Biology subjects

Learman, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Learman, B..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Chondroitin sulfate degradation bolsters Proteus mirabilis growth and colonization of the catheterized urinary tract

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are negatively charged polysaccharides composed of repeating disaccharide units and are essential components of the extracellular matrix throughout numerous tissues. The bladder urothelium has a thick protective GAG layer that primarily consists of chondroitin sulfate (CS), heparan sulfate (HS), and hyaluronic acid (HA), and urinary tract pathogens must either degrade or otherwise circumvent this layer to infect the urothelium. In this study, we investigated GAG degradation by Proteus mirabilis, a common and persistent colonizer of the catheterized urinary tract. Almost all P. mirabilis urinary tract isolates harbor a putative chondroitin endolyase (PMI2127), exolyase (PMI2128), and sulfatase (PMI2124). By generating mutant and complemented strains of these genes, we determined that P. mirabilis strain HI4320 degrades multiple forms of CS under numerous culture conditions, including during growth in human urine, and can use CS degradation products as a carbon source. Sulfatase and endolyase activity were required for efficient degradation of all CS types, while the exolyase only contributed to using CS-B or CS-C as carbon source. Interestingly, only endolyase activity contributed to colonization in a murine model of CAUTI, although the colonization defect was even more pronounced when the endolyase and exolyase were both disrupted. The colonization defect was specific to the CAUTI model, likely due to the impact of catheterization on the GAG landscape of the bladder. Limiting CS degradation by P. mirabilis may therefore represent a strategy for reducing risk of ascending infection in catheterized patients. ImportanceGlycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a family of negatively charged heteropolysaccharides that are ubiquitously expressed throughout the body, forming a significant component of the extracellular matrix and a luminal GAG layer in the bladder. This GAG layer functions as a physical barrier for the bladder surface, protecting it from bacterial infection. Disruption of this barrier through physical forces, such as catheter insertion, or enzymatic degradation by bacteria may contribute to infection outcomes. In this study, we defined the contribution of three putative chondroitin sulfate degrading enzymes (PMI2124, PMI2127, PMI2128) to the pathogenesis of a common pathogen in the catharized urinary tract, Proteus mirabilis. We found that P. mirabilis can utilize chondroitin sulfate as a carbon source, and that chondroitin sulfate degradation contributes to infection in a model of catheterized urinary tract infection. This work contributes to a growing understanding of how uropathogens subvert host defenses and acquire nutrients within the bladder.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Preferential catabolism of L- vs D-serine by Proteus mirabilis contributes to pathogenesis and catheter-associated urinary tract infection

Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of urinary tract infection, especially in catheterized individuals. Amino acids are the predominant nutrient for bacteria during growth in urine, and our prior studies identified several amino acid import and catabolism genes as fitness factors for P. mirabilis catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), particularly D- and L-serine. In this study, we sought to determine the hierarchy of amino acid utilization by P. mirabilis and to examine the relative importance of D- vs L-serine catabolism for critical steps in CAUTI development and progression. Herein, we show that P. mirabilis preferentially catabolizes L-serine during growth in human urine, followed by D-serine, threonine, tyrosine, glutamine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. Independently disrupting catabolism of either D- or L-serine has minimal impact on in vitro phenotypes while completely disrupting both pathways decreases motility, biofilm formation, and fitness due to perturbation of membrane potential and cell wall biosynthesis. In a mouse model of CAUTI, loss of either serine catabolism system decreased fitness, but disrupting L-serine catabolism caused a greater fitness defect than disrupting D-serine catabolism. We therefore conclude that hierarchical utilization of amino acids may be a critical component of P. mirabilis colonization and pathogenesis within the urinary tract. Abbreviated SummaryAmino acids are a predominant nutrient in urine, and their import and catabolism has been hypothesized to contribute to the ability of bacteria to cause urinary tract infection. We demonstrate that a common uropathogen, Proteus mirabilis, preferentially catabolizes L-serine followed by D-serine, threonine, tyrosine, and glutamine during growth in human urine. We further demonstrate that L-serine catabolism provides a greater fitness advantage than D-serine catabolism, yet both pathways contribute to pathogenesis in the urinary tract. Graphical Abstract(Created using BioRender.com) O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=105 SRC="FIGDIR/small/494593v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (35K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@13f3286org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e0e84org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@db2946org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@72b421_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

The molecular and metabolic program for adaptation of white adipocytesto cool physiologic temperatures

Although visceral adipocytes located within the bodys central core are maintained at ~37{degrees}C, adipocytes within bone marrow, subcutaneous, and dermal depots are found primarily within the peripheral shell, and generally exist at cooler temperatures. Responses of brown and beige/brite adipocytes to cold stress are well-studied; however, comparatively little is known about mechanisms by white adipocytes adapt to temperatures below 37{degrees}C. Here we report that adaptation of cultured adipocytes to 31{degrees}C, the temperature at which distal marrow adipose tissues and subcutaneous adipose tissues often reside, induces extensive changes in gene expression, increased anabolic and catabolic lipid metabolism, and elevated oxygen consumption with reduced reliance on glucose and preferential use of pyruvate, glutamine and fatty acids as energy sources. Cool temperatures up-regulate stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 expression and monounsaturated lipid levels in cultured adipocytes and distal bone marrow adipose tissues, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 activity is required for acquisition of maximal oxygen consumption at 31{degrees}C.

physiology↗