Project description:The intention of this study is to analyse the effect of antibiotics on the gene expression of Escherichia coli. Shaking-flask cultivations of Escherichia coli K12GFP-UTL2 were carried out with a medium containing nalidixic acid. Cultures with antibiotic-free medium, which were run in an identical way, served as reference. Samples were taken at different times during the cultivations, the RNA was isolated and hybridised on whole genome yeast microarrays. Keywords: Influence of toxins on gene expression in E. coli
Project description:Pathogenic biofilms have been associated with persistent infections due to high resistance to antimicrobial agents while commensal biofilms often fortify host immune system. Hence, controlling biofilm formation of both pathogenic bacteria and commensal bacteria is important in bacteria-related diseases. We investigated the effect of plant flavonoids on biofilm formation of both enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and three commensal E. coli K-12 strains. Phloretin abundant in apples markedly reduced E. coli O157:H7 biofilm formation without affecting the growth of planktonic cells while phloretin did not harm commensal E. coli K-12 biofilms. Also, phloretin reduced E. coli O157:H7 attachment to human colon epithelial cells. Global transcriptome analyses revealed that phloretin repressed toxin genes (hlyE and stx2), autoinducer-2 importer genes (lsrACDBF), a curli gene (csgA), and a dozens of prophage genes in E. coli O157:H7 cells. Electron microscopy confirmed that phroretin reduced the curli production in E. coli O157:H7. In addition, phloretin suppressed TNF-α-induced inflammatory response in vitro using human colonic epithelial cells. Moreover, in the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis model, phloretin significantly ameliorated colon inflammation and body weight loss. Taken together, our results suggest that phloretin may act as an inhibitor of E. coli O157:H7 biofilm formation as well as anti-inflammatory agent on inflammatory bowel diseases while leaving beneficial commensal E. coli biofilm intact.
Project description:The intention of this study is to analyse the effect of antibiotics on the gene expression of Escherichia coli. Shaking-flask cultivations of Escherichia coli K12GFP-UTL2 were carried out with a medium containing nalidixic acid. Cultures with antibiotic-free medium, which were run in an identical way, served as reference. Samples were taken at different times during the cultivations, the RNA was isolated and hybridised on whole genome yeast microarrays. Keywords: Influence of toxins on gene expression in E. coli A timeserial experiment of the influence of nalidixic acid on the gene expression in Escherichia coli was performed. Effects of the growth curve were eliminated by bionformatic methods.
Project description:Pathogenic biofilms have been associated with persistent infections due to high resistance to antimicrobial agents while commensal biofilms often fortify host immune system. Hence, controlling biofilm formation of both pathogenic bacteria and commensal bacteria is important in bacteria-related diseases. We investigated the effect of plant flavonoids on biofilm formation of both enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and three commensal E. coli K-12 strains. Phloretin abundant in apples markedly reduced E. coli O157:H7 biofilm formation without affecting the growth of planktonic cells while phloretin did not harm commensal E. coli K-12 biofilms. Also, phloretin reduced E. coli O157:H7 attachment to human colon epithelial cells. Global transcriptome analyses revealed that phloretin repressed toxin genes (hlyE and stx2), autoinducer-2 importer genes (lsrACDBF), a curli gene (csgA), and a dozens of prophage genes in E. coli O157:H7 cells. Electron microscopy confirmed that phroretin reduced the curli production in E. coli O157:H7. In addition, phloretin suppressed TNF-α-induced inflammatory response in vitro using human colonic epithelial cells. Moreover, in the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis model, phloretin significantly ameliorated colon inflammation and body weight loss. Taken together, our results suggest that phloretin may act as an inhibitor of E. coli O157:H7 biofilm formation as well as anti-inflammatory agent on inflammatory bowel diseases while leaving beneficial commensal E. coli biofilm intact. For the microarray experiments, E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 was inoculated in 25 ml of LB in 250 ml flasks with overnight cultures that were diluted at 1:100. Cells were shaken at 100 rpm and 37°C for 7 hrs. Cells were immediately chilled with dry ice and 95% ethanol (to prevent RNA degradation) for 30 sec before centrifugation in 50 ml centrifuge tubes at 13,000 g for 2 min; cell pellets were frozen immediately with dry ice and stored -80°C. RNA was isolated using Qiagen RNeasy mini Kit (Valencia, CA, USA). To eliminate DNA contamination, Qiagen RNase-free DNase I was used to digest DNA. RNA quality was assessed by Agilent 2100 bioanalyser using the RNA 6000 Nano Chip (Agilent Technologies, Amstelveen, The Netherlands), and quantity was determined by ND-1000 Spectrophotometer (NanoDrop Technologies, Inc., DE, USA).
Project description:The complex reservoir of metabolite-producing bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract contributes tremendously to human health and disease. Bacterial composition, and by extension gut metabolomic composition, is undoubtably influenced by the use of modern antibiotics. Herein, we demonstrate that polymyxin B, a last resort antibiotic used for chronic multidrug resistant infections infections, influences the production of the genotoxic metabolite colibactin from adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) NC101. Colibactin can augment colorectal cancer (CRC) through DNA double stranded breaks and interstrand crosslinks. While the structure and biosynthesis of colibactin has been elucidated, chemical-induced regulation of its biosynthetic gene cluster and subsequent production of the genotoxin by pathogenic E. coli are largely unexplored. This research highlights the regulation of the colibactin-producing biosynthetic gene cluster under polymyxin stress. Using a multi-omic approach, we have identified that polymyxin stress enhances the abundance of colibactin biosynthesis proteins (Clb’s) in multiple pks+ E. coli strains, including pro-carcinogenic AIEC: NC101, the probiotic strain: E. coli Nissle 1917, and the antibiotic testing strain: E. coli ATCC 25922. Expression analysis via qPCR revealed that increased transcription of clb genes likely contributes to elevated Clb protein levels in NC101. Enhanced production of Clb’s by NC101 under polymyxin stress matched an increased production of the colibactin prodrug motif, a proxy for the mature genotoxic metabolite. Furthermore, E. coli with heightened tolerance for polymyxin antibiotics induced greater DNA damage, assessed by quantification of γH2AX staining in cultured intestinal epithelial cells. This study establishes a key link between the polymyxin B stress response and colibactin production in pks+ E. coli. Ultimately, our findings will inform future studies investigating colibactin regulation, the microbial response to antibiotics in the gut, and the ability of seemingly innocuous commensal microbes to induce host disease.