Nitric oxide exposure induces production of Rpf-dependent differentially culturable mycobacteria

ABSTRACT: Rationale: Tuberculosis has a devastating impact on global health by claiming nearly 1.4 million lives each year. During infection Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, produces heterogenous populations some of which don’t produce colonies on agar but grow in liquid media and often require supplementation with culture supernatants or recombinant Resuscitation-promoting factor, thus defined as differentially culturable bacilli. Objectives: to evaluate whether exposure to nitric oxide (NO), a well-known host defence molecule, alters mycobacterial growth phenotypes and drives generation of Rpf-dependent differentially culturable bacilli. Methods: a novel NO donor was synthesised and tested against Mtb and Mycobacterium bovis BCG in vitro, followed by growth assays, flow cytometry analysis and assessment of transcriptomic responses. Resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf) inhibitors were used to characterise the role of Rpf proteins in the reactivation of NO-treated mycobacteria. Mycobacterial phenotypes were also investigated during infection of THP-1 macrophages activated with retinoic acid and vitamin D3. Measurements and Main Results: differentially culturable mycobacteria were generated after exposure to the novel NO donor or during infection of activated THP-1 cells. Resuscitation of these differentially culturable bacilli was largely abolished by specific Rpf inhibitors. Transcriptomic analysis revealed redox-associated stress signatures mediated by SigH and SigF, with significant down-regulation of ribosome and cell wall architecture genes, including rpfA, rpfB and rpfE, and induction of genes involved in response to thiol stress, sulphur metabolism and iron acquisition. Conclusion: Our study provides mechanistic insights into the generation of Rpf-dependent Mtb during tuberculosis and outlines a critical role of NO in this process.

ORGANISM(S): Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

SUBMITTER: Simon Waddell 

PROVIDER: E-MTAB-10776 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress