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1. (Article ID: 3985)
 
Arroyo LA, Herrera CM, Fernandez L, Hankins JV, Trent MS, Hancock RE
The pmrCAB operon mediates polymyxin resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 and clinical isolates through phosphoethanolamine modification of lipid A
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 55(8) (2011) 3743-3751
 

The emergence of multidrug resistance among Acinetobacter baumannii is leading to an increasing dependence on the use of polymyxins as last-hope antibiotics. Here, we utilized genetic and biochemical methods to define the involvement of the pmrCAB operon in polymyxin resistance in this organism. Sequence analysis of 16 polymyxin B-resistant strains, including 6 spontaneous mutants derived from strain ATCC 17978 and 10 clinical isolates from diverse sources, revealed that they had independent mutations in the pmrB gene, encoding a sensor kinase, or in the response regulator PmrA. Knockout of the pmrB gene in two mutants and two clinical isolates led to a decrease in the polymyxin B susceptibility of these strains, which could be restored with the cloned pmrAB genes from the mutants but not from the wild type. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis also showed a correlation between the expression of pmrC and polymyxin B resistance. Characterization of lipid A species from the mutant strains, by thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry, indicated that the addition of phosphoethanolamine to lipid A correlated with resistance. This addition is performed in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium by the product of the pmrC gene, which is a homolog of the pmrC gene from Acinetobacter. Knockout of this gene in the mutant R2 [pmrB(T235I)] reversed resistance as well as phosphoethanolamine modification of lipid A. These results demonstrate that specific alterations in the sequence of the pmrCAB operon are responsible for resistance to polymyxins in A. baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii, lipid A, mass spectrometry, phosphoethanolamine, Polymyxin B, pmrCAB

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2. (Article ID: 4320)
 
Iwashkiw JA, Seper A, Weber BS, Scott NE, Vinogradov E, Stratilo C, Reiz B, Cordwell SJ, Whittal R, Schild S, Feldman MF
Identification of a General O-linked Protein Glycosylation System in Acinetobacter baumannii and Its Role in Virulence and Biofilm Formation
PLoS Pathogens 8(6) (2012) e1002758
 

Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging cause of nosocomial infections. The isolation of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics is increasing at alarming rates. Although A. baumannii is considered as one of the more threatening 'superbugs' for our healthcare system, little is known about the factors contributing to its pathogenesis. In this work we show that A. baumannii ATCC 17978 possesses an O-glycosylation system responsible for the glycosylation of multiple proteins. 2D-DIGE and mass spectrometry methods identified seven A. baumannii glycoproteins, of yet unknown function. The glycan structure was determined using a combination of MS and NMR techniques and consists of a branched pentasaccharide containing N-acetylgalactosamine, glucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and a derivative of glucuronic acid. A glycosylation deficient strain was generated by homologous recombination. This strain did not show any growth defects, but exhibited a severely diminished capacity to generate biofilms. Disruption of the glycosylation machinery also resulted in reduced virulence in two infection models, the amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum and the larvae of the insect Galleria mellonella, and reduced in vivo fitness in a mouse model of peritoneal sepsis. Despite A. baumannii genome plasticity, the O-glycosylation machinery appears to be present in all clinical isolates tested as well as in all of the genomes sequenced. This suggests the existence of a strong evolutionary pressure to retain this system. These results together indicate that O-glycosylation in A. baumannii is required for full virulence and therefore represents a novel target for the development of new antibiotics.

virulence, Acinetobacter baumannii, Biofilm, O-glycosylation

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3. (Article ID: 4537)
 
Iwashkiw JA, Vozza NF, Kinsella RL, Feldman MF
Pour some sugar on it: the expanding world of bacterial protein O-linked glycosylation
Molecular Microbiology 89(1) (2013) 14-28
 

Protein glycosylation was once considered as an eccentricity of a few bacteria. However in the recent years multiple O-glycosylation mechanisms have been identified in bacterial species from the most diverse genera, including various important human pathogens. This review focuses on summarizing the structural diversity, the various pathways and the physiological roles of this post-translational protein modification. We propose a classification of O-glycosylation based on the requirement of an oligosaccharyltransferase (OTase). OTase-dependent glycosylation utilizes an oligosaccharide synthesized on a lipid carrier that is transferred to proteins en bloc by an OTase. Multiple proteins, including the pilins, are glycosylated using this mechanism. OTase-independent glycosylation refers to the pathway in which glycosyltransferases sequentially add monosaccharides onto the target proteins. This pathway is employed for glycosylation of flagella and autotransporters. Both systems play key roles in pathogenesis. Exploiting glycosylation machineries it is now possible to generate glycoconjugates made of different proteins attached to polysaccharides derived from LPS or capsule biosynthesis. These recombinant glycoproteins can be exploited for vaccines and diagnostics of bacterial infections. Furthermore, O-glycosylation systems are promising targets for antibiotic development. Technological advances in MS and NMR will facilitate the discovery of novel glycosylation systems. Likely, the O-glycosylation pathways we currently know constitute just the tip of the iceberg of a still largely uncharacterized bacterial glycosylation world.

biosynthesis, glycoconjugates, bacteria, glycosyltransferases, capsule, glycoproteins, flagella, Glycomics, O-glycosylation

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4. (Article ID: 4562)
 
Lees-Miller RG, Iwashkiw JA, Scott NE, Seper A, Vinogradov E, Schild S, Feldman MF
A common pathway for O-linked protein-glycosylation and synthesis of capsule in Acinetobacter baumannii
Molecular Microbiology 89(5) (2013) 816-830
 

Multi-drug resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii are increasingly being isolated in hospitals worldwide. Among the virulence factors identified in this bacterium there is a general O-glycosylation system that appears to be important for biofilm formation and virulence, and the capsular polysaccharide, which is essential for resistance to complement killing. In this work, we identified a locus that is responsible for the synthesis of the O-pentasaccharide found on the glycoproteins. Besides the enzymes required for the assembly of the glycan, additional proteins typically involved in polymerization and transport of capsule were identified within or adjacently to the locus. Mutagenesis of PglC, the initiating glycosyltransferase prevented the synthesis of both glycoproteins and capsule, resulting in abnormal biofilm structures and attenuated virulence in mice. These results, together with the structural analysis of A. baumannii 17978 capsular polysaccharide via NMR, demonstrated that the pentasaccharides that decorate the glycoproteins are also the building blocks for capsule biosynthesis. Two linked subunits, but not longer glycan chains, were detected on proteins via MS. The discovery of a bifurcated pathway for O-glycosylation and capsule synthesis not only provides insight into the biology of A. baumannii but also identifies potential novel candidates for intervention against this emerging pathogen.

Acinetobacter baumannii, capsular polysaccharide, capsule biosynthesis, genetic locus, O-pentasaccharide

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5. (Article ID: 4748)
 
Arbatsky NP, Shneider MM, Kenyon JJ, Shashkov AS, Popova AV, Miroshnikov KA, Volozhantsev NV, Knirel YA
Structure of the neutral capsular polysaccharide of Acinetobacter baumannii NIPH146 that carries the KL37 capsule gene cluster
Carbohydrate Research 413 (2015) 12-15
 

Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) was isolated from Acinetobacter baumannii NIPH146, and the following structure of branched pentasaccharide repeating unit was established by sugar analyses along with 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy: In comparison to most other known capsular polysaccharides of A. baumannii, the CPS studied is neutral and lacks any specific monosaccharide component. The synthesis, assembly and export of this structure could be attributed to genes in a novel capsule biosynthesis gene cluster, designated KL37, which was found in the NIPH146 genome. The CPS of A. baumannii NIPH146 shares the α-d-Galp-(1→6)-β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-d-GalpNAc-(1→ trisaccharide fragment with the CPS units of several A. baumannii strains, including ATCC 17978 and LUH 5537 that carry the KL3 and KL22 gene clusters, respectively. KL37 contains two genes for glycosyltransferases that are related to two glycosyltransferase genes present in both KL3 and KL22, and the encoded proteins could be tentatively assigned to linkages between sugars in the CPS repeat.

Acinetobacter baumannii, capsular polysaccharide structure, glycosyltransferase, K locus, KL37 gene cluster

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6. (Article ID: 4819)
 
Giguere D
Surface polysaccharides from Acinetobacter baumannii: Structures and syntheses
Carbohydrate Research 418 (2015) 29-43
 

The emergence of multidrug-resistance Acinetobacter baumannii requires novel approaches for prevention, treatment and diagnosis. The structures of surface polysaccharides from A. baumannii are valuable tools to understand pathogenesis, virulence and immunogenicity. The synthesis of bacterial mono- or polysaccharides may result in novel probes to become important therapeutic options in the fight against A. baumannii. This report exemplifies the relevance of glycochemistry for the development of new antibiotics.

lipopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, Acinetobacter, Acinetobacter baumannii, polysaccharide synthesis, surface polysaccharides

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7. (Article ID: 4837)
 
Boll JM, Tucker AT, Klein DR, Beltran AM, Brodbelt JS, Davies BW, Trent MS
Reinforcing Lipid A Acylation on the Cell Surface of Acinetobacter baumannii Promotes Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide Resistance and Desiccation Survival
mBio 6(3) (2015) e00478-15
 

Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging Gram-negative pathogen found in hospitals and intensive care units. In order to persist in hospital environments, A. baumannii withstands desiccative conditions and can rapidly develop multidrug resistance to conventional antibiotics. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) have served as therapeutic alternatives because they target the conserved lipid A component of the Gram-negative outer membrane to lyse the bacterial cell. However, many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, including A. baumannii, fortify their outer membrane with hepta-acylated lipid A to protect the cell from CAMP-dependent cell lysis. Whereas in Escherichia coli and Salmonella, increased production of the outer membrane acyltransferase PagP results in formation of protective hepta-acylated lipid A, which reinforces the lipopolysaccharide portion of the outer membrane barrier, A. baumannii does not carry a gene that encodes a PagP homolog. Instead, A. baumannii has evolved a PagP-independent mechanism to synthesize protective hepta-acylated lipid A. Taking advantage of a recently adapted A. baumannii genetic recombineering system, we characterized two putative acyltransferases in A. baumannii designated LpxLAb (A. baumannii LpxL) and LpxMAb (A. baumannii LpxM), which transfer one and two lauroyl (C12:0) acyl chains, respectively, during lipid A biosynthesis. Hepta-acylation of A. baumannii lipid A promoted resistance to vertebrate and polymyxin CAMPs, which are prescribed as last-resort treatment options. Intriguingly, our analysis also showed that LpxMAb-dependent acylation of lipid A is essential for A. baumannii desiccation survival, a key resistance mechanism for survival in hospital environments. Compounds that inhibit LpxMAb-dependent hepta-acylation of lipid A could act synergistically with CAMPs to provide innovative transmission prevention strategies and treat multidrug-resistant infections. IMPORTANCE: Acinetobacter baumannii infections can be life threatening, and disease can progress in a variety of host tissues. Current antibiotic regimen and disinfectant strategies have failed to limit nosocomial A. baumannii infections. Instead, the rate of A. baumannii infection among health care communities has skyrocketed due to the bacterium's adaptability. Its aptitude for survival over extended periods on inanimate objects, such as catheters, respirators, and surfaces in intensive care units, or on the hands of health care workers and its ability to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance make A. baumannii a threat to health care communities. Emergence of multidrug- and extremely drug-resistant A. baumannii illustrates the ineffectiveness of current prevention and treatment options. Our analysis to understand how A. baumannii resists cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP)-mediated and desiccative killing revealed two lipid A acyltransferases that produce protective hepta-acylated lipid A. Our work suggests that inhibiting lipid A biosynthesis by targeting the acyltransferase LpxMAb (A. baumannii LpxM) could provide a novel target to combat this pathogen.

Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, lipid A, acylation, acyltransferases

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8. (Article ID: 5056)
 
Yang FL, Lou TC, Kuo SC, Wu WL, Chern J, Lee YT, Chen ST, Zou W, Lin NT, Wu SH
A medically relevant capsular polysaccharide in Acinetobacter baumannii is a potential vaccine candidate
Vaccine 35(10) (2017) 1440-1447
 

Concerns of Acinetobacter baumannii infection have increased due to the emergence of multi-drug resistance. In the present study, we determined the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) structure of A. baumannii SK44, a clinical isolate from Taiwan, to consist of pentasaccharide repeats. We found that CPS-induced antibody provided 55% protection against challenge in an animal model. The CPS-specific antibody reacted with the surface components of about 62% clinical isolates (342/554 strains) from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies by dot-immunoassay. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of positive strains showed the antibody covered different clonalites of A. baumannii clinical isolates. Meanwhile, using the CPS antibody as a probe, we found a number of outer membrane proteins bound to the antibody, including OmpA/motB, TonB-dependent receptor, and Omp38, indicating their association with CPS. These results might lead to the use of the capsular polysaccharide as a vaccine to prevent A. baumannii infection.

Acinetobacter baumannii, capsular polysaccharide, Clinic population distribution, Passive immunity

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9. (Article ID: 5202)
 
Powers MJ, Trent MS
Expanding the paradigm for the outer membrane: Acinetobacter baumannii in the absence of endotoxin
Molecular Microbiology 107(1) (2018) 47-56
 

Asymmetry in the outer membrane has long defined the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. This asymmetry, with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipooligosaccharide (LOS) exclusively in the outer leaflet of the membrane, establishes an impermeable barrier that protects the cell from a number of stressors in the environment. Work done over the past 5 years has shown that Acinetobacter baumannii has the remarkable capability to survive with inactivated production of lipid A biosynthesis and the absence of LOS in its outer membrane. The implications of LOS-deficient A. baumannii are far-reaching - from impacts on cell envelope biogenesis and maintenance, bacterial physiology, antibiotic resistance and virulence. This review examines recent work that has contributed to our understanding of LOS-deficiency and compares it to studies done on Neisseria meningitidis and Moraxella catarrhalis; the two other organisms with this capability.

Lipopolysaccharide, Lipooligosaccharide, Acinetobacter baumannii, lipid A, Gram-negative bacteria, barrier, bacterial outer membrane proteins

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10. (Article ID: 6068)
 
Herrera CM, Voss BJ, Trent MS
Homeoviscous Adaptation of the Acinetobacter baumannii Outer Membrane: Alteration of Lipooligosaccharide Structure during Cold Stress
mBio 12(4) (2021) e0129521
 

To maintain optimal membrane dynamics, cells from all domains of life must acclimate to various environmental signals in a process referred to as homeoviscous adaptation. Alteration of the lipid composition is critical for maintaining membrane fluidity, permeability of the lipid bilayer, and protein function under diverse conditions. It is well documented, for example, that glycerophospholipid content varies substantially in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with changes in growth temperature. However, in the case of Gram-negative bacteria, far less is known concerning structural changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipooligosaccharide (LOS) during temperature shifts. LPS/LOS is anchored at the cell surface by the highly conserved lipid A domain and localized in the outer leaflet of the outer membrane. Here, we identified a novel acyltransferase, termed LpxS, involved in the synthesis of the lipid A domain of Acinetobacter baumannii. A. baumannii is a significant, multidrug-resistant, opportunistic pathogen that is particularly difficult to clear from health care settings because of its ability to survive under diverse conditions. LpxS transfers an octanoate (C8:0) fatty acid, the shortest known secondary acyl chain reported to date, replacing a C12:0 fatty acid at the 2' position of lipid A. Expression of LpxS was highly upregulated under cold conditions and likely increases membrane fluidity. Furthermore, incorporation of a C8:0 acyl chain under cold conditions increased the effectiveness of the outer membrane permeability barrier. LpxS orthologs are found in several Acinetobacter species and may represent a common mechanism for adaptation to cold temperatures in these organisms. IMPORTANCE To maintain cellular fitness, the composition of biological membranes must change in response to shifts in temperature or other stresses. This process, known as homeoviscous adaptation, allows for maintenance of optimal fluidity and membrane permeability. Here, we describe an enzyme that alters the fatty acid content of A. baumannii LOS, a major structural feature and key component of the bacterial outer membrane. Although much is known regarding how glycerophospholipids are altered during temperature shifts, our understanding of LOS or LPS alterations under these conditions is lacking. Our work identifies a cold adaptation mechanism in A. baumannii, a highly adaptable and multidrug-resistant pathogen.

Lipopolysaccharide, Lipooligosaccharide, Acinetobacter, Acinetobacter baumannii, lipid A, cell envelope, outer membrane, acylation, acyltransferase, cold shock

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11. (Article ID: 6152)
 
Troudi A, Pagès JM, Brunel JM
Chemical Highlights Supporting the Role of Lipid A in Efficient Biological Adaptation of Gram-Negative Bacteria to External Stresses
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 64(4) (2021) 1816-1834
 

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria provides an efficient barrier against external noxious compounds such as antimicrobial agents. Associated with drug target modification, it contributes to the overall failure of chemotherapy. In the complex OM architecture, Lipid A plays an essential role by anchoring the lipopolysaccharide in the membrane and ensuring the spatial organization between lipids, proteins, and sugars. Currently, the targets of almost all antibiotics are intracellularly located and require translocation across membranes. We report herein an integrated view of Lipid A synthesis, membrane assembly, a structure comparison at the molecular structure level of numerous Gram-negative bacterial species, as well as its recent use as a target for original antibacterial molecules. This review paves the way for a new vision of a key membrane component that acts during bacterial adaptation to environmental stresses and for the development of new weapons against microbial resistance to usual antibiotics.

Lipopolysaccharide, lipid A, Gram-negative bacteria, outer membrane, stress, adaptation

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12. (Article ID: 6385)
 
Fux AC, Casonato Melo C, Michelini S, Swartzwelter BJ, Italiani P, Himly M
Heterogeneity of Lipopolysaccharide as Source of Variability in Bioassays and LPS-Binding Proteins as Remedy
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24(9) (2023) 8395
 

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also referred to as endotoxin, is the major component of Gram-negative bacteria's outer cell wall. It is one of the main types of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are known to elicit severe immune reactions in the event of a pathogen trespassing the epithelial barrier and reaching the bloodstream. Associated symptoms include fever and septic shock, which in severe cases, might even lead to death. Thus, the detection of LPS in medical devices and injectable pharmaceuticals is of utmost importance. However, the term LPS does not describe one single molecule but a diverse class of molecules sharing one common feature: their characteristic chemical structure. Each bacterial species has its own pool of LPS molecules varying in their chemical composition and enabling the aggregation into different supramolecular structures upon release from the bacterial cell wall. As this heterogeneity has consequences for bioassays, we aim to examine the great variability of LPS molecules and their potential to form various supramolecular structures. Furthermore, we describe current LPS quantification methods and the LPS-dependent inflammatory pathway and show how LPS heterogeneity can affect them. With the intent of overcoming these challenges and moving towards a universal approach for targeting LPS, we review current studies concerning LPS-specific binders. Finally, we give perspectives for LPS research and the use of LPS-binding molecules.

Lipopolysaccharide, lipid A, immunology, endotoxin, detection, low endotoxin recovery, LPS-binding molecules

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