铜绿假单胞菌中Ⅲ型分泌系统调控机制及针对性治疗的研究进展

铜绿假单胞菌是临床上重要的条件致病菌,具有多种毒力因子且极易产生耐药性。Ⅲ型分泌系统(Type Ⅲ secretion system,T3SS)是铜绿假单胞菌中重要的毒性因子分泌系统,该菌通过Ⅲ型分泌系统将多种毒力因子注入到真核宿主细胞内并逃逸宿主细胞免疫系统的清除,引起宿主细胞相应的病理变化。对Ⅲ型分泌系统的研究,不仅有助于明确铜绿假单胞菌的致病机理,更可为临床治疗和药物研发提供理论基础。本文主要对铜绿假单胞菌中Ⅲ型分泌系统的结构、功能、调控机制以及针对性治疗策略等方面的研究进行了综述。     

铜绿假单胞菌Ⅲ型分泌系统的分子调控机制

铜绿假单胞菌是临床上重要的革兰氏阴性条件致病菌.通过Ⅲ型分泌系统,铜绿假单胞菌将其毒力因子注入到真核宿主细胞内部,逃避宿主巨噬细胞的吞噬降解,引起宿主相应的病理变化,是铜绿假单胞菌感染致病的重要原因.本文在简单介绍铜绿假单胞菌Ⅲ型分泌系统组成和功能的基础上,主要对调控T3SS基因转录表达的分子机制的研究进展进行综述和讨论.     

青枯菌三型分泌系统研究进展

摘要:青枯菌(Ralstonia solanacearum)可导致多种重要经济作物毁灭性枯萎(bacterial wilt,又称青枯病),是世界上分布最广、危害最严重的十大植物病原细菌之一。注射器状的三型分泌系统(Type III secretion system)是青枯菌的一个决定性致病因子,青枯菌利用T3SS向寄主细胞中注射大量效应蛋白(Type III effectors)来抑制寄 主的免疫反应,从而引起寄主感病。本文围绕近年来有关青枯菌T3SS 遗传特性、表达调控、效应蛋白功能等方面最新进展进行综述,为全面了解青枯菌致病机理和植物细菌病害的防治提供新思路。     

水稻白叶枯病菌T3SS基因表达及其调控网络

植物病原细菌III型分泌系统(T3SS)在其毒性表达及与寄主互作中具有重要的功能。水稻白叶枯病菌(Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae,Xoo)hrp基因簇编码了T3SS装置,将毒性效应子蛋白分泌到水稻细胞内,抑制和破坏寄主免疫反应,或诱导感病基因表达,以达到成功侵染的目的。hrp基因表达受到严格调控,在模拟水稻内环境的贫瘠营养培养基中被诱导表达;hrp和效应子基因均受调控蛋白HrpG和Hrp X的调控。此外,hrp基因还受到其它毒性调控网络重要因子的调控,包括双组分调控因子、转录调控因子、DNA/RNA结合蛋白、糖代谢和c-di-GMP信号因子。结合本实验室的研究结果,综述了Xoo T3SS表达调控及其致病机理的研究进展,以期为水稻细菌病害发生机理的解析及其有效防控措施提供一些新见解、思路和途径。     

铜绿假单胞菌Ⅵ型分泌系统的研究进展

铜绿假单胞菌是一种能引起多部位急、慢性感染且难以用抗生素控制的机会致病菌,近年来已成为院内感染的主要致病菌之一。大量研究表明,细菌将毒力因子精准输送至宿主细胞是其致病的关键,分泌系统在这一过程中扮演重要作用,其中近期发现的Ⅵ型分泌系统(type Ⅵ secretion system,T6SS)在铜绿假单胞菌与宿主间的相互作用和促进生物膜的形成等机制中发挥重要作用,已引起国内外学者高度关注。着重对铜绿假单胞菌T6SS的结构组成、效应功能和调节机制等相关研究进行简要综述,旨在为铜绿假单胞菌感染患者的治疗提供新策略。     

铜绿假单胞菌popN-突变子Ⅲ型分泌水平及与蛋白酶关系的研究

铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Ⅲ型分泌系统(typeⅢ secretion system,TTSS)是重要的细菌致病因子之一,能够将酶蛋白直接注入到宿主细胞内,导致细胞损害的发生。重点研究了TTSS中的popN基因的功能,通过构建popN^-突变子,发现该突变子在非诱导条件下,能够分泌酶蛋白,显示popN基因编码的蛋白对TTSS蛋白的分泌具有负调控作用。进一步研究发现,popN^-突变子在不同培养基中TTSS的分泌水平存在着显著差异,影响对popN基因的功能的判断。为了解决这一矛盾,从几个方面分析了造成表型差异的可能因素,确定蛋白酶对TTSS分泌蛋白的降解作用,是表型差异存在的主要原因,从而首次系统地阐明popN^--突变子在不同培养基中都具有TTSS组成型表达的表型,对于深入研究TTSS的调控机制具有重要意义。     

铜绿假单胞菌popN-突变子Ⅲ型分泌水平及与蛋白酶关系的研究

铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Ⅲ型分泌系统(typeⅢ secretion system,TTSS)是重要的细菌致病因子之一,能够将酶蛋白直接注入到宿主细胞内,导致细胞损害的发生。重点研究了TTSS中的popN基因的功能,通过构建popN^-突变子,发现该突变子在非诱导条件下,能够分泌酶蛋白,显示popN基因编码的蛋白对TTSS蛋白的分泌具有负调控作用。进一步研究发现,popN^-突变子在不同培养基中TTSS的分泌水平存在着显著差异,影响对popN基因的功能的判断。为了解决这一矛盾,从几个方面分析了造成表型差异的可能因素,确定蛋白酶对TTSS分泌蛋白的降解作用,是表型差异存在的主要原因,从而首次系统地阐明popN^--突变子在不同培养基中都具有TTSS组成型表达的表型,对于深入研究TTSS的调控机制具有重要意义。     

细菌攻入植物内的新武器

近日,中美科学家联合报道了细菌毒性蛋白HopF2帮助病原细菌侵染植物宿主的机理。HopF2是丁香假单胞菌致病的关键武器,细菌能够将这些蛋白“注射”到植物宿主细胞内,干扰植物的免疫信号通路以及其他细胞活动,使宿主易感。     

细菌Ⅶ型分泌系统的研究进展

细菌分泌系统参与细菌物质转运,是细菌蛋白或DNA胞外分泌的重要途径,与细菌的生长和致病性密切相关。迄今为止,已发现了Ⅰ～Ⅶ型分泌系统。Ⅰ～Ⅵ型分泌系统存在于革兰阴性菌中,其中Ⅳ型也存在于革兰阳性菌中;Ⅶ型则存在于革兰阳性菌中。Ⅶ型分泌系统是近年来发现的一种特殊分泌系统,能介导病原微生物毒力蛋白分泌,与宿主相互作用,并参与细菌体内锌铁平衡等,在革兰阳性菌的生长代谢及致病过程中发挥重要作用。本文综述细菌Ⅶ型分泌系统的类型、功能及表达调控,以增进对这一新型细菌蛋白分泌机制的认识。     

志贺菌侵袭上皮细胞的分子机制

本文主要讨论志贺菌侵袭入胞的分子机制和胞内机制,其中Ｉｐａ慢白可促进志架菌入胞,ＩｐｇＣ作为胞的分子伴侣。细菌与靶细胞相互作用可以刺激Ｉｐａ蛋白通过Ｍｘｉ－Ｓｐａ转位子分泌,Ｍｘｉ－Ｓｐａ转位子是一种Ⅱ型分泌系统。志贺菌侵袭时,宿主细胞发生细菌骨架重排和信号传导。     

Regulation of type III secretion system in Pseudomonas syringae

Pseudomonas syringae is a model phytopathogenic bacterium that uses the type III secretion system (T3SS) to cause lethal diseases in staple crops and thus presents a threat to food security worldwide. Great progress has been made in delineating the biochemical mechanisms and cellular targets of T3SS effectors, but less is known about the signalling pathways and molecular mechanisms of T3SS regulators. In recent years, thanks to the popularity and power of genome-wide mutant screening and high-throughput sequencing, new regulatory proteins (such as RhpR, AefR, AlgU and CvsR) and proteases (such as Lon and RhpP) have been identified as T3SS regulators in P. syringae pathovars. The detailed mechanisms of previously illustrated regulators (such as HrpRS, HrpL and HrpGV) have also been further studied. Notably, the two-component system RhpRS has been determined to play key roles in the modulation of T3SS via direct regulation of hrpRS and other virulence-related pathways by sensing changes in environmental signals. In addition, secondary messengers (such as c-di-GMP and ppGpp) have been shown to fine-tune the activity of T3SS. Overall, these studies have suggested the existence of a highly intricate regulatory network for T3SS, which controls the pathogenicity of P. syringae. This short review summarizes studies of P. syringae T3SS regulation and the known mechanisms of key regulators.     

Bioinformatics Analysis of the Complete Genome Sequence of the Mango Tree Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae UMAF0158 Reveals Traits Relevant to Virulence and Epiphytic Lifestyle

The genome sequence of more than 100 Pseudomonas syringae strains has been sequenced to date; however only few of them have been fully assembled, including P. syringae pv. syringae B728a. Different strains of pv. syringae cause different diseases and have different host specificities; so, UMAF0158 is a P. syringae pv. syringae strain related to B728a but instead of being a bean pathogen it causes apical necrosis of mango trees, and the two strains belong to different phylotypes of pv.syringae and clades of P. syringae. In this study we report the complete sequence and annotation of P. syringae pv. syringae UMAF0158 chromosome and plasmid pPSS158. A comparative analysis with the available sequenced genomes of other 25 P. syringae strains, both closed (the reference genomes DC3000, 1448A and B728a) and draft genomes was performed. The 5.8 Mb UMAF0158 chromosome has 59.3% GC content and comprises 5017 predicted protein-coding genes. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of genes potentially implicated in the virulence and epiphytic fitness of this strain. We identified several genetic features, which are absent in B728a, that may explain the ability of UMAF0158 to colonize and infect mango trees: the mangotoxin biosynthetic operon mbo, a gene cluster for cellulose production, two different type III and two type VI secretion systems, and a particular T3SS effector repertoire. A mutant strain defective in the rhizobial-like T3SS Rhc showed no differences compared to wild-type during its interaction with host and non-host plants and worms. Here we report the first complete sequence of the chromosome of a pv. syringae strain pathogenic to a woody plant host. Our data also shed light on the genetic factors that possibly determine the pathogenic and epiphytic lifestyle of UMAF0158. This work provides the basis for further analysis on specific mechanisms that enable this strain to infect woody plants and for the functional analysis of host specificity in the P. syringae complex.     

Consequences of flagellin export through the type III secretion system of Pseudomonas syringae reveal a major difference in the innate immune systems of mammals and the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana

Bacterial flagellin is perceived as a microbe (or pathogen)‐associated molecular pattern (MAMP or PAMP) by the extracellular pattern recognition receptors, FLS2 and TLR5, of plants and mammals respectively. Flagellin accidently translocated into mammalian cells by pathogen type III secretion systems (T3SSs) is recognized by nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat receptor NLRC4 as a pattern of pathogenesis and induces a death‐associated immune response. The non‐pathogen Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0‐1, expressing a Pseudomonas syringae T3SS, and the plant pathogen P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 were used to seek evidence of an analogous cytoplasmic recognition system for flagellin in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Flagellin (FliC) was secreted in culture and translocated into plant cells by the T3SS expressed in Pf0‐1 and DC3000 and in their ΔflgGHI flagellar pathway mutants. ΔfliC and ΔflgGHI mutants of Pf0‐1 and DC3000 were strongly reduced in elicitation of reactive oxygen species production and in immunity induction as indicated by the ability of challenge bacteria inoculated 6 h later to translocate a type III effector–reporter and to elicit effector‐triggered cell death. Agrobacterium‐mediated transient expression in N. benthamiana of FliC with or without a eukaryotic export signal peptide, coupled with virus‐induced gene silencing of FLS2, revealed no immune response that was not FLS2 dependent. Transiently expressed FliC from DC3000 and Pectobacterium carotovorum did notinduce cell death in N. benthamiana, tobacco or tomato leaves. Flagellin is the major Pseudomonas MAMP perceived by N. benthamiana, and although flagellin secretion through the plant cell wall by the T3SS may partially contribute to FLS2‐dependent immunity, flagellin in the cytosol does not elicit immune‐associated cell death. We postulate that a death response to translocated MAMPs would produce vulnerability to the many necrotrophic pathogens of plants, such as P. carotovorum, which differ from P. syringae and other (hemi)biotrophic pathogens in benefitting from death‐associated immune responses.     

A revised model for the role of GacS/GacA in regulating type III secretion by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000

GacS/GacA is a conserved two-component system that functions as a master regulator of virulence-associated traits in many bacterial pathogens, including Pseudomonas spp., that collectively infect both plant and animal hosts. Among many GacS/GacA-regulated traits, type III secretion of effector proteins into host cells plays a critical role in bacterial virulence. In the opportunistic plant and animal pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, GacS/GacA negatively regulates the expression of type III secretion system (T3SS)-encoding genes. However, in the plant pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae, strain-to-strain variation exists in the requirement of GacS/GacA for T3SS deployment, and this variability has limited the development of predictive models of how GacS/GacA functions in this species. In this work we re-evaluated the function of GacA in P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Contrary to previous reports, we discovered that GacA negatively regulates the expression of T3SS genes in DC3000, and that GacA is not required for DC3000 virulence inside Arabidopsis leaf tissue. However, our results show that GacA is required for full virulence of leaf surface-inoculated bacteria. These data significantly revise current understanding of GacS/GacA in regulating P. syringae virulence.     

The pathogenicity factor HrpF interacts with HrpA and HrpG to modulate type III secretion system (T3SS) function and t3ss expression in Pseudomonas syringae pv. averrhoi

To ensure the optimal infectivity on contact with host cells, pathogenic Pseudomonas syringae has evolved a complex mechanism to control the expression and construction of the functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that serves as a dominant pathogenicity factor. In this study, we showed that the hrpF gene of P. syringae pv. averrhoi, which is located upstream of hrpG, encodes a T3SS‐dependent secreted/translocated protein. Mutation of hrpF leads to the loss of bacterial ability on elicitation of disease symptoms in the host and a hypersensitive response in non‐host plants, and the secretion or translocation of the tested T3SS substrates into the bacterial milieu or plant cells. Moreover, overexpression of hrpF in the wild‐type results in delayed HR and reduced t3ss expression. The results of protein–protein interactions demonstrate that HrpF interacts directly with HrpG and HrpA in vitro and in vivo, and protein stability assays reveal that HrpF assists HrpA stability in the bacterial cytoplasm, which is reduced by a single amino acid substitution at the 67th lysine residue of HrpF with alanine. Taken together, the data presented here suggest that HrpF has two roles in the assembly of a functional T3SS: one by acting as a negative regulator, possibly involved in the HrpSVG regulation circuit via binding to HrpG, and the other by stabilizing HrpA in the bacterial cytoplasm via HrpF–HrpA interaction prior to the secretion and formation of Hrp pilus on the bacterial surface.     

Recombineering and stable integration of the Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae 61 hrp/hrc cluster into the genome of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0‐1

Many Gram‐negative bacteria use a type III secretion system (T3SS) to establish associations with their hosts. The T3SS is a conduit for direct injection of type‐III effector proteins into host cells, where they manipulate the host for the benefit of the infecting bacterium. For plant‐associated pathogens, the variations in number and amino acid sequences of type‐III effectors, as well as their functional redundancy, make studying type‐III effectors challenging. To mitigate this challenge, we developed a stable delivery system for individual or defined sets of type‐III effectors into plant cells. We used recombineering and Tn5‐mediated transposition to clone and stably integrate, respectively, the complete hrp/hrc region from Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae 61 into the genome of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0‐1. We describe our development of Effector‐to‐Host Analyzer (EtHAn), and demonstrate its utility for studying effectors for their in planta functions.     

副溶血弧菌的毒力基因表达调控的分子机制

副溶血弧菌是革兰氏阴性嗜盐细菌,是海洋脊椎动物和无脊椎动物中主要致病菌,也是引起人类急性肠胃炎、败血症和坏死性筋膜炎等疾病的主要病原体。在过去,由副溶血弧菌引起的致病感染在世界范围内有不断增加的趋势。副溶血弧菌的致病性与其自身产生的多种毒力因子有关,这些毒力因子包括粘附因子、脂多糖、溶血素、III型分泌系统、VI型分泌系统、铁摄取系统、蛋白酶、外膜蛋白等。然而,这些毒力因子的表达都受到环境因子以及宿主体内信号因子的调控。副溶血弧菌通过感知外界生存环境的各种信号因子,从而激活体内不同的信号通路,进而诱导不同的毒力因子的表达。本文主要对副溶血弧菌毒力因子表达调控的分子机制进行综述,为更好地理解宿主与病原体的相互作用对副溶血弧菌的致病机制的影响,以及为今后预防和治疗由副溶血弧菌所引起的疾病提供理论参考。     

A CysB regulator positively regulates cysteine synthesis,expression of type III secretion system genes,and pathogenicity in Ralstonia solanacearum

A syringe-like type III secretion system (T3SS) plays essential roles in the pathogenicity of Ralstonia solanacearum, which is a causal agent of bacterial wilt disease on many plant species worldwide. Here, we characterized functional roles of a CysB regulator (RSc2427) in R. solanacearum OE1-1 that was demonstrated to be responsible for cysteine synthesis, expression of the T3SS genes, and pathogenicity of R. solanacearum. The cysB mutants were cysteine auxotrophs that failed to grow in minimal medium but grew slightly in host plants. Supplementary cysteine substantially restored the impaired growth of cysB mutants both in minimal medium and inside host plants. Genes of cysU and cysI regulons have been annotated to function for R. solanacearum cysteine synthesis; CysB positively regulated expression of these genes. Moreover, CysB positively regulated expression of the T3SS genes both in vitro and in planta through the PrhG to HrpB pathway, whilst impaired expression of the T3SS genes in cysB mutants was independent of growth deficiency under nutrient-limited conditions. CysB was also demonstrated to be required for exopolysaccharide production and swimming motility, which contribute jointly to the host colonization and infection process of R. solanacearum. Thus, CysB was identified here as a novel regulator on the T3SS expression in R. solanacearum. These results provide novel insights into understanding of various biological functions of CysB regulators and complex regulatory networks on the T3SS in R. solanacearum.     

Bile Salts Modulate the Mucin-Activated Type VI Secretion System of Pandemic Vibrio cholerae

The causative agent of cholera, Vibrio cholerae, regulates its diverse virulence factors to thrive in the human small intestine and environmental reservoirs. Among this pathogen’s arsenal of virulence factors is the tightly regulated type VI secretion system (T6SS). This system acts as an inverted bacteriophage to inject toxins into competing bacteria and eukaryotic phagocytes. V. cholerae strains responsible for the current 7^th pandemic activate their T6SS within the host. We established that T6SS-mediated competition occurs upon T6SS activation in the infant mouse, and that this system is functional under anaerobic conditions. When investigating the intestinal host factors mucins (a glycoprotein component of mucus) and bile for potential regulatory roles in controlling the T6SS, we discovered that once mucins activate the T6SS, bile acids can further modulate T6SS activity. Microbiota modify bile acids to inhibit T6SS-mediated killing of commensal bacteria. This interplay is a novel interaction between commensal bacteria, host factors, and the V. cholerae T6SS, showing an active host role in infection.