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Cited by 7Bacillus and Francisella bacterial researchBiochemical and Structural CharacterizationBacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

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Helical ultrastructure of the L-ENA spore aggregation factor of a Bacillus paranthracis foodborne outbreak strain

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Sleutel, Mike, Zegeye, Ephrem Debebe, Llarena, Ann-Katrin, Pradhan, Brajabandhu, Fislage, Marcus, O’Sullivan, Kristin, Van Gerven, Nani, Aspholm, Marina, Remaut, Han·2024·Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-51804-wPMC PMC11362473

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Abstract

Abstract Bacterial endospores are remarkable examples of biological resilience, representing a dormant and heavily fortified differentiation form capable of withstanding physical and chemical stressors detrimental to vegetative cells. In pathogenic Bacillota, spores also form an infectious particle and can take up a central role in the environmental persistence and dissemination of disease. A poorly understood aspect of spore-mediated infection is the fibrous structures or ‘endospore appendages’ (ENAs) that have been seen to decorate the spores of pathogenic Bacilli and Clostridia. New methodological approaches are opening an unprecedented window on these long enigmatic structures. Using cryoID, Alphafold modelling and genetic approaches we identify a novel class of ultra-robust ENAs in the foodborne outbreak strain Bacillus paranthracis NVH 0075-95. We demonstrate that L-ENA are encoded by a rare three-gene cluster (ena3) that contains all components for the self-assembly of ladder-like protein nanofibers of stacked heptameric rings, their anchoring to the exosporium, and their termination in a trimeric ‘ruffle’ made of a complement C1Q-like BclA paralogue. The role of ENA fibers in spore-spore interaction and the distribution of L-ENA operon as mobile genetic elements in predominantly pathogenic B. cereus s.l. strains, suggest that L-ENA fibers promote strain virulence by spore clustering and aggregation.

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Metadata

Authors
Sleutel, M., Zegeye, E. D., Llarena, A.-K., Pradhan, B., Fislage, M., O’Sullivan, K., Van Gerven, N., Aspholm, M., & Remaut, H.
Affiliations
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
  • Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NO)
Corresponding author
  • Sleutel, Mike
  • Remaut, Han
ORCID
Venue
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-08-29
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
7514-7514
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-024-51804-w
PMC
PMC11362473
OpenAlex
W4401983825
Cited by
7
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5
FWCI
0.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (G043021N)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Structural Characterization
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
Keywords
Bacillus paranthracis, exosporium, mobile genetic elements
MeSH terms
Bacillus, Bacterial Proteins, Disease Outbreaks, Foodborne Diseases, Multigene Family, Operon, Spores, Bacterial, Cryoelectron Microscopy

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