient to restore wild-type levels of yeast agglutination and biofilm formation to an oxyR mutant. Together, these data support a model in which OxyR contributes to early stages of S. marcescens biofilm formation by influencing fimbrial gene expression

Serratamolide is a hemolytic factor produced by Serratia marcescens

Serratia marcescens is a common contaminant of contact lens cases and lenses. Hemolytic factors of S. marcescens contribute to the virulence of this opportunistic bacterial pathogen. We took advantage of an observed hyper-hemolytic phenotype of crp mutants to investigate mechanisms of hemolysis. A genetic screen revealed that swrW is necessary for the hyper-hemolysis phenotype of crp mutants. The swrW gene is required for biosynthesis of the biosurfactant serratamolide, previously shown to be a broad-spectrum antibiotic and to contribute to swarming motility. Multicopy expression of swrW or mutation of the hexS transcription factor gene, a known inhibitor of swrW expression, led to an increase in hemolysis. Surfactant zones and expression from an swrW-transcriptional reporter were elevated in a crp mutant compared to the wild type. Purified serratamolide was hemolytic to sheep and murine red blood cells and cytotoxic to human airway and corneal limbal epithelial cells in vitro. The swrW gene was found in the majority of contact lens isolates tested. Genetic and biochemical analysis implicate the biosurfactant serratamolide as a hemolysin. This novel hemolysin may contribute to irritation and infections associated with contact lens use. © 2012 Shanks et al

Predatory Bacteria: A Potential Ally against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria have emerged as a serious threat to human and animal health. Bdellovibrio spp. and Micavibrio spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that prey on other Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, the ability of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and Micavibrio aeruginosavorus to prey on MDR Gram-negative clinical strains was examined. Although the potential use of predatory bacteria to attack MDR pathogens has been suggested, the data supporting these claims is lacking. By conducting predation experiments we have established that predatory bacteria have the capacity to attack clinical strains of a variety of ß-lactamase-producing, MDR Gram-negative bacteria. Our observations indicate that predatory bacteria maintained their ability to prey on MDR bacteria regardless of their antimicrobial resistance, hence, might be used as therapeutic agents where other antimicrobial drugs fail. © 2013 Kadouri et al

A rise in the frequency of lasR mutant Pseudomonas aeruginosa among keratitis isolates between 1993 and 2021

IntroductionPseudomonas aeruginosa causes vision threatening keratitis. The LasR transcription factor regulates virulence factors in response to the quorum sensing molecule N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone. P. aeruginosa isolates with lasR mutations are characterized by an iridescent high sheen phenotype caused by a build-up of 2-heptyl-4-quinolone. A previous study demonstrated 22% (n=101) of P. aeruginosa keratitis isolates from India between 2010 and 2016 were sheen positive lasR mutants, and the sheen phenotype correlated with worse clinical outcomes for patients. In this study, a longitudinal collection of P. aeruginosa keratitis isolates from Eastern North America were screened for lasR mutations by the sheen phenotype and sequencing of the lasR gene.MethodsKeratitis isolates (n=399) were classified by sheen phenotype. The lasR gene was cloned from a subset of isolates, sequenced, and tested for loss of function or dominant-negative status based on an azocasein protease assay. A retrospective chart review compared outcomes of keratitis patients infected by sheen positive and negative isolates.ResultsA significant increase in sheen positive isolates was observed between 1993 and 2021. Extracellular protease activity was reduced among the sheen positive isolates and a defined lasR mutant. Cloned lasR alleles from the sheen positive isolates were loss of function or dominant negative and differed in sequence from previously reported ocular lasR mutant alleles. Retrospective analysis of patient information suggested significantly better visual outcomes for patients infected by sheen positive isolates.DiscussionThese results indicate an increase in lasR mutations among keratitis isolates in the United States and suggest that endemic lasR mutants can cause keratitis

An Eye to a Kill: Using Predatory Bacteria to Control Gram-Negative Pathogens Associated with Ocular Infections

Ocular infections are a leading cause of vision loss. It has been previously suggested that predatory prokaryotes might be used as live antibiotics to control infections. In this study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens ocular isolates were exposed to the predatory bacteria Micavibrio aeruginosavorus and Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. All tested S. marcescens isolates were susceptible to predation by B. bacteriovorus strains 109J and HD100. Seven of the 10 P. aeruginosa isolates were susceptible to predation by B. bacteriovorus 109J with 80% being attacked by M. aeruginosavorus. All of the 19 tested isolates were found to be sensitive to at least one predator. To further investigate the effect of the predators on eukaryotic cells, human corneal-limbal epithelial (HCLE) cells were exposed to high concentrations of the predators. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that predatory bacteria do not damage ocular surface cells in vitro whereas the P. aeruginosa used as a positive control was highly toxic. Furthermore, no increase in the production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNF-alpha was measured in HCLE cells after exposure to the predators. Finally, injection of high concentration of predatory bacteria into the hemocoel of Galleria mellonella, an established model system used to study microbial pathogenesis, did not result in any measurable negative effect to the host. Our results suggest that predatory bacteria could be considered in the near future as a safe topical bio-control agent to treat ocular infections. © 2013 Shanks et al

Production of prodigiosin pigment by Serratia marcescens is negatively associated with cellular ATP levels during high-rate, low-cell-density growth

Serratia marcescens is a facultatively-anaerobic bacterium and the most recognized producer of the hydrophobic pigment prodigiosin. Previous work has shown that prodigiosin both increases ATP production during population lag phase and approximately doubles the stationary phase cell yield. Here, we employed both batch and chemostat culture methods to investigate prodigiosin’s role during high rate growth at low cell density as peak cellular ATP levels decline. Batch culture experiments utilizing artificial pigment induction showed an ATP reduction during low cell density growth. In addition, pigment induction during fixed growth rate chemostat culture revealed a negative correlation between cellular levels of prodigiosin and ATP (r = -0.95). Variable growth rate chemostat experiments showed an inverse relationship between ATP per cell and prodigiosin per cell during low density growth but a direct relationship during high density growth. Rate modeling of chemostat data quantified the pigment’s effect on cellular levels of ATP for both population growth phases. Finally, prodigiosin production in a heterologous bacterium led to ATP decline. These data with intact cells complement the established in vitro proton import function of prodigiosin pigment and may indicate an energy spilling function during high rate, low cell density growth.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Rhamnolipids Modulate Swarming Motility Patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of twitching, swimming, and swarming motility. The latter form of translocation occurs on semisolid surfaces, requires functional flagella and biosurfactant production, and results in complex motility patterns. From the point of inoculation, bacteria migrate as defined groups, referred to as tendrils, moving in a coordinated manner capable of sensing and responding to other groups of cells. We were able to show that P. aeruginosa produces extracellular factors capable of modulating tendril movement, and genetic analysis revealed that modulation of these movements was dependent on rhamnolipid biosynthesis. An rhlB mutant (deficient in mono- and dirhamnolipid production) and an rhlC mutant (deficient in dirhamnolipid production) exhibited altered swarming patterns characterized by irregularly shaped tendrils. In addition, agar supplemented with rhamnolipid-containing spent supernatant inhibited wild-type (WT) swarming, whereas agar supplemented with spent supernatant from mutants that do not make rhamnolipids had no effect on WT P. aeruginosa swarming. Addition of purified rhamnolipids to swarming medium also inhibited swarming motility of the WT strain. We also show that a sadB mutant does not sense and/or respond to other groups of swarming cells and this mutant was capable of swarming on media supplemented with rhamnolipid-containing spent supernatant or purified rhamnolipids. The abilities to produce and respond to rhamnolipids in the context of group behavior are discussed