Type-4 pili and meningococcal adhesiveness

The ability to interact with non-phagocytic cells is a crucial virulence attribute of the meningococcus. Pili play a major role in this process and are the only means yet discovered by which capsulated bacteria may adhere to cells. Pilus-mediated adhesion is a two-step process which requires (i) the expression of the adhesin PilC1 and (ii) the expression of an appropriate pilin variant. Some pilin variants have the ability to modify the degree of adhesiveness through the formation of bundles of pili which increases bacteria-bacteria interactions.     

Kingella kingae expresses type IV pili that mediate adherence to respiratory epithelial and synovial cells

Kingella kingae is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the respiratory tract and is a common cause of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Despite the increasing frequency of K. kingae disease, little is known about the mechanism by which this organism adheres to respiratory epithelium and seeds joints and bones. Previous work showed that K. kingae expresses long surface fibers that vary in surface density. In the current study, we found that these fibers are type IV pili and are necessary for efficient adherence to respiratory epithelial and synovial cells and that the number of pili expressed by the bacterium correlates with the level of adherence to synovial cells but not with the level of adherence to respiratory cells. In addition, we established that the major pilin subunit is encoded by a pilA homolog in a conserved region of the chromosome that also contains a second pilin gene and a type IV pilus accessory gene, both of which are dispensable for pilus assembly and pilus-mediated adherence. Upon examination of the K. kingae genome, we identified two genes in physically separate locations on the chromosome that encode homologs of the Neisseria PilC proteins and that have only a low level homology to each other. Examination of mutant strains revealed that both of the K. kingae PilC homologs are essential for a wild-type level of adherence to both respiratory epithelial and synovial cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that type IV pili and the two PilC homologs play important roles in mediating K. kingae adherence.     

Molecular architecture of Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 pili

Although the pili of Gram‐positive bacteria are putative virulence factors, little is known about their structure. Here we describe the molecular architecture of pilus‐1 of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. One major (RrgB) and two minor components (RrgA and RrgC) assemble into the pilus. Results from TEM and scanning transmission EM show that the native pili are approximately 6 nm wide, flexible filaments that can be over 1 μm long. They are formed by a single string of RrgB monomers and have a polarity defined by nose‐like protrusions. These protrusions correlate to the shape of monomeric RrgB–His, which like RrgA–His and RrgC–His has an elongated, multi‐domain structure. RrgA and RrgC are only present at the opposite ends of the pilus shaft, compatible with their putative roles as adhesin and anchor to the cell wall surface, respectively. Our structural analyses provide the first direct experimental evidence that the native S. pneumoniae pilus shaft is composed exclusively of covalently linked monomeric RrgB subunits oriented head‐to‐tail.     

Bioformation of 4-hydroxybenzoate from 4-chlorobenzoate by Alcaligenes denitrificans NTB-1

Summary Strain NTB-1, identified as a Alcaligenes denitrificans sp., was isolated from a mixture of soil and sewage samples using 4-chlorobenzoate as sole carbon and energy source. Simultaneous adaptation experiments and enzyme studies revealed that 4-chlorobenzoate was converted to 4-hydroxybenzoate which was further oxidized yielding 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate. Bioformation of 4-hydroxybenzoate from 4-chlorobenzoate when 4-chlorobenzoate-grown cells were incubated with 4-chlorobenzoate under conditions of low and controlled oxygen concentrations.     

Production of d-Aminoacylase from Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans MI-4

A bacterial strain that produces d-aminoacylase was isolated from soil and identified as Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans MI-4. l-Aminoacylase activity in this strain was only 1 to 2% of d-aminoacylase activity. d-Aminoacylase was inducibly produced. N-Acetyl-dl-leucine was the best inducer, and the d-isomer had the ability to induce the enzyme. Enzymatic resolution of N-acetyl-dl-methionine with the crude enzyme was carried out, and the d/l ratio in the resolved methionine was approximately 100/7, suggesting that resolution with crude enzymes may become possible by removing small amounts of the contaminated l-form with l-amino acid oxidase.     

Nickel resistance of Alcaligenes denitrificans strain 4a-2 is chromosomally coded

A newly isolated aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Alcaligenes denitrificans strain 4a-2, differs from related autotrophic bacteria by containing only a single cytoplasmic, NAD-reducing hydrogenase, and by its high resistance to nickel ions, i.e. tolerance to 20 mM NiCl₂. Strain 4a-2 harbors a single plasmid of about 250 kb. On helper-assisted mating of 4a-2 with Alcaligenes eutrophus strains H16,G29, and M85 nickelresistant transconjugants were selected; these did not contain the donor plasmid, however. All three transconjugants tolerated 3 to 10 mM NiCl₂. The resistance was constitutively expressed. DNA/DNA hybridization showed homology with EcoRI-digested DNA of the wild type 4a-2 and transconjugants using a DNA probe containing nickel resistance genes of pMOL28. This indicated that the 4a-2 nickel resistance genes are located on the chromosome.     

Identification and characterization of Kingella kingae

Kingella kingae is a rarely isolated opportunistic pathogen in the family Neisseriaceae. Thirteen strains of this organism, including six strains isolated in Denmark, were characterized. They formed a homogeneous group of small, non-motile, fastidious Gram-negative rods which were beta-haemolytic, oxidase positive, catalase negative and saccharolytic. Acid was produced for glucose and maltose. Growth was most pronounced aerobically but corroding colonies increased considerably in size during anaerobic incubation.     

Genomic Comparison of Kingella kingae Strains

Kingella kingae is a betaproteobacterium from the order Neisseriales, and it is an agent of invasive infections in children. We sequenced the genome from the septic arthritis strain 11220434. It is composed of a 1,990,794-bp chromosome but no plasmid, and it contains 2,042 protein-coding genes and 52 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes.     

C1 metabolism inParacoccus denitrificans: Genetics ofParacoccus denitrificans

Paracoccus denitrificans is able to grow on the C₁ compounds methanol and methylamine. These compounds are oxidized to formaldehyde which is subsequently oxidized via formate to carbon dioxide. Biomass is produced by carbon dioxide fixation via the ribulose biphosphate pathway. The first oxidation reaction is catalyzed by the enzymes methanol dehydrogenase and methylamine dehydrogenase, respectively. Both enzymes contain two different subunits in an ₂₂ configuration. The genes encoding the subunits of methanol dehydrogenase (moxF andmoxI) have been isolated and sequenced. They are located in one operon together with two other genes (moxJ andmoxG) in the gene ordermoxFJGI. The function of themoxJ gene product is not yet known.MoxG codes for a cytochromec _551i , which functions as the electron acceptor of methanol dehydrogenase. Both methanol dehydrogenase and methylamine dehydrogenase contain PQQ as a cofactor. These so-called quinoproteins are able to catalyze redox reactions by one-electron steps. The reaction mechanism of this oxidation will be described. Electrons from the oxidation reaction are donated to the electron transport chain at the level of cytochromec. P. denitrificans is able to synthesize at least 10 differentc-type cytochromes. Five could be detected in the periplasm and five have been found in the cytoplasmic membrane. The membrane-bound cytochromec ₁ and cytochromec ₅₅₂ and the periplasmic-located cytochromec ₅₅₀ are present under all tested growth conditions. The cytochromesc _551i andc _553i , present in the periplasm, are only induced in cells grown on methanol, methylamine, or choline. The otherc-type cytochromes are mainly detected either under oxygen limited conditions or under anaerobic conditions with nitrate as electron acceptor or under both conditions. An overview including the induction pattern of allP. denitrificans c-type cytochromes will be given. The genes encoding cytochromec ₁, cytochromec ₅₅₀, cytochromec _551i , and cytochromec _553i have been isolated and sequenced. By using site-directed mutagenesis these genes were mutated in the genome. The mutants thus obtained were used to study electron transport during growth on C₁ compounds. This electron transport has also been studied by determining electron transfer rates inin vitro experiments. The exact pathways, however, are not yet fully understood. Electrons from methanol dehydrogenase are donated to cytochromec _551i . Further electron transport is either via cytochromec ₅₅₀ or cytochromec _553i to cytochromeaa ₃. However, direct electron transport from cytochromec _551i to the terminal oxidase might be possible as well. Electrons from methylamine dehydrogenase are donated to amicyanin and then via cytochromec ₅₅₀ to cytochromeaa ₃, but other routes are used also.P. denitrificans is studied by several groups by using a genetic approach. Several genes have already been cloned and sequenced and a lot of mutants have been isolated. The development of a host/vector system and several techniques for mutation induction that are used inP. denitrificans genetics will be described.     

Cell yield and bioenergetics of Thiomicrospira denitrificans compared with Thiobacillus denitrificans

From cell yields of Thiomicrospira denitrificans grown in the chemostat at different growth rates under anaerobic conditions a value of 1.4mm S₂O _inf3 ^sup= per g dry wt and per h could be calculated for maintenance energy requirements, and of 5.65 g dry wt per mole S₂O _inf3 ^sup= for the true growth yield.Cell yields of Thiomicrospira denitrificans appeared to be almost half of those of Thiobacillus denitrificans. Though in Thiobacillus denitrificans at D=0.03 h^-1 under anaerobic conditions a value was found of 11.60 g dry wt per mole of thiosulphate used for energetic purposes, a value of 5.72 g dry wt per mole of thiosulphate was found under comparable conditions in Thiomicrospira denitrificans. Under aerobic conditions at D=0.03 h^-1 values of 18.54 g dry wt per mole of thiosulphate were found in Thiobacillus denitrificans whereas Thiomicrospira denitrificans yielded only 9.38 g dry wt per mole of thiosulphate.As in Thiobacillus denitrificans anaerobic cell yields on sulphide were comparable to those on thiosulphate.Calculations have been made which indicate that the biosynthetic efficiency of Thiomicrospira denitrificans is lower than that of Thiobacillus denitrificans. This can only partly be explained by the absence of adenosine-phosphosulphate (APS) reductase.     

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans pili

The surface structures of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans were studied. When growing on a medium containing elemental sulphur, the cells possess peritrichously located filaments (piles) whose diameter varies from 4.5 to 7.0 nm and length, from 0.7 to 3.0 mcm. The cells of T. ferrooxidans do not have piles on a medium with ferrous iron. The physiological role of these structures for thiobacilli is discussed.     

Genetics of Paracoccus denitrificans

Abstract In bioenergetic research Paracoccus denitrificans has been used as an interesting model to elucidate the mechanisms of bacterial energy transduction. Genes for protein complexes of the respiratory chain and for proteins which are involved in periplasmic electron transport have been cloned and sequenced. Conjugational gene transfer has allowed the construction of site-specific mutant strains. Complementation experiments did not only open the field for site-directed mutagenesis and investigation of the structure/function relationship of the various electron-transport proteins, but also allowed first insights into processes like oxygen-dependent gene regulation or the assembly of electron-transport complexes. Also data will be presented that characterize two restriction-/modification systems, the codon usage and the promoter sequences of Paracoccus . Details will be given about the extrachromosomal localization of a duplicated cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene on one of the Paracoccus megaplasmids.     

Constraints on GPCR Heterodimerization Revealed by the Type-4 Induced-Association BRET Assay

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise the largest and most pharmacologically important family of cell-surface receptors encoded by the human genome. In many instances, the distinct signaling behavior of certain GPCRs has been explained in terms of the formation of heteromers with, for example, distinct signaling properties and allosteric cross-regulation. Confirmation of this has, however, been limited by the paucity of reliable methods for probing heteromeric GPCR interactions in situ. The most widely used assays for GPCR stoichiometry, based on resonance energy transfer, are unsuited to reporting heteromeric interactions. Here, we describe a targeted bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assay, called type-4 BRET, which detects both homo- and heteromeric interactions using induced multimerization of protomers within such complexes, at constant expression. Using type-4 BRET assays, we investigate heterodimerization among known GPCR homodimers: the CXC chemokine receptor 4 and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors. We observe that CXC chemokine receptor 4 and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors can form heterodimers with GPCRs from their immediate subfamilies but not with more distantly related receptors. We also show that heterodimerization appears to disrupt homodimeric interactions, suggesting the sharing of interfaces. Broadly, these observations indicate that heterodimerization results from the divergence of homodimeric receptors and will therefore likely be restricted to closely related homodimeric GPCRs.     

Studies on thiobacillus denitrificans

Summary Experiments with T. denitrificans have shown that this bacterium cannot develop in media devoid of ammonium salts, and that iron is required for growth. Pure cultures have been isolated by means of a modified medium which permits rapid growth in serial transfers. The organism has been characterized as an obligatory chemoautotroph which can oxidize a number of inorganic sulfur compounds (elementary sulfur, thiosulfate, tetrathionate) either aerobically with O₂, or anaerobically with nitrate as oxidant.Nitrite was found to be highly toxic to the nitrate-reducing enzyme system; concentrations as low as 3.5 · 10^-4 m inhibit denitrification in the presence of sulfur about 40%. In the presence of thiosulfate, nitrite is rapidly decomposed to NO; this gas can subsequently be used as an oxidant, and is reduced to N₂. The formation of NO depends on the presence of both thiosulfate and nitrite.With resting cell suspensions CO₂ assimilation has been established; the assimilation products are not merely carboxylation products, as demonstrated in experiments with C¹⁴O₂.     

Achromobacter denitrificans renal abscess

We describe a case of a 66-year-old immunocompetent man affected by Achromobacter denitrificans renal abscess related to renal stones. The patient was treated successfully with meropenem 1 g three times daily for 60 days. To our knowledge, this is the first ever case reported of Achromobacter denitrificans renal abscess.