Host‐derived O‐glycans inhibit toxigenic conversion by a virulence‐encoding phage in Vibrio cholerae. (12th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Benjamin X; Takagi, Julie; McShane, Abigail; Park, Jin Hwan; Aoki, Kazuhiro; Griffin, Catherine; Teschler, Jennifer; Kitts, Giordan; Minzer, Giulietta; Tiemeyer, Michael; Hevey, Rachel; Yildiz, Fitnat; Ribbeck, Katharina
• Is Part Of: EMBO journal. Volume 42:Number 3(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-12-12
• Subjects: bacteriophage -- mucin glycans -- mucus -- Vibrio cholerae -- virulence; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-4189

Abstract

Abstract: Pandemic and endemic strains of Vibrio cholerae arise from toxigenic conversion by the CTXφ bacteriophage, a process by which CTXφ infects nontoxigenic strains of V. cholerae. CTXφ encodes the cholera toxin, an enterotoxin responsible for the watery diarrhea associated with cholera infections. Despite the critical role of CTXφ during infections, signals that affect CTXφ‐driven toxigenic conversion or expression of the CTXφ‐encoded cholera toxin remain poorly characterized, particularly in the context of the gut mucosa. Here, we identify mucin polymers as potent regulators of CTXφ‐driven pathogenicity in V. cholerae. Our results indicate that mucin‐associated O‐ glycans block toxigenic conversion by CTXφ and suppress the expression of CTXφ‐related virulence factors, including the toxin co‐regulated pilus and cholera toxin, by interfering with the TcpP/ToxR/ToxT virulence pathway. By synthesizing individual mucin glycan structures de novo, we identify the Core 2 motif as the critical structure governing this virulence attenuation. Overall, our results highlight a novel mechanism by which mucins and their associated O ‐glycan structures affect CTXφ‐mediated evolution and pathogenicity of V. cholerae, underscoring the potential regulatory power housed within mucus . Synopsis: Mucin polymers regulate host‐microbiota interactions and can modulate bacterial pathogenicity via mechanisms that are less well understood. Here, mucins are shown to inhibit the virulence of the intestinal pathogen Vibrio cholerae by reducing its toxigenic conversion by the CTX phage and by downregulating the expression of key virulence factors. Mucin O ‐glycans inhibit the ability of the CTX phage to infect V. cholerae . Mucin O ‐glycans induce downregulation of CTX‐related virulence genes, including genes that encode cholera toxin and the toxin co‐regulated pilus. De novo synthesis of individual glycan structures indicates that the core 2 structure is sufficient for V. cholerae virulence attenuation. Abstract : Mucins suppress V. cholerae virulence in a manner dependent on their core 2 glycan structure.