Comparative proteomics of bacterial pathogens

Abstract

The monitoring of gene expression via the technologies encompassed under the term 'proteomics' allows proteins of significance to be related to phenotypes associated with strain variability, environmental influences and the effects of genetic manipulation. The characterizations of these molecules are routinely performed utilising two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis in association with mass spectrometry for the identification of proteins. Pathogenic bacteria are suitable for proteomic comparisons in the aim of elucidating proteins with vaccine and diagnostic applications, as well as determining novel targets for drug design and the effects of these drugs on cellular physiology. Strains exhibiting diverse phenotypes including antibiotic or chemical resistances, altered mode of pathogenicity, or differential capability of growth in similar environments, can be compared via protein differential display to correlate relative protein abundances associated with these conditions. Technically, proteins are 'mapped' on 2-D arrays under 'standard' conditions and visually compared to arrays of proteins from a variety of test conditions. High-throughput technologies allow molecules of significance to be elucidated rapidly from within complex mixtures using a combination of cellular pre fractionation to determine cellular location and pathway predictions to aid in overcoming the limitations of 2-D gel technology for the analysis of whole proteomes.

Comparative proteomics of Staphylococcus aureus and the response of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive strains to Triton X-100 a aThe identifications for the spots shown in Fig. 1 F1 can be found as supplementary data in Microbiology Online (http://mic.sgmjournals.org).

“…However, initial reports suggest that there are few differences between these phenotypes at the genetic level, with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus containing mobile genetic elements that encode the majority of the antibiotic-resistance genes . Complementary to the role of comparative genomics is the advent of similar comparisons using the technologies encompassed under the term ' proteomics ' (Cordwell et al, 2001). The visual power of twodimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE), combined with the sensitivity and throughput attributed to MS, has allowed significant progress to be made in characterizing proteins that allow bacteria to achieve a given phenotype.…”

Proteome analysis of extracellular proteins regulated by the las and rhl quorum sensing systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

“…Nearly 50 % of the open reading frames (ORFs) have no known function. Transcriptomics and proteomics (reviewed by Harrington et al, 2000;Cordwell et al, 2001) can be applied to gauge the expression of mRNA and protein geneproducts in response to altered genetic or biological conditions. Both approaches have recently been used to monitor the molecular basis of biofilm development in P. aeruginosa Sauer et al, 2002).…”

Proteomic analysis of different extracts from barley grains

“…database searching) became important tools for protein and proteome analysis (Aebersold and Goodlett 2001). These methods have been successfully applied for the identification of proteins in numerous biological systems (Cordwell et al 2001, Mann et al 2001 including barley leaves and grains (Chmelík et al 2001). …”