Publications
59 results found
Shahin M, Sheppard D, Raynaud C, et al., 2023, Characterization of a glycan-binding complex of minor pilins completes theanalysis of Streptococcus sanguinis type 4 pili subunits, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, Vol: 120, ISSN: 0027-8424
Type 4 filaments (T4F)—of which type 4 pili (T4P) are the archetype—are a superfamily of nanomachines nearly ubiquitous in prokaryotes. T4F are polymers of one major pilin, which also contain minor pilins whose roles are often poorly understood. Here, we complete the structure/function analysis of the full set of T4P pilins in the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Streptococcus sanguinis. We determined the structure of the minor pilin PilA, which is unexpectedly similar to one of the subunits of a tip-located complex of four minor pilins, widely conserved in T4F. We found that PilA interacts and dramatically stabilizes the minor pilin PilC. We determined the structure of PilC, showing that it is a modular pilin with a lectin module binding a subset of glycans prevalent in the human glycome, the host of S. sanguinis. Altogether, our findings support a model whereby the minor pilins in S. sanguinis T4P form a tip-located complex promoting adhesion to various host receptors. This has general implications for T4F.
Raynaud C, Sheppard D, Berry J, et al., 2021, PilB from Streptococcus sanguinis is a bimodular type IV pilin with a direct role in adhesion, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, Vol: 118, Pages: 1-10, ISSN: 0027-8424
Type IV pili (T4P) are functionally versatile filamentous nanomachines, nearly ubiquitous in prokaryotes. They are predominantly polymers of one major pilin but also contain minor pilins whose functions are often poorly defined and likely to be diverse. Here, we show that the minor pilin PilB from the T4P of Streptococcus sanguinis displays an unusual bimodular three-dimensional structure with a bulky von Willebrand factor A–like (vWA) module “grafted” onto a small pilin module via a short loop. Structural modeling suggests that PilB is only compatible with a localization at the tip of T4P. By performing a detailed functional analysis, we found that 1) the vWA module contains a canonical metal ion–dependent adhesion site, preferentially binding Mg2+ and Mn2+, 2) abolishing metal binding has no impact on the structure of PilB or piliation, 3) metal binding is important for S. sanguinis T4P–mediated twitching motility and adhesion to eukaryotic cells, and 4) the vWA module shows an intrinsic binding ability to several host proteins. These findings reveal an elegant yet simple evolutionary tinkering strategy to increase T4P functional versatility by grafting a functional module onto a pilin for presentation by the filaments. This strategy appears to have been extensively used by bacteria, in which modular pilins are widespread and exhibit an astonishing variety of architectures.
Muir A, Gurung I, Cehovin A, et al., 2020, Construction of a complete set of Neisseria meningitidis mutants and its use for the phenotypic profiling of this human pathogen., Nat Commun, Vol: 11
The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis causes life-threatening meningitis and sepsis. Here, we construct a complete collection of defined mutants in protein-coding genes of this organism, identifying all genes that are essential under laboratory conditions. The collection, named NeMeSys 2.0, consists of individual mutants in 1584 non-essential genes. We identify 391 essential genes, which are associated with basic functions such as expression and preservation of genome information, cell membrane structure and function, and metabolism. We use this collection to shed light on the functions of diverse genes, including a gene encoding a member of a previously unrecognised class of histidinol-phosphatases; a set of 20 genes required for type IV pili function; and several conditionally essential genes encoding antitoxins and/or immunity proteins. We expect that NeMeSys 2.0 will facilitate the phenotypic profiling of a major human bacterial pathogen.
Sheppard D, Berry J-L, Denise R, et al., 2020, The major subunit of widespread competence pili exhibits a novel and conserved type IV pilin fold., J Biol Chem, Vol: 295, Pages: 6594-6604
Type IV filaments (T4F), which are helical assemblies of type IV pilins, constitute a superfamily of filamentous nanomachines virtually ubiquitous in prokaryotes that mediate a wide variety of functions. The competence (Com) pilus is a widespread T4F, mediating DNA uptake (the first step in natural transformation) in bacteria with one membrane (monoderms), an important mechanism of horizontal gene transfer. Here, we report the results of genomic, phylogenetic, and structural analyses of ComGC, the major pilin subunit of Com pili. By performing a global comparative analysis, we show that Com pili genes are virtually ubiquitous in Bacilli, a major monoderm class of Firmicutes. This also revealed that ComGC displays extensive sequence conservation, defining a monophyletic group among type IV pilins. We further report ComGC solution structures from two naturally competent human pathogens, Streptococcus sanguinis (ComGCSS) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (ComGCSP), revealing that this pilin displays extensive structural conservation. Strikingly, ComGCSS and ComGCSP exhibit a novel type IV pilin fold that is purely helical. Results from homology modeling analyses suggest that the unusual structure of ComGC is compatible with helical filament assembly. Because ComGC displays such a widespread distribution, these results have implications for hundreds of monoderm species.
Pelicic V, 2019, Monoderm bacteria: the new frontier for type IV pilus biology., Mol Microbiol, Vol: 112, Pages: 1674-1683
In the diverse world of bacterial pili, type IV pili (Tfp) are unique for two reasons: their multifunctionality and ubiquity. This latter feature offers an extraordinary possibility, that is, to perform comparative studies in evolutionarily distant species in order to improve our fragmentary understanding of Tfp biology. Regrettably, such potential has remained largely untapped, because, for 20 years, Tfp have only been characterised in diderm bacteria. However, recent studies of Tfp in monoderms have started closing the gap, revealing many interesting commonalities and a few significant differences, extending the frontiers of knowledge of Tfp biology. Here, I review the current state of the art of the Tfp field in monoderm bacteria and discuss resulting implications for our general understanding of the assembly and function of these widespread filamentous nanomachines.
Berry J-L, Gurung I, Anonsen JH, et al., 2019, Global biochemical and structural analysis of the type IV pilus from the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus sanguinis., J Biol Chem, Vol: 294, Pages: 6796-6808
Type IV pili (Tfp) are functionally versatile filaments, widespread in prokaryotes, that belong to a large class of filamentous nanomachines known as type IV filaments (Tff). Although Tfp have been extensively studied in several Gram-negative pathogens where they function as key virulence factors, many aspects of their biology remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a global biochemical and structural analysis of Tfp in a recently emerged Gram-positive model, Streptococcus sanguinis In particular, we focused on the five pilins and pilin-like proteins involved in Tfp biology in S. sanguinis We found that the two major pilins, PilE1 and PilE2, (i) follow widely conserved principles for processing by the prepilin peptidase PilD and for assembly into filaments; (ii) display only one of the post-translational modifications frequently found in pilins, i.e. a methylated N terminus; (iii) are found in the same heteropolymeric filaments; and (iv) are not functionally equivalent. The 3D structure of PilE1, solved by NMR, revealed a classical pilin-fold with a highly unusual flexible C terminus. Intriguingly, PilE1 more closely resembles pseudopilins forming shorter Tff than bona fide Tfp-forming major pilins, underlining the evolutionary relatedness among different Tff. Finally, we show that S. sanguinis Tfp contain a low abundance of three additional proteins processed by PilD, the minor pilins PilA, PilB, and PilC. These findings provide the first global biochemical and structural picture of a Gram-positive Tfp and have fundamental implications for our understanding of a widespread class of filamentous nanomachines.
Goosens VJ, Busch A, Georgiadou M, et al., 2017, Reconstitution of a minimal machinery capable of assembling periplasmic type IV pili., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 114, Pages: E4978-E4986
Type IV pili (Tfp), which are key virulence factors in many bacterial pathogens, define a large group of multipurpose filamentous nanomachines widespread in Bacteria and Archaea. Tfp biogenesis is a complex multistep process, which relies on macromolecular assemblies composed of 15 conserved proteins in model gram-negative species. To improve our limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms of filament assembly, we have used a synthetic biology approach to reconstitute, in a nonnative heterologous host, a minimal machinery capable of building Tfp. Here we show that eight synthetic genes are sufficient to promote filament assembly and that the corresponding proteins form a macromolecular complex at the cytoplasmic membrane, which we have purified and characterized biochemically. Our results contribute to a better mechanistic understanding of the assembly of remarkable dynamic filaments nearly ubiquitous in prokaryotes.
Gurung I, Berry J-L, Hall AMJ, et al., 2017, Cloning-independent markerless gene editing in Streptococcus sanguinis: novel insights in type IV pilus biology., Nucleic Acids Res, Vol: 45
Streptococcus sanguinis, a naturally competent opportunistic human pathogen, is a Gram-positive workhorse for genomics. It has recently emerged as a model for the study of type IV pili (Tfp)-exceptionally widespread and important prokaryotic filaments. To enhance genetic manipulation of Streptococcus sanguinis, we have developed a cloning-independent methodology, which uses a counterselectable marker and allows sophisticated markerless gene editing in situ. We illustrate the utility of this methodology by answering several questions regarding Tfp biology by (i) deleting single or mutiple genes, (ii) altering specific bases in genes of interest, and (iii) engineering genes to encode proteins with appended affinity tags. We show that (i) the last six genes in the pil locus harbouring all the genes dedicated to Tfp biology play no role in piliation or Tfp-mediated motility, (ii) two highly conserved Asp residues are crucial for enzymatic activity of the prepilin peptidase PilD and (iii) that pilin subunits with a C-terminally appended hexa-histidine (6His) tag are still assembled into functional Tfp. The methodology for genetic manipulation we describe here should be broadly applicable.
Berry J-L, Xu Y, Ward PN, et al., 2016, A Comparative Structure/Function Analysis of Two Type IV Pilin DNA Receptors Defines a Novel Mode of DNA Binding., Structure, Vol: 24, Pages: 926-934
DNA transformation is a widespread process allowing bacteria to capture free DNA by using filamentous nano-machines composed of type IV pilins. These proteins can act as DNA receptors as demonstrated by the finding that Neisseria meningitidis ComP minor pilin has intrinsic DNA-binding ability. ComP binds DNA better when it contains the DNA-uptake sequence (DUS) motif abundant in this species genome, playing a role in its trademark ability to selectively take up its own DNA. Here, we report high-resolution structures for meningococcal ComP and Neisseria subflava ComPsub, which recognize different DUS motifs. We show that they are structurally identical type IV pilins that pack readily into filament models and display a unique DD region delimited by two disulfide bonds. Functional analysis of ComPsub defines a new mode of DNA binding involving the DD region, adapted for exported DNA receptors.
Gurung I, Spielman I, Davies MR, et al., 2016, Functional analysis of an unusual type IV pilus in the Gram-positive Streptococcus sanguinis., Mol Microbiol, Vol: 99, Pages: 380-392
Type IV pili (Tfp), which have been studied extensively in a few Gram-negative species, are the paradigm of a group of widespread and functionally versatile nano-machines. Here, we performed the most detailed molecular characterisation of Tfp in a Gram-positive bacterium. We demonstrate that the naturally competent Streptococcus sanguinis produces retractable Tfp, which like their Gram-negative counterparts can generate hundreds of piconewton of tensile force and promote intense surface-associated motility. Tfp power 'train-like' directional motion parallel to the long axis of chains of cells, leading to spreading zones around bacteria grown on plates. However, S. sanguinis Tfp are not involved in DNA uptake, which is mediated by a related but distinct nano-machine, and are unusual because they are composed of two pilins in comparable amounts, rather than one as normally seen. Whole genome sequencing identified a locus encoding all the genes involved in Tfp biology in S. sanguinis. A systematic mutational analysis revealed that Tfp biogenesis in S. sanguinis relies on a more basic machinery (only 10 components) than in Gram-negative species and that a small subset of four proteins dispensable for pilus biogenesis are essential for motility. Intriguingly, one of the piliated mutants that does not exhibit spreading retains microscopic motility but moves sideways, which suggests that the corresponding protein controls motion directionality. Besides establishing S. sanguinis as a useful new model for studying Tfp biology, these findings have important implications for our understanding of these widespread filamentous nano-machines.
Berry J-L, Pelicic V, 2015, Exceptionally widespread nanomachines composed of type IV pilins: the prokaryotic Swiss Army knives., FEMS Microbiol Rev, Vol: 39, Pages: 134-154
Prokaryotes have engineered sophisticated surface nanomachines that have allowed them to colonize Earth and thrive even in extreme environments. Filamentous machineries composed of type IV pilins, which are associated with an amazing array of properties ranging from motility to electric conductance, are arguably the most widespread since distinctive proteins dedicated to their biogenesis are found in most known species of prokaryotes. Several decades of investigations, starting with type IV pili and then a variety of related systems both in bacteria and archaea, have outlined common molecular and structural bases for these nanomachines. Using type IV pili as a paradigm, we will highlight in this review common aspects and key biological differences of this group of filamentous structures.
Georgiadou M, Pelicic V, 2014, Bacterial Pili, Bacterial Pili, Editors: Barocchi, Telford, Publisher: CABI, ISBN: 9781780642550
This book discusses the synthesis, structure, evolution, function and role in pathogenesis of these complex structures, and their basis for vaccine development and therapeutics for Streptococcus pathogens.
Georgiadou M, Pelicic V, 2014, Type IV Pili: Functions and Biogenesis, BACTERIAL PILI: STRUCTURE, SYNTHESIS AND ROLE IN DISEASE, Editors: Barocchi, Telford, Publisher: CABI PUBLISHING-C A B INT, Pages: 71-84
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- Citations: 3
Loh E, Kugelberg E, Tracy A, et al., 2013, Temperature triggers immune evasion by Neisseria meningitidis., Nature, Vol: 502, Pages: 237-240
Neisseria meningitidis has several strategies to evade complement-mediated killing, and these contribute to its ability to cause septicaemic disease and meningitis. However, the meningococcus is primarily an obligate commensal of the human nasopharynx, and it is unclear why the bacterium has evolved exquisite mechanisms to avoid host immunity. Here we demonstrate that mechanisms of meningococcal immune evasion and resistance against complement increase in response to an increase in ambient temperature. We have identified three independent RNA thermosensors located in the 5' untranslated regions of genes necessary for capsule biosynthesis, the expression of factor H binding protein, and sialylation of lipopolysaccharide, which are essential for meningococcal resistance against immune killing. Therefore increased temperature (which occurs during inflammation) acts as a 'danger signal' for the meningococcus, enhancing its defence against human immune killing. Infection with viral pathogens, such as influenza, leads to inflammation in the nasopharynx with an increased temperature and recruitment of immune effectors. Thermoregulation of immune defence could offer an adaptive advantage to the meningococcus during co-infection with other pathogens, and promote the emergence of virulence in an otherwise commensal bacterium.
Cehovin A, Simpson PJ, McDowell MA, et al., 2013, Specific DNA recognition mediated by a type IV pilin., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 110, Pages: 3065-3070
Natural transformation is a dominant force in bacterial evolution by promoting horizontal gene transfer. This process may have devastating consequences, such as the spread of antibiotic resistance or the emergence of highly virulent clones. However, uptake and recombination of foreign DNA are most often deleterious to competent species. Therefore, model naturally transformable gram-negative bacteria, including the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis, have evolved means to preferentially take up homotypic DNA containing short and genus-specific sequence motifs. Despite decades of intense investigations, the DNA uptake sequence receptor in Neisseria species has remained elusive. We show here, using a multidisciplinary approach combining biochemistry, molecular genetics, and structural biology, that meningococcal type IV pili bind DNA through the minor pilin ComP via an electropositive stripe that is predicted to be exposed on the filaments surface and that ComP displays an exquisite binding preference for DNA uptake sequence. Our findings illuminate the earliest step in natural transformation, reveal an unconventional mechanism for DNA binding, and suggest that selective DNA uptake is more widespread than previously thought.
Berry J-L, Cehovin A, McDowell MA, et al., 2013, Functional analysis of the interdependence between DNA uptake sequence and its cognate ComP receptor during natural transformation in Neisseria species., PLoS Genet, Vol: 9
Natural transformation is the widespread biological process by which "competent" bacteria take up free DNA, incorporate it into their genomes, and become genetically altered or "transformed". To curb often deleterious transformation by foreign DNA, several competent species preferentially take up their own DNA that contains specific DUS (DNA uptake sequence) watermarks. Our recent finding that ComP is the long sought DUS receptor in Neisseria species paves the way for the functional analysis of the DUS-ComP interdependence which is reported here. By abolishing/modulating ComP levels in Neisseria meningitidis, we show that the enhancement of transformation seen in the presence of DUS is entirely dependent on ComP, which also controls transformation in the absence of DUS. While peripheral bases in the DUS were found to be less important, inner bases are essential since single base mutations led to dramatically impaired interaction with ComP and transformation. Strikingly, naturally occurring DUS variants in the genomes of human Neisseria commensals differing from DUS by only one or two bases were found to be similarly impaired for transformation of N. meningitidis. By showing that ComPsub from the N. subflava commensal specifically binds its cognate DUS variant and mediates DUS-enhanced transformation when expressed in a comP mutant of N. meningitidis, we confirm that a similar mechanism is used by all Neisseria species to promote transformation by their own, or closely related DNA. Together, these findings shed new light on the molecular events involved in the earliest step in natural transformation, and reveal an elegant mechanism for modulating horizontal gene transfer between competent species sharing the same niche.
Georgiadou M, Castagnini M, Karimova G, et al., 2012, Large-scale study of the interactions between proteins involved in type IV pilus biology in Neisseria meningitidis: characterization of a subcomplex involved in pilus assembly., Mol Microbiol, Vol: 84, Pages: 857-873
The functionally versatile type IV pili (Tfp) are one of the most widespread virulence factors in bacteria. However, despite generating much research interest for decades, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the various aspects of Tfp biology remain poorly understood, mainly because of the complexity of the system. In the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis for example, 23 proteins are dedicated to Tfp biology, 15 of which are essential for pilus biogenesis. One of the important gaps in our knowledge concerns the topology of this multiprotein machinery. Here we have used a bacterial two-hybrid system to identify and quantify the interactions between 11 Pil proteins from N. meningitidis. We identified 20 different binary interactions, many of which are novel. This represents the most complex interaction network between Pil proteins reported to date and indicates, among other things, that PilE, PilM, PilN and PilO, which are involved in pilus assembly, indeed interact. We focused our efforts on this subset of proteins and used a battery of assays to determine the membrane topology of PilN and PilO, map the interaction domains between PilE, PilM, PilN and PilO, and show that a widely conserved N-terminal motif in PilN is essential for both PilM-PilN interactions and pilus assembly. Finally, we show that PilP (another protein involved in pilus assembly) forms a complex with PilM, PilN and PilO. Taken together, these findings have numerous implications for understanding Tfp biology and provide a useful blueprint for future studies.
Nagorska K, Silhan J, Li Y, et al., 2012, A network of enzymes involved in repair of oxidative DNA damage in Neisseria meningitidis., Mol Microbiol, Vol: 83, Pages: 1064-1079
Although oxidative stress is a key aspect of innate immunity, little is known about how host-restricted pathogens successfully repair DNA damage. Base excision repair is responsible for correcting nucleobases damaged by oxidative stress, and is essential for bloodstream infection caused by the human pathogen, Neisseria meningitidis. We have characterized meningococcal base excision repair enzymes involved in the recognition and removal of damaged nucleobases, and incision of the DNA backbone. We demonstrate that the bi-functional glycosylase/lyases Nth and MutM share several overlapping activities and functional redundancy. However, MutM and other members of the GO system, which deal with 8-oxoG, a common lesion of oxidative damage, are not required for survival of N. meningitidis under oxidative stress. Instead, the mismatch repair pathway provides back-up for the GO system, while the lyase activity of Nth can substitute for the meningococcal AP endonuclease, NApe. Our genetic and biochemical evidence shows that DNA repair is achieved through a robust network of enzymes that provides a flexible system of DNA repair. This network is likely to reflect successful adaptation to the human nasopharynx, and might provide a paradigm for DNA repair in other prokaryotes.
Cehovin A, Kroll JS, Pelicic V, 2011, Testing the vaccine potential of PilV, PilX and ComP, minor subunits of Neisseria meningitidis type IV pili., Vaccine, Vol: 29, Pages: 6858-6865
Because meningitis and septicaemia caused by Neisseria meningitidis are major public health problems worldwide, the design of a broadly protective vaccine remains a priority. Type IV pili (Tfp) are surface-exposed filaments playing a key role in pathogenesis in a variety of bacterial species, including N. meningitidis, that have demonstrated vaccine potential. Unfortunately, in the meningococcus, the major pilus subunit PilE usually undergoes extensive antigenic variation and is therefore not suitable as a vaccine component. However, we have recently shown that N. meningitidis Tfp contain low abundance subunits PilX, PilV and ComP, collectively called minor pilins, that are highly conserved and modulate Tfp-linked functions key to pathogenesis. This prompted us to examine the vaccine potential of these proteins by assessing whether sera directed against them have bactericidal properties and/or are able to interfere with Tfp-linked functions. Here we show that minor pilin proteins are recognized by sera of patients convalescent from meningococcal disease and that antibodies directed against some of them can selectively interfere with Tfp-linked functions. This shows that, despite their apparent inability to elicit bactericidal antibodies, minor pilins might have vaccine potential.
Szeto TH, Dessen A, Pelicic V, 2011, Structure/function analysis of Neisseria meningitidis PilW, a conserved protein that plays multiple roles in type IV pilus biology., Infect Immun, Vol: 79, Pages: 3028-3035
Type IV pili (Tfp) are widespread filamentous bacterial organelles that mediate multiple functions and play a key role in pathogenesis in several important human pathogens, including Neisseria meningitidis. Tfp biology remains poorly understood at a molecular level because the roles of the numerous proteins that are involved remain mostly obscure. Guided by the high-resolution crystal structure we recently reported for N. meningitidis PilW, a widely conserved protein essential for Tfp biogenesis, we have performed a structure/function analysis by targeting a series of key residues through site-directed mutagenesis and analyzing the corresponding variants using an array of phenotypic assays. Here we show that PilW's involvement in the functionality of Tfp can be genetically uncoupled from its concurrent role in the assembly/stabilization of the secretin channels through which Tfp emerge on the bacterial surface. These findings suggest that PilW is a multifunctional protein.
Cehovin A, Winterbotham M, Lucidarme J, et al., 2010, Sequence conservation of pilus subunits in Neisseria meningitidis., Vaccine, Vol: 28, Pages: 4817-4826
The rapid onset and dramatic consequences of Neisseria meningitidis infections make the design of a broadly protective vaccine a priority for public health. There is an ongoing quest for meningococcal components that are surface exposed, widely conserved and can induce protective antibodies. Type IV pili (Tfp) are filamentous structures with a key role in pathogenesis that extend beyond the surface of the bacteria and have demonstrated vaccine potential. However, extensive antigenic variation of PilE, the major subunit of Tfp, means that they are currently considered to be unsuitable vaccine components. Recently it has been shown that Tfp also contain low abundance pilins ComP, PilV and PilX in addition to PilE. This prompted us to examine the prevalence and sequence diversity of these proteins in a panel of N. meningitidis disease isolates. We found that all minor pilins are highly conserved and the major pilin genes are also highly conserved within the ST-8 and ST-11 clonal complexes. These data have important implications for the re-consideration of pilus subunits as vaccine antigens.
Brown DR, Helaine S, Carbonnelle E, et al., 2010, Systematic functional analysis reveals that a set of seven genes is involved in fine-tuning of the multiple functions mediated by type IV pili in Neisseria meningitidis., Infect Immun, Vol: 78, Pages: 3053-3063
Type IV pili (Tfp), which mediate multiple phenotypes ranging from adhesion to motility, are one of the most widespread virulence factors in bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms of Tfp biogenesis and associated functions remain poorly understood. One of the underlying reasons is that the roles played by the numerous genes involved in Tfp biology are unclear because corresponding mutants have been studied on a case-by-case basis, in different species, and using different assays, often generating heterogeneous results. Therefore, we have recently started a systematic functional analysis of the genes involved in Tfp biology in a well-characterized clinical isolate of the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis. After previously studying 16 genes involved in Tfp biogenesis, here we report the characterization of 7 genes that are dispensable for piliation and potentially involved in Tfp biology. Using a battery of assays, we assessed piliation and each of the Tfp-linked functions in single mutants, double mutants in which filament retraction is abolished by a concurrent mutation in pilT, and strains overexpressing the corresponding proteins. This showed that each of the seven genes actually fine-tunes a Tfp-linked function(s), which brings us one step closer to a global view of Tfp biology in the meningococcus.
Rusniok C, Vallenet D, Floquet S, et al., 2009, NeMeSys: a biological resource for narrowing the gap between sequence and function in the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis., Genome Biol, Vol: 10
BACKGROUND: Genome sequences, now available for most pathogens, hold promise for the rational design of new therapies. However, biological resources for genome-scale identification of gene function (notably genes involved in pathogenesis) and/or genes essential for cell viability, which are necessary to achieve this goal, are often sorely lacking. This holds true for Neisseria meningitidis, one of the most feared human bacterial pathogens that causes meningitis and septicemia. RESULTS: By determining and manually annotating the complete genome sequence of a serogroup C clinical isolate of N. meningitidis (strain 8013) and assembling a library of defined mutants in up to 60% of its non-essential genes, we have created NeMeSys, a biological resource for Neisseria meningitidis systematic functional analysis. To further enhance the versatility of this toolbox, we have manually (re)annotated eight publicly available Neisseria genome sequences and stored all these data in a publicly accessible online database. The potential of NeMeSys for narrowing the gap between sequence and function is illustrated in several ways, notably by performing a functional genomics analysis of the biogenesis of type IV pili, one of the most widespread virulence factors in bacteria, and by identifying through comparative genomics a complete biochemical pathway (for sulfur metabolism) that may potentially be important for nasopharyngeal colonization. CONCLUSIONS: By improving our capacity to understand gene function in an important human pathogen, NeMeSys is expected to contribute to the ongoing efforts aimed at understanding a prokaryotic cell comprehensively and eventually to the design of new therapies.
Trindade MB, Job V, Contreras-Martel C, et al., 2008, Structure of a widely conserved type IV pilus biogenesis factor that affects the stability of secretin multimers., J Mol Biol, Vol: 378, Pages: 1031-1039
Type IV pili (Tfp) are arguably the most widespread pili in bacteria, whose biogenesis requires a complex machinery composed of as many as 18 different proteins. This includes the conserved outer membrane-localized secretin, which forms a pore through which Tfp emerge on the bacterial surface. Although, in most model species studied, secretin oligomerization and functionality requires the action of partner lipoproteins, structural information regarding these molecules is limited. We report the high-resolution crystal structure of PilW, the partner lipoprotein of the type IV pilus secretin PilQ from Neisseria meningitidis, which defines a conserved class of Tfp biogenesis proteins involved in the formation and/or stability of secretin multimers in a wide variety of bacteria. The use of the PilW structure as a blueprint reveals an area of high-level sequence conservation in homologous proteins from different pathogens that could reflect a possible secretin-binding site. These results could be exploited for the development of new broad-spectrum antibacterials interfering with the biogenesis of a widespread virulence factor.
Pelicic V, 2008, Type IV pili: e pluribus unum?, Mol Microbiol, Vol: 68, Pages: 827-837
The widespread role of pili as colonization factors in pathogens has long been recognized in Gram-negative bacteria and more recently in Gram-positive bacteria, making the study of these hair-like filaments a perennial hot topic for research. No other pili are found in as many or as diverse bacteria as type IV pili. This is likely a consequence of their ancient origin and unique ability to promote multiple and strikingly different phenotypes such as attachment to surfaces, aggregation, uptake of DNA during transformation, motility, etc. Two decades of investigations in several model species have shed some light on the structure of these filaments and the molecular basis of some of the properties they confer. Moreover, recent discoveries have led to a better knowledge of the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of type IV pili biogenesis. This brings us a few steps closer to understanding how these filaments are produced, but leaves us wondering whether (as in the famous motto that inspired the title) out of the many models studied will emerge one unifying mechanism.
Helaine S, Dyer DH, Nassif X, et al., 2007, 3D structure/function analysis of PilX reveals how minor pilins can modulate the virulence properties of type IV pili., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 104, Pages: 15888-15893, ISSN: 0027-8424
Type IV pili (Tfp) are widespread filamentous bacterial organelles that mediate multiple virulence-related phenotypes. They are composed mainly of pilin subunits, which are processed before filament assembly by dedicated prepilin peptidases. Other proteins processed by these peptidases, whose molecular nature and mode of action remain enigmatic, play critical roles in Tfp biology. We have performed a detailed structure/function analysis of one such protein, PilX from Neisseria meningitidis, which is crucial for formation of bacterial aggregates and adhesion to human cells. The x-ray crystal structure of PilX reveals the alpha/beta roll fold shared by all pilins, and we show that this protein colocalizes with Tfp. These observations suggest that PilX is a minor, or low abundance, pilin that assembles within the filaments in a similar way to pilin. Deletion of a PilX distinctive structural element, which is predicted to be exposed on the filament surface, abolishes aggregation and adhesion. Our results support a model in which surface-exposed motifs in PilX subunits stabilize bacterial aggregates against the disruptive force of pilus retraction and illustrate how a minor pilus component can enhance the functional properties of pili of rather simple composition and structure.
Chamot-Rooke J, Rousseau B, Lanternier F, et al., 2007, Alternative Neisseria spp. type IV pilin glycosylation with a glyceramido acetamido trideoxyhexose residue., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol: 104, Pages: 14783-14788, ISSN: 0027-8424
The importance of protein glycosylation in the interaction of pathogenic bacteria with their host is becoming increasingly clear. Neisseria meningitidis, the etiological agent of cerebrospinal meningitis, crosses cellular barriers after adhering to host cells through type IV pili. Pilin glycosylation genes (pgl) are responsible for the glycosylation of PilE, the major subunit of type IV pili, with the 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose residue. Nearly half of the clinical isolates, however, display an insertion in the pglBCD operon, which is anticipated to lead to a different, unidentified glycosylation. Here the structure of pilin glycosylation was determined in such a strain by "top-down" MS approaches. MALDI-TOF, nanoelectrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance, and nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole TOF MS analysis of purified pili preparations originating from N. meningitidis strains, either wild type or deficient for pilin glycosylation, revealed a glycan mass inconsistent with 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose or any sugar in the databases. This unusual modification was determined by in-source dissociation of the sugar from the protein followed by tandem MS analysis with collision-induced fragmentation to be a hexose modified with a glyceramido and an acetamido group. We further show genetically that the nature of the sugar present on the pilin is determined by the carboxyl-terminal region of the pglB gene modified by the insertion in the pglBCD locus. We thus report a previously undiscovered monosaccharide involved in posttranslational modification of type IV pilin subunits by a MS-based approach and determine the molecular basis of its biosynthesis.
Arraiano CM, Bamford J, Brüssow H, et al., 2007, Recent advances in the expression, evolution, and dynamics of prokaryotic genomes., J Bacteriol, Vol: 189, Pages: 6093-6100, ISSN: 0021-9193
Linhartova I, Basler M, Ichikawa J, et al., 2006, Meningococcal adhesion suppresses proapoptotic gene expression and promotes expression of genes supporting early embryonic and cytoprotective signaling of human endothelial cells., FEMS Microbiol Lett, Vol: 263, Pages: 109-118, ISSN: 0378-1097
Neisseria meningitidis colonizes the human nasopharynx and occasionally causes lethal or damaging septicemia and meningitis. Here, we examined the adherence-mediated signaling of meningococci to human cells by comparing gene expression profiles of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) infected by adherent wild-type, frpC-deficient mutant, or the nonadherent (DeltapilD) N. meningitidis. Pili-mediated adhesion of meningococci resulted in alterations of expression levels of human genes known to regulate apoptosis, cell proliferation, inflammatory response, adhesion and genes for signaling pathway proteins such as TGF-beta/Smad, Wnt/beta-catenin and Notch/Jagged. This reveals that adhering piliated meningocci manipulate host signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation while establishing a commensal relationship.
Carbonnelle E, Helaine S, Nassif X, et al., 2006, A systematic genetic analysis in Neisseria meningitidis defines the Pil proteins required for assembly, functionality, stabilization and export of type IV pili., Mol Microbiol, Vol: 61, Pages: 1510-1522, ISSN: 0950-382X
Although type IV pili (Tfp) are among the commonest virulence factors in bacteria, their biogenesis by complex machineries of 12-15 proteins, and thereby their function remains poorly understood. Interestingly, some of these proteins were reported to merely antagonize the retraction of the fibres powered by PilT, because piliation could be restored in their absence by a mutation in the pilT gene. The recent identification of the 15 Pil proteins dedicated to Tfp biogenesis in Neisseria meningitidis offered us the unprecedented possibility to define their exact contribution in this process. We therefore systematically introduced a pilT mutation into the corresponding non-piliated mutants and characterized them for the rescue of Tfp and Tfp-mediated virulence phenotypes. We found that in addition to the pilin, the main constituent of Tfp, only six Pil proteins were required for the actual assembly of the fibres, because apparently normal fibres were restored in the remaining mutants. Restored fibres were surface-exposed, except in the pilQ/T mutant in which they were trapped in the periplasm, suggesting that the PilQ secretin was the sole Pil component necessary for their emergence on the surface. Importantly, although in most mutants the restored Tfp were not functional, the pilG/T and pilH/T mutants could form bacterial aggregates and adhere to human cells efficiently, suggesting that Tfp stabilization and functional maturation are two discrete steps. These findings have numerous implications for understanding Tfp biogenesis/function and provide a useful groundwork for the characterization of the precise function of each Pil protein in this process.
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