Droplet Tn-Seq identifies the primary secretion mechanism for yersiniabactin in Yersinia pestis

Sarah L. Price; Derek Thibault; Taylor M. Garrison; Amanda Brady; Haixun Guo; Thomas E. Kehl-Fie; Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova; Robert D. Perry; Tim van Opijnen; Matthew B. Lawrenz

doi:10.15252/embr.202357369

Droplet Tn-Seq identifies the primary secretion mechanism for yersiniabactin in Yersinia pestis

Sarah L. Price, Derek Thibault, Taylor M. Garrison, Amanda Brady, Haixun Guo, Thomas E. Kehl-Fie, Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, Robert D. Perry, Tim van Opijnen, Matthew B. Lawrenz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Nutritional immunity includes sequestration of transition metals from invading pathogens. Yersinia pestis overcomes nutritional immunity by secreting yersiniabactin to acquire iron and zinc during infection. While the mechanisms for yersiniabactin synthesis and import are well-defined, those responsible for yersiniabactin secretion are unknown. Identification of this mechanism has been difficult because conventional mutagenesis approaches are unable to inhibit trans-complementation by secreted factors between mutants. To overcome this obstacle, we utilized a technique called droplet Tn-seq (dTn-seq), which uses microfluidics to isolate individual transposon mutants in oil droplets, eliminating trans-complementation between bacteria. Using this approach, we first demonstrated the applicability of dTn-seq to identify genes with secreted functions. We then applied dTn-seq to identify an AcrAB efflux system as required for growth in metal-limited conditions. Finally, we showed this efflux system is the primary yersiniabactin secretion mechanism and required for virulence during bubonic and pneumonic plague. Together, these studies have revealed the yersiniabactin secretion mechanism that has eluded researchers for over 30 years and identified a potential therapeutic target for bacteria that use yersiniabactin for metal acquisition.

Original language	English
Journal	EMBO Reports
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202357369
State	Accepted/In press - 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Joe Burlison at the Medicinal Chemistry Facility at the University of Louisville, Michelle Hallenbeck, and the University of Louisville's Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Shared Resources and Vivarium Staff for their technical support during these studies. The authors would also like to thank Drs. Oleg V. Tsodikov, Juan Ortiz‐Marquez, and Noemi Bujan Gomez for critical feedback and discussions of data. Finally, the authors would like to thank Dr. Ralph Isberg for discussions and introductions that lead to this collaboration between the Lawrenz and van Opijnen labs. This work was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health NIAID T32AI132146 (SLP), F31AI147404 (SLP), R01AI155611 (TEK), R01AI110724 (TvO), R01AI148470 (TvO), U01AI124302 (TvO), R21AI135225 (MBL), R01AI148241 (MBL), NIGMS P20GM125504 (MBL), and in part from the Jewish Heritage Foundation for Excellence Grant Program at the University of Louisville School of Medicine (MBL).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors.

Keywords

drug efflux systems
plague
siderophores
transposon mutagenesis
Yersinia pestis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Genetics

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10.15252/embr.202357369

Cite this

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title = "Droplet Tn-Seq identifies the primary secretion mechanism for yersiniabactin in Yersinia pestis",

abstract = "Nutritional immunity includes sequestration of transition metals from invading pathogens. Yersinia pestis overcomes nutritional immunity by secreting yersiniabactin to acquire iron and zinc during infection. While the mechanisms for yersiniabactin synthesis and import are well-defined, those responsible for yersiniabactin secretion are unknown. Identification of this mechanism has been difficult because conventional mutagenesis approaches are unable to inhibit trans-complementation by secreted factors between mutants. To overcome this obstacle, we utilized a technique called droplet Tn-seq (dTn-seq), which uses microfluidics to isolate individual transposon mutants in oil droplets, eliminating trans-complementation between bacteria. Using this approach, we first demonstrated the applicability of dTn-seq to identify genes with secreted functions. We then applied dTn-seq to identify an AcrAB efflux system as required for growth in metal-limited conditions. Finally, we showed this efflux system is the primary yersiniabactin secretion mechanism and required for virulence during bubonic and pneumonic plague. Together, these studies have revealed the yersiniabactin secretion mechanism that has eluded researchers for over 30 years and identified a potential therapeutic target for bacteria that use yersiniabactin for metal acquisition.",

keywords = "drug efflux systems, plague, siderophores, transposon mutagenesis, Yersinia pestis",

author = "Price, {Sarah L.} and Derek Thibault and Garrison, {Taylor M.} and Amanda Brady and Haixun Guo and Kehl-Fie, {Thomas E.} and Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova and Perry, {Robert D.} and {van Opijnen}, Tim and Lawrenz, {Matthew B.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Joe Burlison at the Medicinal Chemistry Facility at the University of Louisville, Michelle Hallenbeck, and the University of Louisville's Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Shared Resources and Vivarium Staff for their technical support during these studies. The authors would also like to thank Drs. Oleg V. Tsodikov, Juan Ortiz‐Marquez, and Noemi Bujan Gomez for critical feedback and discussions of data. Finally, the authors would like to thank Dr. Ralph Isberg for discussions and introductions that lead to this collaboration between the Lawrenz and van Opijnen labs. This work was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health NIAID T32AI132146 (SLP), F31AI147404 (SLP), R01AI155611 (TEK), R01AI110724 (TvO), R01AI148470 (TvO), U01AI124302 (TvO), R21AI135225 (MBL), R01AI148241 (MBL), NIGMS P20GM125504 (MBL), and in part from the Jewish Heritage Foundation for Excellence Grant Program at the University of Louisville School of Medicine (MBL). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors.",

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doi = "10.15252/embr.202357369",

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T1 - Droplet Tn-Seq identifies the primary secretion mechanism for yersiniabactin in Yersinia pestis

AU - Price, Sarah L.

AU - Thibault, Derek

AU - Garrison, Taylor M.

AU - Brady, Amanda

AU - Guo, Haixun

AU - Kehl-Fie, Thomas E.

AU - Garneau-Tsodikova, Sylvie

AU - Perry, Robert D.

AU - van Opijnen, Tim

AU - Lawrenz, Matthew B.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Joe Burlison at the Medicinal Chemistry Facility at the University of Louisville, Michelle Hallenbeck, and the University of Louisville's Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Shared Resources and Vivarium Staff for their technical support during these studies. The authors would also like to thank Drs. Oleg V. Tsodikov, Juan Ortiz‐Marquez, and Noemi Bujan Gomez for critical feedback and discussions of data. Finally, the authors would like to thank Dr. Ralph Isberg for discussions and introductions that lead to this collaboration between the Lawrenz and van Opijnen labs. This work was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health NIAID T32AI132146 (SLP), F31AI147404 (SLP), R01AI155611 (TEK), R01AI110724 (TvO), R01AI148470 (TvO), U01AI124302 (TvO), R21AI135225 (MBL), R01AI148241 (MBL), NIGMS P20GM125504 (MBL), and in part from the Jewish Heritage Foundation for Excellence Grant Program at the University of Louisville School of Medicine (MBL). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors.

PY - 2023

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N2 - Nutritional immunity includes sequestration of transition metals from invading pathogens. Yersinia pestis overcomes nutritional immunity by secreting yersiniabactin to acquire iron and zinc during infection. While the mechanisms for yersiniabactin synthesis and import are well-defined, those responsible for yersiniabactin secretion are unknown. Identification of this mechanism has been difficult because conventional mutagenesis approaches are unable to inhibit trans-complementation by secreted factors between mutants. To overcome this obstacle, we utilized a technique called droplet Tn-seq (dTn-seq), which uses microfluidics to isolate individual transposon mutants in oil droplets, eliminating trans-complementation between bacteria. Using this approach, we first demonstrated the applicability of dTn-seq to identify genes with secreted functions. We then applied dTn-seq to identify an AcrAB efflux system as required for growth in metal-limited conditions. Finally, we showed this efflux system is the primary yersiniabactin secretion mechanism and required for virulence during bubonic and pneumonic plague. Together, these studies have revealed the yersiniabactin secretion mechanism that has eluded researchers for over 30 years and identified a potential therapeutic target for bacteria that use yersiniabactin for metal acquisition.

AB - Nutritional immunity includes sequestration of transition metals from invading pathogens. Yersinia pestis overcomes nutritional immunity by secreting yersiniabactin to acquire iron and zinc during infection. While the mechanisms for yersiniabactin synthesis and import are well-defined, those responsible for yersiniabactin secretion are unknown. Identification of this mechanism has been difficult because conventional mutagenesis approaches are unable to inhibit trans-complementation by secreted factors between mutants. To overcome this obstacle, we utilized a technique called droplet Tn-seq (dTn-seq), which uses microfluidics to isolate individual transposon mutants in oil droplets, eliminating trans-complementation between bacteria. Using this approach, we first demonstrated the applicability of dTn-seq to identify genes with secreted functions. We then applied dTn-seq to identify an AcrAB efflux system as required for growth in metal-limited conditions. Finally, we showed this efflux system is the primary yersiniabactin secretion mechanism and required for virulence during bubonic and pneumonic plague. Together, these studies have revealed the yersiniabactin secretion mechanism that has eluded researchers for over 30 years and identified a potential therapeutic target for bacteria that use yersiniabactin for metal acquisition.

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KW - siderophores

KW - transposon mutagenesis

KW - Yersinia pestis

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Droplet Tn-Seq identifies the primary secretion mechanism for yersiniabactin in Yersinia pestis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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