Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that is associated with a range of serious pathogenic conditions in humans and animals. The emergence of virulent, community-acquired S. aureus strains that are resistant to many antibiotics has become a significant public health problem. Many virulence determinants in S. aureus are carried on mobile genetic elements, including S. aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) that carry genes encoding virulence factors such as superantigen toxins. SaPIs are normally stably integrated into the host genome, but become mobilized by specific helper phages, such as 80a or fNM1, resulting in the packaging of the SaPI genome into phage-like transducing particles that are made from helper-encoded structural proteins. The SaPIs have evolved the ability to sense the presence of a lytic phage, exploit phage functions and interfere with phage multiplication. This interference includes altered dependency on phage functions, specific selection of SaPI DNA for packaging, and the formation of capsids that are too small to package phage genomes. The resulting particles can transfer virulence factors to other cells, even across genera, at high frequency. The overall aim of the current project is to understand the structural basis for SaPI mobilization, helper-SaPI specificity, and the factors involved in their spread and establishment. Such processes are important factors in S. aureus evolution and pathogenicity. Specifically, we aim to: (1) Define the roles of the 80a scaffolding protein in capsid assembly; (2) Determine the mechanism of SaPI-induced capsid size redirection; (3) Establish the role of gp44 in DNA packaging and stability; and (4) Understand the process of SaPI derepression by helper phage dUTPases.
These aims focus on different aspects of the mobilization process and will be studied by a combination of genetic, biochemical and structural methods. Elucidation of these mechanisms will have significant implications for understanding the role of phages, SaPIs and other mobile genetic elements in the spread and establishment of virulence determinants in S. aureus. In addition, this research will aid our understanding of macromolecular assembly processes and capsid size determination in general.

Public Health Relevance

The emergence of virulent strains of Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to many antibiotics has become a major public health concern. S. aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) are genetic elements that are mobilized through infection with specific helper bacteriophages, leading to the transfer and spread of virulence factors through the bacterial population. The present project aims to understand the mechanism and specificity of the phage-induced mobilization of SaPIs and their impact on the evolution of bacterial pathogenicity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI083255-09
Application #
9474569
Study Section
Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (PCMB)
Program Officer
Huntley, Clayton C
Project Start
2009-09-01
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2018-06-01
Budget End
2019-05-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Manning, Keith A; Quiles-Puchalt, Nuria; Penadés, José R et al. (2018) A novel ejection protein from bacteriophage 80? that promotes lytic growth. Virology 525:237-247
Kizziah, James L; Manning, Keith A; Dearborn, Altaira D et al. (2017) Cleavage and Structural Transitions during Maturation of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriophage 80? and SaPI1 Capsids. Viruses 9:
Dearborn, Altaira D; Wall, Erin A; Kizziah, James L et al. (2017) Competing scaffolding proteins determine capsid size during mobilization of Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity islands. Elife 6:
Hill, Rosanne L L; Vlach, Jiri; Parker, Laura K et al. (2017) Derepression of SaPIbov1 Is Independent of ?NM1 Type 2 dUTPase Activity and Is Inhibited by dUTP and dUMP. J Mol Biol 429:1570-1580
Carpena, Nuria; Manning, Keith A; Dokland, Terje et al. (2016) Convergent evolution of pathogenicity islands in helper cos phage interference. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 371:
Hill, Rosanne L L; Dokland, Terje (2016) The Type 2 dUTPase of Bacteriophage ?NM1 Initiates Mobilization of Staphylococcus aureus Bovine Pathogenicity Island 1. J Mol Biol 428:142-152
Wall, Erin A; Caufield, J Harry; Lyons, Charles E et al. (2015) Specific N-terminal cleavage of ribosomal protein L27 in Staphylococcus aureus and related bacteria. Mol Microbiol 95:258-69
Dearborn, Altaira D; Dokland, Terje (2012) Mobilization of pathogenicity islands by Staphylococcus aureus strain Newman bacteriophages. Bacteriophage 2:70-78
Christie, Gail E; Dokland, Terje (2012) Pirates of the Caudovirales. Virology 434:210-21
Spilman, Michael S; Damle, Priyadarshan K; Dearborn, Altaira D et al. (2012) Assembly of bacteriophage 80? capsids in a Staphylococcus aureus expression system. Virology 434:242-50

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