scholarly journals Novel Secretory Protein Ss-Caf1 of the Plant-Pathogenic Fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Is Required for Host Penetration and Normal Sclerotial Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueqiong Xiao ◽  
Jiatao Xie ◽  
Jiasen Cheng ◽  
Guoqing Li ◽  
Xianhong Yi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Tobacco Rattle Virus ◽  
Secretory Protein ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Appressorium Formation ◽  
Sclerotial Development

To decipher the mechanism of pathogenicity in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a pathogenicity-defective mutant, Sunf-MT6, was isolated from a T-DNA insertional library. Sunf-MT6 could not form compound appressorium and failed to induce lesions on leaves of rapeseed though it could produce more oxalic acid than the wild-type strain. However, it could enter into host tissues via wounds and cause typical necrotic lesions. Furthermore, Sunf-MT6 produced fewer but larger sclerotia than the wild-type strain Sunf-M. A gene, named Ss-caf1, was disrupted by T-DNA insertion in Sunf-MT6. Gene complementation and knockdown experiments confirmed that the disruption of Ss-caf1 was responsible for the phenotypic changes of Sunf-MT6. Ss-caf1 encodes a secretory protein with a putative Ca2+-binding EF-hand motif. High expression levels of Ss-caf1 were observed at an early stage of compound appressorium formation and in immature sclerotia. Expression of Ss-caf1 without signal peptides in Nicotiana benthamiana via Tobacco rattle virus-based vectors elicited cell death. These results suggest that Ss-caf1 plays an important role in compound appressorium formation and sclerotial development of S. sclerotiorum. In addition, Ss-Caf1 has the potential to interact with certain host proteins or unknown substances in host cells, resulting in subsequent host cell death.

scholarly journals Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 type III secretion system: role in intestinal colonization of chickens and systemic spread

Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (9) ◽  
pp. 2770-2781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda L. S. Wisner ◽  
Taseen S. Desin ◽  
Birgit Koch ◽  
Po-King S. Lam ◽  
Emil M. Berberov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Type Iii Secretion System ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Systemic Spread

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) has been identified as a significant cause of salmonellosis in humans. Salmonella pathogenicity islands 1 and 2 (SPI-1 and SPI-2) each encode a specialized type III secretion system (T3SS) that enables Salmonella to manipulate host cells at various stages of the invasion/infection process. For the purposes of our studies we used a chicken isolate of S. Enteritidis (Sal18). In one study, we orally co-challenged 35-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens with two bacterial strains per group. The control group received two versions of the wild-type strain Sal18: Sal18 attTn7 : : tet and Sal18 attTn7 : : cat, while the other two groups received the wild-type strain (Sal18 attTn7 : : tet) and one of two mutant strains. From this study, we concluded that S. Enteritidis strains deficient in the SPI-1 and SPI-2 systems were outcompeted by the wild-type strain. In a second study, groups of SPF chickens were challenged at 1 week of age with four different strains: the wild-type strain, and three other strains lacking either one or both of the SPI-1 and SPI-2 regions. On days 1 and 2 post-challenge, we observed a reduced systemic spread of the SPI-2 mutants, but by day 3, the systemic distribution levels of the mutants matched that of the wild-type strain. Based on these two studies, we conclude that the S. Enteritidis SPI-2 T3SS facilitates invasion and systemic spread in chickens, although alternative mechanisms for these processes appear to exist.

scholarly journals Sigma B Contributes to Listeria monocytogenes Gastrointestinal Infection but Not to Systemic Spread in the Guinea Pig Infection Model

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 876-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Garner ◽  
B. L. Njaa ◽  
M. Wiedmann ◽  
K. J. Boor
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Gastrointestinal Infection ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Systemic Spread

ABSTRACT Contributions of the alternative sigma factor σB to Listeria monocytogenes infection were investigated using strains bearing null mutations in sigB, prfA, or inlA or in selected inlA or prfA promoter regions. The ΔP4 inlA strain, which has a deletion in the σB-dependent P4 inlA promoter, and the ΔsigB strain had significantly reduced invasion efficiencies relative to that of the wild-type strain in the Caco-2 human colorectal epithelial cell line, while the invasion efficiency of a strain bearing a deletion in the partially σB dependent P2 prfA promoter region did not differ from that of the wild type. The virulence of the ΔsigB and ΔP4 inlA strains was attenuated in intragastrically inoculated guinea pigs, with the ΔsigB strain showing greater attenuation, while the virulence capacity of the ΔP2 prfA strain was similar to that of the wild-type strain, suggesting that attenuation of virulence due to the ΔsigB mutation does not result from loss of σB-dependent prfA transcription. Our results show that σB-dependent activation of inlA is important for cell invasion and gastrointestinal infection and suggest that σB-regulated genes in addition to inlA appear to contribute to gastrointestinal infection. Interestingly, the virulence of the ΔsigB strain was not attenuated in intravenously infected guinea pigs. We conclude that (i) L. monocytogenes σB plays a critical role in invasion of human host cells, (ii) σB-mediated contributions to invasion are, in part, due to direct effects on inlA transcription but not on prfA transcription, and (iii) σB plays a critical role during the gastrointestinal stage of listeriosis in the guinea pig but is not important for systemic spread of the organism.

scholarly journals Copper Ions are Required for Cochliobolus heterostrophus in Appressorium Formation and Virulence on Maize

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 494-504
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Dandan Yu ◽  
Yujiao Peng ◽  
Haoxuan Min ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Copper Ions ◽  
Chelating Agent ◽  
Cochliobolus Heterostrophus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Appressorium Formation ◽  
Copper Transporter ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Corn Leaf Blight

Cochliobolus heterostrophus is the causal agent of southern corn leaf blight, a destructive disease on maize worldwide. However, how it regulates virulence on maize is still largely unknown. Here, we report that two copper transporter genes, ChCTR1 and ChCTR4, are required for its virulence. chctr1 and chctr4 mutants showed attenuated virulence on maize compared with the wild-type strain TM17 but development phenotypes of those mutants on media with or without infection-related stress agents were the same as the wild-type strain. Moreover, ChCTR1 and ChCTR4 play critical roles in appressorium formation and mutation of ChCTR1 or ChCTR4 suppresses the appressorium formation. Furthermore, copper-chelating agent ammonium tetrathiomolybdate suppressed the appressorium formation and virulence of C. heterostrophus on maize, whereas copper ions enhanced the appressorium formation and virulence on maize. The results indicate that copper ions are required for appressorium formation and virulence of C. heterostrophus on maize and are acquired from the environment by two copper transporters: ChCTR1 and ChCTR4.

scholarly journals Development of Mutants of Coniothyrium Minitans with Improved Efficiency for Control of Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itamar Melo ◽  
Alex Moretini ◽  
Ana Cassiolato ◽  
Jane Faull
Keyword(s):  
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum ◽  
Plant Tissue ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Mycelial Growth ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Coniothyrium Minitans ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Chitinase Production

Development of Mutants ofConiothyrium Minitanswith Improved Efficiency for Control ofSclerotinia SclerotiorumConiothyrium minitans(CM) is hyperparasitic toSclerotinia sclerotiorum(SS), a pathogen of many economically important crops. In this paper, we describe the isolation of improved mutants of CM, using a UV - irradiation regime, with altered chitinase production and tolerance to high concentration of iprodione, which are effective against SS. Three out of the 59 mutants obtained inhibited the mycelial growth of CM. Infectivity of sclerotia by the new mutants was assayed by the plant-tissue-based system using carrot segments. More than 80% of sclerotia were colonized by the mutants and the wild-type CM. The mutant strains retained ability to produce significant amounts of chitinase. The mutants differed from their wild-type strain in appearance, morphology and sporulation. In conclusion, the results presented here provide evidence that the new biotypes ofC. minitansare effective in controllingS. sclerotiorum.

scholarly journals Role of Aspergillus fumigatus DvrA in Host Cell Interactions and Virulence

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1432-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele E. Ejzykowicz ◽  
Norma V. Solis ◽  
Fabrice N. Gravelat ◽  
Josee Chabot ◽  
Xuexian Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pulmonary Epithelial Cell

ABSTRACT The transcription factors that regulate Aspergillus fumigatus interactions with host cells and virulence are incompletely defined. We investigated the role of the putative C2H2 transcription factor DvrA in governing these processes. Although DvrA was identified by its limited homology to Candida albicans Bcr1, a ΔdvrA mutant strain of A. fumigatus had wild-type adherence to host constituents in vitro. However, it had increased capacity to damage both endothelial cells and a pulmonary epithelial cell line compared to the ability of the wild-type strain and a ΔdvrA::dvrA-complemented strain. This increase in damage required direct contact between the mutant and host cells. The ΔdvrA mutant also stimulated greater CCL20, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor mRNA expression in a pulmonary epithelial cell line compared to levels induced by the control strains. Also, it was resistant to nikkomycin Z, suggesting an altered cell wall composition. As predicted by these in vitro results, the ΔdvrA mutant had increased virulence and stimulated a greater pulmonary inflammatory response than the wild-type strain and ΔdvrA::dvrA-complemented strains in the nonneutropenic mouse model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. These results indicate that DvrA influences A. fumigatus virulence as well as its capacity to damage host cells and stimulate a proinflammatory response.

scholarly journals Roles of the spiA gene from Salmonella enteritidis in biofilm formation and virulence

Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (6) ◽  
pp. 1798-1805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyan Dong ◽  
Daxin Peng ◽  
Xinan Jiao ◽  
Xiaorong Zhang ◽  
Shizhong Geng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Salmonella Enteritidis ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Important Food ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Gene Mutant ◽  
Intracellular Proliferation

Salmonella enteritidis has emerged as one of the most important food-borne pathogens for humans, and the formation of biofilms by this species may improve its resistance to disadvantageous conditions. The spiA gene of Salmonella typhimurium is essential for its virulence in host cells. However, the roles of the spiA gene in biofilm formation and virulence of S. enteritidis remain unclear. In this study we constructed a spiA gene mutant with a suicide plasmid. Phenotypic and biological analysis revealed that the mutant was similar to the wild-type strain in growth rate, morphology, and adherence to and invasion of epithelial cells. However, the mutant showed reduced biofilm formation in a quantitative microtitre assay and by scanning electron microscopy, and significantly decreased curli production and intracellular proliferation of macrophages during the biofilm phase. In addition, the spiA mutant was attenuated in a mouse model in both the exponential growth and biofilm phases. These data indicate that the spiA gene is involved in both biofilm formation and virulence of S. enteritidis.

scholarly journals Lack ofHXK2Induces Localization of Active Ras in Mitochondria and Triggers Apoptosis in the YeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loredana Amigoni ◽  
Enzo Martegani ◽  
Sonia Colombo
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Ras Proteins ◽  
Wild Type

We recently showed that activated Ras proteins are localized to the plasma membrane and in the nucleus in wild-type cells growing exponentially on glucose, while in thehxk2Δ strain they accumulated mainly in mitochondria. An aberrant accumulation of activated Ras in these organelles was previously reported and correlated to mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of ROS, and cell death. Here we show that addition of acetic acid to wild-type cells results in a rapid recruitment of Ras-GTP from the nucleus and the plasma membrane to the mitochondria, providing a further proof that Ras proteins might be involved in programmed cell death. Moreover, we show that Hxk2 protects against apoptosis inS. cerevisiae. In particular, cells lackingHXK2and showing a constitutive accumulation of activated Ras at the mitochondria are more sensitive to acetic-acid-induced programmed cell death compared to the wild type strain. Indeed, deletion ofHXK2causes an increase of apoptotic cells with several morphological and biochemical changes that are typical of apoptosis, including DNA fragmentation, externalization of phosphatidylserine, and ROS production. Finally, our results suggest that apoptosis induced by lack of Hxk2 may not require the activation of Yca1, the metacaspase homologue identified in yeast.

scholarly journals Identification of Novel Adhesins from Group B Streptococci by Use of Phage Display Reveals that C5a Peptidase Mediates Fibronectin Binding

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 2869-2876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Beckmann ◽  
Joshua D. Waggoner ◽  
Theresa O. Harris ◽  
Glen S. Tamura ◽  
Craig E. Rubens
Keyword(s):  
Phage Display ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Group B Streptococci ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Group B

ABSTRACT Group B streptococci (GBS) are a major cause of pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis in newborns and infants. GBS initiate infection of the lung by colonizing mucosal surfaces of the respiratory tract; adherence of the bacteria to host cells is presumed to be the initial step in and prerequisite for successful colonization (G. S. Tamura, J. M. Kuypers, S. Smith, H. Raff, and C. E. Rubens, Infect. Immun. 62:2450-2458, 1994). We have performed a genome-wide screen to identify novel genes of GBS that mediate adherence to fibronectin. A shotgun phage display library was constructed from chromosomal DNA of a serotype Ia GBS strain and affinity selected on immobilized fibronectin. DNA sequence analysis of different clones identified 19 genes with homology to known bacterial adhesin genes, virulence genes, genes involved in transport or metabolic processes, and genes with yet-unknown function. One of the isolated phagemid clones showed significant homology to the gene (scpB) for the GBS C5a peptidase, a surface-associated serine protease that specifically cleaves the complement component C5a, a chemotaxin for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In this work we have demonstrated that affinity-purified recombinant ScpB and a peptide ScpB fragment (ScpB-PDF), similar to the peptide identified in the phagemid, bound fibronectin in a concentration-dependent manner. Adherence assays to fibronectin were performed, comparing an isogenic scpB mutant to the wild-type strain. Approximately 50% less binding was observed with the mutant than with the wild-type strain. The mutant phenotype could be fully restored by in trans complementation of the mutant with the cloned wild-type scpB gene, providing further evidence for the role of ScpB in fibronectin adherence. Our results suggest that C5a peptidase is a bifunctional protein, which enzymatically cleaves C5a and mediates adherence to fibronectin. Since binding of fibronectin has been implicated in attachment and invasion of eukaryotic cells by streptococci, our results may imply a second important role for this surface protein in the pathogenesis of GBS infections.

scholarly journals Increased Expression of Periplasmic Cu,Zn Superoxide Dismutase Enhances Survival of Escherichia coli Invasive Strains within Nonphagocytic Cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Battistoni ◽  
Francesca Pacello ◽  
Silvia Folcarelli ◽  
Maria Ajello ◽  
Giovanna Donnarumma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Superoxide Dismutase ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Bacterial Killing ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT We have studied the influence of periplasmic Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase on the intracellular survival of Escherichia colistrains able to invade epithelial cells by the expression of theinv gene from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis but unable to multiply intracellularly. Intracellular viability assays, confirmed by electron microscopy observations, showed that invasive strains of E. coli engineered to increase Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase production are much more resistant to intracellular killing than strains containing only the chromosomalsodC copy. However, we have found only a slight difference in survival within HeLa cells between a sodC-null mutant and its isogenic wild-type strain. Such a small difference in survival correlates with the very low expression of this enzyme in the wild-type strain. We have also observed that acid- and oxidative stress-sensitiveE. coli HB101(pRI203) is more rapidly killed in epithelial cells than E. coli GC4468(pRI203). The high mortality ofE. coli HB101(pRI203), independent of the acidification of the endosome, is abolished by the overexpression of sodC. Our data suggest that oxyradicals are involved in the mechanisms of bacterial killing within epithelial cells and that high-level production of periplasmic Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase provides bacteria with an effective protection against oxidative damage. We propose that Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase could offer an important selective advantage in survival within host cells to bacteria expressing high levels of this enzyme.

scholarly journals Secretion and Function of Salmonella SPI-2 Effector SseF Require Its Chaperone, SscB

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (15) ◽  
pp. 5078-5086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shipan Dai ◽  
Daoguo Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Type Iii Secretion ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Transcriptional Analysis ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
And Function

ABSTRACT Salmonella strains utilize a type III secretion system for their successful survival and replications inside host cells. SseF is one of the several effector proteins that are required for conferring this survival ability by altering the trafficking of the Salmonella-containing vacuoles. These effector proteins often require appropriate chaperones to maintain their stabilities inside the bacteria. These chaperones are also known to assist the subsequent secretion and translocation of their substrates. We report here that SscB acts as the chaperone for SseF, an effector for the Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2). We found that the sscB gene is required for the formation of Salmonella sp.-induced continuous filaments in epithelial cells. Efficient Salmonella replication in macrophages requires SscB function. Intracellular and secretion levels of SseF are greatly reduced in an sscB mutant strain compared to the wild-type strain. A protein stability assay demonstrated that the half-life of SseF is significantly shortened in the absence of SscB. Transcriptional analysis of the sseF gene showed that the effect of SscB on the SseF level is not at the transcriptional level. A coprecipitation experiment indicated that SscB interacts with SseF. In summary, our results indicate that SscB is a chaperone for SPI-2 effector SseF to facilitate its secretion and function inside the host cells.

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