Article
Ecology
Thomas James O'Brien, Wendy Figueroa, Martin Welch
Summary: The presence of diverse polymicrobial communities in the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis can hinder the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. A study showed that growth in a polymicrobial environment protects the target microorganism from the effects of specific antimicrobial agents. This decreased efficacy is found to have both physiological and genetic components.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daohan Jiang, Alexander L. Cope, Jianzhi Zhang, Matt Pennell
Summary: Variation in gene expression across lineages plays a crucial role in explaining phenotypic variation and adaptation. However, the assumption that mRNA levels can accurately represent protein levels has been challenged by studies showing weak correlations between the two measures across species. This discrepancy might be due to compensatory evolution between mRNA levels and translation regulation, but the conditions and strength of the correlation are still not well understood. A theoretical model of the coevolution of mRNA and protein levels reveals that compensatory evolution is common with stabilizing selection on protein levels, while under directional selection, mRNA levels and translation rates show negative correlations across lineages but positive correlations across genes. These findings offer insights into comparative studies of gene expression and provide a framework to distinguish biological and statistical hypotheses for the transcriptomic-proteomic mismatch.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mengshi Zhang, Kelly L. Michie, Daniel M. Cornforth, Stephen K. Dolan, Yifei Wang, Marvin Whiteley
Summary: Our understanding of bacterial physiology during human infection is limited, but recent studies that quantify bacterial mRNA levels in human-derived samples using transcriptomics are addressing this question. In this study, we measured the transcriptomes and proteomes of P. aeruginosa grown at different growth rates and found a positive correlation between mRNA and protein levels. We also developed an RNA-to-protein conversion factor that improved the predictivity of protein levels across strains and growth conditions. Overall, this study provides new insights and tools for understanding bacterial physiology from transcriptome data.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zeyang Lian, Zuoyi Yang, Weifeng Song, Mengge Sun, Yu Gan, Xiaoyan Bai
Summary: EPS production is a self-protection mechanism that helps microorganisms counteract adverse effects in unfavorable environments. The study found that protein content in EPS was the highest, and Cd(II) stress significantly increased EPS production in two strains of bacteria. The stress also led to the formation of specific chemical moieties. The addition of Cd(NO3)(2) effectively regulated EPS components, especially protein content, and improved adsorption capacity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Pawel Markwitz, Cedric Lood, Tomasz Olszak, Vera van Noort, Rob Lavigne, Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
Summary: The study found that phage-resistance emergence in bacterial populations had a key ecological impact and could be influenced by self and cross-resistance mechanisms. Using seven phages with distinct receptors to infect five Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, significant differences were observed in resistance mechanisms between strains, which were correlated with bacterial growth rates.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katja Kehl, Anja Schallenberg, Christiane Szekat, Cathrin Albert, Esther Sib, Martin Exner, Nicole Zacharias, Christiane Schreiber, Marjio Parcina, Gabriele Bierbaum
Summary: The study identified carbapenem-resistant bacteria in the wastewater of a large hospital, with high-risk clones potentially being directly disseminated into the environment. Two possible transmission pathways were identified, highlighting the need for remediation measures at both ends of the wastewater system.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silvia M. Caceres, Linda A. Sanders, Noel M. Rysavy, Katie R. Poch, Caroline R. Jones, Kyle Pickard, Tasha E. Fingerlin, Roland A. Marcus, Kenneth C. Malcolm, Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, David P. Nichols, Jerry A. Nick, Matthew Strand, Milene T. Saavedra
Summary: This study found that specific genes measured from peripheral blood leukocytes can predict clinical response to inhaled antibiotic therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis. Molecular quantification of systemic inflammation may indicate subgroups of CF patients with variations in underlying inflammation and with variable clinical responses to inhaled antibiotics.
Article
Microbiology
Zhongyou Li, Katja Koeppen, Victoria I. Holden, Samuel L. Neff, Liviu Cengher, Elora G. Demers, Dallas L. Mould, Bruce A. Stanton, Thomas H. Hampton
Summary: Researchers developed an algorithm called GAUGE, which automatically annotates GEO microbial data sets, increasing the percentage of analyzable data sets from 4% to 33%. The annotations provide valuable insights and facilitate the identification of consistent patterns of differential gene expression. Additionally, they created a web interface called GAPE for reanalyzing P. aeruginosa and E. coli transcriptomic data.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Qingli Dong, Linjun Sun, Taisong Fang, Yuan Wang, Zhuosi Li, Xiang Wang, Mengjie Wu, Hongzhi Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the mono- and dual-species biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes and P. aeruginosa under different culture conditions. Results showed the inhibitory effect of chicken juice on L. monocytogenes biofilm formation, as well as the dominance of P. aeruginosa in dual-species biofilms in certain culture mediums. The correlation between motility and biofilm formation was found to be insignificant.
Article
Environmental Sciences
T. S. Rejiniemon, R. Lekshmi, Hissah Abdulrahman Alodaini, Ashraf Atef Hatamleh, Rengasamy Sathya, Palaniselvam Kuppusamy, Munirah Abdullah Al-Dosary, M. Kalaiyarasi
Summary: This study screened three bacterial strains capable of degrading naphthalene (NAP) using an enrichment culture method. The identified strains were Bacillus cereus CK1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KD4, and Enterobacter aerogenes SR6. The bacterial consortium demonstrated efficient NAP degradation under optimal conditions, highlighting its potential for removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Christabel Ming Ming Koh, Lilian Siaw Yung Ping, Christopher Ha Heng Xuan, Lau Bee Theng, Hwang Siaw San, Enzo A. Palombo, Xavier Chee Wezen
Summary: This study developed a drug prediction algorithm using machine learning to identify potent LasR inhibitors for combating P. aeruginosa infection. By combining a Multilayer Perceptron algorithm with AdaBoostM1, the best model achieved a high accuracy in distinguishing active from inactive LasR inhibitors. The top-ranked compounds were further evaluated using molecular docking studies and showed better ligand-binding affinities than a known competitive LasR inhibitor, suggesting their potential as treatments for P. aeruginosa-associated infections.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li Li, Zuxian Xu, Ruipin Cao, Jiaxin Li, Chang-Jer Wu, Yinglu Wang, Hu Zhu
Summary: We investigated the influence of hydroxyl groups on the anti-quorum-sensing (anti-QS) and anti-biofilm activity of cyclic dipeptides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The presence of hydroxyl groups improved the inhibition of virulence factors and cytotoxicity, but reduced the ability to inhibit biofilm formation. These cyclic dipeptides interacted with the QS-related protein LasR, and the introduction of hydroxyl groups enhanced their self-assembly ability.
Article
Immunology
Paul Nicholls, Justin R. Clark, Carmen Gu Liu, Austen Terwilliger, Anthony W. Maresso
Summary: The study investigated the interaction between a newly discovered phage (ΦJB10) and antibiotics in treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. The results showed class-dependent interactions between ΦJB10 and antibiotics, with neutral to favorable interactions observed at later time points. The phage demonstrated synergy with antibiotics and acted as an adjuvant, reducing the concentration of antibiotics required to eliminate the biofilm. This highlights the potential value of phages like ΦJB10 in combating difficult-to-treat biofilm-based infections.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Isabelle R. Taylor, Laura A. Murray-Nerger, Todd M. Greco, Dawei Liu, Ileana M. Cristea, Bonnie L. Bassler
Summary: This study reveals specific protein interactions involving PqsE and the role of RhlR in these interactions. These findings contribute to the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and quorum sensing process in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Article
Microbiology
Marina K. Smiley, Doran C. Sekaran, Farhad Forouhar, Erica Wolin, Marko Jovanovic, Alexa Price-Whelan, Lars E. P. Dietrich
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a biofilm-forming pathogen with complex pathways of redox metabolism. This study reveals the role of cyanide in activating the expression of a gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is involved in cyanide resistance, fitness in biofilms, and virulence. The regulatory protein MpaR is identified as the key protein controlling the expression of this gene in response to endogenous cyanide. The findings demonstrate a novel scenario where cyanide acts as a signal to control gene expression in a bacterium that produces it endogenously.
Article
Microbiology
Alejandro Arce-Rodriguez, Debbie Pankratz, Matthias Preusse, Pablo I. Nikel, Susanne Haeussler
Summary: In response to the antibiotic crisis, researchers have explored strategies to sensitize bacteria to available antibiotics. By manipulating the redox homeostasis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, they found that increased NADH levels can lead to both higher antibiotic resistance and enhanced antibiotic killing through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Their findings also suggest that increased NADH levels can result in low-virulence phenotypes and reduced pathogenicity traits.
Article
Microbiology
Aaqib Sohail, Azeem A. Iqbal, Nishika Sahini, Fangfang Chen, Mohamed Tantawy, Syed F. H. Waqas, Moritz Winterhoff, Thomas Ebensen, Kristin Schultz, Robert Geffers, Klaus Schughart, Matthias Preusse, Mahmoud Shehata, Heike Baehre, Marina C. Pils, Carlos A. Guzman, Ahmed Mostafa, Stephan Pleschka, Christine Falk, Alessandro Michelucci, Frank Pessler
Summary: Excessive inflammation caused by viral infections, including influenza, can lead to severe illness and death. Itaconate, a metabolite that modulates the immune response, has been found to have antiviral effects and can redirect inflammatory responses. In this study, researchers investigated the effects of itaconate and its variants on the host's response to influenza A virus. They found that treatment with itaconate and its variants reduced viral replication and inflammation in both mice and human cells. The compounds also modulated interferon responses and reduced the release of pro-inflammatory chemokines. Overall, these findings suggest that itaconates could be used as immunomodulatory and antiviral interventions for influenza virus infection.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alexander Jeske, Alejandro Arce-Rodriguez, Janne G. Thoeming, Jurgen Tomasch, Susanne Haeussler
Summary: This study analyzed the transcriptional profiles and genomic sequence variations of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to uncover convergent changes in gene expression patterns. A defective IasR gene was found to be the cause of the majority of observed expression patterns, and lasR-deficient strains exhibited a transcriptional response consistent with biofilm growth without requiring an environmental trigger. These findings provide insights into the long-term evolutionary pathways and success of lasR mutants in clinical P. aeruginosa.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lisa Neffe, Lisa Abendroth, Willfried Bautsch, Susanne Haeussler, Juergen Tomasch
Summary: This study investigates the plasmid diversity and distribution patterns in clinical Escherichia coli isolates, highlighting their crucial role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarina Bense, Julius Witte, Matthias Preusse, Michal Koska, Lorena Pezoldt, Astrid Droge, Oliver Hartmann, Mathias Musken, Julia Schulze, Timm Fiebig, Heike Baehre, Sebastian Felgner, Andreas Pich, Susanne Haeussler
Summary: C-di-GMP signaling directly affects bacterial behavior by influencing protein functionality, and it can also have a global impact on gene transcription or translation. This study investigated the effects of changes in intracellular c-di-GMP levels on gene expression and protein production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and found that an increase in c-di-GMP levels caused a switch in phenotype before any changes in gene transcription or protein abundance were observed.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meike Schwan, Ariane Khaledi, Sven Willger, Kai Papenfort, Timo Glatter, Susanne Haeussler, Kai M. Thormann
Summary: The assembly and positioning of flagella are controlled by complex spatiotemporal control and mediated through various master regulators. In Shewanella putrefaciens CN-32, the abundance control of a few key components is sufficient for flagella assembly and motor activation, while independent regulators are responsible for flagellar number and positioning.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
C. Weber, T. Schultze, S. Goettig, J. Kessel, A. Schroeder, M. Tietgen, S. Besier, T. Burbach, S. Haeussler, T. A. Wichelhaus, D. Hack, V. A. J. Kempf, M. Hogardt
Summary: The study demonstrates that cefiderocol is the most effective antipseudomonal beta-lactam agent for multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with susceptibility rates of 46.6%, 48.4%, and 97.3% for ceftolozane-tazobactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, and cefiderocol, respectively. The most prevalent sequence type was ST235 (24.7%), followed by ST244, ST175, and ST233, all of which belong to the top 10 high-risk clones with worldwide distribution. Surveillance studies should pay special attention to MDR and highly virulent VIM- and ExoU-producing variants of ST235. Cefiderocol is the preferred treatment option for infections caused by carbapenemase-producing MDR P. aeruginosa, and it has shown favorable outcomes in complicated urinary tract infections and hospital-acquired pneumonia.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biology
Gang Wang, Jean-Michel Brunel, Matthias Preusse, Negar Mozaheb, Sven D. Willger, Gerald Larrouy-Maumus, Pieter Baatsen, Susanne Haeussler, Jean-Michel Bolla, Francoise Van Bambeke
Summary: The polyaminoisoprenyl compound NV716 re-sensitizes Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antibiotics by permeabilizing the outer membrane and increases the activity of antibiotics on biofilms.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sebastian Roman Borgert, Steffi Henke, Florian Witzgall, Stefan Schmelz, Susanne zur Lage, Sven-Kevin Hotop, Steffi Stephen, Dennis Luebken, Jonas Krueger, Nicolas Oswaldo Gomez, Marco van Ham, Lothar Jaensch, Markus Kalesse, Andreas Pich, Mark Broenstrup, Susanne Haeussler, Wulf Blankenfeldt
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant pathogen in nosocomial and chronic infections. This study reveals the interaction mechanism between PqsE and RhlR, and identifies essential residues for their interaction. Additionally, the study provides evidence for the chaperone-like activity of PqsE and lays the groundwork for developing new pharmaceuticals targeting P. aeruginosa.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lisa Neffe, Taya L. Forde, Katarina Oravcova, Ute Koehler, Wilfried Bautsch, Juergen Tomasch, Susanne Haeussler
Summary: This study used whole-genome sequencing to describe the population structure of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from a German community hospital. The study found a high proportion of globally disseminated ST131 strains among E. coli isolates, while K. pneumoniae isolates showed wider diversity of STs. Genetic analysis revealed multiple introductions of ST131 strains and a regional clustering of clinical isolates. Patient-to-patient transmission was rare, suggesting a primarily community and regional acquisition of ESBL-producing strains.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Michal Koska, Adrian Kordes, Jelena Erdmann, Sven D. Willger, Janne G. Thoeming, Heike Baehre, Susanne Haeussler
Summary: This study reveals that the regulation of c-di-GMP levels and colony morphology in Pseudomonas aeruginosa can follow different evolutionary paths. The delayed switching of c-di-GMP levels in response to fluctuating environmental conditions may provide a unique opportunity to close the gap between short-term phenotypic and long-term genetic adaptation.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kathrin Alpers, Elisabeth Vatareck, Lothar Groebe, Mathias Muesken, Maren Scharfe, Susanne Haeussler, Jurgen Tomasch
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa undergoes a transition from fast growth with overlapping cell cycles to sustained slow growth with non-overlapping cell cycles when cultivated under standard laboratory conditions. This transition is characterized by sequential changes in transcriptional activity along the chromosome and a shift in quorum sensing activity. RNA sequencing of subpopulations identified distinct gene expression patterns for replicating and nonreplicating cells.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Debbie Pankratz, Nicolas Oswaldo Gomez, Agnes Nielsen, Ayten Mustafayeva, Melisa Guer, Fabian Arce-Rodriguez, Pablo Ivan Nikel, Susanne Haeussler, Alejandro Arce-Rodriguez
Summary: Much of our current understanding of microbiology is based on the application of genetic engineering procedures. In this article, a method for precise and efficient engineering of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is presented. This method utilizes targeted double-strand DNA breaks and efficient recombinase to introduce a range of genetic modifications, reducing the time required for these manipulations.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Janne G. Thoming, Susanne Haeussler
Summary: This chapter reviews recent developments in transcriptional profiling of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and explains how advanced RNA-seq technology can provide new insights into the establishment and maintenance of these infections. It also discusses the use of large transcriptome datasets from clinical isolates to gain a greater understanding of bacterial adaptation during the infection process. Global genotype phenotype correlation studies have shed light on new evolutionary pathways and strategies used by P. aeruginosa to build a biofilm.
PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA: Biology, Pathogenesis and Control Strategies
(2022)
