Essential Role for the Legionella pneumophila Rep Helicase Homologue in Intracellular Infection of Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT We have previously isolated 32 mutants of Legionella pneumophila that are defective in the infection of mammalian cells but not protozoa. The mutated loci have been designated macrophage-specific infectivity (mil) loci. In this study we characterized the mil mutant GK11. This mutant was incapable of growth within U937 macrophage-like cells and WI-26 alveolar epithelial cells. This defect in intracellular replication correlated with a defect in cytopathogenicity to these cells. Sequence analysis of the GK11 locus revealed it to be highly similar torep helicase genes of other bacteria. Since helicase mutants of Escherichia coli are hypersensitive to thymine starvation, we examined the sensitivity of GK11 to thymineless death (TLD). In the absence of thymine and thymidine, mutant GK11 did not undergo TLD but was defective for in vitro growth, and the defect was partially restored when these compounds were added to the growth medium. In addition, supplementation with thymidine or thymine partially restored the ability of GK11 to grow within and kill U937 macrophage-like cells. The data suggested that the low levels of thymine or thymidine in the L. pneumophila phagosome contributed to the defect of GK11 within macrophages. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we determined the effect of the mutation in the Rep helicase homologue on the intracellular trafficking of GK11 within macrophages. In contrast to the wild-type strain, phagosomes harboring GK11 colocalized with several late endosomal/lysosomal markers, including LAMP-1, LAMP-2, and cathepsin D. In addition, only 50% of the GK11 phagosomes colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum marker BiP 4 h postinfection. Colocalization of BiP with GK11 phagosomes was absent 6 h postinfection, while 90% of the wild-type phagosomes colocalized with this marker at both time points. We propose that the low level of thymine within the L. pneumophila phagosome in combination with simultaneous exposure to multiple stress stimuli results in deleterious mutations that cannot be repaired in therep helicase homologue mutant, rendering it defective in intracellular replication.

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HtrA Homologue of Legionella pneumophila: an Indispensable Element for Intracellular Infection of Mammalian but Not Protozoan Cells

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.69.4.2569-2579.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 69 (4) ◽

pp. 2569-2579 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Lisa L. Pedersen ◽

Marina Radulic ◽

Miljenko Doric ◽

Yousef Abu Kwaik

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Legionella Pneumophila ◽

Parental Strain ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Intracellular Replication ◽

Alveolar Epithelial

ABSTRACT Legionella pneumophila replicates within alveolar macrophages, and possibly, alveolar epithelial cells and also within protozoa in the aquatic environment. Here we characterize an L. pneumophila mutant defective in the HtrA/DegP stress-induced protease/chaperone homologue and show that HtrA is indispensable for intracellular replication within mammalian macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells and for intrapulmonary replication in A/J mice. Importantly, amino acid substitutions of two conserved residues in the catalytic domain of (H103➤R and S212➤A) and in-frame deletions of either or both of the two conserved PDZ domains of HtrA abolish its function. Interestingly, the htrAmutant exhibits a parental-type phenotype in intracellular replication within the protozoan host Acanthamoeba polyphaga. We used a promoterless lacZ fusion to the htrApromoter to probe the phagosomal microenvironment harboringL. pneumophila within macrophages and within A. polyphaga for the exposure to stress stimuli. The data show that expression through the htrA promoter is induced by 12,000- to 20,000-fold throughout the intracellular infection of macrophages but its induction is by 120- to 500-fold within protozoa compared to in vitro expression. Data derived from confocal laser scanning microscopy reveal that in contrast to the parental strain, phagosomes harboring the htrA mutant within U937 macrophages colocalize with the late endosomal-lysosomal marker LAMP-2, similar to killed L. pneumophila. Coinfection experiments examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy show that in communal phagosomes harboring both the parental strain and the htrA mutant, replication of the mutant is not rescued, while replication of a dotAmutant control, which is normally trafficked into a phagolysosome, is rescued by the parental strain. Our data show, for the first time, that the stress response by L. pneumophila (mediated, at least in part, by HtrA) is indispensable for intracellular replication within mammalian but not protozoan cells.

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Temporal Pore Formation-Mediated Egress from Macrophages and Alveolar Epithelial Cells by Legionella pneumophila

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.68.11.6431-6440.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 68 (11) ◽

pp. 6431-6440 ◽

Cited By ~ 92

Author(s):

O. A. Terry Alli ◽

Lian-Yong Gao ◽

Lisa L. Pedersen ◽

Steven Zink ◽

Marina Radulic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Host Cell ◽

Legionella Pneumophila ◽

Pore Formation ◽

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Intracellular Replication ◽

Alveolar Epithelial ◽

Bacterial Replication

ABSTRACT Legionella pneumophila does not induce apoptosis in the protozoan host, but induces pore formation-mediated cytolysis after termination of intracellular replication (L.-Y. Gao and Y. Abu Kwaik, Environ. Microbiol. 2:79–90, 2000). In contrast to this single mode of killing of protozoa, we have recently proposed a biphasic model by which L. pneumophila kills macrophages, in which the first phase is manifested through the induction of apoptosis during early stages of the infection, followed by an independent and temporal induction of necrosis during late stages of intracellular replication. Here we show that, similar to the protozoan host, the induction of necrosis and cytolysis of macrophages by L. pneumophila is mediated by the pore-forming toxin or activity. This activity is temporally and maximally expressed only upon termination of bacterial replication and correlates with cytolysis of macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells in vitro. We have identified five L. pneumophila mutants defective in the pore-forming activity. The phagosomes harboring the mutants do not colocalize with the late endosomal or lysosomal marker Lamp-1, and the mutants replicate intracellularly similar to the parental strain. Interestingly, despite their prolific intracellular replication, the mutants are defective in cytotoxicity and are “trapped” within and fail to lyse and egress from macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells upon termination of intracellular replication. However, the mutants are subsequently released from the host cell, most likely due to apoptotic death of the host cell. Data derived from cytotoxicity assays, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and electron microscopy confirm the defect in the mutants to induce necrosis of macrophages and the failure to egress from the host cell. Importantly, the mutants are completely defective in acute lethality (24 to 48 h) to intratracheally inoculated A/J mice. We conclude that the pore-forming activity of L. pneumophila is not required for phagosomal trafficking or for intracellular replication. This activity is expressed upon termination of bacterial replication and is essential to induce cytolysis of infected macrophages to allow egress of intracellular bacteria. In addition, this activity plays a major role in pulmonary immunopathology in vivo.

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Vacuoles Induced in Mammalian Cells by Helicobacter Cytotoxin are Acidic Organelles

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100158388 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 168-169

Author(s):

M. H. Chestnut ◽

C. E. Catrenich

Keyword(s):

Acridine Orange ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Ulcer Disease ◽

Gastroduodenal Disease ◽

H Pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a non-invasive, Gram-negative spiral bacterium first identified in 1983, and subsequently implicated in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal disease including gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Cytotoxic activity, manifested by intracytoplasmic vacuolation of mammalian cells in vitro, was identified in 55% of H. pylori strains examined. The vacuoles increase in number and size during extended incubation, resulting in vacuolar and cellular degeneration after 24 h to 48 h. Vacuolation of gastric epithelial cells is also observed in vivo during infection by H. pylori. A high molecular weight, heat labile protein is believed to be responsible for vacuolation and to significantly contribute to the development of gastroduodenal disease in humans. The mechanism by which the cytotoxin exerts its effect is unknown, as is the intracellular origin of the vacuolar membrane and contents. Acridine orange is a membrane-permeant weak base that initially accumulates in low-pH compartments. We have used acridine orange accumulation in conjunction with confocal laser scanning microscopy of toxin-treated cells to begin probing the nature and origin of these vacuoles.

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The PTS Components in Klebsiella pneumoniae Affect Bacterial Capsular Polysaccharide Production and Macrophage Phagocytosis Resistance

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020335 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 335

Author(s):

Novaria Sari Dewi Panjaitan ◽

Yu-Tze Horng ◽

Chih-Ching Chien ◽

Hung-Chi Yang ◽

Ren-In You ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Bacterial Resistance ◽

Capsular Polysaccharide ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Intracellular Bacteria ◽

Wild Type ◽

Macrophage Phagocytosis

Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is a crucial virulence factor for Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. We demonstrated an association of CPS production with two phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase systems (PTSs). Deficiency of crr, encoding enzyme IIA of PTS, in K. pneumoniae enhanced the transcriptional activities of galF, wzi and gnd, which are in the cps gene cluster, leading to high CPS production. A crr mutant exhibited a higher survival rate in 1% hydrogen peroxide than the wild-type. The crr mutant showed less sensitivity to engulfment by macrophage (RAW 264.7) than the wild-type by observing the intracellular bacteria using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and by calculating the colony-forming units (CFU) of intracellular bacteria. After long-term incubation, the survival rate of the intracellular crr mutant was higher than that of the wild-type. Deficiency of crr enhanced the transcriptional activities of etcABC which encodes another putative enzyme II complex of a PTS. Deletion of etcABC in the crr mutant reduced CPS production and the transcriptional activities of galF compared to those of the crr mutant. These results indicated that one PTS component, Crr, represses CPS production by repressing another PTS component, EtcABC, in K. pneumoniae. In addition, PTS plays a role in bacterial resistance to macrophage phagocytosis.

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PGC-1-Related Coactivator, a Novel, Serum-Inducible Coactivator of Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1-Dependent Transcription in Mammalian Cells

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.21.11.3738-3749.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 21 (11) ◽

pp. 3738-3749 ◽

Cited By ~ 238

Author(s):

Ulf Andersson ◽

Richard C. Scarpulla

Keyword(s):

Transcriptional Activation ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator ◽

Nuclear Respiratory Factor ◽

Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 ◽

Cell Extracts

ABSTRACT The thermogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) coactivator 1 (PGC-1) has previously been shown to activate mitochondrial biogenesis in part through a direct interaction with nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1). In order to identify related coactivators that act through NRF-1, we searched the databases for sequences with similarities to PGC-1. Here, we describe the first characterization of a 177-kDa transcriptional coactivator, designated PGC-1-related coactivator (PRC). PRC is ubiquitously expressed in murine and human tissues and cell lines; but unlike PGC-1, PRC was not dramatically up-regulated during thermogenesis in brown fat. However, its expression was down-regulated in quiescent BALB/3T3 cells and was rapidly induced by reintroduction of serum, conditions where PGC-1 was not detected. PRC activated NRF-1-dependent promoters in a manner similar to that observed for PGC-1. Moreover, NRF-1 was immunoprecipitated from cell extracts by antibodies directed against PRC, and both proteins were colocalized to the nucleoplasm by confocal laser scanning microscopy. PRC interacts in vitro with the NRF-1 DNA binding domain through two distinct recognition motifs that are separated by an unstructured proline-rich region. PRC also contains a potent transcriptional activation domain in its amino terminus adjacent to an LXXLL motif. The spatial arrangement of these functional domains coincides with those found in PGC-1, supporting the conclusion that PRC and PGC-1 are structurally and functionally related. We conclude that PRC is a functional relative of PGC-1 that operates through NRF-1 and possibly other activators in response to proliferative signals.

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Cytokinesis arrest and redistribution of actin-cytoskeleton regulatory components in cells expressing the Rho GTPase CDC42Hs

Journal of Cell Science ◽

10.1242/jcs.109.2.367 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 109 (2) ◽

pp. 367-377 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

H. Dutartre ◽

J. Davoust ◽

J.P. Gorvel ◽

P. Chavrier

Keyword(s):

Actin Cytoskeleton ◽

Rho Gtpases ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Rho Gtpase ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Regulatory Subunit ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Complex Architectures ◽

Immunofluorescence Labelling

In mammalian cells, Rho GTPases control the reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton in response to growth factors. In the cytoplasm, the polymerisation of actin filaments and their organisation into complex architectures is orchestrated by numerous proteins which act either directly, by interacting with actin, or by producing secondary messengers which serve as mediators between signal transduction pathways and the microfilament organisation. We sought to determine whether the intracellular distribution of some of these regulatory components may be controlled by the Rho GTPase CDC42Hs. With this aim, we have established HeLa-derived human cell lines in which expression of a constitutively activated mutant of CDC42Hs is inducible. Morphological analysis by immunofluorescence labelling and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a massive reorganisation of F-actin in cortical microspikes as well as podosome-like structures located at the ventral face of the cells. Concomitantly, the cells became giant and multinucleate indicating that cytokinesis was impaired. The actin bundling protein T-plastin, the vasodilatator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), a profilin ligand, as well as the 85 kDa regulatory subunit of the phosphoinosite 3-kinase redistributed with F-actin into the CDC42Hs-induced structures.

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Quantification of microtubule dynamics in living plant cells using fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching

Journal of Cell Science ◽

10.1242/jcs.107.4.775 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 107 (4) ◽

pp. 775-784 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

J.M. Hush ◽

P. Wadsworth ◽

D.A. Callaham ◽

P.K. Hepler

Keyword(s):

Mammalian Cells ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Dynamic Instability ◽

Animal Cell ◽

Plant Cells ◽

Preprophase Band ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Turnover Rates ◽

Living Plant

Microtubule (MT) turnover within the four principal MT arrays, the cortical array, the preprophase band, the mitotic spindle and the phragmoplast, has been measured in living stamen hair cells of Tradescantia that have been injected with fluorescent neurotubulin. Using the combined techniques of confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP), we report that the half-time of turnover in spindle MTs is t 1/2 = 31 +/- 6 seconds, which is in excellent agreement with previous measurements of turnover in animal cell spindles. Tradescantia interphase MTs, however, exhibit turnover rates (t 1/2 = 67 +/- seconds) that are some 3.4-fold faster than those measured in interphase mammalian cells, and thus are revealed as being highly dynamic. Preprophase band and phragmoplast MTs have turnover rates similar to those of interphase MTs in Tradescantia. The spatial and temporal aspects of the fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching in all four MT arrays are more consistent with subunit exchange by the mechanism of dynamic instability than treadmilling. This is the first quantification of MT dynamics in plant cells.

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Myxobacteria-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles: Potential Applicability Against Intracellular Infections

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9010194 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 194 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Adriely Goes ◽

Philipp Lapuhs ◽

Thomas Kuhn ◽

Eilien Schulz ◽

Robert Richter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Outer Membrane ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Membrane Vesicles ◽

Outer Membrane Vesicles ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Potential Applicability ◽

Intracellular Infections

In 2019, it was estimated that 2.5 million people die from lower tract respiratory infections annually. One of the main causes of these infections is Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that can invade and survive within mammalian cells. S. aureus intracellular infections are difficult to treat because several classes of antibiotics are unable to permeate through the cell wall and reach the pathogen. This condition increases the need for new therapeutic avenues, able to deliver antibiotics efficiently. In this work, we obtained outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from the myxobacteria Cystobacter velatus strain Cbv34 and Cystobacter ferrugineus strain Cbfe23, that are naturally antimicrobial, to target intracellular infections, and investigated how they can affect the viability of epithelial and macrophage cell lines. We evaluated by cytometric bead array whether they induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in blood immune cells. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry, we also investigated their interaction and uptake into mammalian cells. Finally, we studied the effect of OMVs on planktonic and intracellular S. aureus. We found that while Cbv34 OMVs were not cytotoxic to cells at any concentration tested, Cbfe23 OMVs affected the viability of macrophages, leading to a 50% decrease at a concentration of 125,000 OMVs/cell. We observed only little to moderate stimulation of release of TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL-6 and IL-1beta by both OMVs. Cbfe23 OMVs have better interaction with the cells than Cbv34 OMVs, being taken up faster by them, but both seem to remain mostly on the cell surface after 24 h of incubation. This, however, did not impair their bacteriostatic activity against intracellular S. aureus. In this study, we provide an important basis for implementing OMVs in the treatment of intracellular infections.

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Visualization of the Peroxisomal Compartment in Living Mammalian Cells: Dynamic Behavior and Association with Microtubules

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.136.1.71 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 136 (1) ◽

pp. 71-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 112

Author(s):

Erik A.C. Wiemer ◽

Thibaut Wenzel ◽

Thomas J. Deerinck ◽

Mark H. Ellisman ◽

Suresh Subramani

Keyword(s):

Mammalian Cells ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Time Lapse ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Small Subset ◽

Subcellular Compartment ◽

Directional Movement ◽

Green Fluorescent

Peroxisomes in living CV1 cells were visualized by targeting the green fluorescent protein (GFP) to this subcellular compartment through the addition of a COOH-terminal peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (GFP–PTS1). The organelle dynamics were examined and analyzed using time-lapse confocal laser scanning microscopy. Two types of movement could be distinguished: a relatively slow, random, vibration-like movement displayed by the majority (∼95%) of the peroxisomes, and a saltatory, fast directional movement displayed by a small subset (∼5%) of the peroxisomes. In the latter instance, peak velocities up to 0.75 μm/s and sustained directional velocities up to 0.45 μm/s over 11.5 μm were recorded. Only the directional type of motion appeared to be energy dependent, whereas the vibrational movement continued even after the cells were depleted of energy. Treatment of cells, transiently expressing GFP–PTS1, with microtubule-destabilizing agents such as nocodazole, vinblastine, and demecolcine clearly altered peroxisome morphology and subcellular distribution and blocked the directional movement. In contrast, the microtubule-stabilizing compound paclitaxel, or the microfilament-destabilizing drugs cytochalasin B or D, did not exert these effects. High resolution confocal analysis of cells expressing GFP–PTS1 and stained with anti-tubulin antibodies revealed that many peroxisomes were associated with microtubules. The GFP–PTS1–labeled peroxisomes were found to distribute themselves in a stochastic, rather than ordered, manner to daughter cells at the time of mitosis.

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Characterisation of electrochemical immunosensor for detection of viable not-culturable forms of Legionellla pneumophila in water samples

Chemical Papers ◽

10.1515/chempap-2015-0170 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 69 (11) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Dejla Sboui ◽

Mina Souiri ◽

Stephanie Reynaud ◽

Sabine Palle ◽

Manel Ben Ismail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Legionella Pneumophila ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Membrane Filtration ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Limit Of Detection ◽

Angle Measurement ◽

Electrochemical Immunosensor ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser

AbstractLegionella pneumophila may cause a fatal pneumonia in humans known as Legionnaires’ disease (LD). The strategies of L. pneumophila to adapt to and resist stressful environmental conditions include the ability to enter into a VBNC (viable but not culturable) state. The detection of L. pneumophila in environmental samples benefits from the use of standardised methods: for detection and enumeration following membrane filtration (AFNOR T90-431, ISO 11731) and detection and quantification by polymerase chain reaction PCR (AFNOR T90-471, ISO 12869). Culture is hampered by its inability to detect VBNC forms and PCR is unable to discriminate between live and dead bacteria. The present immunosensor was obtained by the immobilisation of a monoclonal anti-L. pneumophila antibody (MAb) on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode by the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) method using an aminosilane. The immunosensor was characterised by wettability (contact angle measurement), atomic force microscopy (AFM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A limit of detection of 10 bacteria per mL was observed on artificial samples.

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