Regulation of competence-mediated horizontal gene transfer in the natural habitat of Vibrio cholerae

Metzger, Lisa C.; Blokesch, Melanie

doi:10.1016/j.mib.2015.10.007

Cited by 47 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 52 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…N‐acetyl‐glucosamine) (Meibom et al ., ). Accordingly, the main competence regulator TfoX (Metzger and Blokesch, ), and genes for specific N‐acetyl‐glucosamine uptake/transport were also upregulated concomitantly with the downregulation of two genes for amino sugar metabolism repressors ( uxuR and kdgR) (Nieckarz et al ., ) (Table and Supporting Information Table S2). R99 strain also downregulated fur and upregulated most of the genes for vulnibactin biosynthesis/uptake/transport, as well as for transport/utilization of the host's heme compounds and fish transferrin (Table and Supporting Information Table S2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We hypothesize that this putative competence activation could indicate that the zoonotic clonal‐complex might activate this state in its natural habitat, i.e. fish mucosae (Carda‐Diéguez et al ., ), as V. cholerae does (Metzger and Blokesch, ), and that iron starvation could play a role in the process as both eel serum and fish mucosae are iron restricted environments (Pajuelo et al ., ; Carda‐Diéguez et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Adaptation to host in Vibrio vulnificus, a zoonotic pathogen that causes septicemia in fish and humans

Hernández‐Cabanyero

Lee

Tolosa‐Enguis

et al. 2019

Environmental Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Vibrio vulnificus is a siderophilic pathogen spreading due to global warming. The zoonotic strains constitute a clonal‐complex related to fish farms that are distributed worldwide. In this study, we applied a transcriptomic and single gene approach and discover that the zoonotic strains bypassed the iron requirement of the species thanks to the acquisition of two iron‐regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs) involved in resistance to fish innate immunity. Both proteins have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer and are contributing to the successful spreading of this clonal‐complex. We have also discovered that the zoonotic strains express a virulent phenotype in the blood of its main susceptible hosts (iron‐overloaded humans and healthy eels) by combining a host‐specific protective envelope with the common expression of two toxins (VvhA and RtxA1), one of which (RtxA1) is directly involved in sepsis. Finally, we found that both IROMPs are also present in other fish pathogenic species and have recently been transmitted to the phylogenetic lineage involved in human primary sepsis after raw seafood ingestion. Together our results highlight the potential hazard that the aquaculture industry poses to public health, which is of particular relevance in the context of a warming world.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation to host in Vibrio vulnificus, a zoonotic pathogen that causes septicemia in fish and humans

Hernández‐Cabanyero

Lee

Tolosa‐Enguis

et al. 2019

Environmental Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Finally, import of extracellular DNA in marine sediments would allow HGT between deep‐sea bacteria (Torti et al ., ). In the current study, we identified competence gene comEC that regulates the uptake of foreign DNA (including genes) (Palchevskiy and Finkel, ; Metzger and Blokesch, ). In our mycoplasma genomes, those genes essential for the symbiosis did not have homologues in other Mollicutes species, which may be ascribed to the competence‐mediated HGT.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic characterization of symbiotic mycoplasmas from the stomach of deep‐sea isopod bathynomus sp

Wang

Huang

Wang

et al. 2016

Environmental Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Deep-sea isopod scavengers such as Bathynomus sp. are able to live in nutrient-poor environments, which is likely attributable to the presence of symbiotic microbes in their stomach. In this study we recovered two draft genomes of mycoplasmas, Bg1 and Bg2, from the metagenomes of the stomach contents and stomach sac of a Bathynomus sp. sample from the South China Sea (depth of 898 m). Phylogenetic trees revealed a considerable genetic distance to other mycoplasma species for Bg1 and Bg2. Compared with terrestrial symbiotic mycoplasmas, the Bg1 and Bg2 genomes were enriched with genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase systems (PTSs) and sodium-driven symporters responsible for the uptake of sugars, amino acids and other carbohydrates. The genome of mycoplasma Bg1 contained sialic acid lyase and transporter genes, potentially enabling the bacteria to attach to the stomach sac and obtain organic carbons from various cell walls. Both of the mycoplasma genomes contained multiple copies of genes related to proteolysis and oligosaccharide degradation, which may help the host survive in low-nutrient conditions. The discovery of the different types of mycoplasma bacteria in the stomach of this deep-sea isopod affords insights into symbiotic model of deep-sea animals and genomic plasticity of mycoplasma bacteria.

show abstract

“…Recent studies suggest that chitin facilitates and regulates competence-mediated horizontal gene transfer in V. cholera by expressing Chi A2 and TfoX [13, 46]. The seroconversion between O1 El Tor and O139 Bengal during the 1992 epidemic in Bangladesh and India could be due to this factor [46].…”

Section: Plankton Load and Role Of Chitinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The seroconversion between O1 El Tor and O139 Bengal during the 1992 epidemic in Bangladesh and India could be due to this factor [46]. The activity of Chi A2 and the expression of TfoX gene could be influenced by environmental conditions such as high salinity and water temperature [13].…”

Section: Plankton Load and Role Of Chitinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pandemics, pathogenicity and changing molecular epidemiology of cholera in the era of global warming

Chowdhury

Nur²,

Hassan

et al. 2017

Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Vibrio cholerae, a Gram-negative, non-spore forming curved rod is found in diverse aquatic ecosystems around the planet. It is classified according to its major surface antigen into around 206 serogroups, of which O1 and O139 cause epidemic cholera. A recent spatial modelling technique estimated that around 2.86 million cholera cases occur globally every year, and of them approximately 95,000 die. About 1.3 billion people are currently at risk of infection from cholera. Meta-analysis and mathematical modelling have demonstrated that due to global warming the burden of vector-borne diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis, meningococcal meningitis, viral encephalitis, dengue and chikungunya will increase in the coming years in the tropics and beyond.Cholera and climateThis review offers an overview of the interplay between global warming and the pathogenicity and epidemiology of V. cholerae. Several distinctive features of cholera survival (optimal thriving at 15% salinity, 30 °C water temperature, and pH 8.5) indicate a possible role of climate change in triggering the epidemic process. Genetic exchange (ctxAB, zot, ace, cep, and orfU) between strains and transduction process allows potential emergence of new toxigenic clones. These processes are probably controlled by precise environmental signals such as optimum temperature, sunlight and osmotic conditions. Environmental influences on phytoplankton growth and chitin remineralization will be discussed alongside the interplay of poor sanitary conditions, overcrowding, improper sewage disposal and global warming in promoting the growth and transmission of this deadly disease.ConclusionThe development of an effective early warning system based on climate data could help to prevent and control future outbreaks. It may become possible to integrate real-time monitoring of oceanic regions, climate variability and epidemiological and demographic population dynamics to predict cholera outbreaks and support the design of cost-effective public health strategies.

show abstract

Regulation of competence-mediated horizontal gene transfer in the natural habitat of Vibrio cholerae

Cited by 47 publications

References 52 publications

Adaptation to host in Vibrio vulnificus, a zoonotic pathogen that causes septicemia in fish and humans

Adaptation to host in Vibrio vulnificus, a zoonotic pathogen that causes septicemia in fish and humans

Genomic characterization of symbiotic mycoplasmas from the stomach of deep‐sea isopod bathynomus sp

Pandemics, pathogenicity and changing molecular epidemiology of cholera in the era of global warming

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About