Correction to "COVID-19: A Risk Assessment Perspective".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acs.chas.0c00035.].

COVID-19: A Risk Assessment Perspective.

COVID-19 is a newly emerging viral respiratory disease first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which is related to the viruses that cause SARS and MERS. While the case fatality ratio for COVID-19 (5%) is far lower than that for SARS (11%) and MERS (34%), COVID-19 is spreading relatively uncontrolled at this time across the globe. In contrast, SARS appears to be contained, and MERS is controlled. This paper will explore why COVID-19 is able to progress to a global pandemic that affects our daily lives to an extent not known in recent history. The COVID-19 outbreak and spread will be examined based on the current literature, using a researcher's perspective of risk assessment and risk mitigation; this approach will be related to public health.

Characterization and analysis of the Burkholderia pseudomallei BsaN virulence regulon.

BACKGROUND: Burkholderia pseudomallei is a facultative intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of melioidosis. A conserved type III secretion system (T3SS3) and type VI secretion system (T6SS1) are critical for intracellular survival and growth. The T3SS3 and T6SS1 genes are coordinately and hierarchically regulated by a TetR-type regulator, BspR. A central transcriptional regulator of the BspR regulatory cascade, BsaN, activates a subset of T3SS3 and T6SS1 loci. RESULTS: To elucidate the scope of the BsaN regulon, we used RNAseq analysis to compare the transcriptomes of wild-type B. pseudomallei KHW and a bsaN deletion mutant. The 60 genes positively-regulated by BsaN include those that we had previously identified in addition to a polyketide biosynthesis locus and genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis. BsaN was also found to repress the transcription of 51 genes including flagellar motility loci and those encoding components of the T3SS3 apparatus. Using a promoter-lacZ fusion assay in E. coli, we show that BsaN together with the chaperone BicA directly control the expression of the T3SS3 translocon, effector and associated regulatory genes that are organized into at least five operons (BPSS1516-BPSS1552). Using a mutagenesis approach, a consensus regulatory motif in the promoter regions of BsaN-regulated genes was shown to be essential for transcriptional activation. CONCLUSIONS: BsaN/BicA functions as a central regulator of key virulence clusters in B. pseudomallei within a more extensive network of genetic regulation. We propose that BsaN/BicA controls a gene expression program that facilitates the adaption and intracellular survival of the pathogen within eukaryotic hosts.

The EcoCyc Database.

EcoCyc is a bioinformatics database available at EcoCyc.org that describes the genome and the biochemical machinery of Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655. The long-term goal of the project is to describe the complete molecular catalog of the E. coli cell, as well as the functions of each of its molecular parts, to facilitate a system-level understanding of E. coli. EcoCyc is an electronic reference source for E. coli biologists and for biologists who work with related microorganisms. The database includes information pages on each E. coli gene, metabolite, reaction, operon, and metabolic pathway. The database also includes information on E. coli gene essentiality and on nutrient conditions that do or do not support the growth of E. coli. The website and downloadable software contain tools for analysis of high-throughput data sets. In addition, a steady-state metabolic flux model is generated from each new version of EcoCyc. The model can predict metabolic flux rates, nutrient uptake rates, and growth rates for different gene knockouts and nutrient conditions. This review provides a detailed description of the data content of EcoCyc and of the procedures by which this content is generated.

Prospective assessment of the gastroesophageal microbiome in VLBW neonates.

BACKGROUND: The distal GI microbiota of hospitalized preterm neonates has been established to be unique from that of healthy full-term infants; the proximal GI, more specifically gastroesophageal colonization has not been systematically addressed. We prospectively evaluated early colonization of gastroesophageal portion of the GI tract of VLBW infants. METHODS: This study involved 12 infants admitted to a level III NICU with gestational age (GA) 27 +/- 0.5 weeks and birth weight 1105 +/- 77 grams. The gastroesophageal microbial flora was evaluated using 16S rDNA analysis of aspirates collected in a sterile manner during the first 28 days of life. RESULTS: Bacteria were detected in 9 of the 12 neonates. Ureaplasma was the dominant species in the first week of life, however, staphylococci were the predominant bacteria overall. By the fourth week, Gram (-) bacteria increased in abundance to account for 50% of the total organisms. Firmicutes were present in the majority of the neonates and persisted throughout the 4 weeks comprising nearly half of the sequenced clones. Noticeably, only two distinct species of Staphylococcus epidermidis were found, suggesting acquisition from the environment. CONCLUSIONS: In our neonates, the esophagus and stomach environment changed from being relatively sterile at birth to becoming colonized by a phylogenetically diverse microbiota of low individual complexity. By the fourth week, we found predominance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Bacteria from both phyla (CONS and Gram (-) organisms) are strongly implicated as causes of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Evaluation of the measures preventing colonization with potentially pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms from the hospital environment may be warranted and may suggest novel approaches to improving quality in neonatal care.

EcoCyc: fusing model organism databases with systems biology.

EcoCyc (http://EcoCyc.org) is a model organism database built on the genome sequence of Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655. Expert manual curation of the functions of individual E. coli gene products in EcoCyc has been based on information found in the experimental literature for E. coli K-12-derived strains. Updates to EcoCyc content continue to improve the comprehensive picture of E. coli biology. The utility of EcoCyc is enhanced by new tools available on the EcoCyc web site, and the development of EcoCyc as a teaching tool is increasing the impact of the knowledge collected in EcoCyc.

Dissection of the Burkholderia intracellular life cycle using a photothermal nanoblade.

Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia thailandensis are related pathogens that invade a variety of cell types, replicate in the cytoplasm, and spread to nearby cells. We have investigated temporal and spatial requirements for virulence determinants in the intracellular life cycle, using genetic dissection and photothermal nanoblade delivery, which allows efficient placement of bacterium-sized cargo into the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. The conserved Bsa type III secretion system (T3SS(Bsa)) is dispensable for invasion, but is essential for escape from primary endosomes. By nanoblade delivery of B. thailandensis we demonstrate that all subsequent events in intercellular spread occur independently of T3SS(Bsa) activity. Although intracellular movement was essential for cell-cell spread by B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis, neither BimA-mediated actin polymerization nor the formation of membrane protrusions containing bacteria was required for B. thailandensis. Surprisingly, the cryptic (fla2) flagellar system encoded on chromosome 2 of B. thailandensis supported rapid intracellular motility and efficient cell-cell spread. Plaque formation by both pathogens was dependent on the activity of a type VI secretion system (T6SS-1) that functions downstream from T3SS(Bsa)-mediated endosome escape. A remarkable feature of Burkholderia is their ability to induce the formation of multinucleate giant cells (MNGCs) in multiple cell types. By infection and nanoblade delivery, we observed complete correspondence between mutant phenotypes in assays for cell fusion and plaque formation, and time-course studies showed that plaque formation represents MNGC death. Our data suggest that the primary means for intercellular spread involves cell fusion, as opposed to pseudopod engulfment and bacterial escape from double-membrane vacuoles.

Adaptation to a high-tungsten environment: Pyrobaculum aerophilum contains an active tungsten nitrate reductase.

Nitrate reductases (Nars) belong to the DMSO reductase family of molybdoenzymes. The hyperthermophilic denitrifying archaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum exhibits nitrate reductase (Nar) activity even at WO(4)(2-) concentrations that are inhibitory to bacterial Nars. In this report, we establish that the enzyme purified from cells grown with 4.5 µM WO(4)(2-) contains W as the metal cofactor but is otherwise identical to the Mo-Nar previously purified from P. aerophilum grown at low WO(4)(2-) concentrations. W is coordinated by a bis-molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide cofactor. The W-Nar has a 2-fold lower turnover number (633 s(-1)) but the same K(m) value for nitrate (56 µM) as the Mo-Nar. Quinol reduction and nitrate oxidation experiments monitored by EPR with both pure W-Nar and mixed W- and Mo-Nar preparations suggest a monodentate ligation by the conserved Asp241 for W(V), while Asp241 acts as a bidentate ligand for Mo(V). Redox titrations of the Mo-Nar revealed a midpoint potential of 88 mV for Mo(V/IV). The E(m) for W(V/IV) of the purified W-Nar was estimated to be -8 mV. This relatively small difference in midpoint potential is consistent with comparable enzyme activities of W- and Mo-Nars. Unlike bacterial Nars, the P. aerophilum Nar contains a unique membrane anchor, NarM, with a single heme of the o(P) type (E(m) = 126 mV). In contrast to bacterial Nars, the P. aerophilum Nar faces the cell's exterior and, hence, does not contribute to the proton motive force. Formate is used as a physiological electron donor. This is the first description of an active W-containing Nar demonstrating the unique ability of hyperthermophiles to adapt to their high-WO(4)(2-) environment.

Reconstruction of the archaeal isoprenoid ether lipid biosynthesis pathway in Escherichia coli through digeranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate.

The membrane lipids of archaea are characterized by unique isoprenoid biochemistry, which typically is based on two core lipid structures, sn-2,3-diphytanylglycerol diether (archaeol) and sn-2,3-dibiphytanyldiglycerol tetraether (caldarchaeol). The biosynthetic pathway for the tetraether lipid entails unprecedented head-to-head coupling of isoprenoid intermediates by an unknown mechanism involving unidentified enzymes. To investigate the isoprenoid ether lipid biosynthesis pathway of the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, its lipid synthesis machinery was reconstructed in an engineered Escherichia coli strain in an effort to demonstrate, for the first time, efficient isoprenoid ether lipid biosynthesis for the production of the intermediate, digeranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate (DGGGP). The biosynthesis of DGGGP was verified using an LC/MS/MS technique and was accomplished by cloning and expressing the native E. coli gene for isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) isomerase (idi), along with the A. fulgidus genes for G1P dehydrogenase (egsA) and GGPP synthase (gps), under the control of the lac promoter. The A. fulgidus genes for GGGP synthase (GGGPS) and DGGGP synthase (DGGGPS), under the control of the araBAD promoter, were then introduced and expressed to enable DGGGP biosynthesis in vivo. This investigation established roles for four A. fulgidus genes in the isoprenoid ether lipid pathway for DGGGP biosynthesis and provides a platform useful for identification of subsequent, currently unknown, steps in tetraether lipid biosynthesis proceeding from DGGGP, which is the presumed substrate for the head-to-head coupling reaction yielding unsaturated caldarchaeol.

Characterization of a key trifunctional enzyme for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

In the aromatic amino acid biosynthesis pathway, chorismate presents a branch point intermediate that is converted to tryptophan, phenylalanine (Phe), and tyrosine (Tyr). In bacteria, three enzymes catalyze the conversion of chorismate to hydroxyphenylpyruvate or pyruvate. The enzymes, chorismate mutase (CM), prephenate dehydratase (PDT), and prephenate dehydrogenase (PDHG) are either present as distinct proteins or fusions combining two activities. Gene locus AF0227 of Archaeoglobus fulgidus is predicted to encode a fusion protein, AroQ, containing all three enzymatic domains. This work describes the first characterization of a trifunctional AroQ. The A. fulgidus aroQ gene was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein purified as a homohexamer with specific activities of 10, 0.51, and 50 U/mg for CM, PDT, and PDHG, respectively. Tyr at 0.5 mM concentration inhibited PDHG activity by 50%, while at 1 mM PDT was activated by 70%. Phe at 5 muM inhibited PDT activity by 66% without affecting the activity of PDHG. A fusion of CM, PDT, and PDHG domains is evident in the genome of only one other organism sequenced to date, that of the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Nanoarchaeum equitans. Such fusions of contiguous activities in a biosynthetic pathway may constitute a primitive strategy for the efficient processing of labile metabolites.