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Poster - Bacterial capnine blocks transcription of human antimicrobial peptides

Type: Poster presentation
Presented by: Trevor Marshall, PhD
Conference: Third International Conference on Metagenomics
Location: University of California, San Diego
Date: July 11-13, 2007
Additional content: poster (includes a number of Wirostko photographs); post at Nature Precedings

Abstract

The US CDC believes that 65% of all infections in developed countries may be caused by pathogens in biofilms. Electron Microscopy has shown that these bacterial communities can evade phagocytosis, and persist in the cytoplasm of monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils. Three decades ago, Wirostko, et al, found such intraphagocytic communities in Crohn’s disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sarcoidosis1). However, the mechanism(s) by which such persistent bacteria could evade the immune system have remained elusive. Recently, 16S RNA from species of gliding bacteria never thought to be able to survive in-vivo, have been found in surgically removed biofilms.2) This study set out to identify whether the genomes of these gliding bacteria might yield insight into mechanisms by which such persistent pathogens could evade phagocytosis.

Methods

A single Type 1 Nuclear Receptor, the VDR (commonly known as the ‘Vitamin D Receptor’), is responsible for transcription of LL-37, the human Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, as well as the beta Defensin anti-microbial peptides defB2/defB43). Disabling transcription by the VDR would allow a pathogen to persist inside phagocytes without threat from these anti-microbial peptides. Static molecular modeling (primarily using AutoDock) was used to screen a number of proteins and peptides known to be produced by the genomes of the gliding bacteria.

Results

A candidate bacterial sulfonolipid, Capnine, was identified to have a nanomolar Ki for the ligand binding pocket (LBP) of the VDR. Molecular Dynamics simulation of the human VDR in complex with Capnine confirmed that this substance is indeed stable in the VDR LBP, and that its action is that of a strong transcriptional antagonist.

Conclusion

Medical Metagenomics has demonstrated the ability to deliver important results in silico, potentially underpinning an infectious pathogenesis for idiopathicnic illness.4)5)

References

1)
Wirostko E, Johnson LA, Wirostko BM, Farris RL. Mycoplasma-like organisms and ophthalmic disease. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1993;91:85-94; discussion 95-8.
[PMID: 8140710] [PMCID: 1298461]
2)
Dempsey KE, Riggio MP, Lennon A, Hannah VE, Ramage G, Allan D, Bagg J. Identification of bacteria on the surface of clinically infected and non-infected prosthetic hip joints removed during revision arthroplasties by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and by microbiological culture. Arthritis Res Ther. 2007;9(3):R46. doi: 10.1186/ar2201.
[PMID: 17501992] [PMCID: 2206354] [DOI: 10.1186/ar2201]
3)
Wang T, Tavera-Mendoza LE, Laperriere D, Libby E, MacLeod NB, Nagai Y, Bourdeau V, Konstorum A, Lallemant B, Zhang R, Mader S, White JH. Large-scale in silico and microarray-based identification of direct 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 target genes. Mol Endocrinol. 2005 Nov;19(11):2685-95. doi: 10.1210/me.2005-0106. Epub 2005 Jul 7.
[PMID: 16002434] [DOI: 10.1210/me.2005-0106]
4)
Waterhouse JC, Marshall TG, Fenter B, Mangin M, Blaney G: High levels of active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D despite low levels of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D precursor - Implications of dysregulated vitamin D for diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Disease. In Vitamin D: New Research. Volume 1. Edited by: Stoltz VD. New York: Nova Science Publishers; 2006. ISBN: 1-60021-000-7
5)
Marshall TG: VDR Nuclear Receptor Competence is the Key to Recovery from Chronic Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disease. Abstract presentation, DMM2006, Karolinska Institute, May 2006. Copy available from URL https://autoimmunityresearch.org/karolinska-handout.pdf
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