Commensal Neisseria Kill Neisseria gonorrhoeae through a DNA-Dependent Mechanism

Cell Host & Microbe
Won Jong KimMagdalene So

Abstract

The mucosa is colonized with commensal Neisseria. Some of these niches are sites of infection for the STD pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo). Given the antagonistic behavior of commensal bacteria toward their pathogenic relatives, we hypothesized that commensal Neisseria may negatively affect Ngo colonization. Here, we report that commensal species of Neisseria kill Ngo through a mechanism based on genetic competence and DNA methylation state. Specifically, commensal-triggered killing occurs when the pathogen takes up commensal DNA containing a methylation pattern that it does not recognize. Indeed, any DNA will kill Ngo if it can enter the cell, is differentially methylated, and has homology to the pathogen genome. Consistent with these findings, commensal Neisseria elongata accelerates Ngo clearance from the mouse in a DNA-uptake-dependent manner. Collectively, we propose that commensal Neisseria antagonizes Ngo infection through a DNA-mediated mechanism and that DNA is a potential microbicide against this highly drug-resistant pathogen.

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Citations

Aug 30, 2019·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Andrea Du Toit
Nov 5, 2019·Frontiers in Immunology·Michael W RussellScott D Gray-Owen
Dec 22, 2019·Pathogens·Maria Victoria Humbert, Myron Christodoulides
Feb 6, 2021·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Francesca MicoliDavide Serruto
Mar 26, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·Carla CuginiDaniel H Fine
Jun 25, 2021·Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology·Zhifen QiaoQi Xiang
Oct 28, 2021·Microbial Genomics·Christopher A MullallyCharlene M Kahler
Jun 11, 2021·Genome Research·Neil MacAlasdairStephen D Bentley

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