Biology subjects

Padmanaban, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Padmanaban, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Cryo-EM reveals the membrane binding phenomenon of EspB, a virulence factor of the Mycobacterial Type VII secretion system

Mycobacterium tuberculosis utilizes sophisticated machinery called the type VII secretion system to translocate virulence factors across its complex lipid membrane. ESX-1 is one of the essential and well-studied secretion systems which transport various virulence factors, including EspB. EspB, a ~36 kDa secreted substrate, has been implicated to play vital role in protecting the bacteria from hostile environment within the host cell phagosome. It is also involved in bacterial pathogenesis and has been shown to bind phospholipids. Recently, two cryo-EM structures of EspB full-length and the secreted isoforms were resolved. Despite the availability of multiple high-resolution structures of EspB, the physiological relevance and mechanism of virulence of this secreted substrate remains poorly characterized. In this current work, we implemented cryo-EM-based structural studies, including various functional assays, TEM imaging, and biophysical approach to demonstrate the interaction of EspB with lipids and bio-membrane. Our findings also indicated that EspB may play a crucial role in binding to and rupturing host mitochondrial membrane. Through cryo-EM studies we were able to show the possible membrane-binding region of EspB. Our study sheds light on host-pathogen interactions and bacterial pathogenesis mediated by EspB.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

The clinical and functional effects of TERT variants in myelodysplastic syndrome

Germline pathogenic TERT variants are associated with short telomeres and an increased risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) among patients with a telomere biology disorder. We identified TERT rare variants in 41 of 1514 MDS patients (2.7%) without a clinical diagnosis of telomere biology disorder who underwent allogeneic transplantation. Patients with TERT rare variants had shorter telomere length (p<0.001) and younger age at MDS diagnosis (52 vs. 59 years, p=0.03) than patients without a TERT rare variant. In multivariable analyses, TERT rare variants were associated with inferior overall survival (p=0.034) driven by an increased incidence of non-relapse mortality (NRM) (p=0.015). Death from a non-infectious pulmonary cause was more frequent among patients with a TERT rare variant. According to ACMG/AMP guidelines and Sherloc criteria, 39 TERT rare variants were classified as VUS and one as likely pathogenic. Therefore, we cloned all rare missense variants and quantified their impact on telomere elongation in a cell-based assay. We found that 36 of 40 variants had severe or intermediate impairment in their capacity to elongate telomeres. Using a homology model of human TERT bound to the shelterin protein TPP1, we inferred that TERT rare variants disrupt domain-specific functions, including catalysis, protein-RNA interactions, and recruitment to telomeres. Our results indicate that the contribution of TERT rare variants to MDS pathogenesis and NRM risk is underrecognized and routine screening for TERT rare variants in MDS patients regardless of age or clinical suspicion could identify clinically inapparent telomere biology disorders and improve transplant outcomes through risk-adapted approaches.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2019

In-vitro synergistic antibacterial effect of atorvastatin and ampicillin against resistant Staphylococcus spp and E.coli isolated from bovine mastitis

The colossal rise in antimicrobial resistance has led to treatment failures and so mastitis has become cumbersome to treat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of non-antibiotic drug, atorvastatin in combination with antimicrobial, ampicillin against two commonly isolated bacterial species Staphylococcus spp and E. coli from bovine mastitis. Milk samples were collected from mastitis cows, visiting Veterinary Clinical Complex. Bacterial isolation was performed using Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar and Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), followed by characterization and identification by biochemical tests and gram staining. Genotypic confirmation was done by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with subsequent screening for resistant genes-mec A, blaTEM. Antibiotic Sensitivity Test (ABST) of the isolates against 12 different antimicrobials, atorvastatin only, and combination of atorvastatin with ampicillin were performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of ampicillin alone and ampicillin in combination with atorvastatin were determined by modified microdilution method. Staphylococcus spp (77.5%) and E.coli (35%) were the two major pathogens isolated in the current study and multi-drug resistance was observed. Among the antimicrobials, the ampicillin showed 100% resistance against Staphylococcus spp and 85.71% resistance against E. coli. Atorvastatin did not display antibacterial effect as a sole agent but displayed synergistic antibacterial activity with ampicillin. There was an average increase in Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of ampicillin for E.coli and Staphylococcus spp isolates and atorvastatin decreased the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of ampicillin in combination. The ampicillin shows more resistance against both Staphylococcus spp and E.coli, while atorvastatin improves the effect of ampicillin in-vitro. So, atorvastatin may be combined with ampicillin for the treatment of Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections. However, further studies are required to ascertain the exact mechanism of action of atorvastatin with respect to their antibacterial effect for them to be redeployed as an antimicrobial drug in the future.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2017

Genetic diversity and mother-child overlap of the gut associated microbiota determined by reduced genome sequencing

The genetic diversity and sharing of the mother-child associated microbiota remain largely unexplored. This severely limits our functional understanding of gut microbiota transmission patterns. The aim of our work was therefore to use a novel reduced metagenome sequencing in combination with shotgun and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine both the metagenome genetic diversity and the mother-to-child sharing of the microbiota. For a cohort of 17 mother-child pairs we found an increase of the collective metagenome size from about 100 Mbp for 4-day-old children to about 500 Mbp for mothers. The 4-day-old children shared 7% of the metagenome sequences with the mothers, while the metagenome sequence sharing was more than 30% among the mothers. We found 15 genomes shared across more than 50% of the mothers, of which 10 belonged to Clostridia. Only Bacteroides showed a direct mother-child association, with B. vulgatus being abundant in both 4-day-old children and mothers. In conclusion, our results support a common pool of gut bacteria that are transmitted from adults to infants, with most of the bacteria being transmitted at a stage after delivery.

microbiology↗