Man Hwan Oh

Phylogenetic group distributions, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance properties of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections in South Korea.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common diseases by which humans seek medical help and are caused mainly by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Studying the virulence and antibiotic resistance of UPEC with respect to various phylogenetic groups is of utmost importance in developing new therapeutic agents. Thus, in this study, we analysed the virulence factors, antibiotic resistance and phylogenetic groups among various UPEC isolates from children with UTIs. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that majority of the strains responsible for UTIs belonged to the phylogenetic groups B2 and D. Of the 58 E. coli isolates, 79·31% belonged to group B2, 15·51% to group D, 3·44% to group A and 1·72% to B1. Simultaneously, the number of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance exhibited were also significantly high in groups B2 and D compared to other groups. Among the isolates, 44·8% were multidrug resistant and of that 73% belonged to the phylogenetic group B2, indicating the compatibility of antibiotic resistance and certain strains carrying virulence factor genes. The antibiotic resistance profiling of UPEC strains elucidates that the antimicrobial agents such as chloramphenicol, cefoxitin, cefepime, ceftazidime might still be used in the therapy for treating UTIs.

Variation among Staphylococcus aureus membrane vesicle proteomes affects cytotoxicity of host cells.

Staphylococcus aureus secretes membrane-derived vesicles (MVs), which can deliver virulence factors to host cells and induce cytopathology. However, the cytopathology of host cells induced by MVs derived from different S. aureus strains has not yet been characterized. In the present study, the cytotoxic activity of MVs from different S. aureus isolates on host cells was compared and the proteomes of S. aureus MVs were analyzed. The MVs purified from S. aureus M060 isolated from a patient with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome showed higher cytotoxic activity toward host cells than that shown by MVs from three other clinical S. aureus isolates. S. aureus M060 MVs induced HEp-2 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, but the cytotoxic activity of MVs was completely abolished by treatment with proteinase K. In a proteomic analysis, the MVs from three S. aureus isolates not only carry 25 common proteins, but also carry ≥60 strain-specific proteins. All S. aureus MVs contained δ-hemolysin (Hld), γ-hemolysin, leukocidin D, and exfoliative toxin C, but exfoliative toxin A (ETA) was specifically identified in S. aureus M060 MVs. ETA was delivered to HEp-2 cells via S. aureus MVs. Both rETA and rHld induced cytotoxicity in HEp-2 cells. In conclusion, MVs from clinical S. aureus isolates differ with respect to cytotoxic activity in host cells, and these differences may result from differences in the MV proteomes. Further proteogenomic analysis or mutagenesis of specific genes is necessary to identify cytotoxic factors in S. aureus MVs.

Simple Method for Markerless Gene Deletion in Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

ABSTRACT The traditional markerless gene deletion technique based on overlap extension PCR has been used for generating gene deletions in multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. However, the method is time-consuming because it requires restriction digestion of the PCR products in DNA cloning and the construction of new vectors containing a suitable antibiotic resistance cassette for the selection of A. baumannii merodiploids. Moreover, the availability of restriction sites and the selection of recombinant bacteria harboring the desired chimeric plasmid are limited, making the construction of a chimeric plasmid more difficult. We describe a rapid and easy cloning method for markerless gene deletion in A. baumannii, which has no limitation in the availability of restriction sites and allows for easy selection of the clones carrying the desired chimeric plasmid. Notably, it is not necessary to construct new vectors in our method. This method utilizes direct cloning of blunt-end DNA fragments, in which upstream and downstream regions of the target gene are fused with an antibiotic resistance cassette via overlap extension PCR and are inserted into a blunt-end suicide vector developed for blunt-end cloning. Importantly, the antibiotic resistance cassette is placed outside the downstream region in order to enable easy selection of the recombinants carrying the desired plasmid, to eliminate the antibiotic resistance cassette via homologous recombination, and to avoid the necessity of constructing new vectors. This strategy was successfully applied to functional analysis of the genes associated with iron acquisition by A. baumannii ATCC 19606 and to ompA gene deletion in other A. baumannii strains. Consequently, the proposed method is invaluable for markerless gene deletion in multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.

Whole Genome Re-Sequencing of Three Domesticated Chicken Breeds.

Chicken is one of the most popular domesticated species worldwide, as it can serve an important role in agricultural as well as biomedical research fields. Because it inhabits almost every continent and presents diverse morphology and traits, the need of genetic markers for distinguishing each breed for various purposes has increased. The whole genome sequencing of three different breeds (White Leghorn, Korean domestic, and Araucana) that show similar coloring patterns, with the exception of the White Leghorn breed, have confirmed previously reported genomic alterations and identified many novel variants. Additionally, the Whole Genome Re-Sequencing (WGRS) approach identified an approximately 4 kb insert within SLCO1B3 responsible for blue egg shell color. Targeted investigation of pigment-related genes corroborated previously reported non-synonymous mutations, and provided deeper insight into chicken coloring, where not a single but a combination of non-synonymous mutations in the MC1R gene is likely to be responsible for altered feather coloring.

Outer membrane Protein A plays a role in pathogenesis of Acinetobacter nosocomialis

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter nosocomialis is an important nosocomial pathogen that causes a variety of human infections. However, the specific virulence factors of this microorganism have not yet been determined. We investigated the role of outer membrane protein A (OmpA) in the pathogenesis of A. nosocomialis. A ΔompA mutant of the A. nosocomialis ATCC 17903T strain was constructed using markerless gene deletion. The ΔompA mutant displayed reduced biofilm formation in polystyrene tubes and reduced adherence to A549 cells in comparison to the wild-type strain. These virulence traits of the ΔompA mutant strain were restored when the ompA gene was complemented. Cytotoxicity was not significantly different between the wild-type strain and the ΔompA mutant when A549 cells were infected with bacteria or treated with outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). However, OMVs from the wild-type strain induced cytotoxicity in HEp-2 cells, whereas OMVs from the ΔompA mutant did not induce cytotoxicity. Proteomic analysis of OMVs revealed that OmpA influenced the distribution of envelope and periplasmic proteins. Overall, this study is the first report that links OmpA to A. nosocomialis pathogenesis, and highlights OmpA as a putative target to develop anti-virulence agents or vaccines against A. nosocomialis infection.

Differences in Biofilm Mass, Expression of Biofilm-Associated Genes, and Resistance to Desiccation between Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Sequence Type 191

Understanding the biology behind the epidemicity and persistence of Acinetobacter baumannii in the hospital environment is critical to control outbreaks of infection. This study investigated the contributing factors to the epidemicity of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) sequence type (ST) 191 by comparing the differences in biofilm formation, expression of biofilm-associated genes, and resistance to desiccation between major epidemic (n = 16), minor epidemic (n = 12), and sporadic (n = 12) clones. Biofilm mass was significantly greater in the major epidemic than the minor epidemic and sporadic clones. Major and minor epidemic clones expressed biofilm-associated genes, abaI, bap, pgaABCD, and csuA/BABCDE, higher than the sporadic clones in sessile conditions. The csuC, csuD, and csuE genes were more highly expressed in the major epidemic than minor epidemic clones. Interestingly, minor epidemic clones expressed more biofilm-associated genes than the major epidemic clone under planktonic conditions. Major epidemic clones were more resistant to desiccation than minor epidemic and sporadic clones on day 21. In conclusion, the epidemic CRAB ST191 clones exhibit a higher capacity to form biofilms, express the biofilm-associated genes under sessile conditions, and resist desiccation than sporadic clones. These phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of CRAB ST191 may account for the epidemicity of specific CRAB ST191 clones in the hospital.

Genes Involved in the Biosynthesis and Transport of Acinetobactin in Acinetobacter baumannii.

Pathogenic bacteria survive in iron-limited host environments by using several iron acquisition mechanisms. Acinetobacter baumannii, causing serious infections in compromised patients, produces an iron-chelating molecule, called acinetobactin, which is composed of equimolar quantities of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), L-threonine, and N-hydroxyhistamine, to compete with host cells for iron. Genes that are involved in the production and transport of acinetobactin are clustered within the genome of A. baumannii. A recent study showed that entA, located outside of the acinetobactin gene cluster, plays important roles in the biosynthesis of the acinetobactin precursor DHBA and in bacterial pathogenesis. Therefore, understanding the genes that are associated with the biosynthesis and transport of acinetobactin in the bacterial genome is required. This review is intended to provide a general overview of the genes in the genome of A. baumannii that are required for acinetobactin biosynthesis and transport.

The effect of ISAba1-mediated adeN gene disruption on Acinetobacter baumannii pathogenesis

In many pathogenic bacteria, mobile genetic elements such as integrons, transposons, and insertion sequence (IS) elements play important roles in genome plasticity and genetic variability. IS elements are the simplest mobile genetic element and are widespread in bacterial genomes. They contain coding regions for proteins required for independent transposition, as well as inverted repeats on both sides. IS element transposition is responsible for the insertion of one DNA sequence into another, and is considered one of the major bacterial DNA rearrangements through which changes in gene expression occur. IS element transposition can inactivate gene products through the insertion of IS elements within a targeted gene. This gene inactivation is responsible for changes in bacterial metabolism, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence. IS element transposition is also able to create an alternative target gene promoter through which the target gene is activated. Consequently, the transposition of IS elements enables bacteria to overcome new environmental challenges and adapt to new environmental niches. The IS element-mediated horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes contributes to the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii, an important opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial infection particularly in severely ill patients. ISAba1, ISAba2, ISAba3, ISAba4, ISAba125, and ISAba825 are IS elements associated with antimicrobial resistance in A. baumannii. ISAba1 is the most common IS element, responsible for the expression of antimicrobial resistance genes such as blaOXA-23-like, blaOXA-51-like, and blaAmpC in A. baumannii. ISAba1 has been found in the upstream region of resistance genes, acting as a promoter to significantly increase their expression. It has been shown that ISAba1-mediated disruption of global repressors such as histone-like nucleoid-structuring (H-NS) protein is responsible for elevated virulence in A. baumannii. However, the individual factors determining the elevated virulence of clinical A. baumannii isolates have been poorly characterized, despite their clinical significance. In this issue of Virulence, Saranathan et al analyzed the genome of a hyper-virulent, MDR A. baumannii PKAB07 strain isolated from an Indian patient to understand the genetic factors contributing to its elevated virulence, and studied the importance of adeN in its pathogenesis. The authors found one gene segment encoding 23 open reading frames (ORFs) in the PKAB07 genome. These ORFs include coding sequences for various genes such as TetR family transcriptional regulators, through which transportation of antimicrobial agents, small molecules, and toxins is facilitated. This gene segment was also found among the MDR A. baumannii clonal complex 92, a subgroup of international clonal lineage II. The authors suggest that this could play an important role in the global spread of this clone. It was also found that genes encoding transcription regulator (AdeN), cAMP binding protein, TonB-dependent siderophore receptor, putative outer membrane protein, a hypothetical protein, dehydrogenase with different specificities, and putative dehydrogenase are inactivated by the insertion of ISAba1. Based on previous studies demonstrating the role of resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND)-type efflux systems on antimicrobial resistance and virulence of A. baumannii strains, the authors were interested in ISAba1 insertion into adeN, a gene encoding a TetR-type regulator that represses the

Outer membrane protein A contributes to antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii through the OmpA-like domain

Objectives Acinetobacter baumannii outer membrane protein A (AbOmpA) is involved in bacterial pathogenesis. However, the role of AbOmpA in the antimicrobial resistance of A. baumannii has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the role of the OmpA-like domain of AbOmpA in the antimicrobial resistance of A. baumannii. Methods The MICs of antimicrobial agents for the WT A. baumannii ATCC 17978, ΔompA mutant, OmpA-like domain-deleted (amino acids 223-356) AbOmpA mutant and single-copy ompA-complemented strain were determined by the Etest method. The MICs of antimicrobial agents for MDR strain 1656-2 and its ΔompA mutant strains were also determined. Results The ΔompA mutant strain of ATCC 17978 was more susceptible to trimethoprim (>5.3-fold) and other antimicrobial agents tested (<2.0-fold), except tigecycline, than the WT strain. The ΔompA mutant strain of 1656-2 was more susceptible to trimethoprim (>4.0-fold), tetracycline (2.3-fold) and other antimicrobial agents (<2.0-fold), including tigecycline, colistin and imipenem, than the WT strain. The MICs of gentamicin, imipenem and nalidixic acid for the WT ATCC 17978 and ΔompA mutant strains were decreased in the presence of an efflux pump inhibitor. A mutant strain of ATCC 17978 with the OmpA-like domain of AbOmpA deleted was more susceptible (≥2.0-fold) to substrates of the resistance-nodulation-division efflux pumps, including aztreonam, gentamicin, imipenem and trimethoprim, than the WT strain. Conclusions This study demonstrates that AbOmpA contributes to the antimicrobial resistance of A. baumannii through the OmpA-like domain.

Virulence properties of uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from children with urinary tract infection in Korea

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common types of bacterial infection in humans in various parts of the world and are caused mainly by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). A total of 58 UPEC isolates from urine were characterized by serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The majority of the UPEC strains belonged to serogroups O2 and O6. The UPEC strains were grouped under different pulsotypes and majority of them belonged to serogroups O2 and O6. Among the 14 virulence factors considered, 13 were present in various serogroups. The virulence genes fimH and sfa were present in all the isolates while none of the isolates carried lt-1. The strains exhibited 36 different virulence patterns, of which 11, referred to as UP (UPEC pattern) 1 to UP 11 were most common. Antibiotic resistance profiling of the UPEC isolates revealed that the serogroups O2 and O6 contain the highest number of resistant strains. The data from the current study depicting the distribution of UPEC strains among various serogroups and pulsotypes, and the occurrence of virulence genes and antibiotics resistance offer useful information on the epidemiological features of UPEC in Korea for the enhanced surveillance of potential emergence of UPEC.