Disruption of the defense barriers between the host and its indigenous microflora can lead to opportunistic infections which have a serious impact on human health. Intra-abdominal abscesses are formed following perforation of the bowel often due to appendicitis, diverticulitis, carcinoma, or surgery. These infections are composed of mixed intestinal flora with the indigenous intestinal anaerobe, Bacteroides fragilis as the predominant component. We hypothesized that resistance to oxidative stress is an important factor in the development of these infections. This is because relative to the colon, the peritoneal cavity is an oxygenated environment, and the recruitment of PMNs to the site of infection will result in exposure of B. fragilis to reactive oxygen species. In the current funding period we have documented that there is an acute oxidative stress response which is designed to minimize the immediate affects of oxygen radicals. This is mediated by the regulator OxyR which is necessary for optimal abscess formation in mice. We also have shown that there is a novel, widespread induction of genes associated with metabolism, which occurs when there is extended exposure to oxidative stress. For the current application, we hypothesize that this extended phase and the accompanying expansive induction of metabolic genes is critical for prolonged resistance to oxidative stress and for in vivo survival in extra-intestinal sites. We will learn how this Prolonged Oxidative STress (POST) response promotes adaptation to extended oxidative stress, determine if it is necessary to maintain the organism in a resistant state and elucidate some of the mechanisms that control it. Ultimately we will discover if it enhances persistence in the abscess milieu of necrotic cell debris, viable PMNs, and host serum factors.
Three aims will address this central hypothesis.
Three specific aims will address this central hypothesis.
In specific aim1 we will elucidate the mechanisms that regulate the POST response, determine how it is controlled by stress stimuli, and if it leads to multiple stress resistance.
In specific aim 2 we will show that a robust thiol metabolism is an integral component of the POST response and determine if it is needed to survive in vivo. Finally in specific Aim 3 we will examine mechanisms of iron storage and how they help prevent oxidative damage during POST. We will determine if the iron storage proteins can contribute to the repair of iron sulfur proteins and the in vivo expression of their cognate genes will be measured to gain insight into their role during infection.

Public Health Relevance

Every mucosal surface of the human body is inhabited by bacteria that have developed a commensal relationship with their host. Bacteroides fragilis is part of this indigenous, normal, flora in the colon and the primary goal of this research is learn how it causes intra-abdominal infections after being translocated from the colon due to disease or trauma. The successful completion of this research could lead to the discovery innovative new treatment strategies based on intervention in the pathogenic process or unique properties of the organism.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI040588-14
Application #
8611892
Study Section
Bacterial Pathogenesis Study Section (BACP)
Program Officer
Baqar, Shahida
Project Start
1998-12-01
Project End
2015-02-28
Budget Start
2014-03-01
Budget End
2015-02-28
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$317,610
Indirect Cost
$94,860
Name
East Carolina University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
607579018
City
Greenville
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27858
Betteken, Michael I; Rocha, Edson R; Smith, C Jeffrey (2015) Dps and DpsL Mediate Survival In Vitro and In Vivo during the Prolonged Oxidative Stress Response in Bacteroides fragilis. J Bacteriol 197:3329-38
Cao, Yanlu; Rocha, Edson R; Smith, C Jeffrey (2014) Efficient utilization of complex N-linked glycans is a selective advantage for Bacteroides fragilis in extraintestinal infections. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:12901-6
Veeranagouda, Yaligara; Husain, Fasahath; Boente, Renata et al. (2014) Deficiency of the ferrous iron transporter FeoAB is linked with metronidazole resistance in Bacteroides fragilis. J Antimicrob Chemother 69:2634-43
Nicholson, Samantha A; Smalley, Darren; Smith, C Jeffrey et al. (2014) The recA operon: A novel stress response gene cluster in Bacteroides fragilis. Res Microbiol 165:290-9
Ndamukong, Ivan C; Gee, Jason; Smith, C Jeffrey (2013) The extracytoplasmic function sigma factor EcfO protects Bacteroides fragilis against oxidative stress. J Bacteriol 195:145-55
Rocha, Edson R; Smith, C Jeffrey (2013) Ferritin-like family proteins in the anaerobe Bacteroides fragilis: when an oxygen storm is coming, take your iron to the shelter. Biometals 26:577-91
Lobo, Leandro A; Jenkins, Audrey L; Jeffrey Smith, C et al. (2013) Expression of Bacteroides fragilis hemolysins in vivo and role of HlyBA in an intra-abdominal infection model. Microbiologyopen 2:326-37
Parker, Anita C; Jeffrey Smith, C (2012) Development of an IPTG inducible expression vector adapted for Bacteroides fragilis. Plasmid 68:86-92
Gauss, George H; Reott, Michael A; Rocha, Edson R et al. (2012) Characterization of the Bacteroides fragilis bfr gene product identifies a bacterial DPS-like protein and suggests evolutionary links in the ferritin superfamily. J Bacteriol 194:15-27
Lobo, Leandro A; Smith, Charles J; Rocha, Edson R (2011) Flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-based fluorescent protein (FbFP) as reporter for gene expression in the anaerobe Bacteroides fragilis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 317:67-74

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