IDCC - Word Related Documents




#
Rank
Similarity
Title + Abs.
Year
PMID
012345
602000.8890Safety evaluation of Lactococcus lactis IDCC 2301 isolated from homemade cheese. For applications of microorganisms as probiotics in the food industry, safety evaluation has increasingly become important to ensure the health of consumers. Although people have been using various lactic acid bacteria for different purposes, some studies have reported that certain lactic acid bacteria exhibit properties of virulence and produce toxic compounds. Thus, it is necessary to examine the characteristics associated with lactic acid bacteria that are safe for use as probiotics. This research aimed to assess the safety of Lactococcus lactis IDCC 2301 isolated from homemade cheese using in vitro and in vivo assays, including antibiotic resistance, hemolytic activity, toxin production, infectivity, and metabolic activity in immune-compromised animal species. The results demonstrated that the strain was susceptible to nine antibiotics suggested by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Whole-genome analysis revealed that L. lactis IDCC 2301 neither has toxigenic genes nor harbors antibiotic resistance. Moreover, L. lactis IDCC 2301 showed neither hemolytic nor β-glucuronidase activity. Furthermore, none of the D-lactate and biogenic amines were produced by L. lactis IDCC 2301. Finally, it was demonstrated that there was no toxicity and mortality using single-dose oral toxicity tests in rats. These results indicate that L. lactis IDCC 2301 can be safely used as probiotics for human consumption.202235035910
64710.8812Expression of an additional cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide protects against bacterial skin infection. Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides are effectors of innate immune defense in mammals. Humans and mice have only one cathelicidin gene, whereas domesticated mammals such as the pig, cow, and horse have multiple cathelicidin genes. We hypothesized that the evolution of multiple cathelicidin genes provides these animals with enhanced resistance to infection. To test this, we investigated the effects of the addition of cathelicidins by combining synthetic cathelicidin peptides in vitro, by producing human keratinocytes that overexpress cathelicidins in culture, or by producing transgenic mice that constitutively overexpress cathelicidins in vivo. The porcine cathelicidin peptide PR-39 acted additively with human cathelicidin LL-37 to kill group A Streptococcus (GAS). Lentiviral delivery of PR-39 enhanced killing of GAS by human keratinocytes. Finally, transgenic mice expressing PR-39 under the influence of a K14 promoter showed increased resistance to GAS skin infection (50% smaller necrotic ulcers and 60% fewer surviving bacteria). Similarly constructed transgenic mice designed to overexpress their native cathelicidin did not show increased resistance. These findings demonstrate that targeted gene transfer of a xenobiotic cathelicidin confers resistance against infection and suggests the benefit of duplication and divergence in the evolution of antimicrobial peptides.200515728389
10120.8802The encapsulated strain TIGR4 of Streptococcus pneumoniae is phagocytosed but is resistant to intracellular killing by mouse microglia. The polysaccharide capsule is a major virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae as it confers resistance to phagocytosis. The encapsulated serotype 4 TIGR4 strain was shown to be efficiently phagocytosed by the mouse microglial cell line BV2, whereas the type 3 HB565 strain resisted phagocytosis. Comparing survival after uptake of TIGR4 or its unencapsulated derivative FP23 in gentamicin protection and phagolysosome maturation assays, it was shown that TIGR4 was protected from intracellular killing. Pneumococcal capsular genes were up-regulated in intracellular TIGR4 bacteria recovered from microglial cells. Actual presence of bacteria inside BV2 cells was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for both TIGR4 and FP23 strains, but typical phagosomes/phagolysosomes were detected only in cells infected with the unencapsulated strain. In a mouse model of meningitis based on intracranic inoculation of pneumococci, TIGR4 caused lethal meningitis with an LD(50) of 2 × 10² CFU, whereas the LD(50) for the unencapsulated FP23 was greater than 10⁷ CFU. Phagocytosis of TIGR4 by microglia was also demonstrated by TEM and immunohistochemistry on brain samples from infected mice. The results indicate that encapsulation does not protect the TIGR4 strain from phagocytosis by microglia, while it affords resistance to intracellular killing.201020615478
55130.8802virK and mig-14 constitute a PhoP-dependent operon and contribute to the intracellular survival and polymyxin B resistance of Salmonella Typhi. In bacteria, adjacent and functionally similar genes are typically transcribed as operons. The virulence genes virK and mig-14 are acquired through horizontal gene transfer in Salmonella. Previous studies have reported that these two genes have similar functions in terms of bacterial survival within macrophages and resistance to antimicrobial peptides. Nevertheless, the specific expression characteristics of the two genes remain unclear. This study revealed that virK and mig-14 were transcribed as a single operon in Salmonella Typhi. The virK-mig-14 operon was found to be activated under conditions of early hyperosmotic stress and polymyxin B stimulation, and its activation was dependent on the presence of the regulator PhoP. The luminescence assay demonstrated that the activity of the virK promoter was markedly elevated in an environment conducive to operon activation, whereas the mig-14 promoter exhibited no discernible change. This suggests that mig-14 is predominantly transcribed as a component of the operon. In the PhoP activation environment, which has a mildly acidic pH, low Mg(2+) levels, and intracellular macrophages, the virK-mig-14 operon exhibited significant activation. The absence of virK or mig-14 resulted in the impaired survival of Salmonella Typhi within macrophages and decreased its tolerance to polymyxin B. Collectively, this study shows that virK and mig-14 constitute an operon whose activation depends on PhoP and that it promotes S. Typhi's survival in macrophages and resistance to polymyxin B.202540345346
873640.8796Effects of intracanal irrigant MTAD Combined with nisin at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration levels on Enterococcus faecalis growth and the expression of pathogenic genes. Exposure to antibiotics is considered to be the major driver in the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and may induce diverse biological responses in bacteria. MTAD is a common intracanal irrigant, but its bactericidal activity remains to be improved. Previous studies have indicated that the antimicrobial peptide nisin can significantly improve the bactericidal activity of MTAD against Enterococcus faecalis. However, the effects of MTAD and its modification at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) levels on Enterococcus faecalis growth and the expression of pathogenic genes still need to be explored. In this study, the results of post-antibiotic effects (PAE) and post-antibiotic sub-MIC effects (PASME) showed that MTADN (nisin in combination with MTAD) had the best post-antibiotic effect. E. faecalis after challenge with MTAD was less sensitive to alkaline solutions compared with MTAN (nisin in place of doxycycline in MTAD) and MTADN. E. faecalis induced with sub-MIC of MTAD generated resistance to the higher concentration, but induction of E. faecalis with MTAN did not cause resistance to higher concentrations. Furthermore, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that the stress caused by sub-MIC exposure to MTAD, MTAN, or MTADN resulted in up- or down-regulation of nine stress genes and four virulence-associated genes in E. faecalis and resulted in different stress states. These findings suggested that nisin improved the post-antibacterial effect of MTAD at sub-MIC levels and has considerable potential for use as a modification of MTAD.201424603760
61650.8794Identification of lipoteichoic acid as a ligand for draper in the phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by Drosophila hemocytes. Phagocytosis is central to cellular immunity against bacterial infections. As in mammals, both opsonin-dependent and -independent mechanisms of phagocytosis seemingly exist in Drosophila. Although candidate Drosophila receptors for phagocytosis have been reported, how they recognize bacteria, either directly or indirectly, remains to be elucidated. We searched for the Staphylococcus aureus genes required for phagocytosis by Drosophila hemocytes in a screening of mutant strains with defects in the structure of the cell wall. The genes identified included ltaS, which encodes an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of lipoteichoic acid. ltaS-dependent phagocytosis of S. aureus required the receptor Draper but not Eater or Nimrod C1, and Draper-lacking flies showed reduced resistance to a septic infection of S. aureus without a change in a humoral immune response. Finally, lipoteichoic acid bound to the extracellular region of Draper. We propose that lipoteichoic acid serves as a ligand for Draper in the phagocytosis of S. aureus by Drosophila hemocytes and that the phagocytic elimination of invading bacteria is required for flies to survive the infection.200919890048
61460.8793Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum lack genes for lipid A biosynthesis and incorporate cholesterol for their survival. Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are agents of human monocytic and granulocytic ehrlichioses, respectively. They are extremely sensitive to mechanical stress and are pleomorphic gram-negative bacteria. Membrane incorporation of cholesterol from the eukaryotic host is known to be essential for other fragile and pleomorphic bacteria and mycoplasmas that lack a cell wall. Thus, we tested whether cholesterol is required for E. chaffeensis and A. phagocytophilum. Using a freeze fracture technique and biochemical analysis, these bacteria were found to contain significant levels of membrane cholesterol. These bacteria lack genes for cholesterol biosynthesis or modification. However, host cell-free bacteria had the ability to take up directly exogenous cholesterol or NBD-cholesterol, a fluorescent cholesterol derivative. Treatment of the bacteria with cholesterol extraction reagent methyl-beta-cyclodextrin caused their ultrastructural changes. Furthermore, pretreatment of the bacteria with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin or NBD-cholesterol deprived these bacteria of the ability to infect leukocytes, thus killing these obligate intracellular bacteria. Analysis of E. chaffeensis and A. phagocytophilum genome sequences revealed that these bacteria lack all genes for the biosynthesis of lipid A and most genes for the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, which confer structural strength to gram-negative bacteria. Taken together, these results suggest that human ehrlichiosis agents became cholesterol dependent due to the loss of these genes. As the first report of gram-negative bacteria incorporating cholesterol for survival, these findings offer insight into the unique nature of their parasitism and imply that cholesterol is important in the control of human ehrlichioses.200312933880
61370.87884-Hydroxy-2-nonenal antimicrobial toxicity is neutralized by an intracellular pathogen. Pathogens encounter numerous antimicrobial responses during infection, including the reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst. ROS-mediated oxidation of host membrane poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) generates the toxic alpha-beta carbonyl 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE). Although studied extensively in the context of sterile inflammation, research into 4-HNE's role during infection remains limited. Here, we found that 4-HNE is generated during bacterial infection, that it impacts growth and survival in a range of bacteria, and that the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes induces many genes in response to 4-HNE exposure. A component of the L. monocytogenes 4-HNE response is the expression of the genes lmo0103 and lmo0613, deemed rha1 and rha2 (reductase of host alkenals), respectively, which code for two NADPH-dependent oxidoreductases that convert 4-HNE to the product 4-hydroxynonanal (4-HNA). Loss of these genes had no impact on L. monocytogenes bacterial burdens during murine or tissue culture infection. However, heterologous expression of rha1/2 in Bacillus subtilis significantly increased bacterial resistance to 4-HNE in vitro and promoted bacterial survival following phagocytosis by murine macrophages in an ROS-dependent manner. Thus, Rha1 and Rha2 are not necessary for 4-HNE resistance in L. monocytogenes but are sufficient to confer resistance to an otherwise sensitive organism in vitro and in host cells. Our work demonstrates that 4-HNE is a previously unappreciated component of ROS-mediated toxicity encountered by bacteria within eukaryotic hosts.202133955352
62880.8788Resistance to bismuth among gram-negative bacteria is dependent upon iron and its uptake. Bismuth antimicrobial action is poorly understood. Many trivalent metals possess antibacterial activity, especially under low iron conditions. Protection of bacteria from the deleterious effects of bismuth and other trivalent metals was demonstrated in iron-fortified media. Near-equimolar quantities of Fe3+ neutralized the growth-inhibitory effects of 250 microM Bi3+. Resistance to bismuth action also depended on the production of virulence-related siderophores. Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila or Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing aerobactin, amonabactin or pyoverdin respectively, were most resistant to Bi3+. Enterochelin or pyochelin producers were less resistant to Bi3+, but more resistant than strains lacking siderophores. Purified pyoverdin restored Bi3+ resistance in a mutant lacking this siderophore, but not in one lacking the pyoverdin receptor. Bismuth-treated bacteria exhibited unique outer membrane proteins, similar in size to iron-repressible proteins. Thus, resistance to the inhibitory action of Bi3+ among Gram-negative bacteria is inversely related to iron concentration and strongly dependent on iron transport mechanisms. The data suggest that bismuth action is largely a nonspecific, competitive interference with iron-transport, related primarily to atomic valence Furthermore, resistance to Bi3+ among bacteria is predictive of virulence.19969023650
875290.8784Haemophilus influenzae responds to glucocorticoids used in asthma therapy by modulation of biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Glucocorticosteroids are used as a main treatment to reduce airway inflammation in people with asthma who suffer from neutrophilic airway inflammation, a condition frequently associated with Haemophilus influenzae colonization. Here we show that glucocorticosteroids have a direct influence on the behavior of H. influenzae that may account for associated difficulties with therapy. Using a mouse model of infection, we show that corticosteroid treatment promotes H. influenzae persistence. Transcriptomic analysis of bacteria either isolated from infected mouse airway or grown in laboratory medium identified a number of genes encoding regulatory factors whose expression responded to the presence of glucocorticosteroids. Importantly, a number of these corticosteroid-responsive genes also showed elevated expression in H. influenzae within sputum from asthma patients undergoing steroid treatment. Addition of corticosteroid to H. influenzae led to alteration in biofilm formation and enhanced resistance to azithromycin, and promoted azithromycin resistance in an animal model of respiratory infection. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that H. influenzae can respond directly to corticosteroid treatment in the airway potentially influencing biofilm formation, persistence and the efficacy of antibiotic treatment.201525995336
8726100.8780CRISPR-dCpf1 mediated whole genome crRNA inhibition library for high-throughput screening of growth characteristic genes in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LB1ba02. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LB1ba02 is generally recognized as food safe (GRAS) microbial host and important enzyme-producing strain in the industry. However, autolysis affects the growth of bacteria, further affecting the yield of target products. Besides, the restriction-modification system, existed in B. amyloliquefaciens LB1ba02, results in a low transformation efficiency, which further leads to a lack of high-throughput screening tools. Here, we constructed a genome-wide crRNA inhibition library based on the CRISPR/dCpf1 system and high-throughput screening of related genes affecting the cell growth and autolysis using flow cytometry in B. amyloliquefaciens LB1ba02. The whole genome crRNA library was first validated for resistance to the toxic chemical 5-fluorouracil, and then used for validation of essential genes. In addition, seven gene loci (oppD, flil, tuaA, prmA, sigO, hslU, and GE03231) that affect the growth characteristics of LB1ba02 were screened. Among them, the Opp system had the greatest impact on growth. When the expression of operon oppA-oppB-oppC-oppD-oppF was inhibited, the cell growth difference was most significant. Inhibition of other sites could also promote rapid growth of bacteria to varying degrees; however, inhibition of GE03231 site accelerated cell autolysis. Therefore, the whole genome crRNA inhibition library is well suited for B. amyloliquefaciens LB1ba02 and can be further applied to high-throughput mining of other functional genes.202337802457
8475110.8779Antibacterial Activity of Endophytic Bacteria Against Sugar Beet Root Rot Agent by Volatile Organic Compound Production and Induction of Systemic Resistance. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by endophytic bacteria have a significant role in the control of phytopathogens. In this research, the VOCs produced by the endophytic bacteria Streptomyces sp. B86, Pantoea sp. Dez632, Pseudomonas sp. Bt851, and Stenotrophomonas sp. Sh622 isolated from healthy sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and sea beet (Beta maritima) were evaluated for their effects on the virulence traits of Bacillus pumilus Isf19, the causal agent of harvested sugar beet root rot disease. The gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that B86, Dez632, Bt851, and Sh622 produced 15, 28, 30, and 20 VOCs, respectively, with high quality. All antagonistic endophytic bacteria produced VOCs that significantly reduced soft root symptoms and inhibited the growth of B. pumilus Isf19 at different levels. The VOCs produced by endophytic bacteria significantly reduced swarming, swimming, and twitching motility by B. pumilus Isf19, which are important to pathogenicity. Our results revealed that VOCs produced by Sh622 and Bt851 significantly reduced attachment of B. pumilus Isf19 cells to sugar beetroots, and also all endophytic bacteria tested significantly reduced chemotaxis motility of the pathogen toward root extract. The VOCs produced by Dez632 and Bt851 significantly upregulated the expression levels of defense genes related to soft rot resistance. Induction of PR1 and NBS-LRR2 genes in sugar beetroot slices suggests the involvement of SA and JA pathways, respectively, in the induction of resistance against pathogen attack. Based on our results, the antibacterial VOCs produced by endophytic bacteria investigated in this study can reduce soft rot incidence.202235722285
646120.8779Identification of 2 hypothetical genes involved in Neisseria meningitidis cathelicidin resistance. Cathelicidins play a pivotal role in innate immunity, providing a first barrier against bacterial infections at both mucosal and systemic sites. In this work, we have investigated the mechanisms by which Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) survives at the physiological concentrations of human and mouse cathelicidin LL37 and CRAMP, respectively. By analyzing the global transcription profile of MenB in the presence or absence of CRAMP, 21 genes were found to be differentially expressed. Among these genes, the hypothetical genes NMB0741 and NMB1828 were up-regulated. When either of the 2 genes was deleted, MenB resistance to cathelicidins was impaired in vitro. Furthermore, the deletion of either of the 2 genes substantially reduced MenB virulence, as measured by the number of bacteria found in the blood of infected animals. Altogether, these results indicate that NMB0741 and NMB1828 are novel genes that have never been described before and that are involved in MenB cathelicidin resistance.200818462162
8482130.8777Potential roles of IFI44 genes in high resistance to Vibrio in hybrids of Argopecten scallops. Vibrio bacteria are often fatal to aquatic organisms and selection of Vibrio-resistant strains is warranted for aquaculture animals. In this study, we found that hybrids between bay scallops and Peruvian scallops exhibited significantly higher resistance to Vibrio challenge, but little is available on its mechanism. Interferon induced protein 44 (IFI44), a member of the type I interferon (IFN) family, plays an important role in the IFN immune response in invertebrates, which may also participate in the resistance to Vibrio in scallops. To explore the roles of IFI44 genes in the resistance to Vibrio, they were identified and characterized in the bay scallop (designated as AiIFI44), the Peruvian scallop (designated as ApIFI44), and their reciprocal hybrids (designated as AipIFI44 and ApiIFI44, respectively). Their open reading frame (ORF) sequences were all 1434 bp, encoding 477 amino acids, but with large variations among the four genes. The AipIFI44 and ApiIFI44 exhibited higher similarity with ApIFI44 than with AiIFI44. All four genes have a TLDc structural domain with significant variations in sequences among them. Predicted differences in conformation and posttranslational modifications may lead to altered protein activity. We further demonstrated that the AiIFI44, AipIFI44 and ApiIFI44 expressed in all the tested tissues, with the highest expression in the gills and hepatopancreas. In response to Vibrio anguillarum challenge, the profile of mRNA expression of IFI44 gene differed among the bay scallops and the two hybrids. In the bay scallops, it increased at 6 h but dramatically decreased after 12-48 h. However, the mRNA expression of both AipIFI44 and ApiIFI44 decreased at 6 h but continuously increased thereafter and reached the highest value at 48 h. The results in the present study suggest the immune responds of IFI44 in scallops and it may be related to the higher resistance to Vibrio bacterial in hybrids.202336948367
539140.8774A role of ygfZ in the Escherichia coli response to plumbagin challenge. Plumbagin is found in many herbal plants and inhibits the growth of various bacteria. Escherichia coli strains are relatively resistant to this drug. The mechanism of resistance is not clear. Previous findings showed that plumbagin treatment triggered up-regulation of many genes in E. coli including ahpC, mdaB, nfnB, nfo, sodA, yggX and ygfZ. By analyzing minimal inhibition concentration and inhibition zones of plumbagin in various gene-disruption mutants, ygfZ and sodA were found critical for the bacteria to resist plumbagin toxicity. We also found that the roles of YgfZ and SodA in detoxifying plumbagin are independent of each other. This is because of the fact that ectopically expressed SodA reduced the superoxide stress but not restore the resistance of bacteria when encountering plumbagin at the absence of ygfZ. On the other hand, an ectopically expressed YgfZ was unable to complement and failed to rescue the plumbagin resistance when sodA was perturbed. Furthermore, mutagenesis analysis showed that residue Cys228 within YgfZ fingerprint region was critical for the resistance of E. coli to plumbagin. By solvent extraction and HPLC analysis to follow the fate of the chemical, it was found that plumbagin vanished apparently from the culture of YgfZ-expressing E. coli. A less toxic form, methylated plumbagin, which may represent one of the YgfZ-dependent metabolites, was found in the culture supernatant of the wild type E. coli but not in the ΔygfZ mutant. Our results showed that the presence of ygfZ is not only critical for the E coli resistance to plumbagin but also facilitates the plumbagin degradation.201021059273
104150.8773Bile Salt Hydrolases with Extended Substrate Specificity Confer a High Level of Resistance to Bile Toxicity on Atopobiaceae Bacteria. The bile resistance of intestinal bacteria is among the key factors responsible for their successful colonization of and survival in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we demonstrated that lactate-producing Atopobiaceae bacteria (Leptogranulimonas caecicola TOC12(T) and Granulimonas faecalis OPF53(T)) isolated from mouse intestine showed high resistance to mammalian bile extracts, due to significant bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. We further succeeded in isolating BSH proteins (designated LcBSH and GfBSH) from L. caecicola TOC12(T) and G. faecalis OPF53(T), respectively, and characterized their enzymatic features. Interestingly, recombinant LcBSH and GfBSH proteins exhibited BSH activity against 12 conjugated bile salts, indicating that LcBSH and GfBSH have much broader substrate specificity than the previously identified BSHs from lactic acid bacteria, which are generally known to hydrolyze six bile salt isomers. Phylogenetic analysis showed that LcBSH and GfBSH had no affinities with any known BSH subgroup and constituted a new BSH subgroup in the phylogeny. In summary, we discovered functional BSHs with broad substrate specificity from Atopobiaceae bacteria and demonstrated that these BSH enzymes confer bile resistance to L. caecicola TOC12(T) and G. faecalis OPF53(T).202236142891
726160.8773Regulation of antimicrobial resistance by extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors. Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors are a subfamily of σ(70) sigma factors that activate genes involved in stress-response functions. In many bacteria, ECF sigma factors regulate resistance to antimicrobial compounds. This review will summarize the ECF sigma factors that regulate antimicrobial resistance in model organisms and clinically relevant pathogens.201728153747
550170.8773The LiaFSR and BsrXRS Systems Contribute to Bile Salt Resistance in Enterococcus faecium Isolates. Two-component systems (TCSs) are dominant regulating components in bacteria for responding to environmental stimuli. However, little information is available on how TCSs in Enterococcus faecium respond to bile salts - an important environmental stimulus for intestinal bacteria. In this study, the gene expression of 2 TCSs, BsrXRS and LiaFSR, was positively correlated with survival rates of different E. faecium isolates during exposure to ox gall. Moreover, gene disruptions of bsrR, bsrS, liaS, and liaR significantly reduced the survival rates of E. faecium in the presence of ox gall. Finally, EMSA results indicated that BsrR functioned as a transcription regulator for expression of its own gene as well as lipoate-protein ligase A (lplA). Additional 27 potential target genes by BsrR were revealed through in silico analyses. These findings suggest that BsrXRS and LiaFSR systems play important roles in bile salt resistance in E. faecium.201931134041
197180.8772The Interaction of Klebsiella pneumoniae With Lipid Rafts-Associated Cholesterol Increases Macrophage-Mediated Phagocytosis Due to Down Regulation of the Capsule Polysaccharide. Klebsiella pneumoniae successfully colonizes host tissues by recognizing and interacting with cholesterol present on membrane-associated lipid rafts. In this study, we evaluated the role of cholesterol in the expression of capsule polysaccharide genes of K. pneumoniae and its implication in resistance to phagocytosis. Our data revealed that exogenous cholesterol added to K. pneumoniae increases macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. To explain this event, the expression of capsular galF, wzi, and manC genes was determined in the presence of cholesterol. Down-regulation of these capsular genes occurred leading to increased susceptibility to phagocytosis by macrophages. In contrast, depletion of cholesterol from macrophage membranes led to enhanced expression of galF, wzi, and manC genes and to capsule production resulting in resistance to macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Cholesterol-mediated repression of capsular genes was dependent on the RcsA and H-NS global regulators. Finally, cholesterol also down-regulated the expression of genes responsible for LPS core oligosaccharides production and OMPs. Our results suggest that cholesterol plays an important role for the host by reducing the anti-phagocytic properties of the K. pneumoniae capsule facilitating bacterial engulfment by macrophages during the bacteria-eukaryotic cell interaction mediated by lipid rafts.201931380298
9996190.8770In Situ Localization of Staphylococcus shinii and Staphylococcus succinus in Infected Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks: Implications for Biocontrol Strategies. Rhipicephalus microplus is a blood-sucking parasite that causes heavy infestations on cattle and is a vector for severe tick-borne diseases, such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis, and poses a significant threat to the cattle industry. Cattle ticks show increasing acaricide resistance, which creates an additional problem concerning the inefficient chemical control of tick populations in cattle-grazing areas, necessitating the exploration of alternative tick biocontrol methods. Our study aimed to demonstrate the acaropathogenic efficacy of two bacterial species during experimental infections on R. microplus. Our experimental data confirmed that S. shinii and S. succinus exhibited significant acaropathogenic properties against R. microplus, as demonstrated by the tracking of fluorescent-labeled bacteria within the engorged-tick body. Our experiments revealed that both bacterial species could infect the hemolymph, salivary glands, and vestibular vagina of the tick, inducing histological changes in the affected organs that may impair feeding as well as reproductive capabilities. Gené's organ infection was detected only in S. succinus. Our findings offer valuable insights for developing biocontrol strategies to manage Rhipicephalus microplus populations effectively.202439770285