Helical ultrastructure of the L-ENA spore aggregation factor of a Bacillus paranthracis foodborne outbreak strain

Mike Sleutel (), Ephrem Debebe Zegeye, Ann-Katrin Llarena, Brajabandhu Pradhan, Marcus Fislage, Kristin O’Sullivan, Nani Gerven, Marina Aspholm and Han Remaut ()
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Mike Sleutel: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Ephrem Debebe Zegeye: Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Ann-Katrin Llarena: Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Brajabandhu Pradhan: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Marcus Fislage: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Kristin O’Sullivan: Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Nani Gerven: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Marina Aspholm: Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Han Remaut: Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract In pathogenic Bacillota, spores can form an infectious particle and can take up a central role in the environmental persistence and dissemination of disease. A poorly understood aspect of spore-mediated infection is the fibrous structures or ‘endospore appendages’ (ENAs) that have been seen to decorate the spores of pathogenic Bacilli and Clostridia. Current methodological approaches are opening a window on these long enigmatic structures. Using cryoID, Alphafold modelling and genetic approaches we identify a sub-class of robust ENAs in a Bacillus paranthracis foodborne outbreak strain. We demonstrate that L-ENA are encoded by a rare three-gene cluster (ena3) that contains all components for the self-assembly of ladder-like protein nanofibers of stacked heptameric rings, their anchoring to the exosporium, and their termination in a trimeric ‘ruffle’ made of a complement C1Q-like BclA paralogue. The role of ENA fibers in spore-spore interaction and the distribution of L-ENA operon as mobile genetic elements in B. cereus s.l. strains suggest that L-ENA fibers may increase the survival, spread and virulence of these strains.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51804-w

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