O-antigen protects gram-negative bacteria from histone killing

Beyond their traditional role of wrapping DNA, histones display antibacterial activity to Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. To identify bacterial components that allow survival to a histone challenge, we selected resistant bacteria from homologous Escherichia coli libraries that harbor plasmids...

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Published inPloS one Vol. 8; no. 8; p. e71097
Main Authors Chaput, Catherine, Spindler, Eileen, Gill, Ryan T, Zychlinsky, Arturo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Public Library of Science 08.08.2013
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects
Antibacterial activity
Antigens
Antimicrobial agents
Bacteria
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Bioengineering
Biology
Data analysis
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA binding proteins
E coli
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli - physiology
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Genes, Bacterial
Gram-negative bacteria
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - metabolism
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - microbiology
Histones
Histones - metabolism
Homology
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Klebsiella
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Klebsiella pneumoniae - physiology
Lipopolysaccharides
Medical screening
Microbial drug resistance
Mitogens
Neutrophils
O Antigens - genetics
O Antigens - metabolism
Peptides
Plasmids
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides - genetics
Polysaccharides - metabolism
Shigella
Shigella flexneri - physiology
Signal Transduction
Staphylococcus aureus
United States > US
Colorado
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Summary:Beyond their traditional role of wrapping DNA, histones display antibacterial activity to Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. To identify bacterial components that allow survival to a histone challenge, we selected resistant bacteria from homologous Escherichia coli libraries that harbor plasmids carrying pieces of the chromosome in different sizes. We identified genes required for exopolysaccharide production and for the synthesis of the polysaccharide domain of the lipopolysaccharide, called O-antigen. Indeed, O-antigen and exopolysaccharide conferred further resistance to histones. Notably, O-antigen also conferred resistance to histones in the pathogens Shigella flexneri and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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Current address: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Conceived and designed the experiments: CC RTG AZ. Performed the experiments: CC ES. Analyzed the data: CC. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: CC ES RTG. Wrote the paper: CC.
Current address: Opxbio, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0071097