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Ítem Acceso Abierto Functional characterization of the first lipoyl-relay pathwayfrom a parasitic protozoan(Wiley, 2022-06) Scattolini, Albertina; Lavatelli, Antonela; Vacchina, Paola; Lambruschi, Daniel Andrés; Mansilla, María Cecilia; Uttaro, Antonio Domingo; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7421-2039; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7164-213X; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5866-3657; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5787-5711; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1444-8661Lipoic acid (LA) is a sulfur-containing cofactor covalently attached to key enzymes of central metabolism in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. LA can be acquired by scavenging, mediated by a lipoate ligase, or de novo synthesized by a pathway requiring an octanoyltransferase and a lipoate synthase. A more complex pathway, referred to as “lipoyl-relay”, requires two additional proteins, GcvH, the glycine cleavage system H subunit, and an amidotransferase. This route was described so far in Bacillus subtilis and related Gram-positive bacteria, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Homo sapiens, and Caenorhabditis elegans. Using collections of S. cerevisiae and B. subtilis mutants, defective in LA metabolism, we gathered evidence that allows us to propose for the first time that lipoyl-relay pathways are also present in parasitic protozoa. By a reverse genetic approach, we assigned octanoyltransferase and amidotransferase activity to the products of Tb927.11.9390 (TblipT) and Tb927.8.630 (TblipL) genes of Trypanosoma brucei, respectively. The B. subtilis model allowed us to identify the parasite amidotransferase as the target of lipoate analogs like 8-bromo-octanoic acid, explaining the complete loss of protein lipoylation and growth impairment caused by this compound in T. cruzi. This model could be instrumental for the screening of selective and more efficient chemotherapies against trypanosomiases.Ítem Acceso Abierto On the offensive: the role of outer membrane vesicles in the successful dissemination of New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1)(American Society for Microbiology, 2021-09-28) Martínez, Melina María Belén; Bonomo, Robert A.; Vila, Alejandro J.; Maffía, Paulo César; González, Lisandro Javier; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4007-8721; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3299-894X; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7978-3233; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7423-2646; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0575-1810The emergence and worldwide dissemination of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria are a major public health threat. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) represent the largest family of carbapenemases. Regrettably, these resistance determinants are spreading worldwide. Among them, the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) is experiencing the fastest and largest geographical spread. NDM-1 β-lactamase is anchored to the bacterial outer membrane, while most MBLs are soluble, periplasmic enzymes. This unique cellular localization favors the selective secretion of active NDM-1 into outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Here, we advance the idea that NDM-containing vesicles serve as vehicles for the local dissemination of NDM-1. We show that OMVs with NDM-1 can protect a carbapenem-susceptible strain of Escherichia coli upon treatment with meropenem in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Survival curves of G. mellonella revealed that vesicle encapsulation enhances the action of NDM-1, prolonging and favoring bacterial protection against meropenem inside the larva hemolymph. We also demonstrate that E. coli cells expressing NDM-1 protect a susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain within the larvae in the presence of meropenem. By using E. coli variants engineered to secrete variable amounts of NDM-1, we demonstrate that the protective effect correlates with the amount of NDM-1 secreted into vesicles. We conclude that secretion of NDM-1 into OMVs contributes to the survival of otherwise susceptible nearby bacteria at infection sites. These results disclose that OMVs play a role in the establishment of bacterial communities, in addition to traditional horizontal gene transfer mechanisms. IMPORTANCE: Resistance to carbapenems, last-resort antibiotics, is spreading worldwide, raising great concern. NDM-1 is one of the most potent and widely disseminated carbapenem-hydrolyzing enzymes spread among many bacteria and is secreted to the extracellular medium within outer membrane vesicles. We show that vesicles carrying NDM-1 can protect carbapenem-susceptible strains of E. coli and P. aeruginosa upon treatment with meropenem in a live infection model. These vesicles act as nanoparticles that encapsulate and transport NDM-1, prolonging and favoring its action against meropenem inside a living organism. Secretion of NDM-1 into vesicles contributes to the survival of otherwise susceptible nearby bacteria at infection sites. We propose that vesicles play a role in the establishment of bacterial communities and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance, in addition to traditional horizontal gene transfer mechanisms.Ítem Acceso Abierto Revisiting the coupling of fatty acid to phospholipid synthesis in bacteria with FapR regulation(Wiley, 2020-07-16) Machinandiarena, Federico; Nakamatsu, Leandro; Schujman, Gustavo Enrique; De Mendoza, Diego; Albanesi, Daniela; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4380-9152A key aspect in membrane biogenesis is the coordination of fatty acid to phospholipid synthesis rates. In most bacteria, PlsX is the first enzyme of the phosphatidic acid synthesis pathway, the common precursor of all phospholipids. Previously, we proposed that PlsX is a key regulatory point that synchronizes the fatty acid synthase II with phospholipid synthesis in Bacillus subtilis. However, understanding the basis of such coordination mechanism remained a challenge in Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we show that the inhibition of fatty acid and phospholipid synthesis caused by PlsX depletion leads to the accumulation of long-chain acyl-ACPs, the end products of the fatty acid synthase II. Hydrolysis of the acyl-ACP pool by heterologous expression of a cytosolic thioesterase relieves the inhibition of fatty acid synthesis, indicating that acyl-ACPs are feedback inhibitors of this metabolic route. Unexpectedly, inactivation of PlsX triggers a large increase of malonyl-CoA leading to induction of the fap regulon. This finding discards the hypothesis, proposed for B. subtilis and extended to other Gram-positive bacteria, that acyl-ACPs are feedback inhibitors of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Finally, we propose that the continuous production of malonyl-CoA during phospholipid synthesis inhibition provides an additional mechanism for fine-tuning the coupling between phospholipid and fatty acid production in bacteria with FapR regulation.Ítem Acceso Abierto A genetic screen for mutations affecting temperature sensing in Bacillus subtilis(Microbiology Society, 2018-11-15) Díaz, Alejandra Raquel; Porrini, Lucía; De Mendoza, Diego; Mansilla, María CeciliaTwo component systems, composed of a receptor histidine kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator, regulate pivotal cellular processes in microorganisms. Here we describe a new screening procedure for the identification of amino acids that are crucial for the functioning of DesK, a prototypic thermosensor histidine kinase from Bacillus subtilis. This experimental strategy involves random mutagenesis of the membrane sensor domain of the DesK coding sequence, followed by the use of a detection procedure based on changes in the colony morphogenesis that take place during the sporulation programme of B. subtilis. This method permitted us the recovery of mutants defective in DesK temperature sensing. This screening approach could be applied to all histidine kinases of B. subtilis and also to kinases of other bacteria that are functionally expressed in this organism. Moreover, this reporter assay could be expanded to develop reporter assays for a variety of transcriptionally regulated systems.Ítem Acceso Abierto Structural determinant of functionality in acyl lipid desaturases(Elsevier, 2018-10) Sastre, Diego Emiliano; Saita, Emilio Adolfo; Uttaro, Antonio Domingo; De Mendoza, Diego; Altabe, Silvia GracielaLittle is known about the structure-function relationship of membrane-bound lipid desaturases. Using a domain-swapping strategy, we found that the N terminus (comprising the two first transmembrane segments) region of Bacillus cereus DesA desaturase improves Bacillus subtilis Des activity. In addition, the replacement of the first two transmembrane domains from Bacillus licheniformis inactive open reading frame (ORF) BL02692 with the corresponding domain from DesA was sufficient to resurrect this enzyme. Unexpectedly, we were able to restore the activity of ORF BL02692 with a single substitution (Cys40Tyr) of a cysteine localized in the first transmembrane domain close to the lipidwater interface. Substitution of eight residues (Gly90, Trp104, Lys172, His228, Pro257, Leu275, Tyr282, and Leu284) by site-directed mutagenesis produced inactive variants of DesA. Homology modeling of DesA revealed that His228 is part of the metal binding center, together with the canonical His boxes. Trp104 shapes the hydrophobic tunnel, whereas Gly90 and Lys172 are probably involved in substrate binding/recognition. Pro257, Leu275, Tyr282, and Leu284 might be relevant for the structural arrangement of the active site or interaction with electron donors. This study reveals the role of the N-terminal region of 5 phospholipid desaturases and the individual residues necessary for the activity of this class of enzymes.Ítem Acceso Abierto Prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii strains expressing the type 6 secretion system in patients with bacteremia(Taylor & Francis, 2017-07-31) Repizo, Guillermo DanielAcinetobacter baumannii (Ab) is an important nosocomial pathogen, of major concern worldwide due to its multi-drug resistance and the recent appearance of hyper-virulent strains in the clinical setting. Ab multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains are frequently associated to different types of infections, such as pneumonia, skin burns, endocarditis, meningitis and septicemia, prevalent in intensive care units. For these reasons, Ab has just been included by the World Health Organization in the list of critical priority pathogens for further studies and development of novel therapeutic approaches. In this respect, advanced knowledge of Ab physiology and mechanisms involved in environmental persistence, host colonization and virulence, all of which could be included in what is known as the physiopathology of the microorganism, is required to reduce the socio-economic impact caused by Ab infections. [...]Ítem Acceso Abierto TcHRG plays a central role in orchestrating heme uptake in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes(Wiley, 2023-04-05) Tevere, Evelyn; Di Capua, Cecilia Beatriz; Chasen, Nathan Michael; Etheridge, Ronald Drew; Cricco, Julia Alejandra; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9215-5015; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8982-3489; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9144-287X; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8993-3880Trypanosoma cruzi, a heme auxotrophic parasite, can control intracellular heme content by modulating TcHRG expression when a free heme source is added to axenic culture. Herein, we explore the role of TcHRG protein in regulating the uptake of heme derived from hemoglobin in epimastigotes. It was found that the parasite’s endogenous TcHRG (protein and mRNA) responds similarly to bound (hemoglobin) and free (hemin) heme. Additionally, the overexpression of TcHRG leads to an increase in intracellular heme content. The localization of TcHRG is also not affected in parasites supplemented with hemoglobin as the sole heme source. Endocytic null epimastigotes do not show a significant difference in growth profile, intracellular heme content and TcHRG protein accumulation compared to WT when feeding with hemoglobin or hemin as a source of heme. These results suggest that the uptake of hemoglobin-derived heme likely occurs through extracellular proteolysis of hemoglobin via the flagellar pocket, and this process is governed by TcHRG. In sum, T. cruzi epimastigotes controls heme homeostasis by modulating TcHRG expression independently of the source of available heme.Ítem Acceso Abierto Assessing different ways of Bacillus subtilis spreading over abiotic surfaces(Bio-protocol L.L.C., 2019-11-20) Bartolini, Marco; Grau, Roberto RicardoSurface-associate motility on biotic and abiotic environments is a key mechanism used by the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis and its closest relatives (i.e., B. amyloliquefaciens, B. thuringiensis, B. cereus, B. pumilus) for surface colonization and spreading across surfaces. The study of this mechanism in a research, industrial or clinic laboratory is essential; however, precautions should be taken for the reproducibility of the results, for example, the procedure to inoculate the bacteria on the testing plate, the humidity of the plate and the agar concentration. In this protocol, we describe, using Bacillus subtilis, how to perform these assays and, in addition, we show how by varying the agar concentration in the plate, you can make a first approximation of what type of motility has other bacterial species.Ítem Acceso Abierto Dynamic state of plasmid genomic architectures resulting from XerC/D-mediated site-specific recombination in Acinetobacter baumannii Rep_3 superfamily resistance plasmids carrying blaOXA-58- and TnaphA6-resistance modules(Frontiers Media, 2023-02-09) Giacone, Lucía; Cameranesi, María Marcela; Sánchez, Rocio Inés; Limansky, Adriana S.; Morán Barrio, Jorgelina ; Viale, Alejandro M.The acquisition of blaOXA genes encoding different carbapenem-hydrolyzing class-D β-lactamases (CHDL) represents a main determinant of carbapenem resistance in the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. The blaOXA-58 gene, in particular, is generally embedded in similar resistance modules (RM) carried by plasmids unique to the Acinetobacter genus lacking self-transferability. The ample variations in the immediate genomic contexts in which blaOXA-58-containing RMs are inserted among these plasmids, and the almost invariable presence at their borders of nonidentical 28-bp sequences potentially recognized by the host XerC and XerD tyrosine recombinases (pXerC/D-like sites), suggested an involvement of these sites in the lateral mobilization of the gene structures they encircle. However, whether and how these pXerC/D sites participate in this process is only beginning to be understood. Here, we used a series of experimental approaches to analyze the contribution of pXerC/D-mediated site-specific recombination to the generation of structural diversity between resistance plasmids carrying pXerC/D-bounded blaOXA-58- and TnaphA6-containing RM harbored by two phylogenetically- and epidemiologicallyclosely related A. baumannii strains of our collection, Ab242 and Ab825, during adaptation to the hospital environment. Our analysis disclosed the existence of different bona fide pairs of recombinationally-active pXerC/D sites in these plasmids, some mediating reversible intramolecular inversions and others reversible plasmid fusions/resolutions. All of the identified recombinationally-active pairs shared identical GGTGTA sequences at the cr spacer separating the XerC- and XerD-binding regions. The fusion of two Ab825 plasmids mediated by a pair of recombinationally-active pXerC/D sites displaying sequence differences at the cr spacer could be inferred on the basis of sequence comparison analysis, but no evidence of reversibility could be obtained in this case. The reversible plasmid genome rearrangements mediated by recombinationally-active pairs of pXerC/D sites reported here probably represents an ancient mechanism of generating structural diversity in the Acinetobacter plasmid pool. This recursive process could facilitate a rapid adaptation of an eventual bacterial host to changing environments, and has certainly contributed to the evolution of Acinetobacter plasmids and the capture and dissemination of blaOXA-58 genes among Acinetobacter and non-Acinetobacter populations co-residing in the hospital niche.Ítem Acceso Abierto Culturing bacteria from Caenorhabditis elegans gut to assess colonization proficiency(Bio-protocol L.L.C., 2017-06-20) Rodríguez Ayala, Facundo; Cogliati, Sebastián; Bauman, Carlos; Leñini, Cecilia; Bartolini, Marco; Villalba, Juan Manuel; Argañaraz, Federico; Grau, Roberto RicardoDetermining an accurate count of intestinal bacteria from Caenorhabditis elegans is one critical way to assess colonization proficiency by a given bacteria. This can be accomplished by culturing appropriate dilutions of worm gut bacteria on selective or differential agarized media. Because of the high concentration of bacteria in gut worm, dilution is necessary before plating onto growth media. Serial dilutions can reduce the concentration of the original intestinal sample to levels low enough for single colonies to be grown on media plates, allowing for the calculation of the initial counts of bacteria in the intestinal sample.Ítem Acceso Abierto A cAMP/CRP-controlled mechanism for the incorporation of extracellular ADP-glucose in Escherichia coli involving NupC and NupG nucleoside transporters(Nature Research, 2018-10-19) Almagro, Goizeder; Viale, Alejandro M.; Montero, Manuel; Muñoz, Francisco José; Baroja Fernández, Edurne; Mori, Hirotada; Pozueta Romero, JavierADP-glucose is the precursor of glycogen biosynthesis in bacteria, and a compound abundant in the starchy plant organs ingested by many mammals. Here we show that the enteric species Escherichia coli is capable of scavenging exogenous ADP-glucose for use as a glycosyl donor in glycogen biosynthesis and feed the adenine nucleotide pool. To unravel the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, we screened the E. coli single-gene deletion mutants of the Keio collection for glycogen content in ADP-glucose-containing culture medium. In comparison to wild-type (WT) cells, individual ∆nupC and ∆nupG mutants lacking the cAMP/CRP responsive inner-membrane nucleoside transporters NupC and NupG displayed reduced glycogen contents and slow ADP-glucose incorporation. In concordance, ∆cya and ∆crp mutants accumulated low levels of glycogen and slowly incorporated ADP-glucose. Two-thirds of the glycogen-excess mutants identifed during screening lacked functions that underlie envelope biogenesis and integrity, including the RpoE specifc RseA anti-sigma factor. These mutants exhibited higher ADP-glucose uptake than WT cells. The incorporation of either ∆crp, ∆nupG or ∆nupC null alleles sharply reduced the ADP-glucose incorporation and glycogen content initially witnessed in ∆rseA cells. Overall, the data showed that E. coli incorporates extracellular ADP-glucose through a cAMP/ CRP-regulated process involving the NupC and NupG nucleoside transporters that is facilitated under envelope stress conditions.Ítem Acceso Abierto High cell density production of multimethyl-branched long-chain esters in Escherichia coli and determination of their physicochemical properties(BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2016-10-14) Menendez Bravo, Simón M.; Roulet, Julia; Sabatini, Martín; Comba, Santiago; Dunn, Robert; Gramajo, Hugo Cesar; Arabolaza, Ana LorenaBackground: microbial synthesis of oleochemicals derived from native fatty acid (FA) metabolism has presented significant advances in recent years. Even so, native FA biosynthetic pathways often provide a narrow variety of usually linear hydrocarbons, thus yielding end products with limited structural diversity. To overcome this limitation, we took advantage of a polyketide synthase-based system from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and developed an Escherichia coli platform with the capacity to synthesize multimethyl-branched long-chain esters (MBE) with novel chemical structures. Results: with the aim to initiate the characterization of these novel waxy compounds, here, we describe the chassis optimization of the MBE producer E. coli strain for an up-scaled oil production. By carrying out systematic metabolic engineering, we improved the final titer to 138.1 ± 5.3 mg MBE L−1 in batch cultures. Fed-batch microbial fermentation process was also optimized achieving a maximum yield of 790.2 ± 6.9 mg MBE L−1 with a volumetric productivity of 15.8 ± 1.1 mg MBE (L h)−1. Purified MBE oil was subjected to various physicochemical analyses, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and pressurized-differential scanning calorimetry (P-DSC) studies. Conclusions: the analysis of the pour point, DSC, and P-DSC data obtained showed that bacterial MBE possess improved cold flow properties than several plant oils and some chemically modified derivatives, while exhibiting high oxidation stability at elevated temperatures. These encouraging data indicate that the presence of multiple methyl branches in these novel esters, indeed, conferred favorable properties which are superior to those of linear esters.Ítem Acceso Abierto Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri requires the outer membrane porin OprB for maximal virulence and biofilm formation(Wiley, 2017-06) Ficarra, Florencia Andrea; Grandellis, Carolina; Galván, Estela M.; Ielpi, Luis; Feil, Regina; Lunn, John E.; Gottig, Natalia; Ottado, JorgelinaXanthomonas citri ssp. citri (Xcc) causes canker disease in citrus, and biofilm formation is critical for the disease cycle. OprB (Outer membrane protein B) has been shown previously to be more abundant in Xcc biofilms compared with the planktonic state. In this work, we showed that the loss of OprB in an oprB mutant abolishes bacterial biofilm formation and adherence to the host, and also compromises virulence and efficient epiphytic survival of the bacteria. Moreover, the oprB mutant is impaired in bacterial stress resistance. OprB belongs to a family of carbohydrate transport proteins, and the uptake of glucose is decreased in the mutant strain, indicating that OprB transports glucose. Loss of OprB leads to increased production of xanthan exopolysaccharide, and the carbohydrate intermediates of xanthan biosynthesis are also elevated in the mutant. The xanthan produced by the mutant has a higher viscosity and, unlike wild-type xanthan, completely lacks pyruvylation. Overall, these results suggest that Xcc reprogrammes its carbon metabolism when it senses a shortage of glucose input. The participation of OprB in the process of biofilm formation and virulence, as well as in metabolic changes to redirect the carbon flux, is discussed. Our results demonstrate the importance of environmental nutrient supply and glucose uptake via OprB for Xcc virulence.Ítem Acceso Abierto HrpE, the major component of the Xanthomonas type three protein secretion pilus, elicits plant immunity responses(Springer Nature, 2018-06-29) Gottig, Natalia; Vranych, Cecilia Verónica; Sgro, Germán Gustavo; Piazza, Ainelén; Ottado, JorgelinaLike several pathogenic bacteria, Xanthomonas infect host plants through the secretion of effector proteins by the Hrp pilus of the Type Three Protein Secretion System (T3SS). HrpE protein was identified as the major structural component of this pilus. Here, using the Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) HrpE as a model, a novel role for this protein as an elicitor of plant defense responses was found. HrpE triggers defense responses in host and non-host plants revealed by the development of plant lesions, callose deposition, hydrogen peroxide production and increase in the expression levels of genes related to plant defense responses. Moreover, pre-infiltration of citrus or tomato leaves with HrpE impairs later Xanthomonas infections. Particularly, HrpE C-terminal region, conserved among Xanthomonas species, was sufficient to elicit these responses. HrpE was able to interact with plant Glycine-Rich Proteins from citrus (CsGRP) and Arabidopsis (AtGRP-3). Moreover, an Arabidopsis atgrp-3 knockout mutant lost the capacity to respond to HrpE. This work demonstrate that plants can recognize the conserved C-terminal region of the T3SS pilus HrpE protein as a danger signal to defend themselves against Xanthomonas, triggering defense responses that may be mediated by GRPs.Ítem Acceso Abierto The surfactin-like lipopeptides from Bacillus spp.: natural biodiversity and synthetic biology for a broader application range(Frontiers, 2021-03-02) Théatre, Ariane; Cano-Prieto, Carolina; Bartolini, Marco; Laurin, Yoann; Deleu, Magalí; Niehren, Joachim; Fida, Tarik; Gerbinet, Saïcha; Alanjary, Mohammad; Medema, Marnix H.; Léonard, Angélique; Lins, Laurence; Arabolaza, Ana Lorena; Gramajo, Hugo Cesar; Gross, Harald; Jacques, PhilippeSurfactin is a lipoheptapeptide produced by several Bacillus species and identified for the first time in 1969. At first, the biosynthesis of this remarkable biosurfactant was described in this review. The peptide moiety of the surfactin is synthesized using huge multienzymatic proteins called NonRibosomal Peptide Synthetases. This mechanism is responsible for the peptide biodiversity of the members of the surfactin family. In addition, on the fatty acid side, fifteen different isoforms (from C12 to C17) can be incorporated so increasing the number of the surfactin-like biomolecules. The review also highlights the last development in metabolic modeling and engineering and in synthetic biology to direct surfactin biosynthesis but also to generate novel derivatives. This large set of different biomolecules leads to a broad spectrum of physico-chemical properties and biological activities. The last parts of the review summarized the numerous studies related to the production processes optimization as well as the approaches developed to increase the surfactin productivity of Bacillus cells taking into account the different steps of its biosynthesis from gene transcription to surfactin degradation in the culture medium.Ítem Acceso Abierto Host-specific enzyme-substrate interactions in SPM-1 metallo-β-lactamase are modulated by second sphere residues(Public Library of Science (PLOS), 2014-01-02) González, Lisandro Javier; Moreno, Diego M.; Bonomo, Robert A.; Vila, Alejandro J.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most virulent and resistant non-fermenting Gram-negative pathogens in the clinic. Unfortunately, P. aeruginosa has acquired genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs), enzymes able to hydrolyze most β-lactam antibiotics. SPM-1 is an MβL produced only by P. aeruginosa, while other MβLs are found in different bacteria. Despite similar active sites, the resistance profile of MβLs towards β-lactams changes from one enzyme to the other. SPM-1 is unique among pathogen-associated MβLs in that it contains “atypical” second sphere residues (S84, G121). Codon randomization on these positions and further selection of resistance-conferring mutants was performed. MICs, periplasmic enzymatic activity, Zn(II) requirements, and protein stability was assessed. Our results indicated that identity of second sphere residues modulates the substrate preferences and the resistance profile of SPM-1 expressed in P. aeruginosa. The second sphere residues found in wild type SPM-1 give rise to a substrate selectivity that is observed only in the periplasmic environment. These residues also allow SPM-1 to confer resistance in P. aeruginosa under Zn(II)-limiting conditions, such as those expected under infection. By optimizing the catalytic efficiency towards β-lactam antibiotics, the enzyme stability and the Zn(II) binding features, molecular evolution meets the specific needs of a pathogenic bacterial host by means of substitutions outside the active site.Ítem Acceso Abierto Genomic comparative analysis of the environmental Enterococcus mundtii against enterococcal representative species(BMC, 2014-06-18) Repizo, Guillermo Daniel; Espariz, Martín; Blancato, Víctor Sebastián; Suárez, Cristian Alejandro; Esteban, Luis; Magni, ChristianBackground Enterococcus mundtii is a yellow-pigmented microorganism rarely found in human infections. The draft genome sequence of E. mundtii was recently announced. Its genome encodes at least 2,589 genes and 57 RNAs, and 4 putative genomic islands have been detected. The objective of this study was to compare the genetic content of E. mundtii with respect to other enterococcal species and, more specifically, to identify genes coding for putative virulence traits present in enterococcal opportunistic pathogens. Results An in-depth mining of the annotated genome was performed in order to uncover the unique properties of this microorganism, which allowed us to detect a gene encoding the antimicrobial peptide mundticin among other relevant features. Moreover, in this study a comparative genomic analysis against commensal and pathogenic enterococcal species, for which genomic sequences have been released, was conducted for the first time. Furthermore, our study reveals significant similarities in gene content between this environmental isolate and the selected enterococci strains (sharing an “enterococcal gene core” of 805 CDS), which contributes to understand the persistence of this genus in different niches and also improves our knowledge about the genetics of this diverse group of microorganisms that includes environmental, commensal and opportunistic pathogens. Conclusion Although E. mundtii CRL1656 is phylogenetically closer to E. faecium, frequently responsible of nosocomial infections, this strain does not encode the most relevant relevant virulence factors found in the enterococcal clinical isolates and bioinformatic predictions indicate that it possesses the lowest number of putative pathogenic genes among the most representative enterococcal species. Accordingly, infection assays using the Galleria mellonella model confirmed its low virulence.Ítem Acceso Abierto Staring at the cold sun: blue light regulation is distributed within the genus acinetobacter(Public Library of Science (PLOS), 2013-01-24) Golic, Adrián Ezequiel; Vaneechoutte, Mario; Nemec, Alexandr; Viale, Alejandro M.; Actis, Luis A.; Mussi, María AlejandraWe previously showed that the opportunistic nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii is able to sense and respond to light via BlsA, a BLUF (Blue-Light-sensing Using FAD)-domain photoreceptor protein. Here, we extend our previous studies showing that light regulation is not restricted to A. baumannii, but rather widespread within the genus Acinetobacter. First, we found that blue light modulates motility and biofilm formation in many species of the genus, including members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex. In many of these species blue light acts as a key factor guiding the decision between motility or sessility at 24°C, whereas in A. baumannii, light inhibits both motility and biofilm formation. We also show that light regulation of motility occurred not only at 24°C but also at 37°C in non-A. baumannii species, contrasting the situation of A. baumannii which only shows photoregulation at 24°C. Second, we show that Acinetobacter baylyi (strain ADP1) BLUF-photoreceptors can functionally replace in vivo the A. baumannii 17978 BlsA protein and that the pathways leading to biofilm formation are inversely regulated at 24°C between these two microorganisms. Finally, we found the presence of predicted genes coding BLUF-containing proteins in all Acinetobacter sequenced genomes, even though the copy number is variable among them. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a common origin for all BLUF domains present in members of this genus, and could distinguish well-differentiated clusters that group together BLUF homologs from different species, a situation particularly clear for members of the ACB complex. Despite a role played by these BLUF domain-containing proteins in the photoregulation observed in the members of the genus Acinetobacter is a likely scenario given our findings in A. baumannii and A. baylyi, further research will contribute to confirm this possibility.Ítem Acceso Abierto Transcriptional regulation of adhesive properties of Bacillus subtilis to extracellular matrix proteins through the fibronectin-binding protein YloA(John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2017-03-27) Rodríguez Ayala, Facundo; Bauman, Carlos; Bartolini, Marco; Saball, Ester; Salvarrey, Marcela; Leñini, Cecilia; Cogliati, Sebastián; Strauch, Mark; Grau, Roberto Ricardo; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6496-3696Bacterial adherence to extracellular matrix proteins (ECMp) plays important roles during host–pathogen interaction, however its genetic regulation remains poorly understood. yloA of the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis shows high homology to genes encoding fibronectin-binding proteins of Gram-positive pathogens. Here, we characterized the regulatory network of YloA-dependent adhesive properties of the probiotic B. subtilis natto (Bsn). YloA-proficient, but not YloA-deficient, Bsn specifically bound to ECMp in a concentration-dependent manner and were proficient in biofilm formation. yloA expression showed a continuous increase in activity during the growth phase and decreased during the stationary phase. The transcription factors AbrB and DegU downregulated yloA expression during the logarithmic and stationary growth phases respectively. Analysis of the yloA promoter region revealed the presence of AT-rich direct and inverted repeats previously reported to function as DegU-recognized binding sites. In spo0A cells, yloA expression was completely turned off because of upregulation of AbrB throughout growth. Accordingly, DNase I footprinting analysis confirmed that AbrB bound to the promoter region of yloA. Interestingly, Bsn bound fibronectin with higher affinity, lower Kd, than several bacterial pathogens and competitively excluded them from binding to immobilized-fibronectin, a finding that might be important for the anti-infective properties of B. subtilis and its relatives.Ítem Acceso Abierto Overexpression of Trypanosoma cruzi high mobility group B protein (TcHMGB) alters the nuclear structure, impairs cytokinesis and reduces the parasite infectivity(Springer Nature, 2019-01-17) Tavernelli, Luis Emilio; Motta, María Cristina M.; Silva Gonçalves, Camila; Santos da Silva, Marcelo; Elías, María Carolina; Alonso, Victoria Lucía; Serra, Esteban Carlos; Cribb, Pamela; Dr. De Gaudenzi, Javier: provide the pTcINDEX-eGFP strainKinetoplastid parasites, included Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, present a unique genome organization and gene expression. Although they control gene expression mainly post-transcriptionally, chromatin accessibility plays a fundamental role in transcription initiation control. We have previously shown that High Mobility Group B protein from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcHMGB) can bind DNA in vitro. Here, we show that TcHMGB also acts as an architectural protein in vivo, since the overexpression of this protein induces changes in the nuclear structure, mainly the reduction of the nucleolus and a decrease in the heterochromatin:euchromatin ratio. Epimastigote replication rate was markedly reduced presumably due to a delayed cell cycle progression with accumulation of parasites in G2/M phase and impaired cytokinesis. Some functions involved in pathogenesis were also altered in TcHMGB-overexpressing parasites, like the decreased efficiency of trypomastigotes to infect cells in vitro, the reduction of intracellular amastigotes replication and the number of released trypomastigotes. Taken together, our results suggest that the TcHMGB protein is a pleiotropic player that controls cell phenotype and it is involved in key cellular processes.