N-butanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (BHL) deficient Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from an intensive care unit

Acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) are self-generated diffusible signal molecules that mediate population density dependent gene expression (quorum sensing) in a variety of Gram-negative bacteria, and several virulence genes of human pathogens are known to be controlled by AHLs. In this study, strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, isolated from intensive care patients, were screened for AHL production by using AHL responsive indicator strains of Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens NT1. Positive reactions were recorded for all 50 isolates of P. aeruginosa and 10 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii with Agrobacterium tumefaciens NT1. Surprisingly, most P. aeruginosa isolates gave negative results with C. violaceum CV026 in contrast to previous reports. This suggests that the new isolates of P. aeruginosa either failed to make short chain AHLs or the level of the signal molecule is very low.     

Production of acylated homoserine lactones by Aeromonas and Pseudomonas strains isolated from municipal activated sludge

Up to now, the production and role of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) in activated sludge have been poorly understood. In this study, cross-feeding assays with the reporter strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 and Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 were used to investigate AHL signal production by municipal activated sludge samples. AHL signal production was consistently detected from municipal activated sludge when different samples were incubated on nutrient media. From one municipal activated sludge sample, 10 strains producing AHL-like auto inducers were isolated by an overlay technique. 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic analysis showed that eight of the isolates belonged to Aeromonas spp. and two to Pseudomonas spp. Box-PCR indicated that six of these Aeromonas isolates were different strains and the two Pseudomonas strains were identical. The production of AHL or AHL-like compounds by these strains was confirmed by thin layer chromatography and biosensor overlays. The six different Aeromonas strains were found to produce the same set of AHLs, including N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone. These results may indicate the possible presence of AHLs in municipal activated sludge. The potential roles of AHL in this eco system are briefly discussed.     

细菌菌群传感效应信号分子高丝氨酸内酯平板分析法的优化

目的利用指示菌紫色杆菌CV026菌株,建立和优化稳定的细菌菌群传感效应信号分子高丝氨酸内酯平板分析方法。方法优化受测铜绿假单胞菌高丝氨酸内酯的提取方法,分析铜绿假单胞菌培养时间对信号分子检测的影响。另一方面,优化指示菌株CV026的培养基成分,并优化紫色菌素的提取方法,以完善信号分子的检测反应。结果恒温水浴挥发法可有效提取高丝氨酸内酯,并且发现当铜绿假单胞菌的培养时间为3d时,高丝氨酸内酯最易被检出。进一步,试验结果显示添加L-Try可提高指示菌株紫色菌素的产量,并利于高丝氨酸内酯的检测。此外,比较发现采用乙醇溶解紫色菌素的方法可更高效的测定紫色菌素的量。结论本课题建立的检测方法将更有效的检测细菌菌群传感系统信号分子高丝氨酸内酯,将有利于细菌菌群传感机制研究和抑制细菌菌群传感药物的开发工作。     

Degradation of N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing signal molecules by forest root-associated fungi

A collection of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal root-associated fungi coming from forest environments was screened for their ability to degrade N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL) or to prevent AHL recognition by producing quorum sensing inhibitors (QSI). No production of QS-inhibitors or -activators was detected using the two biosensors Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens in the culture supernatant of these fungi. However, the ability to degrade C6- and 3O,C6-HSL was detected for three fungal isolates. Acidification assay revealed that the AHL were degraded by a lactonase activity for two of these isolates. These results demonstrated for the first time that the forest root-associated fungi are capable of degrading the AHL signal molecules.     

Methods for detecting acylated homoserine lactones produced by Gram-negative bacteria and their application in studies of AHL-production kinetics

In the process of evaluating the role of acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) in food-spoiling Gram-negative bacteria, we have combined a range of bacterial AHL monitor systems to determine the AHL-profile and the kinetics of AHL-production. AHL production from 148 strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from foods was tested using Escherichia coli pSB403 (LuxR), Agrobacterium tumefaciens A136 (TraR) and both induction and inhibition of Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 (CviR). All strains except one was found to produce AHL(s). In no case could a single monitor system identify more than 64% of the Enterobacteriaceae as AHL-producers, showing that the simultaneous use of monitor strains is required in the process of screening bacterial populations for AHL-production. AHLs from 20 selected strains were profiled by thin layer chromatography. Most strains produced more than one AHL with 3-N-oxo-hexanoyl homoserine lactone being the most prominent. It was found that the simultaneous use of monitor strains in the top-layer was necessary for the detection of (presumably) all the AHLs. An agar well-diffusion assay based on A. tumefaciens pDZLR4 was used for quantifying AHLs from bacterial supernatants and enabled an assessment of the kinetics of AHL-production of 3 strains (Serratia proteamaculans strain B5a, Erwinia carotovora ATCC 39048 and V. fischeri strain MJ-1). As expected, the production of AHL (OHHL) and luminescence in Vibrio fischeri strain MJ-1 increased faster than growth indicating up-regulation of the AHL regulated phenotype and auto-induction of AHL production. In contrast, production kinetics of AHL (OHHL) in the two Enterobacteriaceae indicated lack of auto-induction.     

Production of acylated homoserine lactones by different serotypes of Vibrio anguillarum both in culture and during infection of rainbow trout

Onehundred and forty-eight out of onehundred and fifty strains of Vibrio anguillarum isolated from vibriosis in Danish marine aquaculture produced bacterial communication signals, acylated homoserine lactones, eliciting a response in the Agrobacterium tumefaciens (pZLR4) monitoring system. One strain, a serotype O4, induced a strong response in the Chromobacterium violaceum (CV026) monitoring system. Profiles of AHLs determined by TLC separation revealed the presence of at least four AHLs and a compound similar to N-3-oxo-decanoyl homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C10-HSL) was present in all strains. The production rate of the presumed 3-oxo-C10-HSL followed the growth rate of V. anguillarum whereas the production rate of a small AHL (Rf value of 0.74) increased faster than the growth rate of V. anguillarum indicating autoinduction. AHLs were produced by all serotypes (O1 to O10) and by non-typable strains. During infection with V. anguillarum, AHLs could be extracted from liver, kidney and muscle of rainbow trout and AHLs were detected both in vitro and in vivo when cell numbers reached 10(7) per ml or gram. Preliminary investigations of interactions between AHLs and the fish immune system were carried out determining oxidative burst of fish macrophages exposed to 3-oxo-C10-HSL. No activation or suppression of the superoxide anion production in the head kidney macrophages was seen when treated with the AHL compound in concentrations of 1 nM-10 microM. Our data show that AHLs are produced by almost all V. anguillarum strains and that no clear pattern relating AHL production to disease or virulence appear.     

Diversity and quorum-sensing signal production of Proteobacteria associated with marine sponges

Marine sponges are hosts to diverse and dense bacterial communities and thus provide a potential environment for quorum sensing. Quorum sensing, a key factor in cell–cell communication and bacterial colonization of higher animals, might be involved in the symbiotic interactions between bacteria and their sponge hosts. Given that marine Proteobacteria are known to produce N -acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules, we tested the production of AHLs by Alpha - and Gammaproteobacteria isolated from marine sponges Mycale laxissima and Ircinia strobilina and the surrounding water column. We used three different AHL biodetection systems in diffusion assays: Chromobacterium violaceum , Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Sinorhizobium meliloti with optimal sensitivity to short-chain (C4–C6), moderate-chain (C8–C12) and long-chain (≥ C14) AHLs respectively. Thirteen of 23 isolates from M. laxissima and five of 25 isolates from I. strobilina were found to produce AHLs. Signals were detected from two of eight proteobacterial strains from the water column. Thin-layer chromatographic assays based on the A. tumefaciens reporter system were utilized to determine the AHL profiles of the positive isolates. The types and amounts of AHLs synthesized varied considerably among the strains. Small ribosomal rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the AHL-producing alphaproteobacterial isolates were mainly from the Silicibacter–Ruegeria subgroup of the Roseobacter clade. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE)-based proteomic analyses were congruent with phylogenetic relationships but provided higher resolution to differentiate these closely related AHL-producing strains.     

N-acyl homoserine lactone mediated interspecies interactions between A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa

Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are pathogens capable of colonizing the same infection sites and employing N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) based quorum-sensing systems to co-ordinate biofilm formation. Hence, the effect of P. aeruginosa AHLs on biofilm formation by A. baumannii and vice versa were investigated using the biofilm impaired quorum sensing mutants, A. baumannii M2 (abaI::Km) and P. aeruginosa PAO-JP2. Complementing the mutants with heterologous, extracted and pure AHLs increased biofilm mass significantly. The surface area coverage and biovolume also increased significantly as observed by confocal scanning laser microscopy which corroborated scanning electron microscope analysis. Autoinducer synthase gene promoters of A. baumannii, P( abaI)-lacZ, and P. aeruginosa, P( lasI)-lacZ, were induced (p?相似文献   

凡纳滨对虾源不动杆菌群体感应信号分子分离鉴定及其调控

【目的】鉴定凡纳滨对虾源不动杆菌(Acinetobacter spp.M1)分泌的N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(AHLs)类型,探究细菌生长阶段及环境因素对其分泌信号分子的影响。【方法】报告菌株平板法检测M1的AHLs的活性;采用报告平板与薄层层析(TLC)相结合法对M1分泌的AHLs类型进行鉴定。【结果】菌株M1分泌N-3-氧代-己酰基-高丝氨酸内酯和N-3-氧代-辛酰基-高丝氨酸内酯两种信号分子。在适宜条件下AHLs活性随着培养时间的延长先升高后降低,在对数末期(30 h)达到最大。弱酸和弱碱环境能够降低M1分泌AHLs的能力,p H 7.0是M1分泌AHLs的最适p H。较高浓度的Na Cl促进了个体M1分泌AHLs的能力,但是Na Cl浓度对M1总体分泌AHLs没有显著的影响。菌株M1分泌AHLs的最佳温度为30°C,温度过高或过低都会影响其分泌。【结论】菌株M1主要产生N-3-氧代-己酰基-高丝氨酸内酯和N-3-氧代-辛酰基-高丝氨酸内酯两种类型信号分子。M1的QS系统受菌体密度和环境因素的双重调控。     

Nonbioluminescent strains of Photobacterium phosphoreum produce the cell-to-cell communication signal N-(3-Hydroxyoctanoyl)homoserine lactone

Bioluminescence is a common phenotype in marine bacteria, such as Vibrio and Photobacterium species, and can be quorum regulated by N-acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs). We extracted a molecule that induced a bacterial AHL monitor (Agrobacterium tumefaciens NT1 [pZLR4]) from packed cod fillets, which spoil due to growth of Photobacterium phosphoreum. Interestingly, AHLs were produced by 13 nonbioluminescent strains of P. phosphoreum isolated from the product. Of 177 strains of P. phosphoreum (including 18 isolates from this study), none of 74 bioluminescent strains elicited a reaction in the AHL monitor, whereas 48 of 103 nonbioluminescent strains did produce AHLs. AHLs were also detected in Aeromonas spp., but not in Shewanella strains. Thin-layer chromatographic profiles of cod extracts and P. phosphoreum culture supernatants identified a molecule similar in relative mobility (Rf value) and shape to N-(3-hydroxyoctanoyl)homoserine lactone, and the presence of this molecule in culture supernatants from a nonbioluminescent strain of P. phosphoreum was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography-positive electrospray high-resolution mass spectrometry. Bioluminescence (in a non-AHL-producing strain of P. phosphoreum) was strongly up-regulated during growth, whereas AHL production in a nonbioluminescent strain of P. phosphoreum appeared constitutive. AHLs apparently did not influence bioluminescence, as the addition of neither synthetic AHLs nor supernatants delayed or reduced this phenotype in luminescent strains of P. phosphoreum. The phenotypes of nonbioluminescent P. phosphoreum strains regulated by AHLs remains to be elucidated.     

凡纳滨对虾优势腐败菌鉴定及其群体感应现象

为了鉴定凡纳滨对虾的优势腐败菌并研究其是否存在以N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯类化合物(AHLs)介导的群体感应系统,采用16S rRNA序列鉴定凡纳滨对虾的优势腐败菌,并采用紫色杆菌CV026对优势腐败菌的AHLs活性进行检测.结果发现凡纳滨对虾优势腐败菌菌株1(Aci-1)和菌株2 (Aci-2)均为不动杆菌属,均存在以AHLs为信号分子的群体感应系统.添加外源信号分子AHLs能促进Aci-1菌株生物膜的形成,且呈浓度依赖性.在一定的贮藏范围内,凡纳滨对虾腐败菌信号分子AHLs浓度与细菌总数、挥发性盐基氮含量存在正相关性,其相关系数r分别为0.846 6和0.986 7,分别在P＜0.05与P＜0.01水平上显著,结论是凡纳滨对虾优势腐败菌不动杆菌菌株存在以AHLs介导的群体感应系统,且与凡纳滨对虾的腐败密切相关.     

Quorum quenching in cultivable bacteria from dense marine coastal microbial communities

Acylhomoserine lactone (AHLs)-mediated quorum-sensing (QS) processes seem to be common in the marine environment and among marine pathogenic bacteria, but no data are available on the prevalence of bacteria capable of interfering with QS in the sea, a process that has been generally termed 'quorum quenching' (QQ). One hundred and sixty-six strains isolated from different marine dense microbial communities were screened for their ability to interfere with AHL activity. Twenty-four strains (14.4%) were able to eliminate or significantly reduce N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone activity as detected by the biosensor strain Chromobacterium violaceum CV026, a much higher percentage than that reported for soil isolates, which reinforces the ecological role of QS and QQ in the marine environment. Among these, 15 strains were also able to inhibit N-decanoyl-l-homoserine lactone activity and all of them were confirmed to enzymatically inactivate the AHL signals by HPLC-MS. Active isolates belonged to nine different genera of prevalently or exclusively marine origin, including members of the Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria (8), Actinobacteria (2), Firmicutes (4) and Bacteroidetes (1). Whether the high frequency and diversity of cultivable bacteria with QQ activity found in near-shore marine isolates reflects their prevalence among pelagic marine bacterial communities deserves further investigation in order to understand the ecological importance of AHL-mediated QS and QQ processes in the marine environment.     

华癸根瘤菌中自体诱导物的初步研究

群体感应 (Quorumsensing)是细菌通过产生可扩散的小分子量自体诱导物信号分子感知细胞群体密度变化 ,进行基因表达调控的生理行为。将根癌土壤杆菌 (Agrobacteriumtumefaciens)构建为超量表达群体感应调节蛋白TraR的检测菌株JZA1,试验证明该检测菌株能检测纳摩尔浓度的自体诱导物 ,利用该菌株对 3株不同华癸根瘤菌(Mesorhizobiumhuakuii)进行自体诱导物活性检测 ,发现该 3株华癸根瘤菌均能产生自体诱导物 ,其表达量与菌体密度成正相关 ,但 3株菌在相同培养条件下自体诱导物的表达量存在差异 ,结果表明自体诱导物在种内水平上存在一定的多样性 ;同时发现高pH条件能大大降低自体诱导物的稳定性 ,为进一步研究群体感应调节在共生固氮上的作用提供理论及实践依据     

A simple screening protocol for the identification of quorum signal antagonists

Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism by which diverse microorganisms can control specific processes in response to population density. A relatively well-known form of QS among Proteobacteria involves production and subsequent response to acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs). Quorum sensing inhibition (QSI), targeting AHL-dependent signaling, has been reported as a strategy for the control of biofilm formation used by several marine organisms. We developed a simple soft agar overlay protocol, based on pigmentation inhibition, to rapidly screen for the presence of potential QSI by bacteria and plants. For bacterial screens, test organisms are first streaked onto their appropriate media and incubated overnight. For plant screens, the plant material (leaf, stem, flower, etc.) is placed onto LB agar. The bacterial growth or plant samples are then covered with an overlay of LB soft agar containing an inoculum of either Pseudomonas aureofaciens 30-84 or Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 (indicator cultures) and then incubated overnight. These indicator bacteria regulate pigment production by N-hexanoyl-HSL (C6-HSL) QS and are readily inhibited by AHL analogues and other antagonists. QSI is indicated by the lack of pigment production of the indicator culture in the vicinity of the test sample. Growth inhibition of the indicator culture indicates possible antibiotic production. Two different biosensor organisms based on derivatives of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and C. violaceum, capable of detecting a range of AHLs were used to determine whether QSI is due to the production of interfering AHLs competing with the C6-HSL regulation of C. violaceum and P. aureofaciens pigment production. This simple protocol will facilitate the screening of multiple organisms for the production of potential antifouling compounds.     

Utilization of acyl-homoserine lactone quorum signals for growth by a soil pseudomonad and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are employed by several Proteobacteria as quorum-sensing signals. Past studies have established that these compounds are subject to biochemical decay and can be used as growth nutrients. Here we describe the isolation of a soil bacterium, Pseudomonas strain PAI-A, that degrades 3-oxododecanoyl-homoserine lactone (3OC12HSL) and other long-acyl, but not short-acyl, AHLs as sole energy sources for growth. The small-subunit rRNA gene from strain PAI-A was 98.4% identical to that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but the soil isolate did not produce obvious pigments or AHLs or grow under denitrifying conditions or at 42 degrees C. The quorum-sensing bacterium P. aeruginosa, which produces both 3OC12HSL and C4HSL, was examined for the ability to utilize AHLs for growth. It did so with a specificity similar to that of strain PAI-A, i.e., degrading long-acyl but not short-acyl AHLs. In contrast to the growth observed with strain PAI-A, P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 growth on AHLs commenced only after extremely long lag phases. Liquid-chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry analyses indicate that strain PAO1 degrades long-acyl AHLs via an AHL acylase and a homoserine-generating HSL lactonase. A P. aeruginosa gene, pvdQ (PA2385), has previously been identified as being a homologue of the AHL acylase described as occurring in a Ralstonia species. Escherichia coli expressing pvdQ catalyzed the rapid inactivation of long-acyl AHLs and the release of HSL. P. aeruginosa engineered to constitutively express pvdQ did not accumulate its 3OC12HSL quorum signal when grown in rich media. However, pvdQ knockout mutants of P. aeruginosa were still able to grow by utilizing 3OC12HSL. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the degradation of AHLs by pseudomonads or other gamma-Proteobacteria, of AHL acylase activity in a quorum-sensing bacterium, of HSL lactonase activity in any bacterium, and of AHL degradation with specificity only towards AHLs with long side chains.     

Quorum-sensing signal production by Agrobacterium vitis strains and their tumor-inducing and tartrate-catabolic plasmids

Agrobacterium vitis strains, their tumor-inducing (pTi) and tartrate utilization (pTr) plasmid transconjugants and grapevine tumors were analyzed for the presence of N -acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). All wild-type A. vitis strains produced long-chain signals. PCR analysis of the A. vitis long-chain AHL synthase gene, avsI , showed the predicted amplicon. Agrobacterium tumefaciens UBAPF2 harboring various A. vitis pTi plasmids produced N -(3-oxo-octanoyl)- l -homoserine lactone encoded also by pTis of A. tumefaciens . UBAPF2 transconjugants carrying pTrs except for pTrTm4 and pTrAB3, also produced an AHL. UBAPF2 transconjugants carrying pTrAT6, pTrAB4 and pTrRr4 or pTiNi1 produced two additional AHLs not observed in the corresponding wild-type strains. We also provide evidence for in situ production of AHLs in grapevine crown gall tumors of greenhouse and field origin.