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813500.9870Harnessing Genome Editing Techniques to Engineer Disease Resistance in Plants. Modern genome editing (GE) techniques, which include clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) and LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases (meganucleases), have so far been used for engineering disease resistance in crops. The use of GE technologies has grown very rapidly in recent years with numerous examples of targeted mutagenesis in crop plants, including gene knockouts, knockdowns, modifications, and the repression and activation of target genes. CRISPR/Cas9 supersedes all other GE techniques including TALENs and ZFNs for editing genes owing to its unprecedented efficiency, relative simplicity and low risk of off-target effects. Broad-spectrum disease resistance has been engineered in crops by GE of either specific host-susceptibility genes (S gene approach), or cleaving DNA of phytopathogens (bacteria, virus or fungi) to inhibit their proliferation. This review focuses on different GE techniques that can potentially be used to boost molecular immunity and resistance against different phytopathogens in crops, ultimately leading to the development of promising disease-resistant crop varieties.201931134108
813910.9863TAL effectors: highly adaptable phytobacterial virulence factors and readily engineered DNA-targeting proteins. Transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors are transcription factors injected into plant cells by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas. They function as virulence factors by activating host genes important for disease, or as avirulence factors by turning on genes that provide resistance. DNA-binding specificity is encoded by polymorphic repeats in each protein that correspond one-to-one with different nucleotides. This code has facilitated target identification and opened new avenues for engineering disease resistance. It has also enabled TAL effector customization for targeted gene control, genome editing, and other applications. This article reviews the structural basis for TAL effector-DNA specificity, the impact of the TAL effector-DNA code on plant pathology and engineered resistance, and recent accomplishments and future challenges in TAL effector-based DNA targeting.201323707478
61120.9858The Staphylococcus aureus FASII bypass escape route from FASII inhibitors. Antimicrobials targeting the fatty acid synthesis (FASII) pathway are being developed as alternative treatments for bacterial infections. Emergence of resistance to FASII inhibitors was mainly considered as a consequence of mutations in the FASII target genes. However, an alternative and efficient anti-FASII resistance strategy, called here FASII bypass, was uncovered. Bacteria that bypass FASII incorporate exogenous fatty acids in membrane lipids, and thus dispense with the need for FASII. This strategy is used by numerous Gram-positive low GC % bacteria, including streptococci, enterococci, and staphylococci. Some bacteria repress FASII genes once fatty acids are available, and "constitutively" shift to FASII bypass. Others, such as the major pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, can undergo high frequency mutations that favor FASII bypass. This capacity is particularly relevant during infection, as the host supplies the fatty acids needed for bacteria to bypass FASII and thus become resistant to FASII inhibitors. Screenings for anti-FASII resistance in the presence of exogenous fatty acids confirmed that FASII bypass confers anti-FASII resistance among clinical and veterinary isolates. Polymorphisms in S. aureus FASII initiation enzymes favor FASII bypass, possibly by increasing availability of acyl-carrier protein, a required intermediate. Here we review FASII bypass and consequences in light of proposed uses of anti-FASII to treat infections, with a focus on FASII bypass in S. aureus.201728728970
917930.9855A detailed landscape of CRISPR-Cas-mediated plant disease and pest management. Genome editing technology has rapidly evolved to knock-out genes, create targeted genetic variation, install precise insertion/deletion and single nucleotide changes, and perform large-scale alteration. The flexible and multipurpose editing technologies have started playing a substantial role in the field of plant disease management. CRISPR-Cas has reduced many limitations of earlier technologies and emerged as a versatile toolbox for genome manipulation. This review summarizes the phenomenal progress of the use of the CRISPR toolkit in the field of plant pathology. CRISPR-Cas toolbox aids in the basic studies on host-pathogen interaction, in identifying virulence genes in pathogens, deciphering resistance and susceptibility factors in host plants, and engineering host genome for developing resistance. We extensively reviewed the successful genome editing applications for host plant resistance against a wide range of biotic factors, including viruses, fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, nematodes, insect pests, and parasitic plants. Recent use of CRISPR-Cas gene drive to suppress the population of pathogens and pests has also been discussed. Furthermore, we highlight exciting new uses of the CRISPR-Cas system as diagnostic tools, which rapidly detect pathogenic microorganism. This comprehensive yet concise review discusses innumerable strategies to reduce the burden of crop protection.202235835393
813740.9855Modulation of Bacterial Fitness and Virulence Through Antisense RNAs. Regulatory RNAs contribute to gene expression control in bacteria. Antisense RNAs (asRNA) are a class of regulatory RNAs that are transcribed from opposite strands of their target genes. Typically, these untranslated transcripts bind to cognate mRNAs and rapidly regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this article, we review asRNAs that modulate bacterial fitness and increase virulence. We chose examples that underscore the variety observed in nature including, plasmid- and chromosome-encoded asRNAs, a riboswitch-regulated asRNA, and asRNAs that require other RNAs or RNA-binding proteins for stability and activity. We explore how asRNAs improve bacterial fitness and virulence by modulating plasmid acquisition and maintenance, regulating transposon mobility, increasing resistance against bacteriophages, controlling flagellar production, and regulating nutrient acquisition. We conclude with a brief discussion on how this knowledge is helping to inform current efforts to develop new therapeutics.202033747974
813650.9854Recent progress in CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing for enhancing plant disease resistance. Nowadays, agricultural production is strongly affected by both climate change and pathogen attacks which seriously threaten global food security. For a long time, researchers have been waiting for a tool allowing DNA/RNA manipulation to tailor genes and their expression. Some earlier genetic manipulation methods such as meganucleases (MNs), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) allowed site directed modification but their successful rate was limited due to lack of flexibility when targeting a 'site-specific nucleic acid'. The discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has revolutionized genome editing domain in different living organisms during the past 9 years. Based on RNA-guided DNA/RNA recognition, CRISPR/Cas9 optimizations have offered an unrecorded scientific opportunity to engineer plants resistant to diverse pathogens. In this report, we describe the main characteristics of the primary reported-genome editing tools ((MNs, ZFNs, TALENs) and evaluate the different CRISPR/Cas9 methods and achievements in developing crop plants resistant to viruses, fungi and bacteria.202336871676
921060.9854Plasmid maintenance systems suitable for GMO-based bacterial vaccines. Live carrier-based bacterial vaccines represent a vaccine strategy that offers exceptional flexibility. Commensal or attenuated strains of pathogenic bacteria can be used as live carriers to present foreign antigens from unrelated pathogens to the immune system, with the aim of eliciting protective immune responses. As for oral immunisation, such an approach obviates the usual loss of antigen integrity observed during gastrointestinal passage and allows the delivery of a sufficient antigen dose to the mucosal immune system. Antibiotic and antibiotic-resistance genes have traditionally been used for the maintenance of recombinant plasmid vectors in bacteria used for biotechnological purposes. However, their continued use may appear undesirable in the field of live carrier-based vaccine development. This review focuses on strategies to omit antibiotic resistance determinants in live bacterial vaccines and discusses several balanced lethal-plasmid stabilisation systems with respect to maintenance of plasmid inheritance and antigenicity of plasmid-encoded antigen in vivo.200515755571
814570.9852Emerging role for RNA-based regulation in plant immunity. Infection by phytopathogenic bacteria triggers massive changes in plant gene expression, which are thought to be mostly a result of transcriptional reprogramming. However, evidence is accumulating that plants additionally use post-transcriptional regulation of immune-responsive mRNAs as a strategic weapon to shape the defense-related transcriptome. Cellular RNA-binding proteins regulate RNA stability, splicing or mRNA export of immune-response transcripts. In particular, mutants defective in alternative splicing of resistance genes exhibit compromised disease resistance. Furthermore, detection of bacterial pathogens induces the differential expression of small non-coding RNAs including microRNAs that impact the host defense transcriptome. Phytopathogenic bacteria in turn have evolved effector proteins to inhibit biogenesis and/or activity of cellular microRNAs. Whereas RNA silencing has long been known as an antiviral defense response, recent findings also reveal a major role of this process in antibacterial defense. Here we review the function of RNA-binding proteins and small RNA-directed post-transcriptional regulation in antibacterial defense. We mainly focus on studies that used the model system Arabidopsis thaliana and also discuss selected examples from other plants.201323163405
815580.9850Gut bacteria enable prostate cancer growth. Testosterone-synthetizing gut bacteria drive resistance to therapy.202134618567
33190.9850MmpS4 promotes glycopeptidolipids biosynthesis and export in Mycobacterium smegmatis. The MmpS family (mycobacterial membrane protein small) includes over 100 small membrane proteins specific to the genus Mycobacterium that have not yet been studied experimentally. The genes encoding MmpS proteins are often associated with mmpL genes, which are homologous to the RND (resistance nodulation cell division) genes of Gram-negative bacteria that encode proteins functioning as multidrug efflux system. We showed by molecular genetics and biochemical analysis that MmpS4 in Mycobacterium smegmatis is required for the production and export of large amounts of cell surface glycolipids, but is dispensable for biosynthesis per se. A new specific and sensitive method utilizing single-chain antibodies against the surface-exposed glycolipids was developed to confirm that MmpS4 was dispensable for transport to the surface. Orthologous complementation demonstrated that the MmpS4 proteins are exchangeable, thus not specific to a defined lipid species. MmpS4 function requires the formation of a protein complex at the pole of the bacillus, which requires the extracytosolic C-terminal domain of MmpS4. We suggest that MmpS proteins facilitate lipid biosynthesis by acting as a scaffold for coupled biosynthesis and transport machinery.201021062372
8140100.9850Engineering plant disease resistance based on TAL effectors. Transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors are encoded by plant-pathogenic bacteria and induce expression of plant host genes. TAL effectors bind DNA on the basis of a unique code that specifies binding of amino acid residues in repeat units to particular DNA bases in a one-to-one correspondence. This code can be used to predict binding sites of natural TAL effectors and to design novel synthetic DNA-binding domains for targeted genome manipulation. Natural mechanisms of resistance in plants against TAL effector-containing pathogens have given insights into new strategies for disease control.201323725472
9085110.9850Mode of action and resistance studies unveil new roles for tropodithietic acid as an anticancer agent and the γ-glutamyl cycle as a proton sink. While we have come to appreciate the architectural complexity of microbially synthesized secondary metabolites, far less attention has been paid to linking their structural features with possible modes of action. This is certainly the case with tropodithietic acid (TDA), a broad-spectrum antibiotic generated by marine bacteria that engage in dynamic symbioses with microscopic algae. TDA promotes algal health by killing unwanted marine pathogens; however, its mode of action (MoA) and significance for the survival of an algal-bacterial miniecosystem remains unknown. Using cytological profiling, we herein determine the MoA of TDA and surprisingly find that it acts by a mechanism similar to polyether antibiotics, which are structurally highly divergent. We show that like polyether drugs, TDA collapses the proton motive force by a proton antiport mechanism, in which extracellular protons are exchanged for cytoplasmic cations. The α-carboxy-tropone substructure is ideal for this purpose as the proton can be carried on the carboxyl group, whereas the basicity of the tropylium ion facilitates cation export. Based on similarities to polyether anticancer agents we have further examined TDA's cytotoxicity and find it to exhibit potent, broad-spectrum anticancer activities. These results highlight the power of MoA-profiling technologies in repurposing old drugs for new targets. In addition, we identify an operon that confers TDA resistance to the producing marine bacteria. Bioinformatic and biochemical analyses of these genes lead to a previously unknown metabolic link between TDA/acid resistance and the γ-glutamyl cycle. The implications of this resistance mechanism in the context of the algal-bacterial symbiosis are discussed.201626802120
9192120.9849Antimicrobial peptides: Sustainable application informed by evolutionary constraints. The proliferation and global expansion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have deepened the need to develop novel antimicrobials. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are regarded as promising antibacterial agents because of their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and multifaceted mechanisms of action with non-specific targets. However, if AMPs are to be applied sustainably, knowledge of how they induce resistance in pathogenic bacteria must be mastered to avoid repeating the traditional antibiotic resistance mistakes currently faced. Furthermore, the evolutionary constraints on the acquisition of AMP resistance by microorganisms in the natural environment, such as functional compatibility and fitness trade-offs, inform the translational application of AMPs. Consequently, the shortcut to achieve sustainable utilization of AMPs is to uncover the evolutionary constraints of bacteria on AMP resistance in nature and find the tricks to exploit these constraints, such as applying AMP cocktails to minimize the efficacy of selection for resistance or combining nanomaterials to maximize the costs of AMP resistance. Altogether, this review dissects the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of utilizing AMPs against disease-causing bacteria, and highlights the use of AMP cocktails or nanomaterials to proactively address potential AMP resistance crises in the future.202235752270
8263130.9849CRISPR/Cas9: A Novel Weapon in the Arsenal to Combat Plant Diseases. Plant pathogens like virus, bacteria, and fungi incur a huge loss of global productivity. Targeting the dominant R gene resulted in the evolution of resistance in pathogens, which shifted plant pathologists' attention toward host susceptibility factors (or S genes). Herein, the application of sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs) for targeted genome editing are gaining more importance, which utilize the use of meganucleases (MN), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector-based nucleases (TALEN) with the latest one namely clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9). The first generation of genome editing technologies, due to their cumbersome nature, is becoming obsolete. Owing to its simple and inexpensive nature the use of CRISPR/Cas9 system has revolutionized targeted genome editing technology. CRISPR/Cas9 system has been exploited for developing resistance against virus, bacteria, and fungi. For resistance to DNA viruses (mainly single-stranded DNA viruses), different parts of the viral genome have been targeted transiently and by the development of transgenic plants. For RNA viruses, mainly the host susceptibility factors and very recently the viral RNA genome itself have been targeted. Fungal and bacterial resistance has been achieved mainly by targeting the host susceptibility genes through the development of transgenics. In spite of these successes CRISPR/Cas9 system suffers from off-targeting. This and other problems associated with this system are being tackled by the continuous discovery/evolution of new variants. Finally, the regulatory standpoint regarding CRISPR/Cas9 will determine the fate of using this versatile tool in developing pathogen resistance in crop plants.201830697226
8265140.9849Mathematical modelling of CRISPR-Cas system effects on biofilm formation. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), linked with CRISPR associated (Cas) genes, can confer adaptive immunity to bacteria, against bacteriophage infections. Thus from a therapeutic standpoint, CRISPR immunity increases biofilm resistance to phage therapy. Recently, however, CRISPR-Cas genes have been implicated in reducing biofilm formation in lysogenized cells. Thus CRISPR immunity can have complex effects on phage-host-lysogen interactions, particularly in a biofilm. In this contribution, we develop and analyse a series of dynamical systems to elucidate and disentangle these interactions. Two competition models are used to study the effects of lysogens (first model) and CRISPR-immune bacteria (second model) in the biofilm. In the third model, the effect of delivering lysogens to a CRISPR-immune biofilm is investigated. Using standard analyses of equilibria, stability and bifurcations, our models predict that lysogens may be able to displace CRISPR-immune bacteria in a biofilm, and thus suggest strategies to eliminate phage-resistant biofilms.201728426329
765150.9849Yeast ATP-binding cassette transporters: cellular cleaning pumps. Numerous ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins have been implicated in multidrug resistance, and some are also intimately connected to genetic diseases. For example, mammalian ABC proteins such as P-glycoproteins or multidrug resistance-associated proteins are associated with multidrug resistance phenomena (MDR), thus hampering anticancer therapy. Likewise, homologues in bacteria, fungi, or parasites are tightly associated with multidrug and antibiotic resistance. Several orthologues of mammalian MDR genes operate in the unicellular eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Their functions have been linked to stress response, cellular detoxification, and drug resistance. This chapter discusses those yeast ABC transporters implicated in pleiotropic drug resistance and cellular detoxification. We describe strategies for their overexpression, biochemical purification, functional analysis, and a reconstitution in phospholipid vesicles, all of which are instrumental to better understanding their mechanisms of action and perhaps their physiological function.200516399365
9060160.9848Targetable nano-delivery vehicles to deliver anti-bacterial small acid-soluble spore protein (SASP) genes. Interest in phage-based therapeutics is increasing, at least in part due to the need for new treatment options for infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It is possible to use wild-type (WT) phages to treat bacterial infections, but it is also possible to modify WT phages to generate therapeutics with improved features. Here, we will discuss features of Phico Therapeutics' SASPject technology, which modifies phages for use as targetable nano-delivery vehicles (NDV), to introduce antibacterial Small Acid Soluble Spore Protein (SASP) genes into specific target bacteria.202134723318
9155170.9848Polyphenols and their nanoformulations as potential antibiofilm agents against multidrug-resistant pathogens. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens is a major problem in the therapeutic management of infectious diseases. Among the bacterial resistance mechanisms is the development of an enveloped protein and polysaccharide-hydrated matrix called a biofilm. Polyphenolics have demonstrated beneficial antibacterial effects. Phenolic compounds mediate their antibiofilm effects via disruption of the bacterial membrane, deprivation of substrate, protein binding, binding to adhesion complex, viral fusion blockage and interactions with eukaryotic DNA. However, these compounds have limitations of chemical instability, low bioavailability, poor water solubility and short half-lives. Nanoformulations offer a promising solution to overcome these challenges by enhancing their antibacterial potential. This review summarizes the antibiofilm role of polyphenolics, their underlying mechanisms and their potential role as resistance-modifying agents.202438305223
8185180.9848RNA-cleaving DNAzymes as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent against antimicrobial resistant bacteria. The development of nucleic-acid-based antimicrobials such as RNA-cleaving DNAzyme (RCD), a short catalytically active nucleic acid, is a promising alternative to the current antibiotics. The current rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria renders some antibiotics useless against bacterial infection, thus creating the need for alternative antimicrobials such as DNAzymes. This review summarizes recent advances in the use of RCD as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent against AMR. Firstly, the recent diagnostic application of RCD for the detection of bacterial cells and the associated resistant gene(s) is discussed. The next section summarises the therapeutic application of RCD in AMR bacterial infections which includes direct targeting of the resistant genes and indirect targeting of AMR-associated genes. Finally, this review extends the discussion to challenges of utilizing RCD in real-life applications, and the potential of combining both diagnostic and therapeutic applications of RCD into a single agent as a theranostic agent.202234505182
9233190.9847The CRISPR/Cas bacterial immune system cleaves bacteriophage and plasmid DNA. Bacteria and Archaea have developed several defence strategies against foreign nucleic acids such as viral genomes and plasmids. Among them, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) loci together with cas (CRISPR-associated) genes form the CRISPR/Cas immune system, which involves partially palindromic repeats separated by short stretches of DNA called spacers, acquired from extrachromosomal elements. It was recently demonstrated that these variable loci can incorporate spacers from infecting bacteriophages and then provide immunity against subsequent bacteriophage infections in a sequence-specific manner. Here we show that the Streptococcus thermophilus CRISPR1/Cas system can also naturally acquire spacers from a self-replicating plasmid containing an antibiotic-resistance gene, leading to plasmid loss. Acquired spacers that match antibiotic-resistance genes provide a novel means to naturally select bacteria that cannot uptake and disseminate such genes. We also provide in vivo evidence that the CRISPR1/Cas system specifically cleaves plasmid and bacteriophage double-stranded DNA within the proto-spacer, at specific sites. Our data show that the CRISPR/Cas immune system is remarkably adapted to cleave invading DNA rapidly and has the potential for exploitation to generate safer microbial strains.201021048762