Pyruvate oxidase as a key determinant of pneumococcal viability during transcytosis across the blood-brain barrier endothelium

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN / pneumococcus), invades myriad of host tissues following efficient breaching of cellular barriers. However, strategies adopted by pneumococcus for evasion of host intracellular defences governing successful transcytosis across host cellular barriers remain elusive. In this study, using brain endothelium as a model host barrier, we observed that pneumococcus containing endocytic vacuoles (PCVs) formed following SPN internalization into brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), undergo early maturation and acidification, with a major subset acquiring lysosome-like characteristics. Exploration of measures that would preserve pneumococcal viability in the lethal acidic pH of these lysosome-like vacuoles revealed a critical role of the two-component system response regulator, CiaR, which has been previously implicated in induction of acid tolerance response. Pyruvate oxidase (SpxB), a key sugar metabolizing enzyme that catalyses oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetyl phosphate, was found to contribute to acid stress tolerance, presumably via acetyl phosphate-mediated phosphorylation and activation of CiaR, independent of its cognate kinase CiaH. Hydrogen peroxide, the by-product of SpxB catalysed reaction, was also found to improve pneumococcal intracellular survival, by oxidative inactivation of lysosomal cysteine cathepsins, thus compromising the degradative capacity of the host lysosomes. Expectedly, a ΔspxB mutant was found to be significantly attenuated in its ability to survive inside the BMEC endocytic vacuoles, reflecting in its reduced transcytosis ability. Collectively, our studies establish SpxB as an important virulence determinant facilitating pneumococcal survival inside host cells, ensuring successful trafficking across host cellular barriers.

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New Roles for Two-Component System Response Regulators of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi during Host Cell Interactions

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8050722 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 722

Author(s):

Claudie Murret-Labarthe ◽

Maud Kerhoas ◽

Karine Dufresne ◽

France Daigle

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Response Regulator ◽

Transcriptional Response ◽

Host Cells ◽

System Response ◽

Response Regulators ◽

Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi ◽

Two Component ◽

External Stresses

In order to survive external stresses, bacteria need to adapt quickly to changes in their environment. One adaptive mechanism is to coordinate and alter their gene expression by using two-component systems (TCS). TCS are composed of a sensor kinase that activates a transcriptional response regulator by phosphorylation. TCS are involved in motility, virulence, nutrient acquisition, and envelope stress in many bacteria. The pathogenic bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) possess 30 TCSs, is specific to humans, and causes typhoid fever. Here, we have individually deleted each of the 30 response regulators. We have determined their role during interaction with host cells (epithelial cells and macrophages). Deletion of most of the systems (24 out of 30) resulted in a significant change during infection. We have identified 32 new phenotypes associated with TCS of S. Typhi. Some previously known phenotypes associated with TCSs in Salmonella were also confirmed. We have also uncovered phenotypic divergence between Salmonella serovars, as distinct phenotypes between S. Typhi and S. Typhimurium were identified for cpxR. This finding highlights the importance of specifically studying S. Typhi to understand its pathogenesis mechanisms and to develop strategies to potentially reduce typhoid infections.

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New roles for two-component system response regulators of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi during host cell interactions

10.1101/820332 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Claudie Murret-Labarthe ◽

Maud Kerhoas ◽

Karine Dufresne ◽

France Daigle

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Response Regulator ◽

Transcriptional Response ◽

Host Cells ◽

System Response ◽

Response Regulators ◽

Two Component ◽

Host Cell Interactions ◽

External Stresses

AbstractIn order to survive external stresses, bacteria need to adapt quickly to changes in their environment. One adaptive mechanism is to coordinate and alter their gene expression by using two-component systems (TCS). TCS are composed of a sensor kinase that activates a transcriptional response regulator by phosphorylation. TCS are involved in motility, virulence, nutrient acquisition, and envelope stress in many bacteria. The pathogenic bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) possess 30 TCSs, is specific to humans and causes typhoid fever. Here, we have deleted individually each of the 30 response regulators. We have determined their role during interaction with host cells (epithelial cells and macrophages). Deletion of most of the systems (24 out of 30) resulted in a significantly change during infection, either lower or higher than the wild-type strain. We have identified 32 new phenotypes associated with TCS of S. Typhi. Some previously known phenotypes associated with TCSs in Salmonella were also confirmed. We have also uncovered phenotypic divergence between Salmonella serovars as distinct phenotypes between S. Typhi and S. Typhimurium were identified for cpxR. This highlight the importance of specifically studying S. Typhi to understand its pathogenesis mechanisms and to develop strategies to potentially reduce typhoid infections.

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Host DNA Repair Proteins in Response toPseudomonas aeruginosain Lung Epithelial Cells and in Mice

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00815-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

pp. 75-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Min Wu ◽

Huang Huang ◽

Weidong Zhang ◽

Shibichakravarthy Kannan ◽

Andrew Weaver ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Damage ◽

Dna Repair ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Critical Role ◽

Lung Epithelial Cells ◽

Host Cells ◽

Myeloperoxidase Activity ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Lung Epithelial ◽

Dna Repair Proteins

ABSTRACTAlthough DNA repair proteins in bacteria are critical for pathogens' genome stability and for subverting the host defense, the role of host DNA repair proteins in response to bacterial infection is poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, that infection with the Gram-negative bacteriumPseudomonas aeruginosasignificantly altered the expression and enzymatic activity of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) in lung epithelial cells. Downregulation of OGG1 by a small interfering RNA strategy resulted in severe DNA damage and cell death. In addition, acetylation of OGG1 is required for host responses to bacterial genotoxicity, as mutations of OGG1 acetylation sites increased Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) protein expression. These results also indicate that CSB may be involved in DNA repair activity during infection. Furthermore, OGG1 knockout mice exhibited increased lung injury after infection withP. aeruginosa, as demonstrated by higher myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxidation. Together, our studies indicate thatP. aeruginosainfection induces significant DNA damage in host cells and that DNA repair proteins play a critical role in the host response toP. aeruginosainfection, serving as promising targets for the treatment of this condition and perhaps more broadly Gram-negative bacterial infections.

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Regulation of RssB-dependent proteolysis inEscherichia coli: a role for acetyl phosphate in a response regulator-controlled process

Molecular Microbiology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.00725.x ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 787-795 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Sandrine Bouché ◽

Eberhard Klauck ◽

Daniela Fischer ◽

Magnus Lucassen ◽

Kirsten Jung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Response Regulator ◽

Inescherichia Coli ◽

Acetyl Phosphate

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Characterization of a Replicating Mammalian Orthoreovirus with Tetracysteine-Tagged μNS for Live-Cell Visualization of Viral Factories

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01371-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 91 (22) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Luke D. Bussiere ◽

Promisree Choudhury ◽

Bryan Bellaire ◽

Cathy L. Miller

Keyword(s):

Nonstructural Protein ◽

Critical Role ◽

Viral Proteins ◽

Live Cell ◽

Host Cells ◽

Live Cells ◽

Virus Protein ◽

Mammalian Orthoreovirus ◽

Virus Proteins

ABSTRACT Within infected host cells, mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) forms viral factories (VFs), which are sites of viral transcription, translation, assembly, and replication. The MRV nonstructural protein μNS comprises the structural matrix of VFs and is involved in recruiting other viral proteins to VF structures. Previous attempts have been made to visualize VF dynamics in live cells, but due to current limitations in recovery of replicating reoviruses carrying large fluorescent protein tags, researchers have been unable to directly assess VF dynamics from virus-produced μNS. We set out to develop a method to overcome this obstacle by utilizing the 6-amino-acid (CCPGCC) tetracysteine (TC) tag and FlAsH-EDT2 reagent. The TC tag was introduced into eight sites throughout μNS, and the capacity of the TC-μNS fusion proteins to form virus factory-like (VFL) structures and colocalize with virus proteins was characterized. Insertion of the TC tag interfered with recombinant virus rescue in six of the eight mutants, likely as a result of loss of VF formation or important virus protein interactions. However, two recombinant (r)TC-μNS viruses were rescued and VF formation, colocalization with associating virus proteins, and characterization of virus replication were subsequently examined. Furthermore, the rTC-μNS viruses were utilized to infect cells and examine VF dynamics using live-cell microscopy. These experiments demonstrate active VF movement with fusion events as well as transient interactions between individual VFs and demonstrate the importance of microtubule stability for VF fusion during MRV infection. This work provides important groundwork for future in-depth studies of VF dynamics and host cell interactions. IMPORTANCE MRV has historically been used as a model to study the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) Reoviridae family, the members of which infect and cause disease in humans, animals, and plants. During infection, MRV forms VFs that play a critical role in virus infection but remain to be fully characterized. To study VFs, researchers have focused on visualizing the nonstructural protein μNS, which forms the VF matrix. This work provides the first evidence of recovery of replicating reoviruses in which VFs can be labeled in live cells via introduction of a TC tag into the μNS open reading frame. Characterization of each recombinant reovirus sheds light on μNS interactions with viral proteins. Moreover, utilizing the TC-labeling FlAsH-EDT2 biarsenical reagent to visualize VFs, evidence is provided of dynamic VF movement and interactions at least partially dependent on intact microtubules.

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A Salmonella type III effector, PipA, works in a different manner than the PipA family effectors GogA and GtgA

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0248975 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0248975

Author(s):

Momo Takemura ◽

Takeshi Haneda ◽

Hikari Idei ◽

Tsuyoshi Miki ◽

Nobuhiko Okada

Keyword(s):

Hela Cells ◽

Critical Role ◽

Effector Proteins ◽

Host Cells ◽

Microbial Pathogens ◽

Secretion Systems ◽

Type Iii ◽

Zinc Metalloprotease ◽

Type Iii Secretion Systems ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) plays a critical role in the host defense against microbial pathogens. Many pathogens modulate NF-κB signaling to establish infection in their host. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) possesses two type III secretion systems (T3SS-1 and T3SS-2) and directly injects many effector proteins into host cells. It has been reported that some effectors block NF-κB signaling, but the molecular mechanism of the inactivation of NF-κB signaling in S. Typhimurium is poorly understood. Here, we identified seven type III effectors—GogA, GtgA, PipA, SseK1, SseK2, SseK3, and SteE—that inhibited NF-κB activation in HeLa cells stimulated with TNF-α. We also determined that only GogA and GtgA are involved in regulation of the activation of NF-κB in HeLa cells infected with S. Typhimurium. GogA, GtgA, and PipA are highly homologous to one another and have the consensus zinc metalloprotease HEXXH motif. Our experiments demonstrated that GogA, GtgA, and PipA each directly cleaved NF-κB p65, whereas GogA and GtgA, but not PipA, inhibited the NF-κB activation in HeLa cells infected with S. Typhimurium. Further, expressions of the gogA or gtgA gene were induced under the SPI-1-and SPI-2-inducing conditions, but expression of the pipA gene was induced only under the SPI-2-inducing condition. We also showed that PipA was secreted into RAW264.7 cells through T3SS-2. Finally, we indicated that PipA elicits bacterial dissemination in the systemic stage of infection of S. Typhimurium via a T3SS-1-independent mechanism. Collectively, our results suggest that PipA, GogA and GtgA contribute to S. Typhimurium pathogenesis in different ways.

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A critical role of the T3SS effector EseJ in intracellular trafficking and replication ofEdwardsiella piscicidain non-phagocytic cells

10.1101/483032 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Lingzhi Zhang ◽

Jiatiao Jiang ◽

Tianjian Hu ◽

Jin Zhang ◽

Xiaohong Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Colonization ◽

Critical Role ◽

Host Cells ◽

Intracellular Replication ◽

Phagocytic Cells ◽

T3ss Effector ◽

Early Endosomes ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Endosome Maturation

AbstractEdwardsiella piscicida(E. piscicida) is an intracellular pathogen within a broad spectrum of hosts. Essential toE. piscicidavirulence is its ability to survive and replicate inside host cells, yet the underlying mechanisms and the nature of the replicative compartment remain unclear. Here, we characterized its intracellular lifestyle in non-phagocytic cells and showed that intracellular replication ofE. piscicidain non-phagocytic cells is dependent on its type III secretion system. Following internalization,E. piscicidais contained in vacuoles that transiently mature into early endosomes, but subsequently bypasses the classical endosome pathway and fusion with lysosomes which depends on its T3SS. Following a rapid escape from the degradative pathway,E. piscicidawas found to create a specialized replication-permissive niche characterized by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) markers. We also found that a T3SS effector EseJ is responsible for intracellular replication ofE. piscicidaby preventing endosome/lysosome fusion. Furthermore,in vivoexperiments confirmed that EseJ is necessary for bacterial colonization ofE. piscicidain both mice and zebrafish. Thus, this work elucidates the strategies used byE. piscicidato survive and proliferate within host non-phagocytic cells.Author summaryE. piscicidais a facultative intracellular bacterium associated with septicemia and fatal infections in many animals, including fish and humans. However, little is known about its intracellular life, which is important for successful invasion of the host. The present study is the first comprehensive characterization ofE. piscicida’s intracellular life-style in host cells. Upon internalization,E. piscicidais transiently contained in Rab5-positive vacuoles, but the pathogen prevents further endosome maturation and fusion with lysosomes by utilizing an T3SS effector EseJ. In addition, the bacterium creates an specialized replication niche for rapid growth via an interaction with the ER. Our study provides new insights into the strategies used byE. piscicidato successfully establishes an intracellular lifestyle that contributes to its survival and dissemination during infection.

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Enhanced expression of the complement regulatory protein, membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (CD59), is regulated at the level of transcription

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v82.3.968.bloodjournal823968 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 968-977

Author(s):

MH Holguin ◽

CB Martin ◽

JH Weis ◽

CJ Parker

Keyword(s):

Protein Expression ◽

Blot Analysis ◽

Interleukin 1 ◽

Critical Role ◽

Regulatory Protein ◽

Calcium Ionophore ◽

Cytolytic Activity ◽

Host Cells ◽

Rna Expression ◽

Enhanced Expression

The membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (MIRL) is an 18-Kd glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchored membrane glycoprotein that inhibits the cytolytic activity of complement. MIRL is expressed by all hematopoietic elements and by a wide variety of nonhematopoietic tissues. A deficiency of MIRL is primarily responsible for the greater sensitivity of the erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria to complement mediated lysis. Because of its critical role in protecting host cells from injury by complement, we hypothesized that mechanisms exist that allow MIRL expression to be regulated. To investigate this hypothesis, both MIRL RNA and MIRL protein expression were analyzed following exposure of K562 erythroleukemia cells to a variety of potential stimulants. Incubation with dexamethasone, calcium ionophore, lipopolysaccharide, interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, hemin, and cyclic AMP had no effect on MIRL expression. However, incubation with phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA), induced a marked increase in MIRL RNA as determined by Northern blot analysis. This enhanced expression of MIRL RNA was associated with an increase in MIRL protein expression as determined by immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled proteins, Western blot analysis, and immunobinding assay. Enhanced MIRL RNA expression was first detected after 8 hours and increased through 24 hours of observation. Inhibitors of either protein synthesis or transcription abrogated the PMA-induced enhancement of MIRL RNA expression. Together, these results are consistent with a model in which PMA induces synthesis of a trans acting protein that enhances transcription of the MIRL gene.

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Subcellular localization of nucleocapsid protein of SFTSV and its assembly into the ribonucleoprotein complex with L protein and viral RNA

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-01985-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sithumini M. W. Lokupathirage ◽

Yoshimi Tsuda ◽

Kodai Ikegame ◽

Kisho Noda ◽

Devinda S. Muthusinghe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Golgi Apparatus ◽

Subcellular Localization ◽

Critical Role ◽

Viral Proteins ◽

Viral Rna ◽

Host Cells ◽

N Protein ◽

L Protein ◽

Translational Activity ◽

Antiviral Targets

AbstractSevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging bunyavirus that causes novel zoonotic diseases in Asian countries including China, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. In phleboviruses, viral proteins play a critical role in viral particle formation inside the host cells. Viral glycoproteins (GPs) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) are colocalized in the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). The nucleocapsid (N) protein was widely expressed in the cytoplasm, even in cells coexpressing GP. However, the role of SFTSV N protein remains unclear. The subcellular localization of SFTSV structural proteins was investigated using a confocal microscope. Subsequently, minigenome and immunoprecipitation assays were carried out. The N protein interacts with viral RNA (vRNA) and further shows translational activity with RdRp which is L protein and localized in the ERGIC and Golgi apparatus when co-expressed with GP. On the other hand, mutant N protein did not interact with vRNA either localized in the ERGIC or Golgi apparatus. The interaction between the N protein of SFTSV and vRNA is important for the localization of viral proteins and viral assembly. This study provides useful insights into the life cycle of SFTSV, which will lead to the detection of antiviral targets.

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Epitope specificity plays a critical role in regulating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against influenza A virus

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1609316113 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 113 (42) ◽

pp. 11931-11936 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Wenqian He ◽

Gene S. Tan ◽

Caitlin E. Mullarkey ◽

Amanda J. Lee ◽

Mannie Man Wai Lam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Influenza A ◽

Critical Role ◽

Host Cells ◽

Viral Glycoprotein ◽

Effector Functions ◽

Dependent Cell

The generation of strain-specific neutralizing antibodies against influenza A virus is known to confer potent protection against homologous infections. The majority of these antibodies bind to the hemagglutinin (HA) head domain and function by blocking the receptor binding site, preventing infection of host cells. Recently, elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies which target the conserved HA stalk domain has become a promising “universal” influenza virus vaccine strategy. The ability of these antibodies to elicit Fc-dependent effector functions has emerged as an important mechanism through which protection is achieved in vivo. However, the way in which Fc-dependent effector functions are regulated by polyclonal influenza virus-binding antibody mixtures in vivo has never been defined. Here, we demonstrate that interactions among viral glycoprotein-binding antibodies of varying specificities regulate the magnitude of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity induction. We show that the mechanism responsible for this phenotype relies upon competition for binding to HA on the surface of infected cells and virus particles. Nonneutralizing antibodies were poor inducers and did not inhibit antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Interestingly, anti-neuraminidase antibodies weakly induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and enhanced induction in the presence of HA stalk-binding antibodies in an additive manner. Our data demonstrate that antibody specificity plays an important role in the regulation of ADCC, and that cross-talk among antibodies of varying specificities determines the magnitude of Fc receptor-mediated effector functions.

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