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Flagella 2.0
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Flagella 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 April 2024) | Viewed by 9201

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jean-Christophe Marvaud

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institut Micalis, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 91400 Orsay, France
Interests: host-bacteria interaction; flagella; innate immune response; antibiotic resistance; bacterial toxins; non-coding RNAs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Flagella are complex and fascinating structures that allow bacteria to swim in liquid environments or to swarm on soft and moist surfaces.

To colonize hospitable environments, bacteria use chemotaxis, which is a strategy of reorientation that was first described in the peritrichously flagellated Escherichia coli; it is also known as the run–tumble motility strategy. When signaling pathways respond to stimuli, a transient reversal of the rotary direction of the flagellar motors is performed, leading to the reorientation of the cell body. With diversity among bacteria for the number, position, and shape of flagella, different modes of mobility, including flicking and wrapping, were found recently, and incentivize the analysis of the relationship between flagellar architecture and resulting motility patterns. Moreover, the synthesis and functioning of flagella are very expensive for bacteria; highly regulated gene expression by environmental conditions is observed and is an important area of research on flagella.

Flagella are also considered to be a critical virulence factor for pathogenic bacteria, with examples of host cell adhesion, entrance, and biofilm formation; studies in this area are essential to decipher the host–pathogen relationship. Finally, studies on the use of flagella as a vaccine adjuvant or as a target for vaccine in addition to studies about flagellotropic bacteriophages are important to evaluate particularly potent antibacterial therapies.

This Special Issue on bacterial flagella welcomes original results or reviews on all those various areas of basic and application-oriented research.

Dr. Jean-Christophe Marvaud
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • flagellar structure
  • flagellar assembly
  • flagellar gene regulation
  • chemotaxis
  • motility
  • vaccine adjuvant
  • flagellotropic bacteriophage

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 5241 KiB  
Article
Function and Global Regulation of Type III Secretion System and Flagella in Entomopathogenic Nematode Symbiotic Bacteria
by Xiyin Huang, Chen Li, Ke Zhang, Kunyan Li, Jiajie Xie, Yuyuan Peng, Meifang Quan, Yunjun Sun, Yibo Hu, Liqiu Xia and Shengbiao Hu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7579; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147579 - 10 Jul 2024
Viewed by 232
Abstract
Currently, it is widely accepted that the type III secretion system (T3SS) serves as the transport platform for bacterial virulence factors, while flagella act as propulsion motors. However, there remains a noticeable dearth of comparative studies elucidating the functional disparities between these two [...] Read more.
Currently, it is widely accepted that the type III secretion system (T3SS) serves as the transport platform for bacterial virulence factors, while flagella act as propulsion motors. However, there remains a noticeable dearth of comparative studies elucidating the functional disparities between these two mechanisms. Entomopathogenic nematode symbiotic bacteria (ENS), including Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, are Gram-negative bacteria transported into insect hosts by Steinernema or Heterorhabdus. Flagella are conserved in ENS, but the T3SS is only encoded in Photorhabdus. There are few reports on the function of flagella and the T3SS in ENS, and it is not known what role they play in the infection of ENS. Here, we clarified the function of the T3SS and flagella in ENS infection based on flagellar inactivation in X. stockiae (flhDC deletion), T3SS inactivation in P. luminescens (sctV deletion), and the heterologous synthesis of the T3SS of P. luminescens in X. stockiae. Consistent with the previous results, the swarming movement of the ENS and the formation of biofilms are dominated by the flagella. Both the T3SS and flagella facilitate ENS invasion and colonization within host cells, with minimal impact on secondary metabolite formation and secretion. Unexpectedly, a proteomic analysis reveals a negative feedback loop between the flagella/T3SS assembly and the type VI secretion system (T6SS). RT-PCR testing demonstrates the T3SS’s inhibition of flagellar assembly, while flagellin expression promotes T3SS assembly. Furthermore, T3SS expression stimulates ribosome-associated protein expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flagella 2.0)
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12 pages, 2501 KiB  
Article
Immunostimulatory Effect of Flagellin on MDR-Klebsiella-Infected Human Airway Epithelial Cells
by Christine C. A. van Linge, Katina D. Hulme, Hessel Peters-Sengers, Jean-Claude Sirard, Wil H. F. Goessens, Menno D. de Jong, Colin A. Russell, Alex F. de Vos and Tom van der Poll
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010309 - 25 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1126
Abstract
Pneumonia caused by multi-drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-Kpneu) poses a major public health threat, especially to immunocompromised or hospitalized patients. This study aimed to determine the immunostimulatory effect of the Toll-like receptor 5 ligand flagellin on primary human lung epithelial cells during [...] Read more.
Pneumonia caused by multi-drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-Kpneu) poses a major public health threat, especially to immunocompromised or hospitalized patients. This study aimed to determine the immunostimulatory effect of the Toll-like receptor 5 ligand flagellin on primary human lung epithelial cells during infection with MDR-Kpneu. Human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells, grown on an air–liquid interface, were inoculated with MDR-Kpneu on the apical side and treated during ongoing infection with antibiotics (meropenem) and/or flagellin on the basolateral and apical side, respectively; the antimicrobial and inflammatory effects of flagellin were determined in the presence or absence of meropenem. In the absence of meropenem, flagellin treatment of MDR-Kpneu-infected HBE cells increased the expression of antibacterial defense genes and the secretion of chemokines; moreover, supernatants of flagellin-exposed HBE cells activated blood neutrophils and monocytes. However, in the presence of meropenem, flagellin did not augment these responses compared to meropenem alone. Flagellin did not impact the outgrowth of MDR-Kpneu. Flagellin enhances antimicrobial gene expression and chemokine release by the MDR-Kpneu-infected primary human bronchial epithelium, which is associated with the release of mediators that activate neutrophils and monocytes. Topical flagellin therapy may have potential to boost immune responses in the lung during pneumonia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flagella 2.0)
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17 pages, 3867 KiB  
Article
Silver Ions Inhibit Bacterial Movement and Stall Flagellar Motor
by Benjamin Russell, Ariel Rogers, Ryan Yoder, Matthew Kurilich, Venkata Rao Krishnamurthi, Jingyi Chen and Yong Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411704 - 20 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1123
Abstract
Silver (Ag) in different forms has been gaining broad attention due to its antimicrobial activities and the increasing resistance of bacteria to commonly prescribed antibiotics. However, various aspects of the antimicrobial mechanism of Ag have not been understood, including how Ag affects bacterial [...] Read more.
Silver (Ag) in different forms has been gaining broad attention due to its antimicrobial activities and the increasing resistance of bacteria to commonly prescribed antibiotics. However, various aspects of the antimicrobial mechanism of Ag have not been understood, including how Ag affects bacterial motility, a factor intimately related to bacterial virulence. Here, we report our study on how Ag+ ions affect the motility of E. coli bacteria using swimming, tethering, and rotation assays. We observed that the bacteria slowed down dramatically by >70% when subjected to Ag+ ions, providing direct evidence that Ag+ ions inhibit the motility of bacteria. In addition, through tethering and rotation assays, we monitored the rotation of flagellar motors and observed that the tumbling/pausing frequency of bacteria increased significantly by 77% in the presence of Ag+ ions. Furthermore, we analyzed the results from the tethering assay using the hidden Markov model (HMM) and found that Ag+ ions decreased bacterial tumbling/pausing-to-running transition rate significantly by 75%. The results suggest that the rotation of bacterial flagellar motors was stalled by Ag+ ions. This work provided a new quantitative understanding of the mechanism of Ag-based antimicrobial agents in bacterial motility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flagella 2.0)
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Review

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16 pages, 1942 KiB  
Review
Light Control in Microbial Systems
by Yara Elahi and Matthew Arthur Barrington Baker
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 4001; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25074001 - 3 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1113
Abstract
Light is a key environmental component influencing many biological processes, particularly in prokaryotes such as archaea and bacteria. Light control techniques have revolutionized precise manipulation at molecular and cellular levels in recent years. Bacteria, with adaptability and genetic tractability, are promising candidates for [...] Read more.
Light is a key environmental component influencing many biological processes, particularly in prokaryotes such as archaea and bacteria. Light control techniques have revolutionized precise manipulation at molecular and cellular levels in recent years. Bacteria, with adaptability and genetic tractability, are promising candidates for light control studies. This review investigates the mechanisms underlying light activation in bacteria and discusses recent advancements focusing on light control methods and techniques for controlling bacteria. We delve into the mechanisms by which bacteria sense and transduce light signals, including engineered photoreceptors and light-sensitive actuators, and various strategies employed to modulate gene expression, protein function, and bacterial motility. Furthermore, we highlight recent developments in light-integrated methods of controlling microbial responses, such as upconversion nanoparticles and optical tweezers, which can enhance the spatial and temporal control of bacteria and open new horizons for biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flagella 2.0)
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14 pages, 1541 KiB  
Review
Clostridioides difficile Flagella
by Jean-Christophe Marvaud, Sylvie Bouttier, Johanna Saunier and Imad Kansau
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(4), 2202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042202 - 12 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1278
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an important pathogen for humans with a lead in nosocomial infection, but it is also more and more common in communities. Our knowledge of the pathology has historically been focused on the toxins produced by the bacteria that remain its [...] Read more.
Clostridioides difficile is an important pathogen for humans with a lead in nosocomial infection, but it is also more and more common in communities. Our knowledge of the pathology has historically been focused on the toxins produced by the bacteria that remain its major virulence factors. But the dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota creating the conditions for the colonization appears to be fundamental for our understanding of the disease. Colonization implies several steps for the bacteria that do or do not use their capacity of motility with the synthesis of flagella. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of different topics on the C. difficile flagellum, ranging from its genetic organization to the vaccinal interest in it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flagella 2.0)
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13 pages, 4255 KiB  
Review
Ion-Powered Rotary Motors: Where Did They Come from and Where They Are Going?
by Vibhuti Nandel, Jacob Scadden and Matthew A. B. Baker
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(13), 10601; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241310601 - 25 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1883
Abstract
Molecular motors are found in many living organisms. One such molecular machine, the ion-powered rotary motor (IRM), requires the movement of ions across a membrane against a concentration gradient to drive rotational movement. The bacterial flagellar motor (BFM) is an example of an [...] Read more.
Molecular motors are found in many living organisms. One such molecular machine, the ion-powered rotary motor (IRM), requires the movement of ions across a membrane against a concentration gradient to drive rotational movement. The bacterial flagellar motor (BFM) is an example of an IRM which relies on ion movement through the stator proteins to generate the rotation of the flagella. There are many ions which can be used by the BFM stators to power motility and different ions can be used by a single bacterium expressing multiple stator variants. The use of ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) and functional analysis of reconstructed stators shows promise for understanding how these proteins evolved and when the divergence in ion use may have occurred. In this review, we discuss extant BFM stators and the ions that power them as well as recent examples of the use of ASR to study ion-channel selectivity and how this might be applied to further study of the BFM stator complex. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flagella 2.0)
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Other

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8 pages, 4540 KiB  
Brief Report
Structure and Assembly of the Proteus mirabilis Flagellar Motor by Cryo-Electron Tomography
by Mohammed Kaplan, Qing Yao and Grant J. Jensen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(9), 8292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24098292 - 5 May 2023
Viewed by 1665
Abstract
Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative Gammaproteobacterium and a major causative agent of urinary tract infections in humans. It is characterized by its ability to switch between swimming motility in liquid media and swarming on solid surfaces. Here, we used cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram [...] Read more.
Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative Gammaproteobacterium and a major causative agent of urinary tract infections in humans. It is characterized by its ability to switch between swimming motility in liquid media and swarming on solid surfaces. Here, we used cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging to reveal the structure of the flagellar motor of P. mirabilis at nanometer resolution in intact cells. We found that P. mirabilis has a motor that is structurally similar to those of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, lacking the periplasmic elaborations that characterize other more specialized gammaproteobacterial motors. In addition, no density corresponding to stators was present in the subtomogram average suggesting that the stators are dynamic. Finally, several assembly intermediates of the motor were seen that support the inside-out assembly pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flagella 2.0)
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