Catherine J. Paul

Independent evolution of neurotoxin and flagellar genetic loci in proteolytic Clostridium botulinum

BackgroundProteolytic Clostridium botulinum is the causative agent of botulism, a severe neuroparalytic illness. Given the severity of botulism, surprisingly little is known of the population structure, biology, phylogeny or evolution of C. botulinum. The recent determination of the genome sequence of C. botulinum has allowed comparative genomic indexing using a DNA microarray.ResultsWhole genome microarray analysis revealed that 63% of the coding sequences (CDSs) present in reference strain ATCC 3502 were common to all 61 widely-representative strains of proteolytic C. botulinum and the closely related C. sporogenes tested. This indicates a relatively stable genome. There was, however, evidence for recombination and genetic exchange, in particular within the neurotoxin gene and cluster (including transfer of neurotoxin genes to C. sporogenes), and the flagellar glycosylation island (FGI). These two loci appear to have evolved independently from each other, and from the remainder of the genetic complement. A number of strains were atypical; for example, while 10 out of 14 strains that formed type A1 toxin gave almost identical profiles in whole genome, neurotoxin cluster and FGI analyses, the other four strains showed divergent properties. Furthermore, a new neurotoxin sub-type (A5) has been discovered in strains from heroin-associated wound botulism cases. For the first time, differences in glycosylation profiles of the flagella could be linked to differences in the gene content of the FGI.ConclusionProteolytic C. botulinum has a stable genome backbone containing specific regions of genetic heterogeneity. These include the neurotoxin gene cluster and the FGI, each having evolved independently of each other and the remainder of the genetic complement. Analysis of these genetic components provides a high degree of discrimination of strains of proteolytic C. botulinum, and is suitable for clinical and forensic investigations of botulism outbreaks.

Flagellin Diversity in Clostridium botulinum Groups I and II: a New Strategy for Strain Identification

ABSTRACT Strains of Clostridium botulinum are traditionally identified by botulinum neurotoxin type; however, identification of an additional target for typing would improve differentiation. Isolation of flagellar filaments and analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that C. botulinum produced multiple flagellin proteins. Nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS) analysis of in-gel tryptic digests identified peptides in all flagellin bands that matched two homologous tandem flagellin genes identified in the C. botulinum Hall A genome. Designated flaA1 and flaA2, these open reading frames encode the major structural flagellins of C. botulinum. Colony PCR and sequencing of flaA1/A2 variable regions classified 80 environmental and clinical strains into group I or group II and clustered isolates into 12 flagellar types. Flagellar type was distinct from neurotoxin type, and epidemiologically related isolates clustered together. Sequencing a larger PCR product, obtained during amplification of flaA1/A2 from type E strain Bennett identified a second flagellin gene, flaB. LC-MS analysis confirmed that flaB encoded a large type E-specific flagellin protein, and the predicted molecular mass for FlaB matched that observed by SDS-PAGE. In contrast, the molecular mass of FlaA was 2 to 12 kDa larger than the mass predicted by the flaA1/A2 sequence of a given strain, suggesting that FlaA is posttranslationally modified. While identification of FlaB, and the observation by SDS-PAGE of different masses of the FlaA proteins, showed the flagellin proteins of C. botulinum to be diverse, the presence of the flaA1/A2 gene in all strains examined facilitates single locus sequence typing of C. botulinum using the flagellin variable region.

Bacterial Community Analysis of Drinking Water Biofilms in Southern Sweden

Next-generation sequencing of the V1–V2 and V3 variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene generated a total of 674,116 reads that described six distinct bacterial biofilm communities from both water meters and pipes. A high degree of reproducibility was demonstrated for the experimental and analytical work-flow by analyzing the communities present in parallel water meters, the rare occurrence of biological replicates within a working drinking water distribution system. The communities observed in water meters from households that did not complain about their drinking water were defined by sequences representing Proteobacteria (82–87%), with 22–40% of all sequences being classified as Sphingomonadaceae. However, a water meter biofilm community from a household with consumer reports of red water and flowing water containing elevated levels of iron and manganese had fewer sequences representing Proteobacteria (44%); only 0.6% of all sequences were classified as Sphingomonadaceae; and, in contrast to the other water meter communities, markedly more sequences represented Nitrospira and Pedomicrobium. The biofilm communities in pipes were distinct from those in water meters, and contained sequences that were identified as Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Desulfovibrio, and Sulfuricurvum. The approach employed in the present study resolved the bacterial diversity present in these biofilm communities as well as the differences that occurred in biofilms within a single distribution system, and suggests that next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons can show changes in bacterial biofilm communities associated with different water qualities.

Characterization of the properties of Pediococcus parvulus for probiotic or protective culture use.

Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 (previously Pediococcus damnosus 2.6, here confirmed as P. parvulus by 16S DNA sequencing) displayed antibacterial activity toward several bacterial species, including isolates found as contaminants in oats, herein genetically identified as Bacillus cereus. No inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes was found under the conditions used. Antibacterial activity was retrieved after ammonium sulfate or acetone precipitation showed it to be peptide mediated. P. parvulus 2.6 has previously shown good technological properties in oat-based products. This, together with the currently found inhibition of food spoilage microorganisms like B. cereus, makes it suitable as a food protective culture. Survival trials of P. parvulus 2.6 at conditions mimicking the gastrointestinal tract were prompted by previously found cholesterol-lowering effects in humans after consumption of oat products cofermented by using P. parvulus 2.6 and Bifidobacterium spp. Viability was measured with in vitro, gutlike simulations at 37 degrees C. High survival was shown under two of three conditions (gastric juice, bile, and small intestine juice), defined as main obstacles of the gastrointestinal tract. The critical step was bile exposure. At a concentration of 20%, viability was low, but 0.3% bile (mean concentration in the intestine) did not have a major influence on growth. Viability of P. parvulus 2.6 was significantly decreased in gastric juice at pH 1.5 (with pepsin), but it was not significantly affected at pH 2.5, and was also improved at a lower pH in 20% oat milk. Viability was judged sufficient for colonization at gutlike conditions, qualifying the strain for further probiotic studies.

A unique restriction site in the flaA gene allows rapid differentiation of group I and group II Clostridium botulinum strains by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Clostridium botulinum produces the potent botulinum neurotoxin, the causative agent of botulism. Based on distinctive physiological traits, strains of C. botulinum can be divided into four groups: however, only groups I and II are associated with human illness. Alignment of the flaA gene sequences from 40 group I and 40 group II strains identified a single BsrG1 restriction cut site that was present at base pair 283 in all group II flaA sequences and was not found in any group I sequence. The flaA gene was amplified by rapid colony PCR from 22 group I strains and 18 group II strains and digested with BsrGI restriction enzyme. Standard agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining showed two fragments, following restriction digestion of group II flaA gene amplicons with BsrGI, but only a single band of uncut flaA from group I strains. Combining rapid colony PCR with BsrGI restriction digest of the flaA gene at 60 degrees C is a significant improvement over current methods, such as meat digestion or amplified fragment length polymorphism, as a strain can be identified as either group I or group II in under 5 h when starting with a visible plated C. botulinum colony.

Characterization of the cell surface glycolipid from Spirochaeta aurantia

AbstractSpirochaeta aurantia is a free-living saprophytic spirochete that grows easily in simple laboratory media, and thus can be used as a model for the investigation of surface carbohydrate structures in spirochetae, which are normally not available in sufficient amounts. Freeze-substitution electron microscopy indicated the presence of a capsule-like material projecting from the surface of S. aurantia. Extraction of cells gave two major glycolipids, the one with a higher molecular mass glycolipid was designated large glycolipid A (LGLA). LGLA contained small amount of branched and unsaturated O-linked fatty acids, l-rhamnose, l-fucose, d-xylose, d-mannose, d-glucosamine, d-glycero-d-gluco-heptose (DDglcHep), d-glycero-d-manno-heptose (DDHep), and a novel branched tetradeoxydecose monosaccharide, which we proposed to call aurantose (Aur). The carbohydrate structure of LGLA was extremely complex and consisted of the repeating units built of 11 monosaccharides, arrangement of nine of them was determined as:

A GH57 4-α-glucanotransferase of hyperthermophilic origin with potential for alkyl glycoside production.

\matrix {{\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad {\text{ - [ - 3 - }}\beta {\text{ - DDglcHep - }}3{\text{ - }}\beta {\text{ - D - GlcNAc - 2 - }}\beta {\text{ - D - Man - ] - }}}} \\ {{\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad |}} \\ {{\alpha {\text{ - Aur - 3 - }}\beta {\text{ - L - Rha - 4 - }}\beta {\text{ - D - Xyl - 4 - }}\alpha {\text{ - L - Fuc - 3 - }}\beta {\text{ - DDHep - 4}}}} \\ {{\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad |}} \\ {{\alpha {\text{ - L - Rha - 3}}}} \

Monitoring biofilm function in new and matured full-scale slow sand filters using flow cytometric histogram image comparison (CHIC)

which wasdeduced from the NMR and chemical data on the LGLA and its fragments, obtained by various degradations. Tentative position of two remaining sugars is proposed. LGLA was negative for gelation of Limulus amebocyte lysate, did not contain lipid A, and was unable to activate any known Toll-like receptors.