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TatD DNases Contribute to Biofilm Formation and Virulence in Trueperella pyogenes

Zehui Zhang1, Yinfeng Liang1, Lihui Yu1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|December 6, 2021
PubMed

Insights

TatD DNases in Trueperella pyogenes are essential for biofilm formation and virulence. Deleting these enzymes reduced bacterial infection severity and biofilm development in mice.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • TatD DNases are conserved enzymes implicated as virulence factors in pathogens like Plasmodium falciparum and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • The specific function of TatD DNases in Trueperella pyogenes, a significant animal pathogen, remains uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of TatD DNases (TpTatDs) in Trueperella pyogenes.
  • To investigate the enzymatic activity, biofilm formation, and virulence contribution of TpTatDs.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of TpTatD sequences.
  • Biochemical assays to determine DNA endonuclease activity of recombinant TpTatDs in the presence of Mg2+.
  • Construction and characterization of tatD-deficient T. pyogenes mutants.
  • Microscopic observation of biofilms and in vivo virulence assays in a mouse infection model.

Main Results:

  • Two Mg2+-dependent TatD DNases with DNA endonuclease activity were identified in T. pyogenes.
  • tatD-deficient mutants exhibited significantly reduced biofilm thickness and biomass compared to the wild-type strain.
  • Mutants showed decreased bacterial load in mouse spleens and attenuated virulence.

Conclusions:

  • TatD DNases are crucial for biofilm formation in T. pyogenes.
  • These enzymes are required for the full virulence of T. pyogenes during infection.
  • TpTatDs represent potential targets for therapeutic intervention against T. pyogenes infections.
Keywords:
DNA hydrolysisTatD DNasesTrueperella pyogenesbiofilmvirulence

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