Phosphate Groups of Lipid A Are Essential for Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Virulence and Affect Innate and Adaptive Immunity

ABSTRACTLipid A is a key component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and stimulates proinflammatory responses via the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-MD2-CD14 pathway. Its endotoxic activity depends on the number and length of acyl chains and its phosphorylation state. InSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium, removal of the secondary laurate or myristate chain in lipid A results in bacterial attenuation and growth defectsin vitro. However, the roles of the two lipid A phosphate groups in bacterial virulence and immunogenicity remain unknown. Here, we used anS. TyphimuriummsbB pagL pagP lpxRmutant, carrying penta-acylated lipid A, as the parent strain to construct a series of mutants synthesizing 1-dephosphorylated, 4′-dephosphorylated, or nonphosphorylated penta-acylated lipid A. Dephosphorylated mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to deoxycholate and showed increased resistance to polymyxin B. Removal of both phosphate groups severely attenuated the mutants when administered orally to BALB/c mice, but the mutants colonized the lymphatic tissues and were sufficiently immunogenic to protect the host from challenge with wild-typeS. Typhimurium. Mice receivingS. Typhimurium with 1-dephosphorylated or nonphosphorylated penta-acylated lipid A exhibited reduced levels of cytokines. Attenuated and dephosphorylatedSalmonellavaccines were able to induce adaptive immunity against heterologous (PspA ofStreptococcus pneumoniae) and homologous antigens (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] and outer membrane proteins [OMPs]).

Download Full-text

Palmitoylation State Impacts Induction of Innate and Acquired Immunity by the Salmonella enterica Serovar TyphimuriummsbBMutant

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.05524-11 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 79 (12) ◽

pp. 5027-5038 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Qingke Kong ◽

David A. Six ◽

Qing Liu ◽

Lillian Gu ◽

Kenneth L. Roland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Lipid A ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Outer Membrane Proteins ◽

Acyl Chain ◽

Wild Type ◽

Proinflammatory Response ◽

Content Type ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACTLipopolysaccharide (LPS), composed of lipid A, core, and O-antigen, is a major virulence factor ofSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium, with lipid A being a major stimulator to induce the proinflammatory response via the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-MD2-CD14 pathway. WhileSalmonella msbBmutants lacking the myristate chain in lipid A were investigated widely as an anticancer vaccine, inclusion of themsbBmutation in aSalmonellavaccine to deliver heterologous antigens has not yet been investigated. We introduced themsbBmutation alone or in combination with mutations in other lipid A acyl chain modification genes encoding PagL, PagP, and LpxR into wild-typeS. entericaserovar Typhimurium. ThemsbBmutation reduced virulence, while thepagL,pagP, andlpxRmutations did not affect virulence in themsbBmutant background when administered orally to BALB/c mice. Also, all mutants exhibited sensitivity to polymyxin B but did not display sensitivity to deoxycholate. LPS derived frommsbBmutants induced less inflammatory responses in human Mono Mac 6 and murine macrophage RAW264.7 cellsin vitro. However, anmsbBmutant did not decrease the induction of inflammatory responses in mice compared to the levels induced by the wild-type strain, whereas anmsbB pagPmutant induced less inflammatory responsesin vivo. The mutations were moved to an attenuatedSalmonellavaccine strain to evaluate their effects on immunogenicity. Lipid A modification caused by themsbBmutation alone and in combination withpagL,pagP, andlpxRmutations led to higher IgA production in the vaginal tract but still retained the same IgG titer level in serum to PspA, a test antigen fromStreptococcus pneumoniae, and to outer membrane proteins (OMPs) fromSalmonella.

Download Full-text

Identification of cptA, a PmrA-Regulated Locus Required for Phosphoethanolamine Modification of the Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Lipopolysaccharide Core

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.187.10.3391-3399.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 187 (10) ◽

pp. 3391-3399 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

R. Tamayo ◽

B. Choudhury ◽

A. Septer ◽

M. Merighi ◽

R. Carlson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Charge ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Lipid A ◽

Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽

Regulatory System ◽

Polymyxin B ◽

Serovar Typhimurium ◽

Antimicrobial Peptide Resistance

ABSTRACT In response to the in vivo environment, the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is modified. These modifications are controlled in part by the two-component regulatory system PmrA-PmrB, with the addition of 4-aminoarabinose (Ara4N) to the lipid A and phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) to the lipid A and core. Here we demonstrate that the PmrA-regulated STM4118 (cptA) gene is necessary for the addition of pEtN to the LPS core. pmrC, a PmrA-regulated gene necessary for the addition of pEtN to lipid A, did not affect core pEtN addition. Although imparting a similar surface charge modification as Ara4N, which greatly affects polymyxin B resistance and murine virulence, neither pmrC nor cptA plays a dramatic role in antimicrobial peptide resistance in vitro or virulence in the mouse model. Therefore, factors other than surface charge/electrostatic interaction contribute to resistance to antimicrobial peptides such as polymyxin B.

Download Full-text

SadA, a Trimeric Autotransporter from Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium, Can Promote Biofilm Formation and Provides Limited Protection against Infection

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.05592-11 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 79 (11) ◽

pp. 4342-4352 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Dhaarini Raghunathan ◽

Timothy J. Wells ◽

Faye C. Morris ◽

Robert K. Shaw ◽

Saeeda Bobat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Protective Antigen ◽

Outer Membrane Proteins ◽

Cell Aggregation ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Content Type ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACTSalmonella entericais a major cause of morbidity worldwide and mortality in children and immunocompromised individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. Outer membrane proteins ofSalmonellaare of significance because they are at the interface between the pathogen and the host, they can contribute to adherence, colonization, and virulence, and they are frequently targets of antibody-mediated immunity. In this study, the properties of SadA, a purported trimeric autotransporter adhesin ofSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium, were examined. We demonstrated that SadA is exposed on theSalmonellacell surfacein vitroandin vivoduring infection of mice. Expression of SadA resulted in cell aggregation, biofilm formation, and increased adhesion to human intestinal Caco-2 epithelial cells. Immunization of mice with folded, full-length, purified SadA elicited an IgG response which provided limited protection against bacterial challenge. When anti-SadA IgG titers were enhanced by administering alum-precipitated protein, a modest additional protection was afforded. Therefore, despite SadA having pleiotropic functions, it is not a dominant, protective antigen for antibody-mediated protection againstSalmonella.

Download Full-text

Protecting against Antimicrobial Effectors in the Phagosome Allows SodCII To Contribute to Virulence in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00016-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 192 (8) ◽

pp. 2140-2149 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Byoungkwan Kim ◽

Susan M. Richards ◽

John S. Gunn ◽

James M. Slauch

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Peptides ◽

Antimicrobial Peptide ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Osmotic Shock ◽

Polymyxin B ◽

Antimicrobial Substances ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium replicates in macrophages, where it is subjected to antimicrobial substances, including superoxide, antimicrobial peptides, and proteases. The bacterium produces two periplasmic superoxide dismutases, SodCI and SodCII. Although both are expressed during infection, only SodCI contributes to virulence in the mouse by combating phagocytic superoxide. The differential contribution to virulence is at least partially due to inherent differences in the SodCI and SodCII proteins that are independent of enzymatic activity. SodCII is protease sensitive, and like other periplasmic proteins, it is released by osmotic shock. In contrast, SodCI is protease resistant and is retained within the periplasm after osmotic shock, a phenomenon that we term “tethering.” We hypothesize that in the macrophage, antimicrobial peptides transiently disrupt the outer membrane. SodCII is released and/or phagocytic proteases gain access to the periplasm, and SodCII is degraded. SodCI is tethered within the periplasm and is protease resistant, thereby remaining to combat superoxide. Here we test aspects of this model. SodCII was released by the antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B or a mouse macrophage antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), while SodCI remained tethered within the periplasm. A Salmonella pmrA constitutive mutant no longer released SodCII in vitro. Moreover, in the constitutive pmrA background, SodCII could contribute to survival of Salmonella during infection. SodCII also provided a virulence benefit in mice genetically defective in production of CRAMP. Thus, consistent with our model, protecting the outer membrane against antimicrobial peptides allows SodCII to contribute to virulence in vivo. These data also suggest direct in vivo cooperative interactions between macrophage antimicrobial effectors.

Download Full-text

Effect of Deletion of Genes Involved in Lipopolysaccharide Core and O-Antigen Synthesis on Virulence and Immunogenicity of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.05398-11 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 79 (10) ◽

pp. 4227-4239 ◽

Cited By ~ 106

Author(s):

Qingke Kong ◽

Jiseon Yang ◽

Qing Liu ◽

Praveen Alamuri ◽

Kenneth L. Roland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Lipid A ◽

Outer Core ◽

Wild Type ◽

Core Oligosaccharide ◽

Content Type ◽

O Antigen ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACTLipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major virulence factor ofSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium and is composed of lipid A, core oligosaccharide (C-OS), and O-antigen polysaccharide (O-PS). While the functions of the gene products involved in synthesis of core and O-antigen have been elucidated, the effect of removing O-antigen and core sugars on the virulence and immunogenicity ofSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium has not been systematically studied. We introduced nonpolar, defined deletion mutations inwaaG(rfaG),waaI(rfaI),rfaH,waaJ(rfaJ),wbaP(rfbP),waaL(rfaL), orwzy(rfc) into wild-typeS.Typhimurium. The LPS structure was confirmed, and a number ofin vitroandin vivoproperties of each mutant were analyzed. All mutants were significantly attenuated compared to the wild-type parent when administered orally to BALB/c mice and were less invasive in host tissues. Strains with ΔwaaGand ΔwaaImutations, in particular, were deficient in colonization of Peyer's patches and liver. This deficiency could be partially overcome in the ΔwaaImutant when it was administered intranasally. In the context of an attenuated vaccine strain delivering the pneumococcal antigen PspA, all of the mutations tested resulted in reduced immune responses against PspA andSalmonellaantigens. Our results indicate that nonreversible truncation of the outer core is not a viable option for developing a live oralSalmonellavaccine, while awzymutant that retains one O-antigen unit is adequate for stimulating the optimal protective immunity to homologous or heterologous antigens by oral, intranasal, or intraperitoneal routes of administration.

Download Full-text

Murein Lipoprotein Is a Critical Outer Membrane Component Involved in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Systemic Infection

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.73.2.1081-1096.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 73 (2) ◽

pp. 1081-1096 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

A. A. Fadl ◽

J. Sha ◽

G. R. Klimpel ◽

J. P. Olano ◽

D. W. Niesel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Outer Membrane ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Lipid A ◽

Enteric Bacteria ◽

Host Cells ◽

Double Knockout ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Braun (murein) lipoprotein (Lpp) are major components of the outer membrane of gram-negative enteric bacteria that function as potent stimulators of inflammatory and immune responses. In a previous paper, we provided evidence that two functional copies of the lipoprotein gene (lppA and lppB) located on the chromosome of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium contributed to bacterial virulence. In this study, we characterized lppA and lppB single-knockout (SKO) mutants and compared them with an lpp double-knockout (DKO) mutant using in vitro and in vivo models. Compared to the lpp DKO mutant, which was nonmotile, the motility of the lpp SKO mutants was significantly increased (73 to 77%), although the level of motility did not reach the level of wild-type (WT) S. enterica serovar Typhimurium. Likewise, the cytotoxicity was also significantly increased when T84 human intestinal epithelial cells and RAW264.7 murine macrophages were infected with the lpp SKO mutants compared to the cytotoxicity when cells were infected with the lpp DKO mutant. The level of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in polarized T84 cells infected with the lppB SKO mutant was significantly higher (two- to threefold higher), reaching the level in cells infected with WT S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, than the level in host cells infected with the lppA SKO mutant. The lpp DKO mutant induced minimal levels of IL-8. Similarly, sera from mice infected with the lppB SKO mutant contained 4.5- to 10-fold-higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6; the levels of these cytokines were 1.7- to 3.0-fold greater in the lppA SKO mutant-infected mice than in animals challenged with the lpp DKO mutant. The increased cytokine levels observed with the lppB SKO mutant in mice correlated with greater tissue damage in the livers and spleens of these mice than in the organs of animals infected with the lppA SKO and lpp DKO mutants. Moreover, the lppB SKO mutant-infected mice had increased susceptibility to death. Since the lpp DKO mutant retained intact LPS, we constructed an S. enterica serovar Typhimurium triple-knockout (TKO) mutant in which the lppA and lppB genes were deleted from an existing msbB mutant (msbB encodes an enzyme required for the acylation of lipid A). Compared to the lpp DKO and msbB SKO mutants, the lpp-msbB TKO mutant was unable to induce cytotoxicity and to produce cytokines and chemokines in vitro and in vivo. These studies provided the first evidence of the relative contributions of Lpp and lipid A acylation to Salmonella pathogenesis.

Download Full-text

Association of a Protective Monoclonal IgA with the O Antigen of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Impacts Type 3 Secretion and Outer Membrane Integrity

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00018-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 80 (7) ◽

pp. 2454-2463 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Stephen J. Forbes ◽

Daniel Martinelli ◽

Chyongere Hsieh ◽

Jeffrey G. Ault ◽

Michael Marko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Membrane Integrity ◽

Effector Proteins ◽

Content Type ◽

O Antigen ◽

Serovar Typhimurium ◽

Type 3

ABSTRACTInvasion of intestinal epithelial cells bySalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium is an energetically demanding process, involving the transfer of effector proteins from invading bacteria into host cells via a specialized organelle known as theSalmonellapathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) type 3 secretion system (T3SS). By a mechanism that remains poorly understood, entry ofS. Typhimurium into epithelial cells is inhibited by Sal4, a monoclonal, polymeric IgA antibody that binds an immunodominant epitope within the O-antigen (O-Ag) component of lipopolysaccharide. In this study, we investigated how the binding of Sal4 to the surface ofS. Typhimurium influences T3SS activity, bacterial energetics, and outer membrane integrity. We found that Sal4 treatment impaired T3SS-mediated translocon formation and attenuated the delivery of tagged effector proteins into epithelial cells. Sal4 treatment coincided with a partial reduction in membrane energetics and intracellular ATP levels, possibly explaining the impairment in T3SS activity. Sal4's effects on bacterial secretion and energetics occurred concurrently with an increase in O-Ag levels in culture supernatants, alterations in outer membrane permeability, and changes in surface ultrastructure, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. We propose that Sal4, by virtue of its ability to bind and cross-link the O-Ag, induces a form of outer membrane stress that compromises the integrity of theS. Typhimurium cell envelope and temporarily renders the bacterium avirulent.

Download Full-text

Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Is Not Required for Antibody Response to Polysaccharide Vaccines againstStreptococcus pneumoniaeandSalmonella entericaSerovar Typhi

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00211-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 86 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Vivek Belde ◽

Matthew P. Cravens ◽

Dania Gulandijany ◽

Justin A. Walker ◽

Isabel Palomo-Caturla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

B Cell ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Passive Immunization ◽

Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽

Human Infants ◽

Content Type ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACTB cell antigen receptor (BCR) diversity increases by several orders of magnitude due to the action of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) during V(D)J recombination. Unlike adults, infants have limited BCR diversity, in part due to reduced expression of TdT. Since human infants and young mice respond poorly to polysaccharide vaccines, such as the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine Pneumovax23 and Vi polysaccharide (ViPS) ofSalmonella entericaserovar Typhi, we tested the contribution of TdT-mediated BCR diversity in response to these vaccines. We found that TdT+/−and TdT−/−mice generated comparable antibody responses to Pneumovax23 and survivedStreptococcus pneumoniaechallenge. Moreover, passive immunization of B cell-deficient mice with serum from Pneumovax23-immunized TdT+/−or TdT−/−mice conferred protection. TdT+/−and TdT−/−mice generated comparable levels of anti-ViPS antibodies and antibody-dependent, complement-mediated bactericidal activity againstS. Typhiin vitro. To test the protective immunity conferred by ViPS immunizationin vivo, TdT+/−and TdT−/−mice were challenged with a chimericSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium strain expressing ViPS, since mice are nonpermissive hosts forS. Typhi infection. Compared to their unimmunized counterparts, immunized TdT+/−and TdT−/−mice challenged with ViPS-expressingS. Typhimurium exhibited a significant reduction in the bacterial burden and liver pathology. These data suggest that the impaired antibody response to the Pneumovax23 and ViPS vaccines in the young is not due to limited TdT-mediated BCR diversification.

Download Full-text

Display of Recombinant Proteins on Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles by Using Protein Ligation

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02567-17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 84 (8) ◽

pp. e02567-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

H. Bart van den Berg van Saparoea ◽

Diane Houben ◽

Marien I. de Jonge ◽

Wouter S. P. Jong ◽

Joen Luirink

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Membrane Vesicles ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Outer Membrane Vesicles ◽

High Density ◽

Content Type ◽

Protein Ligation ◽

Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT The Escherichia coli virulence factor hemoglobin protease (Hbp) has been engineered into a surface display system that can be expressed to high density on live E. coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium cells or derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Multiple antigenic sequences can be genetically fused into the Hbp core structure for optimal exposure to the immune system. Although the Hbp display platform is relatively tolerant, increasing the number, size, and complexity of integrated sequences generally lowers the expression of the fused constructs and limits the density of display. This is due to the intricate mechanism of Hbp secretion across the outer membrane and the efficient quality control of translocation-incompetent chimeric Hbp molecules in the periplasm. To address this shortcoming, we explored the coupling of purified proteins to the Hbp carrier after its translocation across the outer membrane using the recently developed SpyTag/SpyCatcher protein ligation system. As expected, fusion of the small SpyTag to Hbp did not hamper display on OMVs. Subsequent addition of purified proteins fused to the SpyCatcher domain resulted in efficient covalent coupling to Hbp-SpyTag. Using in addition the orthogonal SnoopTag/SnoopCatcher system, multiple antigen modules could be coupled to Hbp in a sequential ligation strategy. Not only antigens proved suitable for Spy-mediated ligation but also nanobodies. Addition of this functionality to the platform might allow the targeting of live bacterial or OMV vaccines to certain tissues or immune cells to tailor immune responses.IMPORTANCE Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from Gram-negative bacteria attract increasing interest in the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents. We aim to construct a semisynthetic OMV platform for recombinant antigen presentation on OMVs derived from attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium cells displaying an adapted Escherichia coli autotransporter, Hbp, at the surface. Although this autotransporter accepts substantial modifications, its capacity with respect to the number, size, and structural complexity of the antigens genetically fused to the Hbp carrier is restricted. Here we describe the application of SpyCatcher/SpyTag protein ligation technology to enzymatically link antigens to Hbp present at high density in OMVs. Protein ligation was apparently unobstructed by the membrane environment and allowed a high surface density of coupled antigens, a property we have shown to be important for vaccine efficacy. The OMV coupling procedure appears versatile and robust, allowing fast production of experimental vaccines and therapeutic agents through a modular plug-and-display procedure.

Download Full-text

Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Uses PbgA/YejM To Regulate Lipopolysaccharide Assembly during Bacteremia

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00758-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Melina B. Cian ◽

Nicole P. Giordano ◽

Revathi Masilamani ◽

Keaton E. Minor ◽

Zachary D. Dalebroux

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Lipid A ◽

Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽

Transmembrane Domain ◽

Wild Type ◽

Content Type ◽

Serovar Typhimurium ◽

Periplasmic Domain ◽

Inner Membrane Protein ◽

Substitution Mutations

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) relies upon the inner membrane protein PbgA to enhance outer membrane (OM) integrity and promote virulence in mice. The PbgA transmembrane domain (residues 1 to 190) is essential for viability, while the periplasmic domain (residues 191 to 586) is dispensable. Residues within the basic region (residues 191 to 245) bind acidic phosphates on polar phospholipids, like for cardiolipins, and are necessary for salmonella OM integrity. S. Typhimurium bacteria increase their OM cardiolipin concentrations during activation of the PhoPQ regulators. The mechanism involves PbgA’s periplasmic globular region (residues 245 to 586), but the biological role of increasing cardiolipins on the surface is not understood. Nonsynonymous polymorphisms in three essential lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis regulators, lapB (also known as yciM), ftsH, and lpxC, variably suppressed the defects in OM integrity, rifampin resistance, survival in macrophages, and systemic colonization of mice in the pbgAΔ191–586 mutant (in which the PbgA periplasmic domain from residues 191 to 586 is deleted). Compared to the OMs of the wild-type salmonellae, the OMs of the pbgA mutants had increased levels of lipid A-core molecules, cardiolipins, and phosphatidylethanolamines and decreased levels of specific phospholipids with cyclopropanated fatty acids. Complementation and substitution mutations in LapB and LpxC generally restored the phospholipid and LPS assembly defects for the pbgA mutants. During bacteremia, mice infected with the pbgA mutants survived and cleared the bacteria, while animals infected with wild-type salmonellae succumbed within 1 week. Remarkably, wild-type mice survived asymptomatically with pbgA-lpxC salmonellae in their livers and spleens for months, but Toll-like receptor 4-deficient animals succumbed to these infections within roughly 1 week. In summary, S. Typhimurium uses PbgA to influence LPS assembly during stress in order to survive, adapt, and proliferate within the host environment.

Download Full-text