Cationic Amphipathic Antimicrobial Peptides Perturb the Inner Membrane of Germinated Spores Thus Inhibiting Their Outgrowth

The mode of action of four cationic amphipathic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) was evaluated against the non-pathogenic, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. The AMPs were TC19, TC84, BP2, and the lantibiotic Nisin A. TC19 and TC84 were derived from the human thrombocidin-1. Bactericidal peptide 2 (BP2) was derived from the human bactericidal permeability increasing protein (BPI). We employed structured illumination microscopy (SIM), fluorescence microscopy, Alexa 488-labeled TC84, B. subtilis mutants producing proteins fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and single-cell live imaging to determine the effects of the peptides against spores. TC19, TC84, BP2, and Nisin A showed to be bactericidal against germinated spores by perturbing the inner membrane, thus preventing outgrowth to vegetative cells. Single cell live imaging showed that the AMPs do not affect the germination process, but the burst time and subsequent generation time of vegetative cells. Alexa 488-labeled TC84 suggested that the TC84 might be binding to the dormant spore-coat. Therefore, dormant spores were also pre-coated with the AMPs and cultured on AMP-free culture medium during single-cell live imaging. Pre-coating of the spores with TC19, TC84, and BP2 had no effect on the germination process, and variably affected the burst time and generation time. However, the percentage of spores that burst and grew out into vegetative cells was drastically lower when pre-coated with Nisin A, suggesting a novel application potential of this lantibiotic peptide against spores. Our findings contribute to the understanding of AMPs and show the potential of AMPs as eventual therapeutic agents against spore-forming bacteria

Bioprospecting for beta-glucosidases and beta-xylosidases from non-Saccharomyces yeast

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The argument of whether to use food for biofuel (bioethanol) production prompted the search for an alternative non-food biomass, such as lignocellulose, as feedstock for bioethanol production. However, a hindrance in producing bioethanol from lignocellulose on an industrial scale is the cost associated with hydrolysing the lignocellulose to its respective sugar monomers. Improving enzyme production and enhancement of enzyme cocktails for efficient lignocellulose hydrolysis is, therefore, a necessary prerequisite. In this study, a yeast culture collection from the Wine and Fermentation Technology Division (ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch, South Africa), isolated from fruit from various regions in South Africa, was screened for β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase enzyme activities. β-glucosidases catalyse the hydrolysis of cellobiose and by doing so prevents end-product inhibition of cellobiohydrolases and endoglucanases during cellulose degradation. Similarly, β-xylosidases hydrolyse xylobiose and prevents end-product inhibition of endoxylanases during hemicellulose degradation. After initially screening 2180 non- Saccharomyces yeasts, two yeast isolates were selected that could potentially serve as enzyme source for lignocellulose hydrolysis; one as a producer of a β-glucosidase and another as a β-xylosidase producer. The yeasts were identified as a β-glucosidase producing Rhodotorula slooffiae-like yeast isolate 131B2 and a β-xylosidase producing Aureobasidium pullulans isolate 23B25, respectively. The production of β-glucosidase by Rhodotorula slooffiae-like yeast isolate 131B2 and of β-xylosidase by Aureobasidium pullulans isolate 23B25 was optimised using response surface methodology according to a central composite design. Subsequently, the crude and partially purified enzymes were characterised based on molecular mass, pH optima and stability, temperature optima and stability and inhibition by lignocellulose hydrolysis end-products, such as glucose, xylose and ethanol. The crude β-glucosidase from Rhodotorula slooffiae-like yeast isolate 131B2 was also compared to the commercial Aspergillus niger βglucosidase preparation (Novozyme 188) based on the characteristics mentioned above and as βglucosidase supplement during Avicel (microcrystalline cellulose) hydrolysis by the commercial cellulase preparation (Celluclast). The crude β-xylosidase by Aureobasidium pullulans isolate 23B25 could not be compared to a commercial β-xylosidase as none was available at the time of the study. During the study, the crude β-glucosidase 131B2 and β-xylosidase 23B25 showed potential as lignocellulose hydrolytic enzymes. Attempts were made to obtain the β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase genes from the respective yeast isolates using PCR-based approaches and by constructing cDNA libraries. However, cloning the β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase genes using these methods proved after several attempts to be unsuccessful, although, during this section of the study valuable information was obtained about the obstacles involved with using these approaches when the desired gene sequence is unknown and novel.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die debat oor die toepaslikheid van voedsel vir bio-brandstofproduksie (bio-etanol), het daartoe gelei dat alternatiewe nie-voedsel grondstowwe, soos lignosellulose, as voermateriaal vir bio-ethanol ondersoek word. Die koste geassosieer met die hidrolise van lignosellulose na die onderskeie suiker monomere belemmer industriële-skaal toepassing van lignosellulose vir bio-etanolproduksie. Verbeterde ensiemproduksie en verhoogde doeltreffendheid van ensiemmengsels vir lignosellulose hidrolise is dus ‘n noodsaaklik voorvereiste. In hierdie studie is 'n giskultuurversameling geisoleer vanaf vrugte van verskillende streke in Suid-Afrika deur die Wyn en Fermentasie Tegnologie Afdeling (ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch, Suid-Afrika) vir β-glukosidase en β-xilosidase ensiemaktiwiteite gesif. β-glukosidases wat die hidrolise van sellobiose kataliseer voorkom eindprodukinhibisie van sellobiohidrolases en endoglukanases tydens sellulose afbraak. β-xilosidases, op hul beurt, hydroliseer xilobiose en voorkom eindprodukinhibisie van endoxilanases tydens hemisellulose afbraak. Na afloop van die aanvanklike sifting van 2180 nie-Saccharomyces giste, is twee giste wat potensiëel as 'n ensiembron vir lignosellulose hidrolise kan dien geselekteer; een vir β-glukosidase en ‘n ander vir β-xilosidase produksie. Die giste is as ʼn β-glukosidase-produserende Rhodotorula slooffiaeagtige gisras 131B2 en ʼn β-xilosidase-produserende Aureobasidium pullulans gisras 23B25 onderskeidelik geïdentifiseer. Die Rhodotorula slooffiae-agtige gisras 131B2 se produksie van β-glukosidase en die Aureobasidium pullulans gisras 23B25 produksie van β-xylosidase was geoptimiseer met behulp van “response surface methodology” volgens 'n “central composite design”. Daarna was die gedeeltelik-gesuiwerde kru-ensieme volgens molekulêre massa, pH optima en stabiliteit, temperatuur optima en stabiliteit, en inhibisie deur lignocelluloses hidrolise end-produkte soos glukose, xylose en etanol, gekarakteriseer. Die kru βglukosidase van die Rhodotorula slooffiae-agtige gisras 131B2 is ook met die kommersiële Aspergillus niger β-glukosidase (Novozyme 188) volgens die eienskappe vroeër genoem vergelyk en as β-glukosidase aanvulling tydens die kommersiële sellulase (Celluclast) se hidrolise van Avicel (mikrokristalline sellulose). Die kru β-xylosidase van die Aureobasidium pullulans gisras 23B25 kon nie vergelyk word met 'n kommersiële β-xylosidase nie, aangesien daar nie een beskikbaar was tydens die studie nie. Gedurende die studie het altwee, die kru β-glukosidase 131B2 en β-xylosidase 23B25, potensiaal getoon as lignosellulose hidrolitiese ensieme. Pogings was aangewend om die β-glukosidase en β-xilosidase gene vanuit die onderskeie gis isolate met behulp van PKR-gebaseerde tegnieke en die opstel van cDNA biblioteke te kloneer. Hierdie klonering strategieë was egter na verskeie pogings onsuksesvol, maar waardevolle inligting oor die struikelblokke betrokke by die gebruik van hierdie benaderings wanneer die gewenste geen se DNS basispaarvolgorde onbekend en uniek is, was verkry

Antimicrobial activity of cationic antimicrobial peptides against gram-positives: Current progress made in understanding the mode of action and the response of bacteria

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as a novel class of antimicrobials that could aid the fight against antibiotic resistant bacteria. The mode of action of AMPs as acting on the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane has often been presented as an enigma and there are doubts whether the membrane is the sole target of AMPs. Progress has been made in clarifying the possible targets of these peptides, which is reported in this review with as focus gram-positive vegetative cells and spores. Numerical estimates are discussed to evaluate the possibility that targets, other than the membrane, could play a role in susceptibility to AMPs. Concerns about possible resistance that bacteria might develop to AMPs are addressed. Proteomics, transcriptomics and other molecular techniques are reviewed in the context of explaining the response of bacteria to the presence of AMPs and to predict what resistance strategies might be. Emergent mechanisms are cell envelope stress responses as well as enzymes able to degrade and/or specifically bind (and thus inactivate) AMPs. Further studies are needed to address the broadness of the AMP resistance and stress responses observed

Synthetic antimicrobial peptides delocalize membrane bound proteins thereby inducing a cell envelope stress response

Background: Three amphipathic cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were characterized by determining their effect on Gram-positive bacteria using Bacillus subtilis strain 168 as a model organism. These peptides were TC19 and TC84, derivatives of thrombocidin-1 (TC-1), the major AMPs of human blood platelets, and Bactericidal Peptide 2 (BP2), a synthetic designer peptide based on human bactericidal permeability increasing protein (BPI). Methods: To elucidate the possible mode of action of the AMPs we performed a transcriptomic analysis using microarrays. Physiological analyses were performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fluorescence microscopy and various B. subtilis mutants that produce essential membrane bound proteins fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP). Results: The transcriptome analysis showed that the AMPs induced a cell envelope stress response (cell membrane and cell wall). The cell membrane stress response was confirmed with the physiological observations that TC19, TC84 and BP2 perturb the membrane of B. subtilis. Using B. subtilis mutants, we established that the cell wall stress response is due to the delocalization of essential membrane bound proteins involved in cell wall synthesis. Other essential membrane proteins, involved in cell membrane synthesis and metabolism, were also delocalized due to alterations caused by the AMPs. Conclusions: We showed that peptides TC19, TC84 and BP2 perturb the membrane causing essential proteins to delocalize, thus preventing the possible repair of the cell envelope after the initial interference with the membrane. General significance: These AMPs show potential for eventual clinical application against Gram-positive bacterial cells and merit further application-oriented investigation

Bactericidal activity of amphipathic cationic antimicrobial peptides involves altering the membrane fluidity when interacting with the phospholipid bilayer

Background: Amphipathic cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) TC19 and TC84, derived from the major AMPs of human blood platelets, thrombocidins, and Bactericidal Peptide 2 (BP2), a synthetic designer peptide showed to perturb the membrane of Bacillus subtilis. We aimed to determine the means by which the three AMPs cause membrane perturbation in vivo using B. subtilis and to evaluate whether the membrane alterations are dependent on the phospholipid composition of the membrane. Methods: Physiological analysis was employed using Alexa Fluor 488 labelled TC84, various fluorescence dyes, fluorescent microscopy techniques and structured illumination microscopy. Results: TC19, TC84 and BP2 created extensive fluidity domains in the membrane that are permeable, thus facilitating the entering of the peptides and the leakage of the cytosol. The direct interaction of the peptides with the bilayer create the fluid domains. The changes caused in the packing of the phospholipids lead to the delocalization of membrane bound proteins, thus contributing to the cell's destruction. The changes made to the membrane appeared to be not dependent on the composition of the phospholipid bilayer. Conclusions: The distortion caused to the fluidity of the membrane by the AMPs is sufficient to facilitate the entering of the peptides and leakage of the cytosol. General significance: Here we show in vivo that cationic AMPs cause “membrane leaks” at the site of membrane insertion by altering the organization and fluidity of the membrane. Our findings thus contribute to the understanding of the membrane perturbation characteristic of cationic AMPs