Evelyn Skiebe

DNA Uptake by the Nosocomial Pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii Occurs during Movement along Wet Surfaces

The emergence of Acinetobacter baumannii as an increasingly multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen largely relies on acquisition of resistance genes via horizontal gene transfer. Here, we demonstrate that many clinical isolates of A. baumannii take up DNA while they move along wet surfaces. We show that both motility and DNA uptake are abolished after inactivation of pilT, which putatively encodes the type 4 pilus (T4P) retraction ATPase, and comEC, which putatively encodes the DNA uptake channel, respectively. Inactivation of pilT correlates with an increase in the number and length of pili with an average diameter of 7.2 nm. In the Galleria mellonella infection model, the comEC mutant is significantly attenuated, whereas the pilT mutant is not, dissecting biologically distinct roles of T4P and the DNA uptake channel. Collectively, these findings promote our understanding of the mechanisms of DNA uptake and resistance development in A. baumannii, which may also apply to other important pathogens.

Surface-associated motility, a common trait of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, depends on 1,3-diaminopropane.

While flagella-independent motility has long been described in representatives of the genus Acinetobacter, the mechanism of motility remains ambiguous. Acinetobacter baumannii, a nosocomial pathogen appearing increasingly multidrug-resistant, may profit from motility during infection or while persisting in the hospital environment. However, data on the frequency of motility skills among clinical A. baumannii isolates is scarce. We have screened a collection of 83 clinical A. baumannii isolates of different origin and found that, with the exception of one isolate, all were motile on wet surfaces albeit to varying degrees and exhibiting differing morphologies. Screening a collection of transposon mutants of strain ATCC 17978 for motility defects, we identified 2 akinetic mutants carrying transposon insertions in the dat and ddc gene, respectively. These neighbouring genes contribute to synthesis of 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP), a polyamine ubiquitously produced in Acinetobacter. Supplementing semi-solid media with DAP cured the motility defect of both mutants. HPLC analyses confirmed that DAP synthesis was abolished in ddc and dat mutants of different A. baumannii isolates and was re-established after genetic complementation. Both, the dat and ddc mutant of ATCC 17978 were attenuated in the Galleria mellonella caterpillar infection model. Taken together, surface-associated motility is a common trait of clinical A. baumannii isolates that requires DAP and may play a role in its virulence.

Impact of Acinetobacter baumannii Superoxide Dismutase on Motility, Virulence, Oxidative Stress Resistance and Susceptibility to Antibiotics

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative bacterium appearing as an opportunistic pathogen in hospital settings. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) contributes to virulence in several pathogenic bacteria by detoxifying reactive oxygen species released in the course of host defense reactions. However, the biological role of SODs in A. baumannii has not yet been elucidated. Here, we inactivated in A. baumannii ATCC 17978 gene A1S_2343, encoding a putative SOD of the Fe-Mn type by transposon insertion, resulting in mutant ATCC 17978 sod2343::Km. The mutation was also introduced in two naturally competent A. baumannii isolates by transformation with chromosomal DNA derived from mutant ATCC 17978 sod2343::Km. We demonstrate that inactivation of sod2343 leads to significant motility defects in all three A. baumannii strains. The mutant strains were more susceptible to oxidative stress compared to their parental strains. Susceptibility to colistin and tetracycline was increased in all mutant strains while susceptibility of the mutants to gentamicin, levofloxacin and imipenem was strain-dependent. In the Galleria mellonella infection model the mutant strains were significantly attenuated. In conclusion, sod2343 plays an important role in motility, resistance to oxidative stress, susceptibility to antibiotics and virulence in A. baumannii.

A simple and rapid method of bacterial transformation

Recently, a unique method for bacterial transformation using nanofibers to inoculate DNA has been developed by Naoto Yoshida and colleagues. We have verified the principle, transforming Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica and Acinetobacter baumannii, and have established a user-friendly protocol. A buffered suspension of sepiolite-an inexpensive, fibrous yet inoffensive mineral-is mixed with bacteria and transforming DNA and the mixture directly spread on selective agar.

Adding to Yersinia enterocolitica Gene Pool Diversity: Two Cryptic Plasmids from a Biotype 1A Isolate

We report the nucleotide sequence of two novel cryptic plasmids (4357 and 14 662 base pairs) carried by a Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A strain isolated from pork. As distinguished from most biotype 1A strains, this isolate, designated 07-04449, exhibited adherence to eukaryotic cells. The smaller plasmid pYe4449-1 carries five attributable open reading frames (ORFs) encoding the first CcdA/CcdB-like antitoxin/toxin system described for a Yersinia plasmid, a RepA-like replication initiation protein, and mobilizing factors MobA and MobC. The deduced amino acid sequences showed highest similarity to proteins described in Salmonella (CcdA/B), Klebsiella (RepA), and Plesiomonas (MobA/C) indicating genomic fluidity among members of the Enterobacteriaceae. One additional ORF with unknown function, termed ORF5, was identified with an ancestry distinct from the rest of the plasmid. While the C+G content of ORF5 is 38.3%, the rest of pYe4449-1 shows a C+G content of 55.7%. The C+G content of the larger plasmid pYe4449-2 (54.9%) was similar to that of pYe4449-1 (53.7%) and differed from that of the Y. enterocolitica genome (47.3%). Of the 14 ORFs identified on pYe4449-2, only six ORFs showed significant similarity to database entries. For three of these ORFs likely functions could be ascribed: a TnpR-like resolvase and a phage replication protein, localized each on a low C+G island, and DNA primase TraC. Two ORFs of pYe4449-2, ORF3 and ORF7, seem to encode secretable proteins. Epitope-tagging of ORF3 revealed protein expression at 4°C but not at or above 27°C suggesting adaptation to a habitat outside swine. The hypothetical protein encoded by ORF7 is the member of a novel repeat protein family sharing the DxxGN(x)nDxxGN motif. Our findings illustrate the exceptional gene pool diversity within the species Y. enterocolitica driven by horizontal gene transfer events.

Acinetobacter equi sp. nov., isolated from horse faeces

The taxonomic position of five strains isolated from horse faeces, and which shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, were studied. Cells of all isolates are Gram-stain-negative, obligately aerobic and have a rod-shaped appearance. The strains show highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Acinetobacter lwoffii (98.3 %), Acinetobacter haemolyticus (98.0 %), Acienetobacter johnsonii (97.9 %) and Acinetobacter brisouii (97.9 %). Whole-genome sequencing of strain 114T and phylogeny reconstruction based on a core set of 1061 Acinetobacter genes indicated that A. bouvetii CIP 107468T was the closest relative among species of the genus Acinetobacter for which whole genome sequences are available. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain 114T is 34.9 mol%, which is lower than any other value reported for the genus Acinetobacter. The predominant polyamine is 1,3-diaminopropane, which is typical for the genus Acinetobacter. The most abundant fatty acids are C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH (36 %) and C16 : 0 (28 %). The proportion of C18 : 1ω9c (7 %) is distinctively low compared to most species of the genus. The major ubiquinone of strain 114T is Q-9. Microscopic studies revealed the presence of pili and the absence of flagella. The capability of all five strains to utilize l-arabinose and gentisate as well as their lack of growth at temperatures of 41 °C and above provide sufficient criteria to distinguish the isolates from all species of the genus Acinetobacter with validly published names. Based on these combined data, the five isolates represent a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter, for which the name Acinetobacter equi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 114T ( = DSM 27228T = CCUG 65204T).

Phenolic acids potentiate colistin-mediated killing of Acinetobacter baumannii by inducing redox imbalance

Phenolic acids with catechol groups are good prooxidants because of their low redox potential. In this study, we provided data showing that phenolic acids, caffeic acid, gallic acid and protocatechuic acid, enhanced colistin-mediated bacterial death by inducing redox imbalance. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of these phenolic acids against Acinetobacter baumannii AB5075 were considerably lowered for ΔsodB and ΔkatG mutants. Checkerboard assay shows synergistic interactions between colistin and phenolic acids. The phenolic acids exacerbated colistin-induced oxidative stress in A. baumannii AB5075 through increased superoxide anion generation, NAD + /NADH and ADP/ATP ratio. In parallel, the level of reduced glutathione was significantly lowered. We conclude that phenolic acids potentiate colistin-induced oxidative stress in A. baumannii AB5075 by increasing ROS generation, energy metabolism and electron transport chain activity with a concomitant decrease in glutathione.

Recombinant production of A1S_0222 from Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 and confirmation of its DNA-(adenine N6)-methyltransferase activity

Acinetobacter baumannii appears as an often multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen in hospitals worldwide. Its remarkable persistence in the hospital environment is probably due to intrinsic and acquired resistance to disinfectants and antibiotics, tolerance to desiccation stress, capability to form biofilms, and is possibly facilitated by surface-associated motility. Our attempts to elucidate surface-associated motility in A. baumannii revealed a mutant inactivated in a putative DNA-(adenine N6)-methyltransferase, designated A1S_0222 in strain ATCC 17978. We recombinantly produced A1S_0222 as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein and purified it to near homogeneity through a combination of GST affinity chromatography, cation exchange chromatography and PD-10 desalting column. Furthermore we demonstrate A1S_0222-dependent adenine methylation at a GAATTC site. We propose the name AamA (Acinetobacteradenine methyltransferase A) in addition to the formal names M.AbaBGORF222P/M.Aba17978ORF8565P. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed that the protein is monomeric and has an extended and likely two-domain shape in solution.

Contributions of RecA and RecBCD DNA repair pathways to the oxidative stress response and sensitivity of Acinetobacter baumannii to antibiotics

OBJECTIVES RecA and RecBCD are responsible for the repair of oxidative DNA damage in bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). This study evaluated the contribution of recA, recB, recC and recD to the sensitivity and oxidative response of A. baumannii to antibiotics. RESULTS Inactivation of recA, recB, recC and recD significantly increased the susceptibility of A. baumannii AB5075 to colistin, gentamicin, rifampicin and tigecycline. Furthermore, superoxide anion radicals (•O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulated in colistin, gentamicin, rifampicin or tigecycline-treated ΔrecA, ΔrecB, ΔrecC and ΔrecD mutants compared with the parental strain. Concomitantly, a more pronounced increase in fragmented DNA was observed in the mutants compared with the parental strain upon antibiotic treatment. Chelation of ferrous ion (Fe2+) with dipyridyl lowered the susceptibility of ΔrecA, ΔrecB, ΔrecC and ΔrecD strains of A. baumannii to colistin, gentamicin and rifampicin, but not tigecycline, to a level comparable with the parental strain. Antibiotic-mediated accumulation of reactive oxygen species depleted glutathione, with a more profound response in the mutants compared with the parental strain. The antibiotics, except tigecycline, raised the oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and adenosine diphosphate/adenosine triphosphate ratio of ΔrecA, ΔrecB, ΔrecC and ΔrecD mutants compared with the parental strain. CONCLUSION Reduced capability of ΔrecA, ΔrecB, ΔrecC and ΔrecD mutants to repair DNA raised the susceptibility of A. baumannii to colistin, gentamicin, rifampicin and tigecycline. The available data further support the notion that oxidative stress contributes to antibiotic-mediated bacterial killing.

Complete Genome Sequencing of Acinetobacter sp. Strain LoGeW2-3, Isolated from the Pellet of a White Stork, Reveals a Novel Class D Beta-Lactamase Gene

ABSTRACT Whole-genome sequencing of Acinetobacter sp. strain LoGeW2-3, isolated from the pellet of a white stork (Ciconia ciconia), reveals the presence of a plasmid of 179,399 bp encoding a CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated genes) system of the I-F type, and the chromosomally encoded novel class D beta-lactamase OXA-568.