Structural and adhesive properties of the long polar fimbriae protein LpfD from adherent-invasive Escherichia coli

Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by an exaggerated immune response to commensal microbiota in the intestines of patients. Metagenomic studies have identified specific bacterial species and strains with increased prevalence in CD patients, amongst which is the adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) strain LF82. AIEC strains express long polar fimbriae (LPF), which are known to target Peyer's patches in a mouse CD model. Here, the recombinant production of a soluble, self-complemented construct of the LpfD protein of E. coli LF82 is reported and it is demonstrated that it forms the adhesive tip subunit of LPF. The LpfD crystal reveals an N-terminal adhesin domain and a C-terminal pilin domain that connects the adhesin to the minor pilus subunit LpfE. Surface topology and sequence conservation in the adhesin domain hint at a putative receptor-binding pocket as found in the Klebsiella pneumoniae MrkD and E. coli F17-G (GafD) adhesins. Immunohistostaining of murine intestinal tissue sections revealed that LpfD specifically binds to the intestinal mucosa and submucosa. LpfD binding was found to be resistant to treatment with O- or N-glycosidases, but was lost in collagenase-treated tissue sections, indicating the possible involvement of an intestinal matrix-associated protein as the LpfD receptor. LpfD strongly adhered to isolated fibronectin in an in vitro assay, and showed lower levels of binding to collagen V and laminin and no binding to collagens I, III and IV

In silico proteomic and phylogenetic analysis of the outer membrane protein repertoire of gastric Helicobacter species

Helicobacter (H.) pylori is an important risk factor for gastric malignancies worldwide. Its outer membrane proteome takes an important role in colonization of the human gastric mucosa. However, in zoonotic non-H. pylori helicobacters (NHPHs) also associated with human gastric disease, the composition of the outer membrane (OM) proteome and its relative contribution to disease remain largely unknown. By means of a comprehensive survey of the diversity and distribution of predicted outer membrane proteins (OMPs) identified in all known gastric Helicobacter species with fully annotated genome sequences, we found genus- and species-specific families known or thought to be implicated in virulence. Hop adhesins, part of the Helicobacter-specific family 13 (Hop, Hor and Horn) were restricted to the gastric species H. pylori, H. cetorum and H. acinonychis. Hof proteins (family 33) were putative adhesins with predicted Occ- or MOMP-family like 18-stranded beta-barrels. They were found to be widespread amongst all gastric Helicobacter species only sporadically detected in enterohepatic Helicobacter species. These latter are other members within the genus Helicobacter, although ecologically and genetically distinct. LpxR, a lipopolysaccharide remodeling factor, was also detected in all gastric Helicobacter species but lacking as well from the enterohepatic species H. cinaedi, H. equorum and H. hepaticus. In conclusion, our systemic survey of Helicobacter OMPs points to species and infection-site specific members that are interesting candidates for future virulence and colonization studies.Peer reviewe

Non-antibiotic quorum sensing inhibitors acting against N-acyl homoserine lactone synthase as druggable target

YesN-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing (QS) is important for the regulation of proteobacterial virulence determinants. Thus, the inhibition of AHL synthases offers non-antibiotics-based therapeutic potentials against QS-mediated bacterial infections. In this work, functional AHL synthases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasI and RhlI were heterologously expressed in an AHL-negative Escherichia coli followed by assessments on their AHLs production using AHL biosensors and high resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS). These AHL-producing E. coli served as tools for screening AHL synthase inhibitors. Based on a campaign of screening synthetic molecules and natural products using our approach, three strongest inhibitors namely are salicylic acid, tannic acid and trans-cinnamaldehyde have been identified. LCMS analysis further confirmed tannic acid and trans-cinnemaldehyde efficiently inhibited AHL production by RhlI. We further demonstrated the application of trans-cinnemaldehyde inhibiting Rhl QS system regulated pyocyanin production in P. aeruginosa up to 42.06%. Molecular docking analysis suggested that trans-cinnemaldehyde binds to the LasI and EsaI with known structures mainly interacting with their substrate binding sites. Our data suggested a new class of QS-inhibiting agents from natural products targeting AHL synthase and provided a potential approach for facilitating the discovery of anti-QS signal synthesis as basis of novel anti-infective approach.University of Malaya High Impact Research (HIR) Grant (UM-MOHE HIR Grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/CHAN/14/1, no. H-50001-A000027) given to K.G.C. and National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81260481) given to H.W

“No One Should Feel Like They’re Unsafe”: Mobility Justice Photovoice as a Youth Advocacy Tool for Equitable Community Mobility

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2021Objectives. To examine personal and community mobility challenges and opportunities among youth of color, and identify ways to partner with youth to advance equitable community mobility. Methods. We conducted a community-based participatory research photovoice study using mobility justice principles from November 2020 to May 2021 with 10 youth of color from South Seattle, Washington. We conducted thematic content analysis of verbatim photovoice session transcripts. Results. Youth reported feeling vulnerable riding public transit alongside people experiencing mental health issues, while recognizing the dangers police can bring to communities of color. They identified specific infrastructure changes and free transit to facilitate safe, accessible transportation. They emphasized the importance of youth voice and intergenerational community discussions to inform city decision-making. We co-created an online forum centered on equitable mobility with youth to exchange ideas with their community and city leaders. Conclusions. City leaders and other policymakers should implement policy and infrastructure changes to enhance equitable mobility. They should incorporate youth and mobility justice principles in mobility and transportation decision-making processes, pay youth for their time, employ facilitators of color, and offer technology support

Genome-wide analysis of the U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme gene family in tomato

Abstract E3 ubiquitin ligases are a central modifier of plant signaling pathways that act through targeting proteins to the degradation pathway. U-box E3 ubiquitin ligases are a distinct class of E3 ligases that utilize intramolecular interactions for its scaffold stabilization. U-box E3 ubiquitin ligases are prevalent in plants in comparison to animals. However, the evolutionary aspects, genetic organizations, and functional fate of the U-box E3 gene family in plant development, especially in tomato is not well understood. In the present study, we have performed in-silico genome-wide analysis of the U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase gene family in Solanum lycopersicum. We have identified 62 U-box genes with U-box/Ub Fusion Degradation 2 (UFD2) domain. The chromosomal localization, phylogenetic analysis, gene structure, motifs, gene duplication, syntenic regions, promoter, physicochemical properties, and ontology were investigated. The U-box gene family showed significant conservation of the U-box domain throughout the gene family. Duplicated genes discerned noticeable functional transitions among duplicated genes. The gene expression profiles of U-box E3 family members show involvement in abiotic and biotic stress signaling as well as hormonal pathways. We found remarkable participation of the U-box gene family in the vegetative and reproductive tissue development. It is predicted to be actively regulating flowering time and endosperm formation. Our study provides a comprehensive picture of distribution, structural features, promoter elements, evolutionary relationship, and gene expression of the U-box gene family in the tomato. We predict the crucial participation of the U-box gene family in tomato plant development and stress responses

Epigallocatechin gallate from Camellia sinensis L. (Kuntze) is a potential quorum sensing inhibitor in Chromobacterium violaceum

The problem on the widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria calls for novel methods of control of bacterial activity. One of the new viable alternatives to antibiotics is the use of substances that inhibit quorum sensing (QS) – a bacterial communication system that has been known to regulate the expression of virulence genes during infection. In this study, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea, Camellia sinensis L. (Kuntze) was tested for its ability to inhibit QS in a test organism, Chromobacterium violaceum. This microorganism produces a violet-colored substance, violacein, through QS. This study aimed to detect inhibition of QS-regulated violacein production in C. violaceum by EGCG and to determine the dynamics of QS inhibition relative to the concentration of EGCG. The effect of increasing concentration of EGCG on both violacein production and cell density of treated and untreated C. violaceum was determined in a 96-well-microplate format and read at 570nm and 620nm for violacein production and growth, respectively. The results show that addition of EGCG increased the growth of the organism while there is concentration-dependent decrease in the QS-controlled production of violacein. This study thus establishes that EGCG is a potential QS inhibitor and can be further studied and developed for its use as an anti-pathogenic but non-toxic drug

Glycosylation changes as important factors for the susceptibility to urinary tract infection

Proteomic

Glycosylation changes as important factors for the susceptibility to urinary tract infection

FimH is the type 1 fimbrial tip adhesin and invasin of Escherichia coli. Its ligands are the glycans on specific proteins enriched in membrane microdomains. FimH binding shows high-affinity recognition of paucimannosidic glycans, which are shortened high-mannose glycans such as oligomannose-3 and -5. FimH can recognize equally the (single) high-mannose glycan on uroplakin la, on the urinary defence protein uromodulin or Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein and on the intestinal GP2 glycoprotein present in Peyer's patches. E. coil bacteria may attach to epithelial cells via hundreds of fimbriae in a multivalent fashion. This binding is considered to provoke conformational changes in the glycoprotein receptor that translate into signalling in the cytoplasm of the infected epithelial cell. Bladder cell invasion by the uropathogenic bacterium is the prelude to recurrent and persistent urinary tract infections in humans. Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus are more prone to contract urinary tract infections. in a study of women, despite longer treatments with a more potent antibiotic, these patients also have more often recurrences of urinary tract infections compared with women without diabetes. Type 1 fimbriae are the most important virulence factors used not only for adhesion of E. coli in the urinary tract, but also for the colonization by E. coli in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. It appears that the increased prevalence of urinary tract infections in diabetic women is not the result of a difference in the bacteria, but is due to changes in the uroepithelial cells leading to an increased adherence of E. coil expressing type 1 fimbriae. Hypothetically, these changes are in the glycosylation of the infected cells. The present article focuses on possible underlying mechanisms for glycosylation changes in the uroepithelial cell receptors for FimH. Like diabetes, bacterial adhesion induces apoptosis that may bring the endoplasmic reticulum membrane with immature mannosylated glycoproteins to the surface. Indicatively, clathrin-mediated vesicle trafficking of glucose transporters is disturbed in diabetics, which would interfere further with the biosynthesis and localization of complex N-linked glycans