Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, persists in nature through an enzootic cycle consisting of a vertebrate host and an Ixodes tick vector. The sequence motifs modified by two well-characterized restriction/modification (R/M) loci of B. burgdorferi type strain B31 were recently described, but the methylation profiles of other Lyme disease Borrelia bacteria have not been characterized. Here, the methylomes of B. burgdorferi type strain B31 and 7 clonal derivatives, along with B. burgdorferi N40, B. burgdorferi 297, B. burgdorferi CA-11, B. afzelii PKo, B. afzelii BO23, and B. garinii PBr, were defined through PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. This analysis revealed 9 novel sequence motifs methylated by the plasmid-encoded restriction/modification enzymes of these Borrelia strains. Furthermore, while a previous analysis of B. burgdorferi B31 revealed an epigenetic impact of methylation on the global transcriptome, the current data contradict those findings; our analyses of wild-type B. burgdorferi B31 revealed no consistent differences in gene expression among isogenic derivatives lacking one or more restriction/modification enzymes. IMPORTANCE The principal causative agent of Lyme disease in humans in the United States is Borrelia burgdorferi, while B. burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and B. garinii, collectively members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex, cause Lyme disease in Europe and Asia. Two plasmid-encoded restriction/modification systems have been shown to limit the genetic transformation of B. burgdorferi type strain B31 with foreign DNA, but little is known about the restriction/modification systems of other Lyme disease Borrelia bacteria. This paper describes the methylation motifs present on genomic DNAs of multiple B. burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and B. garinii strains. Contrary to a previous report, we did not find evidence for an epigenetic impact on gene expression by methylation. Knowledge of the motifs recognized and methylated by the restriction/modification enzymes of Lyme disease Borrelia will facilitate molecular genetic investigations of these important human pathogens. Additionally, the similar motifs methylated by orthologous restriction/modification systems of Lyme disease Borrelia bacteria and the presence of these motifs within recombinogenic loci suggest a biological role for these ubiquitous restriction/modification systems in horizontal gene transfer.
- MeSH
- Borrelia burgdorferi klasifikace genetika MeSH
- DNA bakterií genetika MeSH
- epigenomika * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lymeská nemoc mikrobiologie MeSH
- metylace MeSH
- nukleotidové motivy * MeSH
- plazmidy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- sekvenční analýza DNA * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural MeSH
We evaluated the prevalence and epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolates in pigs during production cycle on a Czech farm with the history of previous use of ceftiofur. ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were obtained from rectal swabs from pigs of different age groups (suckling piglets, weaned piglets, growers and sows). Collected samples were directly cultivated on MacConkey agar with cefotaxime (2 mg l-1 ), whereas intestinal swabs of slaughtered pigs and surface swabs from pig carcasses were also pre-enriched in buffered peptone water without antimicrobials before the cultivation. Clonal relationship of selected isolates was determined by XbaI pulse-field gel electrophoresis and multi-locus sequence typing. The transferability of plasmids carrying blaCTX-M genes was tested by conjugation experiments. From all examined samples, 141 (43·7%, n = 323) were positive for ESBL-producing E. coli. All ESBL-producing isolates showed resistance to multiple antimicrobials and were positive for blaCTX-M genes. The blaCTX-M-1 was carried by conjugative IncN/ST1 plasmids (c. 40-45 kb) while the blaCTX-M-15 was located on conjugative F plasmids with F:18:A5:B1 formula (c. 165 kb). This study demonstrated the persistence of CTX-M-positive E. coli isolates 2 months after banner of ceftiofur usage and indicated possible risk of transmission of these isolates to humans via the food chain.
- MeSH
- beta-laktamasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Escherichia coli enzymologie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- farmy MeSH
- infekce vyvolané Escherichia coli mikrobiologie patofyziologie veterinární MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- multilokusová sekvenční typizace MeSH
- nemoci prasat mikrobiologie patofyziologie MeSH
- plazmidy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- prasata růst a vývoj mikrobiologie MeSH
- proteiny z Escherichia coli genetika metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Colloidal-chemical characteristics of block/branched cationic and non-ionic polyamphiphiles containing poly(fluorine-alkyl methacrylate) (poly(FMA)) block and their intermolecular complexes with biopolymers were studied. The dependences of their surface activity and micelle size on the length of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks, as well as the length of side fluorine-alkyl branches were established. Poly(FMA)-block-poly(DMAEMA) was used for formation of interpolyelectrolyte complexes with plasmid DNA (pDNA) via their electrostatic interaction. Novel non-viral polyplexes were tested as gene delivery systems for mammalian cells. The results of DLS, TEM and MALDI-ToF studies demonstrated disaggregation of lysozyme (LYZ) aggregates in the presence of poly(FMA)-block-poly(NVP) and formation of the polyamphiphile…LYS complex possessing antibacterial action.
- MeSH
- DNA chemie metabolismus MeSH
- fluor chemie MeSH
- hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
- methakryláty chemie MeSH
- micely MeSH
- muramidasa chemie metabolismus MeSH
- plazmidy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- polyethylenglykoly chemie MeSH
- polymery chemie metabolismus MeSH
- technika přenosu genů MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Methylation of cytosines is an evolutionarily conserved epigenetic mark that is essential for the control of chromatin activity in many taxa. It acts mainly repressively, causing transcriptional gene silencing. In plants, de novo DNA methylation is established mainly by RNA-directed DNA-methylation pathway. Even though the protein machinery involved is relatively well-described, the course of the initial phases remains covert. RESULTS: We show the first detailed description of de novo DNA-methylation dynamics. Since prevalent plant model systems do not provide the possibility to collect homogenously responding material in time series with short intervals, we developed a convenient system based on tobacco BY-2 cell lines with inducible production of siRNAs (from an RNA hairpin) guiding the methylation machinery to the CaMV 35S promoter controlling GFP reporter. These lines responded very synchronously, and a high level of promoter-specific siRNAs triggered rapid promoter methylation with the first increase observed already 12 h after the induction. The previous presence of CG methylation in the promoter did not affect the methylation dynamics. The individual cytosine contexts reacted differently. CHH methylation peaked at about 80% in 2 days and then declined, whereas CG and CHG methylation needed more time with CHG reaching practically 100% after 10 days. Spreading of methylation was only minimal outside the target region in accordance with the absence of transitive siRNAs. The low and stable proportion of 24-nt siRNAs suggested that Pol IV was not involved in the initial phases. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that de novo DNA methylation is a rapid process initiated practically immediately with the appearance of promoter-specific siRNAs and independently of the prior presence of methylcytosines at the target locus. The methylation was precisely targeted, and its dynamics varied depending on the cytosine sequence context. The progressively increasing methylation resulted in a smooth, gradual inhibition of the promoter activity, which was entirely suppressed in 2 days.
- MeSH
- Caulimovirus genetika MeSH
- estradiol farmakologie MeSH
- malá interferující RNA genetika metabolismus MeSH
- metylace DNA * účinky léků MeSH
- plazmidy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- promotorové oblasti (genetika) MeSH
- RNA interference MeSH
- rostlinné buňky metabolismus MeSH
- tabák cytologie MeSH
- zelené fluorescenční proteiny antagonisté a inhibitory genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The gene mcr-1 conferring resistance to last-line antibiotic colistin has been reported globally. Here, we describe the first detection of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Russian wildlife, an isolate of Escherichia coli sequence type 2280 from a black kite (Milvus migrans) scavenging raptor. Whole-genome sequencing and plasmid transferability experiments revealed that mcr-1.1 was located on conjugative IncI2 plasmid pDR164 (59891 bp). Migratory black kites may contribute to the global spread of mobile colistin resistance.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- bakteriální léková rezistence genetika MeSH
- dravci mikrobiologie MeSH
- Escherichia coli účinky léků enzymologie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- infekce vyvolané Escherichia coli epidemiologie mikrobiologie přenos veterinární MeSH
- kolistin metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- migrace zvířat MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- plazmidy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny z Escherichia coli genetika MeSH
- sekvenování celého genomu MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Rusko MeSH
RNA-guided, engineered nucleases derived from the prokaryotic adaptive immune system CRISPR-Cas represent a powerful platform for gene deletion and editing. When used as a therapeutic approach, direct delivery of Cas9 protein and single-guide RNA (sgRNA) could circumvent the safety issues associated with plasmid delivery and therefore represents an attractive tool for precision genome engineering. Gene deletion or editing in adipose tissue to enhance its energy expenditure, fatty acid oxidation, and secretion of bioactive factors through a "browning" process presents a potential therapeutic strategy to alleviate metabolic disease. Here, we developed "CRISPR-delivery particles," denoted CriPs, composed of nano-size complexes of Cas9 protein and sgRNA that are coated with an amphipathic peptide called Endo-Porter that mediates entry into cells. Efficient CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene deletion of ectopically expressed GFP by CriPs was achieved in multiple cell types, including a macrophage cell line, primary macrophages, and primary pre-adipocytes. Significant GFP loss was also observed in peritoneal exudate cells with minimum systemic toxicity in GFP-expressing mice following intraperitoneal injection of CriPs containing Gfp-targeting sgRNA. Furthermore, disruption of a nuclear co-repressor of catabolism, the Nrip1 gene, in white adipocytes by CriPs enhanced adipocyte browning with a marked increase of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. Of note, the CriP-mediated Nrip1 deletion did not produce detectable off-target effects. We conclude that CriPs offer an effective Cas9 and sgRNA delivery system for ablating targeted gene products in cultured cells and in vivo, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for metabolic disease.
- MeSH
- bílá tuková tkáň cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- CRISPR-Cas systémy MeSH
- editace genu MeSH
- energetický metabolismus * MeSH
- genový targeting metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- plazmidy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- reportérové geny MeSH
- sekvence CRISPR MeSH
- tukové buňky metabolismus MeSH
- uncoupling protein 1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- hodnotící studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
Azospirillum brasilense has the ability of swimming and swarming motility owing to the work of a constitutive polar flagellum and inducible lateral flagella, respectively. The interplay between these flagellar systems is poorly understood. One of the key elements of the flagellar export apparatus is the protein FlhB. Two predicted flhB genes are present in the genome of A. brasilense Sp245 (accession nos. HE577327-HE577333). Experimental evidence obtained here indicates that the chromosomal coding sequence (CDS) AZOBR_150177 (flhB1) of Sp245 is essential for the production of both types of flagella. In an flhB1:: Omegon-Km mutant, Sp245.1063, defects in polar and lateral flagellar assembly and motility were complemented by expressing the wild-type flhB1 gene from plasmid pRK415. It was found that Sp245.1063 lost the capacity for slight but statistically significant decrease in mean cell length in response to transfer from solid to liquid media, and vice versa; in the complemented mutant, this capacity was restored. It was also shown that after the acquisition of the pRK415-harbored downstream CDS AZOBR_150176, cells of Sp245 and Sp245.1063 ceased to elongate on solid media. These initial data suggest that the AZOBR_150176-encoded putative multisensory hybrid sensor histidine kinase-response regulator, in concert with FlhB1, plays a role in morphological response of azospirilla to changes in the hardness of a milieu.
The capacity for anoxygenic photosynthesis is scattered throughout the phylogeny of the Proteobacteria. Their photosynthesis genes are typically located in a so-called photosynthesis gene cluster (PGC). It is unclear (i) whether phototrophy is an ancestral trait that was frequently lost or (ii) whether it was acquired later by horizontal gene transfer. We investigated the evolution of phototrophy in 105 genome-sequenced Rhodobacteraceae and provide the first unequivocal evidence for the horizontal transfer of the PGC. The 33 concatenated core genes of the PGC formed a robust phylogenetic tree and the comparison with single-gene trees demonstrated the dominance of joint evolution. The PGC tree is, however, largely incongruent with the species tree and at least seven transfers of the PGC are required to reconcile both phylogenies. The origin of a derived branch containing the PGC of the model organism Rhodobacter capsulatus correlates with a diagnostic gene replacement of pufC by pufX. The PGC is located on plasmids in six of the analyzed genomes and its DnaA-like replication module was discovered at a conserved central position of the PGC. A scenario of plasmid-borne horizontal transfer of the PGC and its reintegration into the chromosome could explain the current distribution of phototrophy in Rhodobacteraceae.
- MeSH
- fotosyntéza * MeSH
- fototrofní procesy MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- genom bakteriální MeSH
- molekulární evoluce * MeSH
- multigenová rodina MeSH
- operon MeSH
- plazmidy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- přenos genů horizontální * MeSH
- replikace DNA MeSH
- Rhodobacteraceae klasifikace genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Ten Enterobacteriaceae isolates collected in a Czech hospital carried blaKPC-positive plasmids of different sizes (∼30, ∼45, and ∼80 kb). Sequencing revealed three types of plasmids (A to C) with the Tn4401a transposon. Type A plasmids comprised an IncR backbone and a KPC-2-encoding multidrug resistance (MDR) region. Type B plasmids were derivatives of type A plasmids carrying an IncN3-like segment, while type C plasmids were IncP6 plasmids sharing the same KPC-2-encoding MDR region with type A and B plasmids.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky terapeutické užití MeSH
- beta-laktamasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Citrobacter freundii účinky léků enzymologie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- enterobakteriální infekce farmakoterapie epidemiologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- Escherichia coli účinky léků enzymologie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- exprese genu MeSH
- izoenzymy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- karbapenemy terapeutické užití MeSH
- Klebsiella pneumoniae účinky léků enzymologie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- mnohočetná bakteriální léková rezistence genetika MeSH
- Morganella morganii účinky léků enzymologie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- nemocnice MeSH
- otevřené čtecí rámce MeSH
- plazmidy chemie klasifikace metabolismus MeSH
- sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
- sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
- transpozibilní elementy DNA MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Lactococcus lactis is a food-grade lactic acid bacterium that is used in the dairy industry as a cell factory and as a host for recombinant protein expression. The nisin-controlled inducible expression (NICE) system is frequently applied in L. lactis; however new tools for its genetic modification are highly desirable. In this work NICE was adapted for dual protein expression. Plasmid pNZDual, that contains two nisin promoters and multiple cloning sites (MCSs), and pNZPolycist, that contains a single nisin promoter and two MCSs separated by the ribosome binding site, were constructed. Genes for the infrared fluorescent protein and for the human IgG-binding DARPin were cloned in all possible combinations to assess the protein yield. The dual promoter plasmid pNZDual enabled balanced expression of the two model proteins. It was exploited for the development of a single-plasmid inducible CRISPR-Cas9 system (pNZCRISPR) by using a nisin promoter, first to drive Cas9 expression and, secondly, to drive single guide RNA transcription. sgRNAs against htrA and ermR directed Cas9 against genomic or plasmid DNA and caused changes in bacterial growth and survival. Replacing Cas9 by dCas9 enabled CRISPR interference-mediated silencing of the upp gene. The present study introduces a new series of plasmids for advanced genetic modification of lactic acid bacterium L. lactis.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky farmakologie MeSH
- CRISPR-Cas systémy MeSH
- editace genu metody MeSH
- fermentace MeSH
- genetické inženýrství metody MeSH
- genom bakteriální * MeSH
- guide RNA, Kinetoplastida genetika metabolismus MeSH
- imunoglobulin G genetika metabolismus MeSH
- klonování DNA MeSH
- Lactococcus lactis genetika metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- methyltransferasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- nisin farmakologie MeSH
- plazmidy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- promotorové oblasti (genetika) účinky léků MeSH
- proteiny tepelného šoku genetika metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u bakterií * MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- transgeny * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
