The central role of arginine in Haemophilus influenzae survival in a polymicrobial environment with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis
Date
2022
Authors
Tikhomirova, A.
Zilm, P.S.
Trappetti, C.
Paton, J.C.
Kidd, S.P.
Editors
van Veen, H.W.
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
PLoS One, 2022; 17(7):1-16
Statement of Responsibility
Alexandra TikhomirovaID, Peter S. Zilm, Claudia Trappetti, James C. Paton, Stephen P. Kidd
Conference Name
Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis are bacterial species which frequently co-colonise the nasopharynx, but can also transit to the middle ear to cause otitis media. Chronic otitis media is often associated with a polymicrobial infection by these bacteria. However, despite being present in polymicrobial infections, the molecular interactions between these bacterial species remain poorly understood. We have previously reported competitive interactions driven by pH and growth phase between H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae. In this study, we have revealed competitive interactions between the three otopathogens, which resulted in reduction of H. influenzae viability in co-culture with S. pneumoniae and in triple-species culture. Transcriptomic analysis by mRNA sequencing identified a central role of arginine in mediating these interactions. Arginine supplementation was able to increase H. influenzae survival in a dual-species environment with S. pneumoniae, and in a triple-species environment. Arginine was used by H. influenzae for ATP production, and levels of ATP generated in dual- and triple-species co-culture at early stages of growth were significantly higher than the combined ATP levels of single-species cultures. These results indicate a central role for arginine-mediated ATP production by H. influenzae in the polymicrobial community.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© 2022 Tikhomirova et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.