鲍曼不动杆菌VI型分泌系统研究进展

鲍曼不动杆菌(Acinetobacter baumannii,AB)是一种临床常见的不动杆菌,属革兰阴性非发酵菌,其多重耐药性严重降低了治疗选择性,对全球的医疗系统造成极大威胁。VI型分泌系统(type VI secretion system,T6SS)是革兰阴性细菌中广泛存在的毒力系统,可通过直接接触将效应因子注入临近细菌导致其死亡,实现自我保护。T6SS在AB中高度保守,越来越多的证据表明,T6SS在AB感染致病过程中发挥着重要作用。现对AB T6SS的组成、功能、调控等方面的研究进展作一综述,为深入研究AB的致病及耐药机制提供依据,并为其防控提供参考。     

革兰氏阴性菌Ⅵ型分泌系统及其参与金属离子转运的研究进展

细菌通过其分泌系统将特定的效应蛋白输送到外界环境或进入靶细胞中,从而在细菌和宿主、细菌和微生物群落的相互作用中占据适应性优势。Ⅵ型分泌系统（The type VI secretion system,T6SS）是革兰氏阴性菌中广泛存在的大分子分泌装置,其结构和功能类似于可收缩的噬菌体尾针样,通过细胞间直接接触将细菌各种酶或毒素效应蛋白转运到原核和真核生物中,从而介导细菌间竞争以及对宿主的致病过程。有些效应蛋白还可通过非接触依赖的方式进入胞外环境来帮助细菌获取稀缺金属离子,并且它们对应激条件下细胞内金属稳态的维持至关重要。这篇综述总结了Ⅵ型分泌系统的结构、组装及其分泌的效应蛋白,并重点阐述了Ⅵ型分泌系统在多种金属离子转运机制中作用的研究进展,有助于理解T6SS在细菌间相互作用和细菌感染过程中发挥的重要作用。     

鲍曼不动杆菌VI型分泌系统溶血素-联合调节蛋白研究进展

鲍曼不动杆菌是一种革兰氏阴性的非发酵致病菌,在医院环境中广泛存在,并且已经成为医院获得性感染的重要病原体之一。近年来,由于抗菌药物的广泛应用,导致多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌引起的感染和暴发流行,给临床治疗带来了极大的挑战。有研究表明,细菌Ⅵ型分泌系统与细菌的致病性相关。本文综述了鲍曼不动杆菌Ⅵ型分泌系统及主要功能蛋白(溶血素-联合调节蛋白)的研究进展,以期为进一步研究鲍曼不动杆菌的致病机制提供基础。     

从效应蛋白视角看革兰氏阴性细菌VI型蛋白分泌系统底物转运机理

蛋白质分泌系统是细菌与外界交流的重要工具。革兰氏阴性细菌的Ⅵ型蛋白分泌系统(T6SS)可以转运分泌蛋白至细菌和真核细胞内,在菌间竞争中发挥重要作用,是细菌的一种重要的生存适应性武器。分泌蛋白主要包括起到运载作用的结构蛋白和有细胞毒性的效应蛋白这两类。本文主要从效应蛋白的视角讨论T6SS如何识别并转运效应蛋白的作用机理,回顾了以VgrG和PAAR为端部载体蛋白的转运途径、依赖端部运输的效应蛋白、T6SS伴侣蛋白等重要发现的背景和过程,并综述了T6SS分泌途径的新进展。     

从效应蛋白视角看革兰氏阴性细菌Ⅵ型蛋白分泌系统底物转运机理

蛋白质分泌系统是细菌与外界交流的重要工具。革兰氏阴性细菌的Ⅵ型蛋白分泌系统(T6SS)可以转运分泌蛋白至细菌和真核细胞内,在菌间竞争中发挥重要作用,是细菌的一种重要的生存适应性武器。分泌蛋白主要包括起到运载作用的结构蛋白和有细胞毒性的效应蛋白这两类。本文主要从效应蛋白的视角讨论T6SS如何识别并转运效应蛋白的作用机理,回顾了以VgrG和PAAR为端部载体蛋白的转运途径、依赖端部运输的效应蛋白、T6SS伴侣蛋白等重要发现的背景和过程,并综述了T6SS分泌途径的新进展。     

细菌三型分泌系统效应蛋白转运的研究进展

三型分泌系统(Type 3 secretion system,T3SS)作为存在于革兰氏阴性菌中的分泌系统之一,对革兰氏阴性菌的致病有重要作用。T3SS的致病作用体现在T3SS能直接将效应蛋白转运至宿主细胞,进而通过效应蛋白调控细胞的一系列通路,促进细菌定殖于细胞。而效应蛋白的转运受到两方面因素的调控,一方面是效应蛋白本身的信号序列,另一方面是T3SS相关蛋白的辅助。本文围绕近年来T3SS的构成、效应蛋白转运机制方面的最新进展进行概要综述。     

嗜肺军团菌II型分泌系统及其底物的研究进展

嗜肺军团菌(Legionella pneumophila,L. pneumophila)是研究病原菌-宿主相互作用的重要模式菌株之一,其独特的分泌系统及底物效应蛋白的结构与功能是病原微生物领域的研究热点。II型分泌系统(type II secretion system,T2SS)对促进细菌在环境和人类宿主中的生存至关重要。嗜肺军团菌Legionella secretion pathway (Lsp)系统是革兰氏阴性病原菌中一个典型的T2SS。本文综述了L. pneumophila的T2SS及其底物效应蛋白的研究进展,重点介绍其结构与功能,为深入了解革兰氏阴性病原菌的T2SS功能和作用机制提供参考。     

VI型分泌系统核心组分VgrG的致病功能

正VI型分泌系统(Type VI secretion system,T6SS)是一种接触依赖性分泌系统,能够将效应因子分泌至细菌胞外,具有多种不同功能,包括增强致病菌毒力、抗细菌毒力、增加机会致病菌的菌间竞争力。T6SS存在于超过四分之一的革兰阴性菌中[1-2]。禽致病性大肠杆菌(Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)可引起鸡、鸭及其他禽类的肠道外疾病,严重制约养禽业的健康发展,同时对食品安全构成威胁。APEC中存     

鲍曼不动杆菌Ⅱ型分泌系统的研究进展

鲍曼不动杆菌(Acinetobacter baumannii)是一种医院常见的革兰阴性致病菌,可引起宿主的一系列疾病,严重时可导致全身感染,危及生命。Ⅱ型分泌系统(typeⅡsecretion system, T2SS)广泛存在于革兰阴性菌中,是其重要的毒力因子,通过释放毒素和水解酶获取营养,提高细菌在宿主细胞内生存和增殖的能力。研究证实,鲍曼不动杆菌也含有T2SS,且T2SS在鲍曼不动杆菌感染致病过程中发挥着重要的作用。近些年来,与鲍曼不动杆菌相关的T2SS研究一直是医学微生物领域关注的焦点之一。现对鲍曼不动杆菌T2SS的组成、结构和致病性方面作一概述,并对T2SS抑制剂的潜在靶点进行展望。     

鲍曼不动杆菌Ⅵ型分泌系统溶血素-联合调节蛋白研究进展

鲍曼不动杆菌是一种革兰氏阴性的非发酵致病菌,在医院环境中广泛存在,并且已经成为医院获得性感染的重要病原体之一。近年来,由于抗菌药物的广泛应用,导致多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌引起的感染和暴发流行,给临床治疗带来了极大的挑战。有研究表明,细菌Ⅵ型分泌系统与细菌的致病性相关。本文综述了鲍曼不动杆菌Ⅵ型分泌系统及主要功能蛋白(溶血素-联合调节蛋白)的研究进展,以期为进一步研究鲍曼不动杆菌的致病机制提供基础。     

Crystal Structure of Hcp from Acinetobacter baumannii: A Component of the Type VI Secretion System

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a bacterial macromolecular machine widely distributed in Gram-negative bacteria, which transports effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells or other bacteria. Membrane complexes and a central tubular structure, which resembles the tail of contractile bacteriophages, compose the T6SS. One of the proteins forming this tube is the hemolysin co-regulated protein (Hcp), which acts as virulence factor, as transporter of effectors and as a chaperone. In this study, we present the structure of Hcp from Acinetobacter baumannii, together with functional and oligomerization studies. The structure of this protein exhibits a tight β barrel formed by two β sheets and flanked at one side by a short α-helix. Six Hcp molecules associate to form a donut-shaped hexamer, as observed in both the crystal structure and solution. These results emphasize the importance of this oligomerization state in this family of proteins, despite the low similarity of sequence among them. The structure presented in this study is the first one for a protein forming part of a functional T6SS from A. baumannii. These results will help us to understand the mechanism and function of this secretion system in this opportunistic nosocomial pathogen.     

Remodelling of VipA/VipB tubules by ClpV‐mediated threading is crucial for type VI protein secretion

The recently identified type VI secretion systems (T6SS) have a crucial function in the virulence of various proteobacteria, including the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae. T6SS are encoded by a conserved gene cluster comprising approximately 15 open reading frames, mediating the appearance of Hcp and VgrG proteins in cell culture supernatants. Here, we analysed the function of the V. cholerae T6SS member ClpV, a specialized AAA+ protein. ClpV is crucial for a functional T6SS and interacts through its N‐terminal domain with the VipA/VipB complex that is composed of two conserved and essential members of T6SS. Transferring ClpV substrate specificity to a distinct AAA+ protein involved in proteolysis caused degradation of VipA but not Hcp or VgrG2, suggesting that VipA rather than Hcp/VgrG2 functions as a primary ClpV substrate. Strikingly, VipA/VipB form tubular, cogwheel‐like structures that are converted by a threading activity of ClpV into small complexes. ClpV‐mediated remodelling of VipA/VipB tubules represents a crucial step in T6S, illuminating an unexpected role of an ATPase component in protein secretion.     

西瓜食酸菌Ⅲ型效应蛋白AopBF1的鉴定与功能分析

【背景】细菌性果斑病（bacterial fruit blotch,BFB）是一种发生在葫芦科作物上的检疫性病害,其病原菌为西瓜食酸菌（Acidovorax citrulli）,西瓜食酸菌通过Ⅲ型分泌系统（type Ⅲ secretion system,T3SS）将重要的致病因子Ⅲ型效应蛋白（type Ⅲ effector,T3E）转运到植物体内,从而致病。目前,对于T3E致病机制的认识非常有限。课题组前期已鉴定到西瓜食酸菌FC440菌株中的一些候选T3E。【目的】明确西瓜食酸菌FC440菌株候选T3E中AopBF1的序列特征、转运特性及其在病原菌致病过程中的作用,可以为深入解析病原菌致病机制奠定理论基础。【方法】利用生物信息学手段,预测分析AopBF1的T3E序列特征;通过RT-qPCR、无毒蛋白报告系统检测AopBF1所受调控及其转运特性;观察aopBF1突变体（插入突变）及过表达时西瓜食酸菌的致病力表型,分析AopBF1对西瓜食酸菌致病性的贡献。【结果】AopBF1具有T3E的序列特征、不含保守结构域,具有蛋白激酶序列特征;AopBF1在T3SS核心调控基因hrpX、hrpG突变株中的表达量显著降低;当aopBF1基因与AvrBs1功能区（59-445 aa）片段同时于avrBs1突变株中表达时,能够诱发含Bs1蛋白的ECW-10R辣椒叶片发生过敏性坏死反应;aopBF1突变株对寄主黄瓜的致病力显著减弱,而同时黄瓜组织中过氧化氢、超氧阴离子自由基及胼胝质的积累量表现为显著增加;AopBF1过表达菌株对寄主的致病力显著增强,其在诱导本氏烟的hypersensitive response （HR）反应发生上表现延迟;AopBF1瞬时表达时,显示定位于本氏烟细胞的细胞质、细胞核和细胞膜,可诱发本氏烟发生HR反应,促进PAMP-triggered immunity （PTI）及激素通路相关基因的表达。【结论】AopBF1是西瓜食酸菌的一个具有蛋白激酶特征的T3E,抑制寄主活性氧和胼胝质积累等PTI免疫反应以促进西瓜食酸菌的致病,激发含R抗性蛋白的本氏烟的PTI和激素相关抗病免疫反应。     

Acinetobacter baumannii Utilizes a Type VI Secretion System for Bacterial Competition

Type VI secretion systems (T6SS) are a class of macromolecular secretion machines that are utilized by a number of bacteria for inter-bacterial competition or to elicit responses in eukaryotic cells. Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe infections in humans. These infections, including pneumonia and bacteremia, are important, as they are often associated with hospitals and medical-settings where they disproportionally affect critically ill patients like those residing in intensive care units. While it is known that A. baumannii genomes carry genes whose predicted products have homology with T6SS-associated gene products from other bacteria, and secretion of a major T6SS structural protein Hcp has been demonstrated, no additional work on an A. baumannii T6SS has been reported. Herein, we demonstrated that A. baumannii strain M2 secretes Hcp and this secretion was dependent upon TssB, an ortholog of a bacteriophage contractile sheath protein, confirming that strain M2 produces a functional T6SS. Additionally, we demonstrated that the ability of strain M2 to out-compete Escherichia coli was reliant upon the products of tssB and hcp. Collectively, our data have provided the first evidence demonstrating function in inter-bacterial competition, for a T6SS produced by A. baumannii.     

Genomic and Functional Analysis of the Type VI Secretion System in Acinetobacter

The genus Acinetobacter is comprised of a diverse group of species, several of which have raised interest due to potential applications in bioremediation and agricultural purposes. In this work, we show that many species within the genus Acinetobacter possess the genetic requirements to assemble a functional type VI secretion system (T6SS). This secretion system is widespread among Gram negative bacteria, and can be used for toxicity against other bacteria and eukaryotic cells. The most studied species within this genus is A. baumannii, an emerging nosocomial pathogen that has become a significant threat to healthcare systems worldwide. The ability of A. baumannii to develop multidrug resistance has severely reduced treatment options, and strains resistant to most clinically useful antibiotics are frequently being isolated. Despite the widespread dissemination of A. baumannii, little is known about the virulence factors this bacterium utilizes to cause infection. We determined that the T6SS is conserved and syntenic among A. baumannii strains, although expression and secretion of the hallmark protein Hcp varies between strains, and is dependent on TssM, a known structural protein required for T6SS function. Unlike other bacteria, A. baumannii ATCC 17978 does not appear to use its T6SS to kill Escherichia coli or other Acinetobacter species. Deletion of tssM does not affect virulence in several infection models, including mice, and did not alter biofilm formation. These results suggest that the T6SS fulfils an important but as-yet-unidentified role in the various lifestyles of the Acinetobacter spp.     

The accessory protein TagV is required for full Type VI secretion system activity in Serratia marcescens

The bacterial Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a dynamic macromolecular structure that promotes inter- and intra-species competition through the delivery of toxic effector proteins into neighbouring cells. The T6SS contains 14 well-characterised core proteins necessary for effector delivery (TssA-M, PAAR). In this study, we have identified a novel accessory component required for optimal T6SS activity in the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens, which we name TagV. Deletion of tagV, which encodes an outer membrane lipoprotein, caused a reduction in the T6SS-dependent antibacterial activity of S. marcescens Db10. Mutants of S. marcescens lacking the core component TssJ, a distinct outer membrane lipoprotein previously considered essential for T6SS firing, retained a modest T6SS activity that could be abolished through deletion of tagV. TagV did not interact with the T6SS membrane complex proteins TssL or TssM, but is proposed to bind to peptidoglycan, indicating that the mechanism by which TagV promotes T6SS firing differs from that of TssJ. Homologues of tagV were identified in several other bacterial genera, suggesting that the accessory function of TagV is not restricted to S. marcescens. Together, our findings support the existence of a second, TssJ-independent mechanism for T6SS firing that is dependent upon the activity of TagV proteins.     

Advances on Vibrio parahaemolyticus research in the postgenomic era

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of seafood-borne bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Since its discovery in 1950, this bacterium has been isolated in widespread outbreaks and in sporadic cases of gastroenteritis worldwide. Although the exotoxin, thermostable direct hemolysin, had been the focus of extensive research on the pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus, the whole-genome sequencing of a clinical isolate, RIMD2210633 strain, was a breakthrough in this field. The possession of two sets of gene clusters for type III secretion systems (T3SS1 and T3SS2) was unveiled by that genome project. T3SS is a protein export apparatus that delivers bacterial proteins, called effectors, directly into the host's cytosol, to disrupt host cell function. The subsequent studies have established that T3SS2, which is encoded in an 80 kb pathogenicity island called V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity island (Vp-PAI), is closely related to enteropathogenicity. Recent functional analyses of Vp-PAI-encoded genes revealed the sophisticated mechanisms in V. parahaemolyticus for sensing the intestinal environment and host cell contact, and a dozen T3SS2-exported proteins encoded in Vp-PAI. In this review, we summarize recent advances in V. parahaemolyticus research regarding the control of the expression of Vp-PAI-encoded genes, structural components and the secretory regulation of T3SS2, and the biological activities of T3SS2-exported effectors. Thus, Vp-PAI-encoded T3SS2 becomes an important key in the postgenomic era to shed light on the enteropathogenic mechanism of V. parahaemolyticus.     

A phospholipase A1 antibacterial Type VI secretion effector interacts directly with the C‐terminal domain of the VgrG spike protein for delivery

The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a multiprotein machine that delivers protein effectors in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, allowing interbacterial competition and virulence. The mechanism of action of the T6SS requires the contraction of a sheath‐like structure that propels a needle towards target cells, allowing the delivery of protein effectors. Here, we provide evidence that the entero‐aggregative Escherichia coli Sci‐1 T6SS is required to eliminate competitor bacteria. We further identify Tle1, a toxin effector encoded by this cluster and showed that Tle1 possesses phospholipase A₁ and A₂ activities required for the interbacterial competition. Self‐protection of the attacker cell is secured by an outer membrane lipoprotein, Tli1, which binds Tle1 in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio with nanomolar affinity, and inhibits its phospholipase activity. Tle1 is delivered into the periplasm of the prey cells using the VgrG1 needle spike protein as carrier. Further analyses demonstrate that the C‐terminal extension domain of VgrG1, including a transthyretin‐like domain, is responsible for the interaction with Tle1 and its subsequent delivery into target cells. Based on these results, we propose an additional mechanism of transport of T6SS effectors in which cognate effectors are selected by specific motifs located at the C‐terminus of VgrG proteins.     

生物膜形成中间状态下副溶血弧菌的基因转录谱分析

【目的】探究生物膜形成中间状态下副溶血弧菌的差异基因表达情况,为今后研究生物膜形成调控机制提供基因信息。【方法】以非生物膜形成条件下为参照,采用Illumina HiSeq测序平台进行转录组测序（RNA sequencing,RNA-seq）研究,分析生物膜形成中间状态下副溶血弧菌的基因表达情况,并采用实时定量PCR （quantitative real-time PCR,qPCR）进行验证。【结果】本研究共获得979个差异显著性表达基因（differentially expressed gene,DEG）,其中下调基因379个,上调基因600个。基因本体（gene ontology,GO）分类分析结果显示,共有363个DEGs注释到分子功能、细胞组分和生物学过程3个一级分类和30个二级分类;京都基因和基因组百科全书（Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG）代谢途径分析结果显示,共有706个DEGs归到37个代谢通路中（Q value<0.05）,差异表达基因主要集中在细胞代谢和转运通路上;蛋白相邻类的聚簇（clusters of orthologous groups,COG）分类结果显示,有888个DEGs可归为20个类别,涉及DEGs最多的为氨基酸转运与代谢、一般功能预测基因、能量产生与转换以及未知功能基因。qPCR验证挑选的DEGs变化趋势均与RNA-seq的结果一致。此外,从转录组数据中共筛选出10个c-di-GMP代谢相关基因、1个侧生鞭毛蛋白基因（lafA）、13个极生鞭毛合成相关基因、6个荚膜多糖合成相关基因、6个胞外多糖合成相关基因、5个IV型菌毛合成相关基因、膜融合蛋白（membrane fusion protein,Mfp）基因（cpsQ-mfpABC）、14个III型分泌系统1（T3SS1）相关基因、14个Vp-PAI基因（1个tdh2和13个T3SS2基因）、3个VI型分泌系统1（T6SS1）相关基因、6个T6SS2基因、45个推定调控子基因和15个推定的外膜蛋白基因。【结论】生物膜形成引起副溶血弧菌基因表达谱发生明显变化,差异表达基因中包含生物膜形成相关基因、关键毒力基因和许多推定调控子基因等,这为后续研究生物膜形成调控机制提供重要信息。     

Global gene expression analysis reveals reduced abundance of putative microRNA targets in human prostate tumours

Background

The availability of hundreds of bacterial genomes allowed a comparative genomic study of the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS), recently discovered as being involved in pathogenesis. By combining comparative and phylogenetic approaches using more than 500 prokaryotic genomes, we characterized the global T6SS genetic structure in terms of conservation, evolution and genomic organization.

Results

This genome wide analysis allowed the identification of a set of 13 proteins constituting the T6SS protein core and a set of conserved accessory proteins. 176 T6SS loci (encompassing 92 different bacteria) were identified and their comparison revealed that T6SS-encoded genes have a specific conserved genetic organization. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the core genes showed that lateral transfer of the T6SS is probably its major way of dissemination among pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, the sequence analysis of the VgrG proteins, proposed to be exported in a T6SS-dependent way, confirmed that some C-terminal regions possess domains showing similarities with adhesins or proteins with enzymatic functions.

Conclusion

The core of T6SS is composed of 13 proteins, conserved in both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. Subclasses of T6SS differ in regulatory and accessory protein content suggesting that T6SS has evolved to adapt to various microenvironments and specialized functions. Based on these results, new functional hypotheses concerning the assembly and function of T6SS proteins are proposed.