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Pangenome Analysis Reveals Novel Contact-Dependent Growth Inhibition System and Phenazine Biosynthesis Operons in

Andrey Tatarenkov1, Iván Muñoz-Gutiérrez1, Isabel Vargas1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.

Microorganisms
|July 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Proteus mirabilis strain BL95 utilizes a novel contact-dependent growth inhibition system, encoded by the unique ICEPm2 element, to eliminate competing enteric bacteria. This discovery sheds light on bacterial competition within the gut microbiome.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Proteus mirabilis is a significant cause of urinary tract infections and a common gut commensal.
  • A novel contact-dependent killing system in P. mirabilis strain BL95 targets enteric bacteria.
  • Understanding the genetic basis of this inter-bacterial antagonism is crucial for microbiome research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the genetic determinants responsible for the contact-dependent killing system in P. mirabilis BL95.
  • To characterize the novel mobile genetic element carrying these determinants.
  • To investigate the evolutionary origins and dissemination of this system.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of P. mirabilis strain BL95.
  • Comparative genomics against 98 other P. mirabilis genomes.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify unique coding sequences and mobile elements.

Main Results:

  • BL95 possesses 56 unique coding sequences (CDSs), with over half located on a novel integrative conjugative element, ICEPm2.
  • ICEPm2 contains unique operons for phenazine biosynthesis and a contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) system.
  • ICEPm2 is exclusive to BL95, absent in closely related strains, but found in Escherichia coli from mouse intestines, suggesting recent horizontal transfer.

Conclusions:

  • The novel ICEPm2 element is the primary carrier of unique genes, including a CDI system, conferring a competitive advantage to P. mirabilis BL95.
  • The horizontal mobilization of ICEPm2 highlights its role in shaping bacterial interactions within the gut.
  • Further study of P. mirabilis secretion systems may reveal additional components of this contact-dependent inhibition mechanism.
Keywords:
Enterobacteriaceaebacterial competitionbacterial toxinscontact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systemintegrative conjugative element (ICE)phenazine biosynthesisphylogeny of Proteus mirabilis

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