Social cheating in Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing

In a process termed quorum sensing, bacteria use diffusible chemical signals to coordinate cell density-dependent gene expression. In the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, quorum sensing controls hundreds of genes, many of which encode extracellular virulence factors. Quorum sensing is required for P. aeruginosa virulence in animal models. Curiously, quorum sensing-deficient variants, most of which carry a mutation in the gene encoding the central quorum sensing regulator lasR, are frequently isolated from acute and chronic infections. The mechanism for their emergence is not known. Here we provide experimental evidence suggesting that these lasR mutants are social cheaters that cease production of quorum-controlled factors and take advantage of their production by the group. We detected an emerging subpopulation of lasR mutants after approximately 100 generations of in vitro evolution of the P. aeruginosa wild-type strain under culture conditions that require quorum sensing for growth. Under such conditions, quorum sensing appears to impose a metabolic burden on the proliferating bacterial cell, because quorum-controlled genes not normally induced until cessation of growth were highly expressed early in growth, and a defined lasR mutant showed a growth advantage when cocultured with the parent strain. The emergence of quorum-sensing-deficient variants in certain environments is therefore an indicator of high quorum sensing activity of the bacterial population as a whole. It does not necessarily indicate that quorum sensing is insignificant, as has previously been suggested. Thus, novel antivirulence strategies aimed at disrupting bacterial communication may be particularly effective in such clinical settings.     

Identification of genes controlled by quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacteria communicate with each other to coordinate expression of specific genes in a cell density-dependent fashion, a phenomenon called quorum sensing and response. Although we know that quorum sensing via acyl-homoserine lactone (HSL) signals controls expression of several virulence genes in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the number and types of genes controlled by quorum sensing have not been studied systematically. We have constructed a library of random insertions in the chromosome of a P. aeruginosa acyl-HSL synthesis mutant by using a transposon containing a promoterless lacZ. This library was screened for acyl-HSL induction of lacZ. Thirty-nine quorum sensing-regulated genes were identified. The genes were organized into classes depending on the pattern of regulation. About half of the genes appear to be in seven operons, some seem organized in large patches on the genome. Many of the quorum sensing-regulated genes code for putative virulence factors or production of secondary metabolites. Many of the genes identified showed a high level of induction by acyl-HSL signaling.     

Correlation between group behavior and quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia

Background

This study investigated the correlation between the expression of the Las and Rhl quorum-sensing (QS) systems and the communal behavior (motility, biofilm formation, and pyocyanin production) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolated from patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Methods

We analyzed 138 P. aeruginosa isolates from 48 patients (30 men and 18 women; age 68.18±15.08 years). P. aeruginosa clinical isolates were assessed for Las and Rhl gene expression and bacterial motility, biofilm formation, and pyocyanin production.

Results

P. aeruginosa swimming, twitching, and swarming motility positively correlated with the expression of LasI, LasR, and RhlI (P<0.05) but not with that of RhlR (P>0.05). At all analyzed time points, a significant positive correlation was found between biofilm formation and the expression of LasI, LasR (P<0.01), and RhlI (P<0.05 for day 1, P<0.01 for days 7 and 14), whereas RhlR expression positively correlated with biofilm formation only on day 14 (P<0.05). On days 1 and 7, positive correlation was observed between pyocyanin production and the levels of LasI and RhlI (P<0.05). In bacterial clearance cases, the expression of QS-related genes and the group behavior of the pathogen did not correlate (P>0.05). However, in cases of persistent P. aeruginosa infection, the changes in LasI and LasR gene expression were positively correlated with those in bacterial motility (P<0.05), and the changes in LasI, LasR, RhlI, and RhlR expression showed a significant positive association with those in biofilm formation (P<0.01).

Conclusions

In patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia, the expression of the Las and Rhl QS genes was associated with bacterial motility, biofilm formation, and pyocyanin production, suggesting an involvement of the QS genes in the clearance of pathogenic P. aeruginosa in patients.     

Polyphosphate kinase is essential for biofilm development, quorum sensing, and virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The human opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes a variety of infections in immunocompromised hosts and in individuals with cystic fibrosis. A knockout mutation in the polyphosphate kinase (ppk) gene, encoding PPK responsible for the synthesis of inorganic polyphosphate from ATP, renders P. aeruginosa cells unable to form a thick and differentiated biofilm. The mutant is aberrant in quorum sensing and responses in that production of the quorum-sensing controlled virulence factors elastase and rhamnolipid are severely reduced. In a burned-mouse pathogenesis model, the virulence of the mutant is greatly reduced with severe defects in the colonization of mouse tissues. The conservation of PPK among many bacterial pathogens and its absence in eukaryotes suggest that PPK might be an attractive target for antimicrobial drugs.     

Garlic as an inhibitor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing in cystic fibrosis—a pilot randomized controlled trial

Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms biofilms in the cystic fibrosis lung. Quorum sensing (QS) controls biofilm maturation, immune evasion, antibiotic tolerance and virulence factor production. Garlic shows QS inhibitory activity in vitro and in animal models. We report the first clinical trial in man of a QS inhibitor. We randomized 34 patients to garlic or olive oil capsules (both 656 mg daily). Clinical outcomes and safety bloods were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks treatment. In this exploratory study, analysis was per protocol. Eight patients withdrew, leaving 26 for analysis (13 garlic). With placebo, there was a greater decline in mean (SD) percentage change from baseline FEV₁ [?3.6% (11.3)] than with garlic [?2.0% (12.3)]. This was not significant (mean difference = 1.6, 95% CI ?12.7 to 15.9, P = 0.8). The mean (SD) increase in weight was greater with garlic [1.0% (2.0)] than with placebo [0.6% (2.0)]—non‐significant (mean difference = 0.4%, 95% CI ?1.3 to 2.0, P = 0.6). The median (range) change in clinical score with garlic was ?1 (?3 to 5) and 1 (?1 to 4) with placebo (negative score means improvement). This was non‐significant [median difference = ?1 (?3 to 0), P = 0.16]. In the garlic group, seven patients had IV antibiotics versus five placebo. There was a highly significant correlation between plasma and sputum measurements of the QS molecule 3‐oxo‐C12‐HSL (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.914, P = 0.004). At the end of treatment five patients in each group had abnormal liver function or triglycerides and five garlic patients (one placebo) reported minor adverse effects. Garlic capsules were well tolerated. Although there was no significant effect of garlic compared to placebo in this pilot study, there was a suggestion of improvement with garlic which should be investigated in a larger trial. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:356–362. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Dynamical quorum sensing: Population density encoded in cellular dynamics

Mutual synchronization by exchange of chemicals is a mechanism for the emergence of collective dynamics in cellular populations. General theories exist on the transition to coherence, but no quantitative, experimental demonstration has been given. Here, we present a modeling and experimental analysis of cell-density-dependent glycolytic oscillations in yeast. We study the disappearance of oscillations at low cell density and show that this phenomenon occurs synchronously in all cells and not by desynchronization, as previously expected. This study identifies a general scenario for the emergence of collective cellular oscillations and suggests a quorum-sensing mechanism by which the cell density information is encoded in the intracellular dynamical state.     

Impact of blood source and component manufacturing on neurotrophin content and in vitro cell wound healing

BackgroundWe evaluated neurotrophin (NF) levels and their impact on in vitro cell wound healing in eye drops from differently prepared blood sources (cord blood [CB], and peripheral blood [PB]) in the same donor, to avoid intrasubject biological variability.Materials and methodsTwenty healthy adult donor PB samples, and twenty CB samples acquired at the time of delivery were processed to obtain serum (S), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-poor plasma (PPP), and S retrieved from PRP after activation with Ca-gluconate (PRP-R). The levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were assessed with a Luminex xMAP (Luminex Corporation), and by using multikine kits from R&D system, and were statistically analysed in the eight different preparations. The impact of S, PRP, PPP, PRP-R from both sources on a cell line responding to NF supplementation (MIO-M1, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK) was tested with a scratch wound assay, and analysed by IncuCyte S3 equipment.ResultsAll the preparations from CB showed higher NF levels, except for BDNF where no difference was found as compared to PB. PRP showed higher NF levels with respect to S, PPP and PRP-R in this decreasing order. Younger donors in PB contributed with higher NF levels. The scratch assay showed different cell migration results, with a complete wound closure only recorded with the supplementation of CB-S, and a progressive reduction by using PRP, PRP-R, and PPP from both sources.DiscussionProtocols of preparation and choice of blood source determine different NF levels in the final products. The therapeutic use of a natural neurotrophin pool from blood sources might have a clinical impact in several different settings. Efforts are needed to standardise the manufacturing and the product content in order to establish and modulate the posology of the final supplementation.     

红霉素、磷霉素对铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜体外作用的研究

目的：通过体外铜绿假单胞菌（PA）生物被膜（BF）的培养,诱导和观察,研究非抗假单胞菌药物红霉素（EM）和磷霉素（FOS）对BF的作用。方法：选取临床分离呼吸道PA和质控菌株ATCC27853,采用胰酶大豆肉汤（TSB-teflon)系统和生理盐水（NS－teflon)系统进行BF的培养和诱导,扫描电子显微镜观察BF,微量稀释法测定药物的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）。结果：经过1,3,7d的孵育,临床分离菌的BF在TSB－teflon系统中,质控菌株在NS－teflon系统中均随着时间延长而增多,而且1mg/L红霉素和2mg/L磷霉素可以在孵育过程中抑制BF的形成,MIC测定提示1mg/L红霉素和2mg/L磷霉素与头孢他啶或左氧氟沙星联合对BF型铜绿假单胞菌有协同抗菌活性。结论：低浓度的红霉素和磷霉素在体外对铜绿假单胞菌BF有抑制作用。     

信号系统在大鼠肺部铜绿假单胞菌感染中的作用及与致病因子的关系

目的研究密度感应信号系统(QS)在铜绿假单胞菌(PA)致大鼠肺部感染中的作用。方法将PA制成PA藻酸盐包裹体,建立大鼠肺部感染模型,SD大鼠258只,随机分为3组;比较野生型PA菌株PAO1及QS基因缺失的PA变异株PAO1-JP2大鼠肺部感染模型中细菌学、病理学的不同,从而评价2株菌在大鼠肺部感染中的致病性差异。用刚果红法测定该2株细菌弹性蛋白酶的活性;用免疫印迹法检测外毒素A的表达。结果感染后第14天、28天,PAO1-JP2肺组织匀浆菌落计数分别为(9．6±3．3)lgCFU／g及(4．2±3．1)lgCFU／g,显著低于PAO1组的(11．3±2．8)lgCFU／g及(9．1±1．5)lgCFU／g(P<0．05)。感染后第7、14及28天,PAO1-JP2感染组大鼠肺部病理变化指数及肺组织大体病理评分、肺部脓肿／肉芽肿的平均直径及肺组织显微病理评分均显著低于PAO1组。体外实验结果表明,PAO1-JP2菌株弹性蛋白酶活性(吸光度值)为0．35±0．03,高于PAO1菌株的0．02±0．00。免疫印迹实验可见PAO1株在相对分子质量73 000处显示棕色条带,PAO1-JP2株未见棕色条带。结论QS系统缺损后由于某些致病因子如弹性蛋白酶、外毒素不能表达,其导致的肺部感染程度有所减低。     

Impact of remote ischemic preconditioning on wound healing in small bowel anastomoses

AIM: To investigate the influence of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on anastomotic integrity. METHODS: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomized to six groups. The control group (n = 10) had an end-to-end ileal anastomosis without RIPC. The preconditioned groups (n = 34) varied in time of ischemia and time of reperfusion. One group received the amino acid L-arginine before constructing the anastomosis (n = 9). On postoperative day 4, the rats were re-laparotomized, and bursting pressure, hydroxyproline...     

Impact of incisional negative pressure wound therapy on perineal wound healing after abdominoperineal rectum extirpation

Introduction

Perineal wound healing disorders are one of the major complications following abdominoperineal rectum extirpation.

Methods and results

We evaluated the impact of an “incisional negative pressure wound therapy” (iNPWT) system after abdominoperineal rectum extirpation in six patients. All patients had a neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy with 50.4 Gy and 5-FU. Five of the six patients (83%) experienced complication-free healing of the perineal wound after 5 to 12 days of iNPWT. One patient developed a wound healing disorder 8 days after abdominoperineal rectum extirpation during current iNPWT.

Discussion

Use of an iNPWT system can be of favor after abominoperineal rectum extirpation.

     

Factor XIII modulates intestinal epithelial wound healing in vitro.

BACKGROUND: An acquired deficiency of blood coagulation factor XIII has been proposed to cause an impairment of intestinal wound healing and hemostasis in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Substitution of factor XIII seems to result in a rapid improvement of intestinal wound healing. Our aim was therefore to characterize the role of factor XIII in the modulation of intestinal wound healing in vitro. METHODS: Factor XIII was added to subconfluent cultures of two non-transformed small-intestinal epithelial cell lines (IEC-6, IEC-18) and three human colon cancer-derived epithelial cell lines (T84, CaCo-2, HT-29) with subsequent assessment of cell proliferation with a colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylformazan (MTT) assay. The effects on epithelial cell migration in vitro were assessed with an in vitro wounding model of confluent IEC-6 cell monolayers. RESULTS: Factor XIII caused a modest inhibition of proliferation of IEC-6 and IEC-18 cells. However, factor XIII significantly stimulated proliferation of T84, CaCo-2. and HT-29 cell lines. In addition, thrombin-activated factor Xill promoted intestinal epithelial cell restitution in vitro on average 2.5-fold. The modulatory effects of factor XIII could not be significantly blocked by anti-transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta). CONCLUSIONS: Factor XIII may promote intestinal epithelial wound healing by enhancement of epithelial cell restitution through a TGFbeta-independent pathway. This may explain previously described beneficial effects of factor XIII in the treatment of active ulcerative colitis.     

Impact of cigarette smoke on clearance and inflammation after Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

The object of this study was to investigate the impact of cigarette smoke on bacterial clearance and immune inflammatory parameters after infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice. We observed a delayed rate of bacterial clearance in smoke-exposed compared with sham-exposed mice. This was associated with increased inflammation characterized by greater numbers of neutrophils and mononuclear cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage. After infection, we observed increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-6) and chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1] and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 [MIP-2]) as well as myeloperoxidase and proteolytic activity in the lungs of smoke-exposed compared with sham-exposed animals. Delayed clearance was associated with increased morbidity and greater weight loss of smoke-exposed mice. After delivery of inactivated bacteria, we observed a similar inflammatory response, clinical score, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in smoke- and sham-exposed animals, suggesting that increased inflammation and altered clinical presentation are due to the delayed rate of bacterial clearance. Our findings suggest that cigarette smoke affects respiratory immune-inflammatory responses elicited by bacteria. We postulate that altered respiratory host defense may be implicated in smoking-related diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.     

糖尿病足创面感染铜绿假单胞菌的耐药性及其毒力基因分析

目的了解糖尿病足创面感染铜绿假单胞菌耐药特点并分析其与毒力基因的关系。方法连续收集2018-01-01～2018-12-31在天津医科大学代谢病医院糖尿病足病科住院的糖尿病足患者中54株细菌培养报告为铜绿假单胞菌的菌株,在药物敏感试验及菌落复种培养后,交南开大学微生物实验室逐一进行铜绿假单胞菌固有pcrV基因检测,以明确铜绿假单胞菌。另收集非糖尿病创面感染铜绿假单胞菌21株作为对照组。对铜绿假单胞菌的3型分泌系统中毒力基因exoS和exoU进行检测及分析其与耐药的关系。对创面中连续2次(每次间隔1个月)及以上培养出的铜绿假单胞菌进行随访。结果 54株中筛查出8株不是铜绿假单胞菌,46株明确为铜绿假单胞菌。糖尿病足组与对照组中,主要致病基因均为含有exoS的铜绿假单胞菌,糖尿病足组为91.3%(42/46),耐药率为11.9%;对照组为76.2%(16/21),耐药率为6.3%。含有exoU的铜绿假单胞菌在糖尿病足组与对照组中均占比较少,糖尿病足组中为8.7%(4/46),耐药率为25.0%;对照组中为23.8%(5/21),耐药率为20.0%。在糖尿病足组中,有6例患者连续2次及以上培养出铜绿假单胞菌,合计19株。有5例患者感染含有exoS的铜绿假单胞菌,其中有2例培养出耐药铜绿假单胞菌,耐药率为23.5%(4/17),均出现在治疗的初期和中期,在末次培养时均转为敏感铜绿假单胞菌,有1例患者创面中含有exoU的铜绿假单胞菌,耐药率为50.0%(1/2),首次培养为耐药菌,末次培养为敏感菌。结论糖尿病足创面中取得的铜绿假单胞菌中,以含有exoS的铜绿假单胞菌为主,但是在耐药菌方面,含有exoU的铜绿假单胞菌的耐药率更高。同一患者创面的铜绿假单胞菌不会因为耐药与否出现exoS或exoU基因型改变。