Center for Phage Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
Nat Commun. 2024 Mar 29;15(1):2746. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47119-5.
Acinetobacters pose a significant threat to human health, especially those with weakened immune systems. Type IV pili of acinetobacters play crucial roles in virulence and antibiotic resistance. Single-stranded RNA bacteriophages target the bacterial retractile pili, including type IV. Our study delves into the interaction between Acinetobacter phage AP205 and type IV pili. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we solve structures of the AP205 virion with an asymmetric dimer of maturation proteins, the native Acinetobacter type IV pili bearing a distinct post-translational pilin cleavage, and the pili-bound AP205 showing its maturation proteins adapted to pilin modifications, allowing each phage to bind to one or two pili. Leveraging these results, we develop a 20-kilodalton AP205-derived protein scaffold targeting type IV pili in situ, with potential for research and diagnostics.
不动杆菌对人类健康构成重大威胁,尤其是那些免疫系统较弱的人。不动杆菌的 IV 型菌毛在毒力和抗生素耐药性方面起着至关重要的作用。单链 RNA 噬菌体以细菌的可收缩菌毛为目标,包括 IV 型菌毛。我们的研究深入探讨了噬菌体能 AP205 与 IV 型菌毛之间的相互作用。使用低温电子显微镜,我们解决了 AP205 病毒体的结构,其中包括成熟蛋白的不对称二聚体、带有独特翻译后菌毛切割的天然不动杆菌 IV 型菌毛,以及结合在菌毛上的 AP205 展示了其成熟蛋白适应菌毛修饰的情况,允许每个噬菌体结合一个或两个菌毛。利用这些结果,我们开发了一种 20 千道尔顿的 AP205 衍生蛋白支架,可在原位靶向 IV 型菌毛,具有研究和诊断的潜力。