Biology subjects

Bobba, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Bobba, V..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Oxidative stress induces E. coli aryl polyene expression, sensitizing the bacterial stress response and modulating the redox environment of innate immune cells

Aryl polyenes (APEs) are specialized polyunsaturated outer membrane lipids that protect their producers from oxidative stress and contribute to biofilm formation. APEs are produced by an abundant biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) family conserved across Gram-negative bacterial clades. The APE biosynthesis pathway involves 11 different enzymes and cumulates in the attachment of APEs to an anchor molecule in the Gram-negative outer membrane. Unlike most other small molecule BGCs, the APE BGC does not contain a dedicated regulatory gene that controls production of its metabolically costly compounds. Building from our prior observations of APEs role in acute oxidative stress protection, we here use a uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strain to show that APE expression conveys a potential competitive advantage characterized by increased early-stage growth, sensitization of the bacterial oxidative stress response, and dampening of the redox stress of innate immune cells after in vitro infection. Our data indicate that APEs could act as a UPEC fitness factor, and in future work we aim to study their contribution to overall bacterial pathogenicity and survival, as well as how APEs could facilitate the transition from an oxygen poor environment such as the gut to the oxygen rich environment of the urinary tract. ImportanceBacterial pathogens use various mechanisms to achieve a competitive advantage under harsh conditions such as upon interaction with their host. We studied the function of aryl polyenes (APEs), specialized polyunsaturated fatty acids in the outer membrane, in the context of a uropathogenic E. coli strain. APE expression is induced by an oxidative environment and contributes to early-stage growth and sensitization of the oxidative stress response. Furthermore, APE-expressing E. coli dampens the intracellular oxidative milieu of target host phagocytes. These findings suggest a role for APEs as a fitness factor, and create opportunities to study their in vivo function, and explore them as a potential drug target.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

The antimicrobial metabolite nisin Z reduces intestinal tumorigenesis and modulates the cecal microbiome in ApcMin/+ mice

Nisin Z, an antimicrobial metabolite produced by Lactococcus lactis spp., has been safely used as a food preservative for many years. Nisin Z also showed promising activity against various cancer types in vitro, and significantly reduced tumor size in an ectopic head and neck cancer model. Here, we investigate the activity of nisin Z for colorectal cancer treatment and observed an in vitro reduction in cellular proliferation, and a moderate enhancement in cell death. We next analyzed the effect of oral nisin Z administration in the Apcmin/+ intestinal adenoma mouse model. We measured tumor burden along the gastrointestinal tract and observed a decrease in tumor burden in the middle region of the small intestine, but not in the lower region or colon. Since tumor progression in the Apcmin/+ model is exacerbated by an inflammatory environment, we next determined whether nisin Z impacts this in a direct or indirect manner. We show that nisin Z can directly reduce NF-{kappa}B activation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, nisin Z impacted the cecal microbiome composition as well as microbiota-associated plasma metabolites, causing an overall shift towards a more health-associated profile. Interestingly, the Apcmin/+ genotype differentially impacted the nisin Z-mediated differences in cecal microbiome composition and plasma metabolites compared to wildtype animals. In summary, our data suggest that the reduction in small intestinal tumor burden could be due to nisin Zs contribution to a reduced pro-inflammatory environment. Future studies will reveal whether nisins localized effect is due to degradation of the peptidic compound in more distal regions of the gastrointestinal tract and focus on development of delivery systems to increase efficacy. ImportanceWith the increased incidence of colorectal cancer, especially among younger individuals, it is critical to study approaches that help with the prevention and treatment of this debilitating disease. Our study indicates that nisin Z, a bacterially produced peptide antibiotic, decreases the growth of colorectal cancer cells and moderately increases cell death in vitro. Oral administration of nisin Z in an intestinal adenoma mouse model revealed a reduction of tumor burden in the middle region of the small intestine. This decreased tumor burden might in part be attributed to a direct anti-inflammatory effect, as well as an indirect effect on the gut microbiota and their metabolites due to nisin Zs antibacterial activity. Overall, we demonstrate a potential activity for nisin Z in the prevention or amelioration of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer, underscoring the significance of investigating the properties of bacterial natural products in human health.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Gut microbial conversion of dietary elderberry extract to hydrocinnamic acid improves obesity-associated metabolic disorders

Obesity-associated metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease are major global health concerns, yet current pharmacological treatments often present with major side-effects. Dietary interventions including polyphenol-rich foods offer a promising complementary option for obesity amelioration, but their efficacy is dependent on specific gut microbial metabolism and the underlying molecular mechanisms mostly remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that dietary elderberry (Eld) extract abrogates the effects of an obesogenic diet in a gut microbiota-dependent manner, by preventing insulin resistance and reducing hepatic steatosis in mice. We developed a targeted, quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for detection of gut bacterial polyphenol catabolites and identified hydrocinnamic acid as a key microbial metabolite, enriched in the portal vein plasma of Eld supplemented animals. Next, we showed that hydrocinnamic acid potently activates hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase , explaining its role in improved liver lipid homeostasis. Furthermore, we uncovered the metabolic pathway cumulating in hydrocinnamic acid production in the common gut commensal Clostridium sporogenes. Our characterization of hydrocinnamic acid as a diet-derived, and microbiota-dependent metabolite with insulin-sensitizing and anti-steatotic activities will contribute to microbiome-targeted dietary interventions to prevent and treat obesity-associated metabolic diseases.

microbiology↗