Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa FP plasmids which enhance spontaneous and uv-induced mutagenesis.

From work reported here and from previous studies 16 out of 53 (30%) FP plasmids (i.e. those plasmids that promote host chromosome transfer) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are found to protect host cells against UV irradiation. 13 of these UV-protecting FP plasmids were tested to determine their mode of DNA repair and were found to contribute to error-prone repair because of their enhancement of UV-induced mutagenesis and in most instances spontaneous mutagenesis as well. Some of these plasmids were tested for their behaviour in a DNA polymerase I deficient (Pol^?) mutant of P. aeruginosa; the remainder could not be tested due to plasmid instability in the Pol^? mutant. 11 of these FP plasmids provided wild-type level of UV protection to the mutant. 4 of the plasmids tested (FP18, FP103, FP109 and FP111) were able to enhance the mutant's ability to host cell reactivate UV irradiated phage, though not to the level of the Pol⁺ parent. The presence of FP18 or FP111 in the Pol^? mutant did not increase polymerase I-like enzymatic activity. It is concluded that the plasmids do not confer a polymerase activity functionally equivalent to host DNA polymerase I. It is possible however, that the plasmids code for another polymerase or for a cofactor which interacts with a host polymerase, as seen by the partial restoration by FP plasmids of host-cell reactivation of UV-irradiated phage in the polymerase I deficient mutant.The mutagenic properties of those FP plasmids tested appears to be nonspecific because of their ability to mutate two host chromosomal genes, trpB1 and leu38 and an R plasmid gene, bla.The implications of the prevalence of FP plasmids in P. aeruginosa which enhance mutagenesis are discussed.     

RP1 properties and fertility inhibition among P, N, W, and X incompatibility group plasmids.

Incompatibility group P plasmids demonstrate strong entry exclusion properties. Stringent incompatibility is also observed in the absence of entry exclusion. These observations have been facilitated by the study of a nontransmissible plasmid, RP1-S2, derived from RP1 by transductional shortening. RP1-S2 retains carbenicillin and tetracycline resistances as well as loci that cause either the loss of P plasmids (incp) or a locus specifying susceptibility to curing (sinp) in the presence of a P plasmid. RP1-S2 can be mobilized by an incompatibility group W plasmid, R388, and also freely forms recombinants with R388. P, N, and W incompatibility group plasmids all encode information for the receptor of the cell wall-adsorbing phage PRD1. Based on the premise that the location of this receptor is analogous to entry exclusion factors for F-like plasmids and hence a regulated transfer region determinant, we tested fertility inhibition relationships among these plasmid groups. We detected both reciprocal and nonreciprocal fertility inhibition relationships for bacteria containing various combinations of W, N, and P group plasmids. The nonreciprocal nature of some combinations, we believe, reflects the identity of the point mutation reading to derepression of the plasmid in question. Reciprocal fertility inhibition, on the other hand, may reflect the reconstruction of a fertility inhibition system through complementation. An X incompatibility group plasmid, known to affect the fertility of an N group plasmid, was also shown to inhibit P plasmid fertility. These observations may indicate a possible evolutionary relationship(s) of plasmids unrelated by the criteria of incompatibility, pilus phage specificity, or plasmid host range.     

Transfer of plasmids fromEscherichia coli andPseudomonas aeruginosa to methylotrophic bacteria and their detection in the new hosts

Several plasmids of incompatibility group P were transferred fromEscherichia coli andPseudomonas aeruginosa strains toMethylophilus methylotrophus and two other methylotrophs to test their recipient ability. The presence of plasmids in transconjugants was confirmed by electrophoretic analysis. Optimal conditions for detection of plasmid DNA in the strains tested based on alkaline lysis of cells at elevated temperature were established. Special behaviour of plasmids carrying the Mu phage in methylotrophic hosts is described.     

Resistance to ultraviolet light and enhanced mutagenesis conferred by Pseudomonas aeruginosa plasmids

10 out of 24 Pseudomonas aeruginosa FP sex factors tested were found to protect bacteria against the lethal effects of UV-irradiation. Two of these FP factors (FP50 and FP58) and an R factor R 931, which is also UV-protecting, were studied in detail in an attempt to determine the mechanisms involved. It appeared that a plasmid gene-product contributes to dark repair of both UV and chemical damage (induced by agents such as methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and nitrosoguanidine (NG) which are thought to induce single-strand gap formation in DNA). Although these plasmids failed to contribute to host cell reactivation of UV-irradiated phage in an Hcr⁻ mutant, they nevertheless substantially protected the mutant itself against UV-irradiation. This result suggested that the excision step per se of excision repair is not involved, but does not exclude the possibility that the plasmids might contribute to the repair resynthesis step of the excision repair process in wild type bacteria. An alternative possibility is that the plasmids contribute to some step or steps in a minor optional repair system analogous to the E. coli exrA recA-dependent repair system. This idea gains support from the observation that UV mutagenesis is enhanced in the presence of these plasmids.     

A novel transposon-like structure carries the genes for pyocin AP41, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriocin with a DNase domain homology to E2 group colicins

Summary The genetic determinant for pyocin AP41, a bacteriocin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been cloned. The determinant is located on the chromosome flanked by a pair of inverted repeats, forming a transposon-like structure (TnAP41). TnAP41 possesses some features characteristic of the Tn3 family of transposons. Based on a comparison with the structure of the corresponding region of the chromosome of a nonproducer strain, we propose that P. aeruginosa has acquired pyocinogeny by the transposition of TnAP41 into the chromosome. The determinant comprises two ORFs encoding the protein subunits responsible for the killing action (the large component) and immunity (the small component). Amino acid sequences of the C-terminus of the large component (the deoxyribonuclease domain) and the immunity protein show remarkable homology to those of E2 group colicins, suggesting that these bacteriocins, which are produced by distantly related species, have originated from a common ancestor.     

Nah plasmids of the IncP-9 group in natural Pseudomonas strains

Polymerase chain reaction studies showed that naphthalene-utilizing bacteria isolated from various localities of Belarus most often contained Nah plasmids of the P-9 incompatibility group and plasmids of indefinite systematics. The conventional incompatibility test and restriction enzyme analysis revealed three new IncP-9 subgroups: ζ, η, and IncP-9-like. In addition to the known nucleotide sequences of nahG and nahAc, two novel nahG variants were revealed by a restriction enzyme analysis of amplification products. An amplified rDNA restriction enzyme analysis (ARDRA) demonstrated that the native hosts of IncP-9 Nah plasmids were fluorescent bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas (P. fluorescens, P. putida, P. aeruginosa, and Pseudomonas sp.) and nonfluorescent bacteria of indefinite systematics.     

Transformation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli with resistance plasmid DNA: formation of smaller conjugative plasmids from RPI.

Summary Sheared DNA from RPI, an R plasmid from a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was used to transform other strains of P. aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. From transformed cells other plasmids like RPI were isolated. These deletion plasmids were conjugally transferrable and confer resistance mainly against carbenicillin and tetracycline.     

Diversity of culturable sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) degrading bacteria isolated from detergent contaminated ponds situated in Varanasi city, India

In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to isolate and identify SDS-degrading bacteria from different detergent contaminated ponds situated in Varanasi city, UP, India. Initial survey of ponds indicated that these ponds were contaminated with detergents. Employing enrichment technique in minimal medium (PBM) with SDS as a sole carbon source, a total of 24 isolates were recovered from 7 detergent contaminated ponds. Studies on rates of SDS degradation indicated that the rate of SDS degradation varied from 97.2% to 19.6% after 12h incubation under identical conditions. An estimation of alkyl sulfatase activity indicated that the activity varied from 0.168 ± 0.004 to 0.024 ± 0.005 μmol SDS/mg protein/min. Molecular characterization of these isolates was performed on the basis of ARDRA and ERIC PCR, which indicated that these isolates were broadly divided in 8 groups. Some selected isolates were identified on the basis of 16S rDNA sequencing. It was found that these isolates belonged to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas otitidis respectively. Among these isolates P. aeruginosa, P. putida and P. otitidis have been previously shown to degrade and metabolize SDS, the rest of the isolates appear to be new.     

Naturally occurring plasmids exhibiting incompatibility with members of incompatibility groups I and P

From a group of naturally occurring antibiotic resistance plasmids, a number of plasmids were identified which were incompatible with members of incompatibility group P and also incompatibility group I alpha or I gamma. These plasmids also exhibited strong entry exclusion with members of group P only and showed a host range which resembled that of plasmids of group I rather than those of group P. Segregants of a number of these plasmids appeared to have lost some of the incompatability and/or surface exclusion functions. Studies of nucleic acid homology indicated that these plasmids were very similar to one another. They exhibited 15 to 20% nucleic acid homology with representatives of the I alpha and I gamma groups, yet showed less than 2% homology with the group P plasmid RP4.     

Chromosome-encoded inducible copper resistance inPseudomonas strains

NinePseudomonas strains were selected by their high copper tolerance from a population of bacteria isolated from heavy-metal polluted zones. Copper resistance (Cu ^r ) was inducible by previous exposure of cultures to subinhibitory amounts of copper sulfate. All nine strains possessed large plasmids, but transformation and curing results suggest that Cu ^r is conferred by chromosomal genes. Plasmid-lessPseudomonas aeruginosa PAO-derived strains showed the same level of Cu ^r as environmental isolates and their resistance to copper was also inducible. Total DNA from the environmentalPseudomonas, as well as fromP. aeruginosa PAO strains, showed homology to a Cu ^r P. syringae cop probe at low-stringency conditions but failed to hybridize at high-stringency conditions.     

DNA sequence analysis of host range mutants of the promiscuous IncP-1 plasmids R18 and R68 with Tn7 insertions in oriV

Transposon Tn7 insertions in the origin of vegetative replication (oriV) result in host range mutants of the promiscuous IncP-1 plasmids R18 and R68 which affect plasmid replication in Escherichia coli but not in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The sites of these insertions have been analyzed by DNA sequence analysis. In two mutants, the insertions generated direct duplications of 5′GTATT3′ at the target site which included the first base at the 5′ end of the fourth 17-bp direct repeat in oriV. In a third mutant the duplication of 5′GACAC3′ also involved the same direct repeat also at the 5′ end but contiguous with the previous duplication. DNA sequence analysis of another Tn7-induced host range mutant of R18, characterized by reduced conjugational transmissibility into P. stutzeri while retaining normal transmissibility within P. aeruginosa, showed that the insertion generated a 474-bp deletion which brought the insertion 20 bp 5′ to the 17-bp direct repeat between oriV and the oxytetracycline hydrochloride-resistant gene. The analysis of the DNA sequence data at the site of the Tn7 insertions shows that particular segments of the DNA sequence in oriV are differentially required for the replication of these plasmids in different bacterial hosts and thus of importance to the promiscuity of these plasmids.     

一株感染铜绿假单胞菌的双链RNA噬菌体PaP6的分离和鉴定

【目的】鉴定一株新分离的铜绿假单胞菌噬菌体PaP6的生物学特性。【方法】利用铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株PA038为宿主,从西南医院污水中分离得到一株裂解性噬菌体PaP6,观察其噬斑特点;氯化铯密度梯度离心纯化噬菌体颗粒后,用透射电子显微镜观察噬菌体形态;提取PaP6基因组,通过DNA酶和RNA酶酶切,做基因组酶切图谱分析;按照感染复数(MOI)分别为10、1、0.1、0.01、0.001和0.000 1加入噬菌体和宿主菌,裂解细菌后,测定噬菌体滴度;以MOI=10的比例加入噬菌体和宿主菌,绘制一步生长曲线;用112株铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株检测PaP6宿主谱。【结果】PaP6的噬斑直径约2 mm-4 mm,圆形透明,边缘清晰;PaP6噬菌体呈多面体立体对称的头部,直径约45 nm;酶切图谱表明PaP6基因组对DNase不敏感,对RNase敏感,未酶切基因组具有3节段双链RNA(dsRNA),长度分别约为9.0、4.5、3.5 kb,共约17 kb;当MOI为0.1时PaP6感染其宿主菌产生的子代噬菌体滴度最高,达到3.4×109 PFU/m L;用一步生长曲线描绘了其生长特性;PaP6可以感染40.1%的临床分离株,是一株比较广谱的噬菌体。【结论】首次报道了一株铜绿假单胞菌的ds RNA分节段噬菌体,分类学上属于囊病毒科,该噬菌体具有较广的宿主谱,在噬菌体治疗领域具有应用前景。     

Complementation analysis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa of the transfer genes of the wide host range R plasmid R18

A method of transductional complementation was developed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa to identify the cistrons involved in the conjugal transfer of the wide host range R plasmid R18. This used the P. aeruginosa bacteriophage E79tv-2 and has led to the identification of eight tra cistrons encoded by this plasmid. Plasmids mutant in six cistrons, traA, traB, traC, traD, traE, and traG were resistant to donor-specific phage (Dps^?) while traF and traH mutant plasmids retained phage sensitivity. Some traB mutants were unable to inhibit the replication of phage G101 (Phi(G101)^?) while some were also deficient in entry exclusion (Eex^?). Two traB mutants which were also Eex^? were suppressible by an amber suppressor. Three tra mutants selected directly as being Phi(G101)^? were found to be also Dps^?Eex^? and mutant in traB. These data suggest a relationship between traB, Eex, and Phi(G101). In order to facilitate future genetic comparison of the tra genes of R18 and other wide host range plasmids and the role of the host in conjugation, R18 DNA was compared with that of RP4, by restriction enzyme fragment patterns and found to be identical.     

Studies with RP1 deletion plasmids: Incompatibility properties,plasmid curing and the spontaneous loss of resistance

Four deletion plasmids, pHH301, pHH302, pHH303 and pHH401, obtained from RP1 DNA-transformed bacterial clones, were shown to be incompatible with three P plasmids inEscherichia coli K12 strains. Kinetic experiments and colony tests were used to verify the position of these R plasmids.Pseudomonas aeruginosa andE. coli strains, harbouring deletion plasmids, could be cured by using two mutagens, acriflavine and mitomycin C, which affect a percentage of the cell population. The deletion plasmid-positive strains could also be induced at an elevated temperature to spontaneously loose their plasmids.     

Iron uptake and metabolism in pseudomonads

Pseudomonads are ubiquitous Gram-negative γ proteobacteria known for their extreme versatility and adaptability. Some are plant pathogens (Pseudomonas syringae) which have to survive on the surface of leaves while others can colonize the rhizosphere or survive in soil (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida), and one species, Pseudomonas entomophila, is an insect pathogen. The most investigated species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is known to be an opportunistic pathogen able to infect plants, nematodes, insects, and mammals, including humans. Like for other bacteria, iron is a key nutrient for pseudomonads. The fluorescent pseudomonads produce siderophores, the best known being the fluorescent high-affinity peptidic pyoverdines. Often diverse secondary siderophores of lower affinity are produced as well (pyochelin, pseudomonin, corrugatins and ornicorrugatins, yersiniabactin, and thioquinolobactin). Reflecting their large capacity of adaptation to changing environment and niche colonization, pseudomonads are able to obtain their iron from heme or from siderophores produced by other microorganisms (xenosiderophores) via the expression of outer membrane TonB-dependent receptors. As expected, iron uptake is exquisitely and hierarchically regulated in these bacteria. In this short review, the diversity of siderophores produced, receptors, and finally the way iron homeostasis is regulated in P. aeruginosa, P. syringae, P. putida, and P. fluorescens, will be presented and, when possible, put in relation with the lifestyle and the ecological niche.     

Genetic analysis of a relaxed substrate specificity aromatic ring dioxygenase, toluate 1,2-dioxygenase, encoded by TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida

Summary Toluate 1,2-dioxygenase is the first enzyme of a meta-cleavage pathway for the oxidative catabolism of benzoate and substituted benzoates to Krebs cycle intermediates that is specified by TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida. A collection of derivatives harbouring Tn1000 insertions and defective in toluate dioxygenase have been isolated from pPL392, a pBR322-based hybrid plasmid carrying the TOL plasmid meta-cleavage pathway operon. In parallel, a series of N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced mutant plasmids defective in this enzyme activity were isolated from pNM72, a pKT231-based hybrid plasmid carrying the same operon. Pairs of mutant plasmids, consisting of one Tn1000 derivative and one nitrosoguanidine-induced derivative, were used for complementation analysis of toluate dioxygenase in Escherichia coli recA bacteria, in which the formation of 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde from benzoate was examined. Four cistrons for toluate 1,2-dioxygenase were thus identified. DNA fragments containing nitrosoguanidine-induced mutant cistrons plus the other meta-cleavage operon genes were cloned into pOT5, an R388-based vector, and complementation tests between different nitrosoguanidine-induced mutant cistrons were carried out in Pseudomonas putida cells, this time scoring for growth on p-toluate. This analysis also identified four cistrons. Examination of the products of these cistrons, by means of E. coli minicells containing pPL392 or its Tn1000 insertion derivatives, indicated that the first two cistrons of the operon comprise a single gene, xylX, which encodes a 57 kilodalton protein, and that the third cistron, xy/Y, encodes a 20 kilodalton protein.     

The global regulator Crc modulates metabolism,susceptibility to antibiotics and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The capacity of a bacterial pathogen to produce a disease in a treated host depends on the former's virulence and resistance to antibiotics. Several scattered pieces of evidence suggest that these two characteristics can be influenced by bacterial metabolism. This potential relationship is particularly important upon infection of a host, a situation that demands bacteria adapt their physiology to their new environment, making use of newly available nutrients. To explore the potential cross‐talk between bacterial metabolism, antibiotic resistance and virulence, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa model was used. This species is an important opportunistic pathogen intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics. The role of Crc, a global regulator that controls the metabolism of carbon sources and catabolite repression in Pseudomonas, was analysed to determine its contribution to the intrinsic antibiotic resistance and virulence of P. aeruginosa. Using proteomic analyses, high‐throughput metabolic tests and functional assays, the present work shows the virulence and antibiotic resistance of this pathogen to be linked to its physiology, and to be under the control (directly or indirectly) of Crc. A P. aeruginosa strain lacking the Crc regulator showed defects in type III secretion, motility, expression of quorum sensing‐regulated virulence factors, and was less virulent in a Dictyostelium discoideum model. In addition, this mutant strain was more susceptible to beta‐lactams, aminoglycosides, fosfomycin and rifampin. Crc might therefore be a good target in the search for new antibiotics.     

Multifunctional membrane vesicles in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Gram‐negative bacteria secrete small particles called membrane vesicles (MVs) into the extracellular milieu. While MVs have important roles in delivering toxins from pathogenic bacteria to eukaryotic cells, these vesicles also play ecological roles necessary for survival in various environmental conditions. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which lives in soil, ocean, plant, animal and human environments, has become a model organism for studying these small extracellular particles. Such studies have increased our understanding of the function and biogenesis of bacterial MVs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa MVs possess versatile components and chemical substances with unique structures. These characteristics allow MVs to play their multifunctional biological roles, including microbial interaction, maintenance of biofilm structure and host infection. This review summarizes the comprehensive biochemical and physiochemical properties of MVs derived from P. aeruginosa. These studies will help us understand their biological roles of MVs not only in pathogenicity but also in microbial ecology. Also, the mechanisms of MV production, as currently understood, are discussed.     

铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜组成及其受群体感应系统和c-di-GMP调控的研究进展

作为人类条件性感染的前三大病原菌之一的铜绿假单胞菌,是一种革兰氏阴性细菌,对免疫功能低下和囊性纤维化患者可以造成严重和持续性感染。造成这种持续感染的原因主要是由于细菌接收外界信号后,在自身调控网络的协同作用下,会依附于固体表面,并产生胞外多糖、基质蛋白和胞外DNA等大分子物质形成高度结构化的膜状复合物将自身包裹形成生物被膜群体结构。生物被膜可以有效帮助细菌定殖、提高细菌对抗菌物质和宿主免疫反应的抵抗能力、促进群落细菌的细胞-细胞之间的信号交流等,是临床治疗中病原菌慢性感染和反复感染最重要的原因之一。本篇综述重点介绍了铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜的各组成成分及其在生物被膜形成中的重要功能,并进一步阐述了群体感应系统(las、rhl、pqs与iqs)和c-di-GMP对铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜形成的调控作用。通过本篇综述可以更清晰地了解细菌生物被膜形成和调控的过程,为开发新的治疗生物被膜感染策略提供帮助。     

Tn1545: a conjugative shuttle transposon

Summary Tn1545, from Streptococcus pneumoniae BM4200, confers resistance to kanamycin (aphA-3), erythromycin (ermAM) and tetracycline (tetM). The 25.3 kb element is self-transferable to various Gram-positive bacterial genera where it transposes. Tn1545 was cloned in its entirety in the recombination deficient Escherichia coli HB101 where it was unstable. The three resistance genes aphA-3, ermAM and tetM were expressed but were not transferable to other E. coli cells. Tn1545 transposed from the hybrid plasmid to multiple sites of the chromosome of its new host. The element re-transposed, at a frequency of 5×10^-9, from the chromosome to various sites of a conjugative plasmid where it could be lost by apparently clean excision. The element transformed and transposed to the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis. The properties of the conjugative shuttle transposon Tn1545 may account for the recent emergence of genes from Gram-positive bacteria in Gramnegative organisms.