High-throughput LPS profiling as a tool for revealing of bacteriophage infection strategies

Abstract

O-antigens of Gram-negative bacteria modulate the interactions of bacterial cells with diverse external factors, including the components of the immune system and bacteriophages. Some phages need to acquire specific adhesins to overcome the O-antigen layer. For other phages, O-antigen is required for phage infection. In this case, interaction of phage receptor binding proteins coupled with enzymatic degradation or modification of the O-antigen is followed by phage infection. Identification of the strategies used by newly isolated phages may be of importance in their consideration for various applications. Here we describe an approach based on screening for host LPS alterations caused by selection by bacteriophages. We describe an optimized LPS profiling procedure that is simple, rapid and suitable for mass screening of mutants. We demonstrate that the phage infection strategies identified using a set of engineered E. coli 4 s mutants with impaired or altered LPS synthesis are in good agreement with the results of simpler tests based on LPS profiling of phage-resistant spontaneous mutants.

Massive analysis of 64,628 bacterial genomes to decipher water reservoir and origin of mobile colistin resistance genes: is there another role for these enzymes?

“…Interestingly, the most common cell living in water sources are bacteriophages 45,46 . Predation of bacterial cells by bacteriophages is linked to the interaction between phages and O-antigens structures of Gram-negative bacteria 47 . One may speculate that decoration of lipid A with ethanolamine is a "camouflage" of the antigen receptor of bacteria against bacteriophages.…”

Fitness Trade-Offs Resulting from Bacteriophage Resistance Potentiate Synergistic Antibacterial Strategies

“…Indeed, the E. coli phage G7C was recently shown to deacetylate O-antigen polysaccharide during adsorption and requires this glycan substrate for successful infection (53). LPS and O-antigen binding kinetics can vary due to different interaction strategies employed by phages that infect LPS-producing bacteria, and the use of LPS-modified phage resistant mutants has been useful for characterizing new phage isolates (54). Phage-driven selection of O-antigen serotypes has undoubtedly led to diverse LPS varieties.…”

Massive analysis of 64’628 bacterial genomes to decipher a water reservoir and origin of mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene variants: is there another role for this family of enzymes?

“…Interestingly, the most common cell living in water sources are bacteriophages 52,53 . Predation of bacterial cells by bacteriophages is linked to the interaction between phages and O-antigens structures of Gram-negative bacteria 54 . One may speculate that decoration of lipid A with ethanolamine is a “camouflage” of the antigen receptor of bacteria against bacteriophages.…”