A chromosome-encoded T4SS independently contributes to horizontal gene transfer in Enterococcus faecalis

Mingxi Hua; Dongfa Dai; Pengcheng Du; Nan Chen; Ang Duan; Jinglin Yue; Hongbing Jia; Chengbo Rong; Ang Li; Hui Zeng; Chen Chen

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111609

A chromosome-encoded T4SS independently contributes to horizontal gene transfer in Enterococcus faecalis

Cell Rep. 2022 Nov 8;41(6):111609. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111609.

Authors

Mingxi Hua¹, Dongfa Dai², Pengcheng Du², Nan Chen², Ang Duan², Jinglin Yue³, Hongbing Jia⁴, Chengbo Rong³, Ang Li², Hui Zeng¹, Chen Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Biomedical Innovation Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China; Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China.
² Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China.
³ Biomedical Innovation Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
⁴ Department of Clinical Laboratory, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
⁵ Biomedical Innovation Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China; Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China. Electronic address: chenchen1@ccmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36351400
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111609

Abstract

Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are the specific devices that mediate the dissemination of antibiotic resistant genes via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) represents a clinical public health threat because of its transferable plasmid with a functional plasmid-encoded (PE)-T4SS. Here, we report a chromosome-encoded (CE)-T4SS that exists in 40% of E. faecalis isolates. Compared with the PE-T4SS, CE-T4SS displays distinct characteristics in protein architecture and is capable of mediating large and genome-wide gene transfer in an imprecise manner. Reciprocal exchange of CE-T4SS- or PE-T4SS-associated origin of transfer (oriT) could disrupt HGT function, indicating that CE-T4SS is an independent system compared with PE-T4SS. Taken together, the CE-T4SS sheds light on the knowledge of HGT in gram-positive bacteria and triggers us to explore more evolutionary mechanisms in E. faecalis.

Keywords: CP: Microbiology; Enterococcus faecalis; HGT; ICEs; horizontal gene transfer; integrative and conjugative elements; multiple-drug resistance; secretion system.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacterial Proteins / genetics
Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
Chromosomes / metabolism
Enterococcus faecalis* / genetics
Enterococcus faecalis* / metabolism
Gene Transfer, Horizontal* / genetics
Plasmids / genetics
Type IV Secretion Systems / metabolism

Substances

Type IV Secretion Systems
Bacterial Proteins