Porin Channels Research Articles

Impact of an Intervention to Control Imipenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Its Resistance Mechanisms: An 8-Year Survey.

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the impact of an intervention carried out in 2011 to combat multi-drug resistance and outbreaks of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (IRAB), and to explore its resistance mechanism.MethodsA total of 2572 isolates of A. baumannii, including 1673 IRAB isolates, were collected between 2007 and 2014. An intervention was implemented to control A. baumannii resistance and outbreaks. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by calculating minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and outbreaks were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Resistance mechanisms were explored by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and whole genome sequencing (WGS).ResultsFollowing the intervention in 2011, the resistance rates of A. baumannii to almost all tested antibiotics decreased, from 85.3 to 72.6% for imipenem, 100 to 80.8% for ceftriaxone, and 45.0 to 6.9% for tigecycline. The intervention resulted in a decrease in the number (seven to five), duration (8–3 months), and departments (five to three) affected by outbreaks; no outbreaks occurred in 2011. After the intervention, only blaAMPC (76.47 to 100%) and blaTEM–1 (75.74 to 96.92%) increased (P < 0.0001); whereas blaGES–1 (32.35 to 3.07%), blaPER–1 (21.32 to 1.54%), blaOXA–58 (60.29 to 1.54%), carO (37.50 to 7.69%), and adeB (9.56 to 3.08%) decreased (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, the frequency of class B β-lactamase genes decreased from 91.18% (blaSPM–1) and 61.03% (blaIMP–1) to 0%, while that of class D blaOXA–23 increased to 96.92% (P < 0.0001). WGS showed that the major PFGE types causing outbreaks each year (type 01, 11, 18, 23, 26, and 31) carried the same resistance genes (blaKPC–1, blaADC–25, blaOXA–66, and adeABC), AdeR-S mutations (G186V and A136V), and a partially blocked porin channel CarO. Meanwhile, plasmids harboring blaOXA–23 were found after the intervention.ConclusionThe intervention was highly effective in reducing multi-drug resistance of A. baumannii and IRAB outbreaks in the long term. The resistance mechanisms of IRAB may involve genes encoding β-lactamases, efflux pump overexpression, outer membrane porin blockade, and plasmids; in particular, clonal spread of blaOXA–23 was the major cause of outbreaks. Similar interventions may also help reduce bacterial resistance rates and outbreaks in other hospitals.

On-chip label-free impedance-based detection of antibiotic permeation.

Biosensors are analytical tools used for the analysis of biomaterial samples and provide an understanding about the biocomposition, structure, and function of biomolecules and/or biomechanisms by converting the biological response into an electrical and/or optical signal. In particular, with the rise in antibiotic resistance amongst pathogenic bacteria, the study of antibiotic activity and transport across cell membranes in the field of biosensors has been gaining widespread importance. Herein, for the rapid and label‐free detection of antibiotic permeation across a membrane, a microelectrode integrated microfluidic device is presented. The integrated chip consists of polydimethylsiloxane based microfluidic channels bonded onto microelectrodes on‐glass and enables us to recognize the antibiotic permeation across a membrane into the model membranes based on electrical impedance measurement, while also allowing optical monitoring. Impedance testing is label free and therefore allows the detection of both fluorescent and non‐fluorescent antibiotics. As a model membrane, Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) are used and impedance measurements were performed by a precision inductance, capacitance, and resistance metre. The measured signal recorded from the device was used to determine the change in concentration inside and outside of the GUVs. We have found that permeation of antibiotic molecules can be easily monitored over time using the proposed integrated device. The results also show a clear difference between bilayer permeation that occurs through the lipidic bilayer and porin‐mediated permeation through the porin channels inserted in the lipid bilayer.

1452. Molecular Profile of β-Lactamase Genes and Siderophore-Dependent Iron Transporter Genes of Cefiderocol High MIC Isolates from SIDERO-WT Studies

BackgroundCefiderocol (CFDC) is a novel siderophore cephalosporin with efficacy against Gram-negative (GN) bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and non-glucose-fermenters such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. In consecutive multinational surveillance (SIDERO-WT) studies (2014–2017), CFDC demonstrated activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ≤4 mg/mL against 99.4% of 28,629 GN clinical isolates. We conducted molecular characterization of 161 isolates with CFDC MICs >4 mg/mL from the SIDERO-WT studies.MethodsA total of 161 isolates underwent whole genome sequencing by Illumina Hiseq. Analyses were done using the CLC genomics workbench (Qiagen) for possible resistance-related genes (e.g. β-lactamases, porin channels or penicillin-binding protein genes) and some TonB-dependent siderophore uptake receptor genes (fiu, cir, piu, pir). Fiu and Cir in Escherichia coli and Piu in P. aeruginosa are the iron transporters involved in CFDC transport.ResultsOf 161 isolates with CFDC MIC >4 mg/mL, 128 were A. baumannii, 22 Enterobacterales, 7 Burkholderia multivorans, 2 P. aeruginosa, and 2 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Genes encoding PER/VEB extended-spectrum β-lactamases and NDM-type metallo-β-lactamases were detected in some isolates, but other β-lactamase genes (bla) were not shown to be linked to high CFDC MICs. blaPER/blaVEB were found only in A. baumannii and blaNDM was found in A. baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In 128 A. baumannii isolates, 103 harbored PER or VEB, including PER positive isolates from Russia (n=87) and Turkey (n=6) and 4 VEB positive isolates from USA. Nine NDM-positive isolates (7 K. pneumoniae, 2 A. baumannii) were found. Disruption of iron transport genes was also detected in some isolates, including piuA (11 A. baumannii, 1 P. aeruginosa), pirA (2 A. baumannii), and fiuA (4 B. multivorans, 1 Proteus mirabilis). No cir homologs were found in 2 B. multivorans.ConclusionPER and NDM could reduce susceptibility to CFDC, as such isolates have been seen in some countries. Iron transporter disruption was also observed in some isolates with high CFDC MICs; the contribution of these deficiencies in A. baumannii and B. multivorans requires further study.DisclosuresYoshinori Yamano, PhD, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Employee) Miki Takemura, MSc, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Employee) Krystyna Kazmierczak, PhD, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Independent Contractor) Mark G G. Wise, PhD, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Independent Contractor) Daniel F. Sahm, PhD, IHMA (Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Consultant)Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Independent Contractor) Roger Echols, MD, Shionogi Inc. (Consultant)

Insect Bacterial Symbiont-Mediated Vitellogenin Uptake into Oocytes To Support Egg Development.

Many insect species, such as aphids, leafhoppers, planthoppers, and whiteflies harbor obligate bacterial symbionts that can be transovarially transmitted to offspring through the oocytes of female insects. Whether obligate bacterial symbionts can carry important molecules/resources to the embryos to support egg development is still unknown. Here, we show that the vitellogenin (Vg) precursor of rice leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps is biosynthesized by the fat body, secreted into the hemolymph and subsequently cleaved into the 35- and 178-kDa subunits, whereas only the 178-kDa subunit is taken up by the leading end of oocytes in a receptor-dependent manner or moves into the posterior pole of the terminal oocyte in association with obligate bacterial symbiont "Candidatus Nasuia deltocephalinicola" (hereafter Nasuia) in a receptor-independent manner. Furthermore, the 178-kDa Vg subunit can directly interact with a surface channel molecule (porin) on the envelope of Nasuia, allowing Vg to enter bacterial cytoplasm. Thus, Vg can hitchhike the ancient oocyte entry path of Nasuia, the common obligate symbiont of leafhoppers. Knocking down a Nasuia growth-related protein expression or treatment with porin antibody strongly prevents the ability of Nasuia to carry Vgs into oocytes and impair insect egg development. Nasuia-carried Vgs provide at least 20% of the total Vgs in the developing eggs. We anticipate that the bacterial symbiont-mediated Vg uptake into oocytes to support efficient egg development may be a common pattern shared by many insects.IMPORTANCE Many insects harbor obligate bacterial symbionts that can be vertically transmitted to offspring by female insects through eggs. Here, we report that leafhopper vitellogenin (Vg) recognizes and binds a surface channel molecule (porin) on the envelope of obligate bacterial symbiont Nasuia, which potentially induces the opening of porin channels for Vg to access the cytoplasm of Nasuia Thus, Vg can exploit bacterial symbionts as the independent carriers into the oocytes. Such Nasuia-carried Vg contents support efficient insect egg development. Thus, our findings indicate that insects have evolved strategies to exploit the symbionts for carrying additional Vgs to guarantee optimal insect reproduction.

Cefiderocol: the Trojan horse has arrived but will Troy fall?

The global public health crisis of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms underscores the need for antibiotics with novel bacterial targets. Cefiderocol, the first siderophore-conjugated antibiotic to progress beyond phase 1 human trials, was designed to overcome challenges presented by common carbapenem-resistance mechanisms. The drug enters bacterial cells using active iron transporters (ie, a Trojan horse), overcoming drug resistance from porin channel mutations and upregulated efflux pumps; it also has intrinsic stability from hydrolysis by carbapenemases. By contrast with other novel agents, cefiderocol is active against a variety of drug-resistant pathogens, including both serine and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) carbapenemases, as well as problematic non-fermenting Gram-negative organisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii complex, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the APEKS-NP study by Richard Wunderink and colleagues 1 Wunderink RG Matsunaga Y Ariyasu M et al. Cefiderocol versus high-dose, extended-infusion meropenem for the treatment of Gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia (APEKS-NP): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020; (published online Oct 12.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30731-3 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (87) Google Scholar and the CREDIBLE-CR study by Matteo Bassetti and colleagues 2 Bassetti M Echols R Matsunaga Y et al. Efficacy and safety of cefiderocol or best available therapy for the treatment of serious infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CREDIBLE-CR): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, pathogen-focused, descriptive, phase 3 trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020; (published online Oct 12.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30796-9 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (117) Google Scholar offer insights into the role of cefiderocol for the treatment of challenging Gram-negative infections. Cefiderocol versus high-dose, extended-infusion meropenem for the treatment of Gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia (APEKS-NP): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3, non-inferiority trialCefiderocol was non-inferior to high-dose, extended-infusion meropenem in terms of all-cause mortality on day 14 in patients with Gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia, with similar tolerability. The results suggest that cefiderocol is a potential option for the treatment of patients with nosocomial pneumonia, including those caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Full-Text PDF Efficacy and safety of cefiderocol or best available therapy for the treatment of serious infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CREDIBLE-CR): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, pathogen-focused, descriptive, phase 3 trialCefiderocol had similar clinical and microbiological efficacy to best available therapy in this heterogeneous patient population with infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Numerically more deaths occurred in the cefiderocol group, primarily in the patient subset with Acinetobacter spp infections. Collectively, the findings from this study support cefiderocol as an option for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant infections in patients with limited treatment options. Full-Text PDF

Kanamycin Uptake into Escherichia coli Is Facilitated by OmpF and OmpC Porin Channels Located in the Outer Membrane

Despite decades of therapeutic application of aminoglycosides, it is still a matter of debate if porins contribute to the translocation of the antibiotics across the bacterial outer membrane. Here, we quantified the uptake of kanamycin across the major porin channels OmpF and OmpC present in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. Our analysis revealed that, despite its relatively large size, about 10-20 kanamycin molecules per second permeate through OmpF and OmpC under a 10 μM concentration gradient, whereas OmpN does not allow the passage. Molecular simulations elucidate the uptake mechanism of kanamycin through these porins. Whole-cell studies with a defined set of E.coli porin mutants provide evidence that translocation of kanamycin via porins is relevant for antibiotic potency. The values are discussed with respect to other antibiotics.

РОЛЬ ПОЛИАМИНОВ В ОГРАНИЧЕНИИ ПРОНИЦАЕМОСТИ ВНЕШНЕЙ МЕМБРАНЫ ESCHERICHIA COLI ДЛЯ АНТИБИОТИКОВ

Various hydrophilic antibiotics enter the cells of gram-negative bacteria through porin channels, which can be blocked by polyamine cadaverine. In this paper, we studied the rate of porin-mediated transport and the intracellular concentration of the main biogenic polyamines of Escherichia coli cells subjected to fluoroquinolone antibiotics depending on the exposure time. Porin permeability sharply decreased in the first two hours of antibiotic exposure, after that the transport rate continued to decline, but at a lower rate. Free polyamines accumulated by the second hour of the exposure, then putrescine and spermidine de-clined, and the concentration of cadaverine continued to grow. Activation of micF gene, a product of which is involved in the negative control of ompF porin gene expression, was observed after the two hours of antibiotic exposure. It could be supposed that the inhibition of porin-mediated transport of anti-biotics by blocking pores precedes the mechanisms regulating the number of porins. The paper discusses the probable specialization of polyamines in the regulation of porin-mediated transport of antibiotics.

In Vitro Activity of Cefiderocol Against a Broad Range of Clinically Important Gram-negative Bacteria.

Carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria including Enterobacteriaceae as well as nonfermenters, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, have emerged as significant global clinical threats. Although new agents have recently been approved, none are active across the entire range of resistance mechanisms presented by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin, has been shown in large surveillance programs and independent in vitro studies to be highly active against all key gram-negative causative pathogens isolated from patients with hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or complicated urinary tract infections. The improved structure, the novel mode of entry into bacteria, and its stability against carbapenemases enables cefiderocol to exhibit high potency against isolates that produce carbapenemases of all classes or are resistant due to porin channel mutations and/or efflux pump overexpression. Resistance to cefiderocol is uncommon and appears to be multifactorial.

Multifaceted roles of porin in mitochondrial protein and lipid transport.

Mitochondria are essential eukaryotic organelles responsible for primary cellular energy production. Biogenesis, maintenance, and functions of mitochondria require correct assembly of resident proteins and lipids, which require their transport into and within mitochondria. Mitochondrial normal functions also require an exchange of small metabolites between the cytosol and mitochondria, which is primarily mediated by a metabolite channel of the outer membrane (OM) called porin or voltage-dependent anion channel. Here, we describe recently revealed novel roles of porin in the mitochondrial protein and lipid transport. First, porin regulates the formation of the mitochondrial protein import gate in the OM, the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) complex, and its dynamic exchange between the major form of a trimer and the minor form of a dimer. The TOM complex dimer lacks a core subunit Tom22 and mediates the import of a subset of mitochondrial proteins while the TOM complex trimer facilitates the import of most other mitochondrial proteins. Second, porin interacts with both a translocating inner membrane (IM) protein like a carrier protein accumulated at the small TIM chaperones in the intermembrane space and the TIM22 complex, a downstream translocator in the IM for the carrier protein import. Porin thereby facilitates the efficient transfer of carrier proteins to the IM during their import. Third, porin facilitates the transfer of lipids between the OM and IM and promotes a back-up pathway for the cardiolipin synthesis in mitochondria. Thus, porin has roles more than the metabolite transport in the protein and lipid transport into and within mitochondria, which is likely conserved from yeast to human.

2266. Management of Ertapenem-Resistant, Meropenem-Susceptible Enterobacteriaceae

BackgroundCarbapenemases are the most frequent mechanism of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. However, alternative mechanisms such as loss of porin channels or up-regulation of efflux pumps can cause intermediate- to high-level resistance to ertapenem (ERTA) and possibly reduced susceptibilities to meropenem (MERO) leading to discordant phenotypic profiles. Clinical implications of discordant carbapenem susceptibilities and optimal therapy options are yet unknown. We sought to describe our experience with carbapenem-discordant Enterobacteriaceae (CDE).MethodsDescriptive study of hospitalized adult patients with a CDE positive culture from December 1/16 - December 1/18. Discordance was defined as Enterobacteriaceae with an ERTA-resistant and MERO-susceptible phenotype. Primary objective was to describe antibiotic use patterns for CDE infections. Secondary outcomes included infectious diseases (ID) involvement and clinical outcomes. Clinical failure was defined as a composite of in-hospital mortality, switch of definitive therapy due to clinical worsening, re-hospitalization within 30 days for re-infection, or failure to achieve blood culture clearance for ≥7 days.ResultsA total of 55 patients with CDE were identified. Most common organisms were Enterobacter cloacae complex (72%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (9%). Of 21 isolates tested, 1 (4.8%) was positive for a carbapenemase. Mean age of patients was 61 ± 16 years, 51% were admitted to a medicine service, and 18% were immunocompromised. ID was involved in 82% of CDE cases. Most common sites were urine (33%), wound/tissue (27%), and respiratory (18%). 43/55 (78%) patients were treated – 17/43 (40%) with MERO, 14/43 (33%) with fluoroquinolones. Ceftazidime/avibactam and tigecycline were used in 4 (9%) patients each. Combination therapy was used in 8 (19%) patients, most commonly with MERO or tigecycline. Clinical failure occurred in 21/43 (49%) patients – 8/43 (19%) were receiving MERO-based therapy, 13/43 (30%) were receiving a non-MERO-based therapy.ConclusionDiscordance between ERTA and MERO susceptibility was more common in Enterobacter spp. Majority of isolates tested negative for a carbapenemase. MERO and fluoroquinolones were the most frequently used antibiotics for treatment of CDE infections.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Recognizing and Overcoming Resistance to New Beta-Lactam/Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations.

To describe the mechanisms and clinical relevance of emergent resistance to three recently introduced beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (BLICs) active against resistant Gram-negative organisms: ceftolozane-tazobactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, and meropenem-vaborbactam. Despite their recent introduction into practice, clinical reports of resistance to BLICs among typically susceptible organisms have already emerged, in some cases associated with therapeutic failure. The resistance mechanisms vary by agent, including mutations in beta-lactamase active sites, upregulation of efflux pumps, and alterations in the structure or expression of porin channels. These changes may confer cross-resistance or, rarely, increased susceptibility to related agents. Clinicians need to be aware of the potential for initial or emergent resistance to BLICs and ensure appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility testing is performed. Dose optimization and novel combinations of agents may play a role in preventing and managing resistance. Recently approved BLICs have provided important new therapeutic options against resistant Gram-negative organisms, but are already coming up against emergent resistance. Awareness of the potential for resistance, early detection, and dose optimization may be important in preserving the utility of these agents.

The Yeast Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel Porin: More IMPORTant than Just Metabolite Transport

Porin is crucial for metabolite flux in mitochondria. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Sakaue etal. (2019) and Ellenrieder etal. (2019) describe an unexpected role for Porin in mitochondrial protein import by regulating the oligomeric state of the major protein import gate, the TOM complex, and the inner membrane insertion of metabolite carriers.

Templated Assembly of Pore-forming Peptides in Lipid Membranes.

Pore-forming peptides are of interest due to their antimicrobial activity and ability to form gateways through lipid membranes. Chemical modification of these peptides makes it possible to arrange several peptide monomers into well-defined pore-forming structures using various templating strategies. These templated super-structures can exert antimicrobial activity at significantly lower total peptide concentration than their untemplated equivalents. In addition, the chemical moieties used for templating may be functionalized to interact specifically with targeted membranes such as those of pathogens or cancer cells. A range of molecular templates has been explored, including dimerization of pore-forming monomers, their covalent attachment to cyclodextrin, porphyrin or fullerene scaffolds as well as attachment of amino acid linkers or nucleic acid constructs to generate assemblies of 4 to 26 peptides or proteins. Compared to free peptide monomers, templated pore assemblies showed increased membrane affinity, prolonged open-state lifetimes of the pores and more frequent pore formation due to higher local concentration. These constructs are useful model systems for biophysical studies to understand porin and ion channel proteins and their mechanisms of insertion into lipid membranes. Recently designed DNA-templates are expanding the usefulness of templated pore assemblies beyond applications of cell killing and may include targeted drug delivery and accelerate the emerging field of single-molecule detection and characterization of biomolecules by nanopore-based resistive pulse sensing.

Electronic control of H+ current in a bioprotonic device with carbon nanotube porins.

Hybrid biotic abiotic devices can be used to interface electronics with biological systems for novel therapies or to increase device functionality beyond silicon. Many strategies exist to merge the electronic and biological worlds, one dominated by electrons and holes as charge carriers, the other by ions. In the biological world, lipid bilayers and ion channels are essential to compartmentalize the cell machinery and regulate ionic fluxes across the cell membrane. Here, we demonstrate a bioelectronic device in which a lipid bilayer supported on H+-conducting Pd/PdHx contacts contains carbon nanotubes porin (CNTP) channels. This bioelectronic device uses CNTPs to control of H+ flow across the lipid bilayer with a voltage applied to the Pd/PdHx contacts. Potential applications of these devices include local pH sensing and control.

Dual Role of Mitochondrial Porin in Metabolite Transport across the Outer Membrane and Protein Transfer to the Inner Membrane

The mitochondrial inner membrane harbors a large number of metabolite carriers. The precursors of carrier proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and imported into mitochondria by the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) and the carrier translocase of the inner membrane (TIM22). Molecular chaperones in the cytosol and intermembrane space bind to the hydrophobic precursors to prevent their aggregation. We report that the major metabolite channel of the outer membrane, termed porin or voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), promotes efficient import of carrier precursors. Porin interacts with carrier precursors arriving in the intermembrane space and recruits TIM22 complexes, thus ensuring an efficient transfer of the precursors to the inner membrane translocase. Porin channel mutants impaired in metabolite transport are not disturbed in carrier import into mitochondria. We conclude that porin serves distinct functions as outer membrane channel for metabolites and as coupling factor for protein translocation into the inner membrane.

High-resolution experimental and computational electrophysiology reveals weak \u03b2-lactam binding events in the porin PorB

The permeation of most antibiotics through the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria occurs through porin channels. To design drugs with increased activity against Gram-negative bacteria in the face of the antibiotic resistance crisis, the strict constraints on the physicochemical properties of the permeants imposed by these channels must be better understood. Here we show that a combination of high-resolution electrophysiology, new noise-filtering analysis protocols and atomistic biomolecular simulations reveals weak binding events between the β-lactam antibiotic ampicillin and the porin PorB from the pathogenic bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. In particular, an asymmetry often seen in the electrophysiological characteristics of ligand-bound channels is utilised to characterise the binding site and molecular interactions in detail, based on the principles of electro-osmotic flow through the channel. Our results provide a rationale for the determinants that govern the binding and permeation of zwitterionic antibiotics in porin channels.

Interaction of viral pathogen with porin channels on the outer membrane of insect bacterial symbionts mediates their joint transovarial transmission.

Many hemipteran insects that can transmit plant viruses in a persistent and transovarial manner are generally associated with a common obligate bacterial symbiont Sulcia and its β-proteobacterial partner. Rice dwarf virus (RDV), a plant reovirus, can bind to the envelope of Sulcia through direct interaction of the viral minor outer capsid protein P2 with the bacterial outer membrane protein, allowing the virus to exploit the ancient oocyte entry path of Sulcia in rice leafhopper vectors. Here, we show that RDV can hitchhike with both Sulcia and its β-proteobacterial partner Nasuia to ensure their simultaneous transovarial transmission. Interestingly, RDV can move through the outer envelope of Nasuia and reside in the periplasmic space, which is mediated by the specific interaction of the viral major outer capsid protein P8 and the porin channel on the bacterial outer envelope. Nasuia porin-specific antibody efficiently interferes with the binding between RDV and the Nasuia envelope, thus strongly preventing viral transmission to insect offspring. Thus, RDV has evolved different strategies to exploit the ancient oocyte entry paths used by two obligate bacterial symbionts in rice leafhoppers. Our results thus reveal that RDV has formed complex, cooperative interactions with both Sulcia and Nasuia during their joint transovarial transmission. This article is part of the theme issue 'Biotic signalling sheds light on smart pest management'.

An Abnormally High Closing Potential of the OMPF Porin Channel from Yersinia Ruckeri: The Role of Charged Residues and Intramolecular Bonds.

Electrophysiological experiments on bilayer lipid membranes showed that the isolated outer membrane major porin of Yersinia ruckeri (YrOmpF) exhibits activity typical of porins from Gram-negative bacteria, forming channels with a mean conductance of 230 pS (in 0.1 M KCl) and slight asymmetry with respect to the applied voltage. Under acidic conditions (up to pH = 3.0), there was no significant decrease in the total conductance of the YrOmpF channel reconstituted into the bilayer. The studied channel significantly differed from the porins of other bacteria by high values of its critical closing potential (Vc): Vc = 232 mV at pH = 7.0 and Vc = 164 mV at pH = 5.0. A theoretical model of the YrOmpF spatial structure was used for the analysis of the charge distribution in the mouth and inside the channel to explain these properties and quantitatively assess the bonds between the amino acid residues in the L3 loop and on the inner wall of the barrel. The parameters of YrOmpF were compared with those of the classical OmpF porin from E. coli. The results of electrophysiological experiments and theoretical analysis are discussed in terms of the mechanism for voltage-dependent closing of porin channels.

Disruption of por1 gene in Candida utilis improves co-production of S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione

The por1 gene encoding one of the mitochondrial porin channels in C. utilis CCTCC M 209298 was disrupted using a homologous recombination method. The co-production of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and glutathione (GSH) in the mutant C. utilis Δpor1 increased by 34.9% and 25.1%, respectively, during batch and fed-batch fermentation, relative to the parental strain. The average oxygen consumption rate, activities of key enzymes involved in SAM and GSH biosynthesis, levels of intracellular cofactors such as NADH and ATP, and carbon fluxes of key metabolites were compared between the parental strain and the Δpor1 mutant. The disruption of por1 gene increased the rate of mitochondrial respiration, increased the activities of both methionine adenosyltransferase and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and enhanced the supply of energy and substrates for SAM and GSH biosynthesis, all of which favored the overproduction of SAM and GSH in the Δpor1 mutant.

Ion-Ion Repulsions and Charge-Shielding Effects Dominate the Permeation Mechanism through the OmpF Porin Channel.

OmpF is a wide channel bacterial porin frequently employed to study selective ionic translocation. The cationic preference of this porin is mainly determined by electrostatic forces between the translocated ion and the protein and the formation of ion pairs (e.g., K+···Cl-) being previously pointed as the main cause to favor the cationic transport through the constriction zone. Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics-molecular dynamics simulations, which have provided polarization-containing potentials of mean force profiles for different permeation scenarios, reveal significant new insights related with the ion translocation mechanism. Results show that the permeation is dominated by electrostatic interactions, which in turn affect ion-protein interactions at the constriction zone. However, it is observed that ion flow is favored by ion-ion repulsions and, in a lesser extent, by charge-shielding effects, instead of the previously pointed ionic pair formation.