Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis

Tsukamurella, a group of multi-drug resistant, Gram-positive, aerobic, and partially acid-fast bacteria, are emerging causes of bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis. However, the pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis is largely unknown. To address this, we used New Zealand White rabbits to develo...

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Main Authors: Jade Lee-Lee Teng, Ying Tang, Samson Sai-Yin Wong, Man Lung Yeung, Jian-Pao Cai, Chen Chen, Elaine Chan, Jordan Yik-Hei Fong, Rex Kwok-Him Au-Yeung, Lifeng Xiong, Terrence Chi-Kong Lau, Susanna Kar-Pui Lau, Patrick Chiu-Yat Woo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Emerging Microbes and Infections
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2024.2373317
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author Jade Lee-Lee Teng
Ying Tang
Samson Sai-Yin Wong
Man Lung Yeung
Jian-Pao Cai
Chen Chen
Elaine Chan
Jordan Yik-Hei Fong
Rex Kwok-Him Au-Yeung
Lifeng Xiong
Terrence Chi-Kong Lau
Susanna Kar-Pui Lau
Patrick Chiu-Yat Woo
author_facet Jade Lee-Lee Teng
Ying Tang
Samson Sai-Yin Wong
Man Lung Yeung
Jian-Pao Cai
Chen Chen
Elaine Chan
Jordan Yik-Hei Fong
Rex Kwok-Him Au-Yeung
Lifeng Xiong
Terrence Chi-Kong Lau
Susanna Kar-Pui Lau
Patrick Chiu-Yat Woo
author_sort Jade Lee-Lee Teng
collection DOAJ
description Tsukamurella, a group of multi-drug resistant, Gram-positive, aerobic, and partially acid-fast bacteria, are emerging causes of bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis. However, the pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis is largely unknown. To address this, we used New Zealand White rabbits to develop the first eye infection model and conducted in vitro tests to study the pathogenesis mechanisms of Tsukamurella. There is increasing evidence that biofilms play a significant role in ocular infections, leading us to hypothesize that biofilm formation is crucial for effective Tsukamurella infection. In order to look for potential candidate genes which are important in biofilm formation and Tsukamurella keratitis. We performed genome sequencing of two ocular isolates, T. pulmonis-PW1004 and T. tyrosinosolvens-PW899, to identify potential virulence factors. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, we characterized their biological roles in mediating Tsukamurella keratitis. Our findings confirmed that Tsukamurella is an ocular pathogen by fulfilling Koch's postulates, and using genome sequence data, we identified tmytC, encoding a mycolyltransferase, as a crucial gene in biofilm formation and causing Tsukamurella keratitis in the rabbit model. This is the first report demonstrating the novel role of mycolyltransferase in causing ocular infections. Overall, our findings contribute to a better understanding of Tsukamurella pathogenesis and provide a potential target for treatment. Specific inhibitors targeting TmytC could serve as an effective treatment option for Tsukamurella infections.
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spelling doaj-art-53a71d69970a4e90b21dc4c180feafdb2024-12-07T04:40:17ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEmerging Microbes and Infections2222-17512024-12-0113110.1080/22221751.2024.2373317Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitisJade Lee-Lee Teng0Ying Tang1Samson Sai-Yin Wong2Man Lung Yeung3Jian-Pao Cai4Chen Chen5Elaine Chan6Jordan Yik-Hei Fong7Rex Kwok-Him Au-Yeung8Lifeng Xiong9Terrence Chi-Kong Lau10Susanna Kar-Pui Lau11Patrick Chiu-Yat Woo12Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaFaculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaBeijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging infectious Diseases, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaFaculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaFaculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of ChinaTsukamurella, a group of multi-drug resistant, Gram-positive, aerobic, and partially acid-fast bacteria, are emerging causes of bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis. However, the pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis is largely unknown. To address this, we used New Zealand White rabbits to develop the first eye infection model and conducted in vitro tests to study the pathogenesis mechanisms of Tsukamurella. There is increasing evidence that biofilms play a significant role in ocular infections, leading us to hypothesize that biofilm formation is crucial for effective Tsukamurella infection. In order to look for potential candidate genes which are important in biofilm formation and Tsukamurella keratitis. We performed genome sequencing of two ocular isolates, T. pulmonis-PW1004 and T. tyrosinosolvens-PW899, to identify potential virulence factors. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, we characterized their biological roles in mediating Tsukamurella keratitis. Our findings confirmed that Tsukamurella is an ocular pathogen by fulfilling Koch's postulates, and using genome sequence data, we identified tmytC, encoding a mycolyltransferase, as a crucial gene in biofilm formation and causing Tsukamurella keratitis in the rabbit model. This is the first report demonstrating the novel role of mycolyltransferase in causing ocular infections. Overall, our findings contribute to a better understanding of Tsukamurella pathogenesis and provide a potential target for treatment. Specific inhibitors targeting TmytC could serve as an effective treatment option for Tsukamurella infections.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2024.2373317TsukamurellamycolyltransferasevirulencekeratitisconjunctivitisKoch's postulates
spellingShingle Jade Lee-Lee Teng
Ying Tang
Samson Sai-Yin Wong
Man Lung Yeung
Jian-Pao Cai
Chen Chen
Elaine Chan
Jordan Yik-Hei Fong
Rex Kwok-Him Au-Yeung
Lifeng Xiong
Terrence Chi-Kong Lau
Susanna Kar-Pui Lau
Patrick Chiu-Yat Woo
Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis
Emerging Microbes and Infections
Tsukamurella
mycolyltransferase
virulence
keratitis
conjunctivitis
Koch's postulates
title Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis
title_full Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis
title_fullStr Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis
title_full_unstemmed Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis
title_short Mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Tsukamurella keratitis
title_sort mycolyltransferase is important for biofilm formation and pathogenesis of tsukamurella keratitis
topic Tsukamurella
mycolyltransferase
virulence
keratitis
conjunctivitis
Koch's postulates
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2024.2373317
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