Gustavo M. Cerqueira

Monash University

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Odir Antônio Dellagostin

Universidade Federal de Pelotas

Albert I. Ko

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Fabiana K. Seixas

Universidade Federal de Pelotas

Claudiomar Soares Brod

Universidade Federal de Pelotas

Anton Y. Peleg

Monash University

Mathieu Picardeau

Institut Pasteur

Núbia Seyffert

Universidade Federal da Bahia

Daiane Drawanz Hartwig

Universidade Federal de Pelotas

Daniel Abensur Athanazio

Universidade Federal da Bahia

ÉF

Éverton F. Silva

Brazilian Society of Computational and Applied Mathematics

Cooperative Institutions

Universidade Federal de Pelotas

Monash University

Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute

Instituto Butantan

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Ministério da Saúde

Universidade Federal da Bahia

Universidade de São Paulo

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande

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LepBank: A Leptospira sequence repository and a portal for phylogenetic studies

Infection Genetics and Evolution (2010)

Marcus R Eslabão Odir Antônio Dellagostin Gustavo M. Cerqueira

Leptospirosis is a neglected infectious disease that constitutes a threat to both humans and animals. Comprehension about the epidemiological behavior and population dynamics of Leptospira may be helpful for the development of control measures. Thus, an effort was made to organize leptospiral sequences in a new and specific database. In addition, online bioinformatics tools were clustered in a web portal to facilitate sequences manipulation by scientists. LepBank (http://.lepbank.ufpel.edu.br) is a Leptospira sequences repository and a suite for systematics, which brings simplicity to leptospirosis research, integrating sophisticated online programs to a sequence database. We intend the database to be useful for the leptospirosis scientific community, providing standardized and high quality information and facilitating research into key aspects of the Leptospira taxonomy and phylogeny.

10.1016/j.meegid.2010.02.014

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Citations (3)

Characterization of the Immunogenic and Antigenic Potential of Putative Lipoproteins from Leptospira interrogans

Current Microbiology (2011)

Daiane Drawanz Hartwig Fabiana K. Seixas Gustavo M. Cerqueira Alan J. A. McBride Odir Antônio Dellagostin

Leptospira interrogans

Heterologous

10.1007/s00284-010-9865-1

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Citations (34)

Primeiro isolamento de Leptospira Noguchii como causa de Leptospirose humana no Brasil.

Everton Fagonde Silva Núbia Seyffert Gustavo M. Cerqueira Fabiana K. Seixas Daiane Drawanz Hartwig

Source

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Serum antileptospiral agglutinins in freshwater turtles from Southern Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (2009)

Éverton F. Silva Núbia Seyffert Gustavo M. Cerqueira Karl P. Leihs Daniel Abensur Athanazio

In this study, we observed the presence of antileptospiral agglutinins in freshwater turtles of two urban lakes of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Forty animals (29 Trachemys dorbigny and 11 Phrynops hilarii) were captured and studied. Attempts to isolate leptospires from blood and urine samples were unsuccessful. Serum samples (titer > 100) reactive to pathogenic strains were observed in 11 animals. These data encourage surveys of pet turtles to evaluate the risk of transmission of pathogenic leptospires to humans.

10.1590/s1517-83822009000200003

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Citations (17)

Distribution of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (lig) genes in pathogenic Leptospira species and application of ligB to typing leptospiral isolates

Journal of Medical Microbiology (2009)

Gustavo M. Cerqueira Alan J. A. McBride Mathieu Picardeau Samuel Gonçalves-Ribeiro Ângela Nunes Moreira

The family of leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (lig) genes comprises ligA, ligB and ligC. This study used PCR to demonstrate the presence of lig genes among serovars from a collection of leptospiral strains and clinical isolates. Whilst ligA and ligC appeared to be present in a limited number of pathogenic serovars, the ligB gene was distributed ubiquitously among all pathogenic strains. None of the lig genes were detected among intermediate or saprophytic Leptospira species. It was also shown that, similar to the previously characterized secY gene, a short specific PCR fragment of ligB could be used to correctly identify pathogenic Leptospira species. These findings demonstrate that ligB is widely present among pathogenic strains and may be useful for their reliable identification and classification.

10.1099/jmm.0.009175-0

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Monitoring Leptospira Strain Collections: The Need for Quality Control

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2010)

Gustavo M. Cerqueira Alan J. A. McBride Adriano Queiroz Luciano da Silva Pinto Éverton F. Silva

The purpose of this study was to perform a 16S sequence-based quality control of two Leptospira strain collections. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to verify two Leptospira reference collections provided by the World Health Organization and maintained at a reference laboratory for leptospirosis in Brazil. Among the 89 serovars evaluated, four conflicting strains were identified in one of the collections. Although 16S rRNA gene sequencing cannot identify Leptospira beyond the species level, it is suitable for the identification of contamination and quality control of leptospiral reference collections. This study highlights the importance of the availability of high-quality 16S rRNA sequences in public databases. In addition, it emphasizes the need for periodical verifications and quality control of Leptospira reference collections.

Identification

10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0558

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Expanding the Genetic Toolbox for Leptospira Species by Generation of Fluorescent Bacteria

Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2010)

Florence Aviat Leyla Slamti Gustavo M. Cerqueira Kristel Lourdault Mathieu Picardeau

Our knowledge of the genetics and molecular basis of the pathogenesis associated with Leptospira, in comparison to those of other bacterial species, is very limited. An improved understanding of pathogenic mechanisms requires reliable genetic tools for functional genetic analysis. Here, we report the expression of gfp and mRFP1 genes under the control of constitutive spirochetal promoters in both saprophytic and pathogenic Leptospira strains. We were able to reliably measure the fluorescence of Leptospira by fluorescence microscopy and a fluorometric microplate reader-based assay. We showed that the expression of the gfp gene had no significant effects on growth in vivo and pathogenicity in L. interrogans. We constructed an expression vector for L. biflexa that contains the lacI repressor, an inducible lac promoter, and gfp as the reporter, demonstrating that the lac system is functional in Leptospira. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was induced by the addition of isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) in L. biflexa transformants harboring the expression vector. Finally, we showed that GFP can be used as a reporter to assess promoter activity in different environmental conditions. These results may facilitate further advances for studying the genetics of Leptospira spp.

Leptospira interrogans

Lac repressor

Bacterial Genetics

10.1128/aem.02199-10

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Impact of a Cross-Kingdom Signaling Molecule of Candida albicans on Acinetobacter baumannii Physiology

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2015)

Xenia Kostoulias Gerald L. Murray Gustavo M. Cerqueira Jason B. Kong Farkad Bantun

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic human pathogen that has become highly problematic in the clinical environment. Novel therapies are desperately required. To assist in identifying new therapeutic targets, the antagonistic interactions between A. baumannii and the most common human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, were studied. We have observed that the C. albicans quorum-sensing molecule, farnesol, has cross-kingdom interactions, affecting the viability of A. baumannii. To gain an understanding of its mechanism, the transcriptional profile of A. baumannii exposed to farnesol was examined. Farnesol caused dysregulation of a large number of genes involved in cell membrane biogenesis, multidrug efflux pumps (AcrAB-like and AdeIJK-like), and A. baumannii virulence traits such as biofilm formation (csuA, csuB, and ompA) and motility (pilZ and pilH). We also observed a strong induction in genes involved in cell division (minD, minE, ftsK, ftsB, and ftsL). These transcriptional data were supported by functional assays showing that farnesol disrupts A. baumannii cell membrane integrity, alters cell morphology, and impairs virulence characteristics such as biofilm formation and twitching motility. Moreover, we showed that A. baumannii uses efflux pumps as a defense mechanism against this eukaryotic signaling molecule. Owing to its effects on membrane integrity, farnesol was tested to see if it potentiated the activity of the membrane-acting polymyxin antibiotic colistin. When coadministered, farnesol increased sensitivity to colistin for otherwise resistant strains. These data provide mechanistic understanding of the antagonistic interactions between diverse pathogens and may provide important insights into novel therapeutic strategies.

Acinetobacter baumannii

Colistin

Efflux

10.1128/aac.01540-15

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Citations (41)

Insights into Acinetobacter baumannii pathogenicity

IUBMB Life (2011)

Gustavo M. Cerqueira Anton Y. Peleg

Acinetobacter spp. have justifiably received significant attention from the public, scientific, and medical communities. Over recent years, Acinetobacter, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii, has become a "red-alert" human pathogen, primarily because of its exceptional ability to develop resistance to all currently available antibiotics. This characteristic is compounded by its unique abilities to survive in a diverse range of environments, including those within healthcare institutions, leading to problematic outbreaks. Historically, the virulence of the organism has been questioned, but recent clinical reports suggest that Acinetobacter can cause serious, life-threatening infections. Furthermore, its metabolic adaptability gives it a selective advantage in harsh hospital environments. This review focuses on current understanding of A. baumannii pathogenesis and the model systems used to study this interesting organism.

Acinetobacter baumannii

Human pathogen

Adaptability

10.1002/iub.533

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Citations (167)

Genetic diversity of the Leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (Lig) genes in pathogenic Leptospira spp.

Infection Genetics and Evolution (2008)

Alan J. A. McBride Gustavo M. Cerqueira Marc A. Suchard Ângela Nunes Moreira Richard L. Zuerner

Pseudogene

Leptospira interrogans

Gene cluster

10.1016/j.meegid.2008.10.012

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Citations (76)