A novel staphylococcal internalization mechanism involves the major autolysin Atl and heat shock cognate protein Hsc70 as host cell receptor

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis can cause serious chronic and recurrent infections that are difficult to eradicate. An important pathogenicity factor in these infections caused by S. aureus is its ability to be internalized by non‐professional phagocytes thereby evading the host immune system and antibiotic treatment. Here, we report a novel mechanism involved in staphylococcal internalization by host cells, which is mediated by the major autolysin/adhesins Atl and AtlE from S. aureus and S. epidermidis respectively. In a flow cytometric internalization assay, atl and atlE mutants are significantly reduced in their capacities to be internalized by endothelial cells. Moreover, pre‐incubation of endothelial cells with recombinant Atl dose‐dependently inhibited internalization. As putative Atl‐host cell receptor, the heat shock cognate protein Hsc70 was identified by mass spectrometry. The importance of Hsc70 in internalization was demonstrated by the inhibition of S. aureus internalization with anti‐Hsc70 antibodies. In conclusion, this novel Atl‐ or AtlE‐mediated internalization mechanism may represent a ‘back‐up’ mechanism in S. aureus internalization, while it may represent the major or even sole mechanism involved in the internalization of coagulase‐negative staphylococci and thus may play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic and relapsing infections with these serious pathogens.     

Inhibition of virulence factor expression in Staphylococcus aureus by the Staphylococcus epidermidis agr pheromone and derivatives

The agr quorum-sensing system in Staphylococci controls the production of surface proteins and exoproteins. In the pathogenic species Staphylococcus aureus, these proteins include many virulence factors. The extracellular signal of the quorum-sensing system is a thiolactone-containing peptide pheromone, whose sequence varies among the different staphylococcal strains. We demonstrate that a synthetic Staphylococcus epidermidis pheromone is a competent inhibitor of the Staphylococcus aureus agr system. Derivatives of the pheromone, in which the N-terminus or the cyclic bond structure was changed, were synthesized and their biological activity was determined. The presence of a correct N-terminus and a thiolactone were absolute prerequisites for an agr-activating effect in S. epidermidis, whereas inhibition of the S. aureus agr system was less dependent on the original structure. Our results show that effective quorum-sensing blockers that suppress the expression of virulence factors in S. aureus can be designed based on the S. epidermidis pheromone.     

Enhancement of the anti‐inflammatory activity of temporin‐1Tl‐derived antimicrobial peptides by tryptophan,arginine and lysine substitutions

Temporin‐1Tl (TL) is a 13‐residue frog antimicrobial peptide (AMP) exhibiting potent antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory activity. To develop novel AMP with improved anti‐inflammatory activity and antimicrobial selectivity, we designed and synthesized a series of TL analogs by substituting Trp, Arg and Lys at selected positions. Except for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, all TL analogs exhibited retained or increased antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial strains including three methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains compared with TL. TL‐1 and TL‐4 showed a little increase in antimicrobial selectivity, while TL‐2 and TL‐3 displayed slightly decreased antimicrobial selectivity because of their about twofold increased hemolytic activity. All TL analogs demonstrated greatly increased anti‐inflammatory activity, evident by their higher inhibition of the production tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and nitric oxide and the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and TNF‐α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells, compared with TL. Taken together, the peptide anti‐inflammatory activity is as follows: TL‐2 ≈ TL‐3 ≈ TL‐4 > TL‐1 > TL. In addition, LPS binding ability of the peptides corresponded with their anti‐inflammatory activity. These results apparently suggest that the anti‐inflammatory activity of TL analogs is associated with the direct binding ability between these peptides and LPS. Collectively, our designed TL analogs possess improved anti‐inflammatory activity and retain antimicrobial activity without a significant increase in hemolysis. Therefore, it is evident that our TL analogs constitute promising candidates for the development of peptide therapeutics for gram‐negative bacterial infection. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anti‐biofilm activity of ultrashort cinnamic acid peptide derivatives against medical device‐related pathogens

The threat of antimicrobial resistance has placed increasing emphasis on the development of innovative approaches to eradicate multidrug‐resistant pathogens. Biofilm‐forming microorganisms, for example, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, are responsible for increased incidence of biomaterial infection, extended hospital stays and patient morbidity and mortality. This paper highlights the potential of ultrashort tetra‐peptide conjugated to hydrophobic cinnamic acid derivatives. These peptidomimetic molecules demonstrate selective and highly potent activity against resistant biofilm forms of Gram‐positive medical device‐related pathogens. 3‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)propionic)‐Orn‐Orn‐Trp‐Trp‐NH₂ displays particular promise with minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) values of 125 µg/ml against methicillin sensitive (ATCC 29213) and resistant (ATCC 43300) S. aureus and activity shown against biofilm forms of Escherichia coli (MBEC: 1000 µg/ml). Kill kinetics confirms complete eradication of established 24‐h biofilms at MBEC with 6‐h exposure. Reduced cell cytotoxicity, relative to Gram‐positive pathogens, was proven via tissue culture (HaCaT) and haemolysis assays (equine erythrocytes). Existing in nature as part of the immune response, antimicrobial peptides display great promise for exploitation by the pharmaceutical industry in order to increase the library of available therapeutic molecules. Ultrashort variants are particularly promising for translation as clinical therapeutics as they are more cost‐effective, easier to synthesise and can be tailored to specific functional requirements based on the primary sequence allowing factors such as spectrum of activity to be varied. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cytotoxic peptides with insulin‐releasing activities from skin secretions of the Italian stream frog Rana italica (Ranidae)

Peptidomic analysis of norepinephrine‐stimulated skin secretions from Italian stream frog Rana italica led to the purification and characterization of two host‐defense peptides differing by a single amino acid residue belonging to the brevinin‐1 family (brevinin‐1ITa and ‐1ITb), a peptide belonging to the temporin family (temporin‐ITa) and a component identified as prokineticin Bv8. The secretions contained relatively high concentrations of the methionine‐sulphoxide forms of brevinin‐1ITa and ‐1ITb suggesting that these peptides may have a role as antioxidants in the skin of this montane frog. Brevinin‐1ITa (IVPFLLGMVPKLVCLITKKC) displayed potent cytotoxicity against non‐small cell lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells (LC₅₀ = 18 μM), breast adenocarcinoma MDA‐MB‐231 cells (LC₅₀ = 8 μM) and colorectal adenocarcinoma HT‐29 cells (LC₅₀ = 18 μM), but the peptide was also strongly hemolytic against mouse erythrocytes (LC₅₀ = 7 μM). Temporin‐ITa (VFLGAIAQALTSLLGKL.NH₂) was between three and fivefold less potent against these cells. Brevinin‐1ITa inhibited growth of both Gram‐positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Gram‐negative Escherichia coli as well as a strain of the opportunist yeast pathogen Candida parapsilosis, whereas temporin‐ITa was active only against S. epidermidis and C. parapsilosis. Both peptides stimulated the release of insulin from BRIN‐BD11 clonal β‐cells at concentrations ≥1 nM, but brevinin‐1ITa was cytotoxic to the cells at concentrations ≥3 μM. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of flow cytometry for the identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus epidermidis</Emphasis> by peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA FISH) in blood samples

Staphylococcus epidermidis is considered to be one of the most common causes of nosocomial bloodstream infections, particularly in immune-compromised individuals. Here, we report the development and application of a novel peptide nucleic acid probe for the specific detection of S. epidermidis by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The theoretical estimates of probe matching specificity and sensitivity were 89 and 87%, respectively. More importantly, the probe was shown not to hybridize with closely related species such as Staphylococcus aureus. The method was subsequently successfully adapted for the detection of S. epidermidis in mixed-species blood cultures both by microscopy and flow cytometry.     

Iron requirement and chelator production of staphylococci,Streptococcus faecalis and enterobacteriaceae

The effect of iron deprivation on growth of 101 aerobic strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was studied on agar media in the presence of various concentrations of the synthetic iron chelator ethylene diamine diorthohydroxyphenyl acetic acid (EDDA) and the iron binding protein transferrin.Growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis was inhibited by 15mm EDDA and 1.5mm transferrin. Staphylococcus aureus was only inhibited by 44mm EDDA and not by transferrin. None of the strains of S. faecalis was inhibited. The majority of the enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, Salmonella spp, Klebsiella spp) was inhibited by 44mm EDDA and 1.5mm transferrin. The relation between susceptibility and concentration of EDDA and transferrin was expressed as S-value for each species. Iron supply with various iron compounds could restore the effects of inhibition.In all species except in S. faecalis iron chelator production could be demonstrated, using indicator plates of media containing EDDA and flooded with 10⁴–10⁵ colony forming units of indicator organisms.The iron chelator of both S. epidermidis and S. aureus could stimulate growth of S. epidermidis, but not that of enterobacteriaceae. Iron chelators from all gram-negative bacteria were functionally interchangeable, but did not stimulate growth of gram-positive bacteria.     

Coagulase‐negative staphylococci as reservoirs of genes facilitating MRSA infection

Recent research has suggested that Staphylococcus epidermidis is a reservoir of genes that, after horizontal transfer, facilitate the potential of Staphylococcus aureus to colonize, survive during infection, or resist antibiotic treatment, traits that are notably manifest in methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA). S. aureus is a dangerous human pathogen and notorious for acquiring antibiotic resistance. MRSA in particular is one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and death in hospitalized patients. S. aureus is an extremely versatile pathogen with a multitude of mechanisms to cause disease and circumvent immune defenses. In contrast, most other staphylococci, such as S. epidermidis, are commonly benign commensals and only occasionally cause disease. Recent findings highlight the key importance of efforts to better understand how genes of staphylococci other than S. aureus contribute to survival in the human host, how they are transferred to S. aureus, and why this exchange appears to be uni‐directional.     

Identification and structure-activity relationship of an antimicrobial peptide of the palustrin-2 family isolated from the skin of the endangered frog Odorrana ishikawae

Recently, we identified nine novel antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the endangered anuran species, Odorrana ishikawae, to assess its innate immune system. In this study an additional antimicrobial peptide was initially isolated based on antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. The new antimicrobial peptide belonging to the palustrin-2 family was named palustrin-2ISb. It consists of 36 amino acid residues including 7 amino acids C-terminal to the cyclic heptapeptide Rana box domain. The peptide's primary structure suggests a close relationship with the Chinese odorous frog, Odorrana grahami. The cloned cDNA encoding the precursor protein contained a signal peptide, an N-terminal acidic spacer domain, a Lys-Arg processing site and the C-terminal precursor antimicrobial peptide. It also contained 3 amino acid residues at the C-terminus not found in the mature peptide. Finally, the antimicrobial activities against four microorganisms (E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Candida albicans) were investigated using several synthetic peptides. A 29 amino acid truncated form of the peptide, lacking the 7 amino acids C-terminal to the Rana box, possessed greater antimicrobial activities than the native structure.     

A peptide resource for the analysis of Staphylococcus aureus in host–pathogen interaction studies

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic human pathogen, which can cause life‐threatening disease. Proteome analyses of the bacterium can provide new insights into its pathophysiology and important facets of metabolic adaptation and, thus, aid the recognition of targets for intervention. However, the value of such proteome studies increases with their comprehensiveness. We present an MS–driven, proteome‐wide characterization of the strain S. aureus HG001. Combining 144 high precision proteomic data sets, we identified 19 109 peptides from 2088 distinct S. aureus HG001 proteins, which account for 72% of the predicted ORFs. Peptides were further characterized concerning pI, GRAVY, and detectability scores in order to understand the low peptide coverage of 8.7% (19 109 out of 220 245 theoretical peptides). The high quality peptide‐centric spectra have been organized into a comprehensive peptide fragmentation library (SpectraST) and used for identification of S. aureus‐typic peptides in highly complex host–pathogen interaction experiments, which significantly improved the number of identified S. aureus proteins compared to a MASCOT search. This effort now allows the elucidation of crucial pathophysiological questions in S. aureus‐specific host–pathogen interaction studies through comprehensive proteome analysis. The S. aureus‐specific spectra resource developed here also represents an important spectral repository for SRM or for data‐independent acquisition MS approaches. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000702 ( http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD000702 ).     

A Novel Lipopeptide from Skin Commensal Activates TLR2/CD36-p38 MAPK Signaling to Increase Antibacterial Defense against Bacterial Infection

Staphylococcus epidermidis (S.epidermidis) plays important protective roles by directly producing or by stimulating hosts to produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) against pathogenic infections. Although several AMPs from S.epidermidis have been identified, molecules that stimulate hosts to produce AMPs remain largly unknown. Here we demonstrate that a new lipopeptide (named LP01) purified from S.epidermidis culture media has a unique structure with heneicosanoic acid (21 carbons) binding to lysine¹¹ of a peptide chain. In vitro LP01 increased the expression of β-defensin 2(hBD2) and hBD3 in neonatal human epidermal keratinocytes(NHEK), leading to increased capacity of cell lysates to inhibit the growth of S.aureus. In vivo LP01 induced the expression of mouse β-defensin 4(mBD4) to decrease the survival of local S.aureus in skin and systemic S.aureus survival in liver. The induction of beta-defensins by LP01 was dependent on TLR2 as Tlr2-deficient mice had decreased mBD4. Furthermore, knockdown of CD36 decreased the expression of hBD2 and hBD3, and p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly inhibited the expression of hBDs induced by LP01.Taken together, these findings demonstrate that lipopeptide LP01 from normal commensal S.epidermidis increases antimicrobial peptide hBD2 and hBD3 expression via the activation of TLR2/CD36-p38 MAPK, thus enhancing antimicrobial defense against pathogenic infections.     

Microbiome precision editing: Using PEG as a selective fermentation initiator against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Recent creation of a Unified Microbiome Initiative (UMI) has the aim of understanding how microbes interact with each other and with us. When pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus infects the skin, the interplay between S. aureus and skin commensal bacteria occurs. Our previous data revealed that skin commensal bacteria can mediate fermentation against the growth of USA300, a community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant S. aureus MRSA. By using a fermentation process with solid media on a small scale, we define poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEG‐DMA) as a selective fermentation initiator which can specifically intensify the probiotic ability of skin commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria. At least five short‐chain fatty acids including acetic, butyric and propionic acids with anti‐USA300 activities are produced by PEG‐DMA fermentation of S. epidermidis. Furthermore, the S. epidermidis‐laden PEG‐DMA hydrogels effectively decolonized USA300 in skin wounds in mice. The PEG‐DMA and its derivatives may become novel biomaterials to specifically tailor the human skin microbiome against invading pathogens.     

A novel application of Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy: classification of slime from staphylococci

Abstract

It has been proposed that the virulence of nosocomial Staphylococcus infections associated with indwelling medical devices is related to the ability of the bacterium to colonise these materials by forming a biofilm composed of multilayered cell clusters embedded in a slime matrix. However, the pathogenic role of exopolysaccharide biofilms is not fully understood. A new method was sought for differentiating the structure of slime from two closely related bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Using PCR it was confirmed that these strains were positive for the icaA and icaD genes and the complete ica operon (2.7 kb). Monosaccharide analysis by thin-layer chromatography revealed an identical profile for both strains, with xylose and glucose present among the four visible bands. Using Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and hierarchical cluster analysis, three of four S. aureus samples (75%), and four of five S. epidermidis samples were grouped according to species. A novel FTIR approach in classifying slime produced by S. aureus and S. epidermidis is reported.     

Holo and apo-transferrins interfere with adherence to abiotic surfaces and with adhesion/invasion to HeLa cells in Staphylococcus spp.

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the major cause of infections associated with implanted medical devices. Colonization on abiotic and biotic surfaces is often sustained by biofilm forming strains. Human natural defenses can interfere with this virulence factor. We investigated the effect of human apo-transferrin (apo-Tf, the iron-free form of transferrin, Tf) and holo-transferrin (holo-Tf, the iron-saturated form) on biofilm formation by CA-MRSA S. aureus USA300 type (ST8-IV) and S. epidermidis (a clinical isolate and ATCC 35984 strain). Furthermore S. aureus adhesion and invasion assays were performed in a eukaryotic cell line. A strong reduction in biofilm formation with both Tfs was obtained albeit at very different concentrations. In particular, the reduction in biofilm formation was higher with apo-Tf rather than obtained with holo-Tf. Furthermore, while S. aureus adhesion to eukaryotic cells was not appreciably affected, their invasion was highly inhibited in the presence of holo-Tf, and partially inhibited by the apo form. Our results suggest that Tfs could be used as antibacterial adjuvant therapy in infection sustained by staphylococci to strongly reduce their virulence related to adhesion and cellular invasion.     

Transfer of the methicillin resistance genomic island among staphylococci by conjugation

Methicillin resistance creates a major obstacle for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections. The resistance gene, mecA, is carried on a large (20 kb to > 60 kb) genomic island, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), that excises from and inserts site‐specifically into the staphylococcal chromosome. However, although SCCmec has been designated a mobile genetic element, a mechanism for its transfer has not been defined. Here we demonstrate the capture and conjugative transfer of excised SCCmec. SCCmec was captured on pGO400, a mupirocin‐resistant derivative of the pGO1/pSK41 staphylococcal conjugative plasmid lineage, and pGO400::SCCmec (pRM27) was transferred by filter‐mating into both homologous and heterologous S. aureus recipients representing a range of clonal complexes as well as S. epidermidis. The DNA sequence of pRM27 showed that SCCmec had been transferred in its entirety and that its capture had occurred by recombination between IS257/431 elements present on all SCCmec types and pGO1/pSK41 conjugative plasmids. The captured SCCmec excised from the plasmid and inserted site‐specifically into the chromosomal att site of both an isogenic S. aureus and a S. epidermidis recipient. These studies describe a means by which methicillin resistance can be environmentally disseminated and a novel mechanism, IS‐mediated recombination, for the capture and conjugative transfer of genomic islands.     

Transformation of Staphylococcus aureus by heterologous plasmids

Plasmids isolated from Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis were transformed into Staphylococcus aureus. Heterologous transformation was susceptible to restriction in S. aureus but could be performed in restriction-negative mutants or in heat-treated host bacteria. Three plasmids isolated from S. epidermidis were transformed into S. aureus with this technique and characterized. Two of them, pTE109 and pCE109, appear to be similar to two tet and cml plasmids previously isolated from S. aureus. The third, pPE109, carries penicillin and cadmium resistance and shows a restriction enzyme pattern which differs from known penicillinase plasmids in S. aureus.     

Differential Roles of Poly-N-Acetylglucosamine Surface Polysaccharide and Extracellular DNA in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are major human pathogens of increasing importance due to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant strains. Evidence suggests that the ability to form matrix-encased biofilms contributes to the pathogenesis of S. aureus and S. epidermidis. In this study, we investigated the functions of two staphylococcal biofilm matrix polymers: poly-N-acetylglucosamine surface polysaccharide (PNAG) and extracellular DNA (ecDNA). We measured the ability of a PNAG-degrading enzyme (dispersin B) and DNase I to inhibit biofilm formation, detach preformed biofilms, and sensitize biofilms to killing by the cationic detergent cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) in a 96-well microtiter plate assay. When added to growth medium, both dispersin B and DNase I inhibited biofilm formation by both S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Dispersin B detached preformed S. epidermidis biofilms but not S. aureus biofilms, whereas DNase I detached S. aureus biofilms but not S. epidermidis biofilms. Similarly, dispersin B sensitized S. epidermidis biofilms to CPC killing, whereas DNase I sensitized S. aureus biofilms to CPC killing. We concluded that PNAG and ecDNA play fundamentally different structural roles in S. aureus and S. epidermidis biofilms.     

Staphylococcus aureus lactate‐ and malate‐quinone oxidoreductases contribute to nitric oxide resistance and virulence

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram‐positive pathogen that resists many facets of innate immunity including nitric oxide (NO·). Staphylococcus aureus NO‐resistance stems from its ability to evoke a metabolic state that circumvents the negative effects of reactive nitrogen species. The combination of l ‐lactate and peptides promotes S. aureus growth at moderate NO‐levels, however, neither nutrient alone suffices. Here, we investigate the staphylococcal malate‐quinone and l ‐lactate‐quinone oxidoreductases (Mqo and Lqo), both of which are critical during NO‐stress for the combined utilization of peptides and l ‐lactate. We address the specific contributions of Lqo‐mediated l ‐lactate utilization and Mqo‐dependent amino acid consumption during NO‐stress. We show that Lqo conversion of l ‐lactate to pyruvate is required for the formation of ATP, an essential energy source for peptide utilization. Thus, both Lqo and Mqo are essential for growth under these conditions making them attractive candidates for targeted therapeutics. Accordingly, we exploited a modelled Mqo/Lqo structure to define the catalytic and substrate‐binding residues.We also compare the S. aureus Mqo/Lqo enzymes to their close relatives throughout the staphylococci and explore the substrate specificities of each enzyme. This study provides the initial characterization of the mechanism of action and the immunometabolic roles for a newly defined staphylococcal enzyme family.     

Dimethyl formamide-free, urea-NaCl fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for Staphylococcus aureus

Aims: To test the feasibility of identifying Staphylococcus aureus with a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay that uses a single hot‐plate and urea‐NaCl reagents. Methods and Results: Slides spotted with S. aureus and treated with methanol and lysozyme were incubated with urea‐NaCl reagents on a hot‐plate with a precise temperature control and identified with specific DNA probes. Conclusions: Staphylococcus aureus was detected and differentiated from Staphylococcus epidermidis in 1 h with a novel FISH method that used a single hot‐plate and in the absence of dimethyl formamide. Significance and Impact of Study: A rapid hot‐plate FISH assay with urea‐NaCl and without toxic dimethyl formamide might be useful if FISH is run infrequently or where resources are limited.     

苦参碱对表皮葡萄球菌生物被膜作用初探

通过中药有效成分苦参碱对表皮葡萄球菌生物被膜抑制作用的研究,为表皮葡萄球菌生物被膜引起的相关感染提供新的治疗途径。利用XTT减低法评价苦参碱对表皮葡萄球菌初始粘附及生物被膜内细菌代谢的影响,镜下观察该药对表皮葡萄球菌生物被膜的形态学影响。结果表明:苦参碱对表皮葡萄球菌生物被膜菌的SMIC50和SMIC80分别为62.5 mg/L和500 mg/L;1 000 mg/L浓度的苦参碱对表皮葡萄球菌早期粘附有抑制作用;250 mg/L浓度的苦参碱对表皮葡萄球菌生物被膜的形态有显著影响。因此可见,苦参碱对表皮葡萄球菌生物被膜的形成与粘附均有抑制作用。