1. |
- Aili, Margareta, et al.
(author)
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Functional analysis of the YopE GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
- 2006
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 8:6, s. 1020-1033
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- YopE of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis inactivates three members of the small RhoGTPase family (RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42) in vitro and mutation of a critical arginine abolishes both in vitro GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity and cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells, and renders the pathogen avirulent in a mouse model. To understand the functional role of YopE, in vivo studies of the GAP activity in infected eukaryotic cells were conducted. Wild-type YopE inactivated Rac1 as early as 5 min after infection whereas RhoA was down regulated about 30 min after infection. No effect of YopE was found on the activation state of Cdc42 in Yersinia-infected cells. Single-amino-acid substitution mutants of YopE revealed two different phenotypes: (i) mutants with significantly lowered in vivo GAP activity towards RhoA and Rac1 displaying full virulence in mice, and (ii) avirulent mutants with wild-type in vivo GAP activity towards RhoA and Rac1. Our results show that Cdc42 is not an in vivo target for YopE and that YopE interacts preferentially with Rac1, and to a lesser extent with RhoA, during in vivo conditions. Surprisingly, we present results suggesting that these interactions are not a prerequisite to establish infection in mice. Finally, we show that avirulent yopE mutants translocate YopE in about sixfold higher amount compared with wild type. This raises the question whether YopE's primary function is to sense the level of translocation rather than being directly involved in downregulation of the host defence.
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2. |
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3. |
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4. |
- Areschoug, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Scavenger receptors: role in innate immunity and microbial pathogenesis.
- 2009
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 11, s. 1160-1169
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Summary Accumulating evidence shows that many scavenger receptors (SR), including SR-A, MARCO and CD36, represent an important part of the innate immune defence by acting as pattern-recognition receptors (PRR), in particular against bacterial pathogens. Several SR are expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, where they act as phagocytic receptors mediating non-opsonic phagocytosis of pathogenic microbes. Another important function of some SR is to act as co-receptors to TLRs, modulating the inflammatory response to TLR agonists. On bacteria, the SR ligands have commonly been reported to be LPS and LTA, but recent advances in the field indicate that bacterial surface proteins play a more important role as target molecules for SR than previously thought. Interestingly, recent data show that major pathogens, including Streptococcus pyogenes and the group B streptococcus (GBS), have evolved mechanisms to evade SR-mediated recognition. Moreover, intracellular pathogens, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Plasmodium falciparum, utilize the SR to gain entry into host cells, focusing interest on the importance of SR also in the molecular pathogenesis of infectious diseases. This review highlights the complex interactions between SR and pathogenic microbes, and discusses the role of these interactions in host defence and microbial pathogenesis.
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5. |
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6. |
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7. |
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8. |
- Bassères, Eugénie, et al.
(author)
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The ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase UCH-L1 promotes bacterial invasion by altering the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton
- 2010
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 12:11, s. 1622-1633
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Invasion of eukaryotic target cells by pathogenic bacteria requires extensive remodelling of the membrane and actin cytoskeleton. Here we show that the remodelling process is regulated by the ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase UCH-L1 that promotes the invasion of epithelial cells by Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica. Knockdown of UCH-L1 reduced the uptake of both bacteria, while expression of the catalytically active enzyme promoted efficient internalization in the UCH-L1-negative HeLa cell line. The entry of L. monocytogenes involves binding to the receptor tyrosine kinase Met, which leads to receptor phosphorylation and ubiquitination. UCH-L1 controls the early membrane-associated events of this triggering cascade since knockdown was associated with altered phosphorylation of the c-cbl docking site on Tyr1003, reduced ubiquitination of the receptor and altered activation of downstream ERK1/2- and AKT-dependent signalling in response to the natural ligand Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF). The regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics was further confirmed by the induction of actin stress fibres in HeLa expressing the active enzyme but not the catalytic mutant UCH-L1(C90S). These findings highlight a previously unrecognized involvement of the ubiquitin cycle in bacterial entry. UCH-L1 is highly expressed in malignant cells that may therefore be particularly susceptible to invasion by bacteria-based drug delivery systems.
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9. |
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10. |
- Bergsten, Göran, et al.
(author)
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Do type 1 fimbriae promote inflammation in the human urinary tract?
- 2007
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 9:7, s. 1766-1781
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Type 1 fimbriae have been implicated as virulence factors in animal models of urinary tract infection (UTI), but the function in human disease remains unclear. This study used a human challenge model to examine if type 1 fimbriae trigger inflammation in the urinary tract. The asymptomatic bacteriuria strain Escherichia coli 83972, which fails to express type 1 fimbriae, due to a 4.25 kb fimB-fimD deletion, was reconstituted with a functional fim gene cluster and fimbrial expression was monitored through a gfp reporter. Each patient was inoculated with the fim+ or fim- variants on separate occasions, and the host response to type 1 fimbriae was quantified by intraindividual comparisons of the responses to the fim+ or fim- isogens, using cytokines and neutrophils as end-points. Type 1 fimbriae did not promote inflammation and adherence was poor, as examined on exfoliated cells in urine. This was unexpected, as type 1 fimbriae enhanced the inflammatory response to the same strain in the murine urinary tract and as P fimbrial expression by E. coli 83972 enhances adherence and inflammation in challenged patients. We conclude that type 1 fimbriae do not contribute to the mucosal inflammatory response in the human urinary tract.
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11. |
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12. |
- Bujila, Ioana, et al.
(author)
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Malaria-derived hemozoin exerts early modulatory effects on the phenotype and maturation of human dendritic cells
- 2016
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 18:3, s. 413-423
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum)-induced effects on the phenotype of human dendritic cells (DC) could contribute to poor induction of long-lasting protective immunity against malaria. DC ability to present antigens to naïve T cells, thus initiating adaptive immune responses depends on complex switches in chemokine receptors, production of soluble mediators and expression of molecules enabling antigen-presentation and maturation. To examine the cellular basis of these processes in the context of malaria, we performed detailed analysis of early events following exposure of human monocyte-derived DC to natural hemozoin (nHZ) and the synthetic analog of its heme core, β-hematin. DC exposed to either molecule produced high levels of the inflammatory chemokine MCP-1, showed continuous high expression of the inflammatory chemokine receptor CCR5, no upregulation of the lymphoid homing receptor CCR7 and no cytoskeletal actin redistribution with loss of podosomes. DC partially matured as indicated by increased expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and CD86 following nHZ and β-hematin exposure, however there was a lack in expression of the maturation marker CD83 following nHZ but not β-hematin exposure. Overall our data demonstrate that exposure to nHZ partially impairs the capacity of DC to mature, an effect in part differential to β-hematin.
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13. |
- Bäckhed, Fredrik, 1973, et al.
(author)
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TLR4-dependent lipopolysaccharide signalling in epithelial cells is independent of extracellular protease activity.
- 2002
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In: Cellular microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 4:5, s. 297-303
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Epithelial cells are the first cells that encounter infecting bacteria and, as such, they have developed several mechanisms for microbial protection. We have shown previously that bladder epithelial cells express the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 that enables a rapid cellular interleukin (IL)-8 response when exposed to Escherichia coli and LPS. TLR4 belongs to a family of receptors that was initially identified in Drosophila, in which Toll is required for the immune response against fungi. Fungal exposure activates a series of serine proteases that process the protein Spaetzle to a cytokine-like form that acts as a ligand for Toll. Here, we investigated whether a similar proteolytic cascade is required for human TLR activation. When screening a set of 18 protease inhibitors, three serine protease inhibitors (TPCK, TLCK and Pefabloc) were shown to inhibit LPS- and peptidoglycan-induced IL-8 production in TLR2- and TLR4-positive bladder epithelial cells. However, they were equally effective inhibitors of IL-1beta-induced signalling, indicating that their target(s) is/are located downstream of the TLRs. Further characterization showed that these inhibitors blocked I kappa B degradation but not phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated cells, which suggests that the serine protease inhibitors target the 26S proteasome. Identical results were obtained on LPS-stimulated monocytes. Based on these data, we find no evidence for the involvement of proteases upstream of TLRs in either epithelial cells or cells of the monocytic lineage.
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14. |
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15. |
- Corleis, Björn, et al.
(author)
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Escape of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from oxidative killing by neutrophils.
- 2012
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In: Cellular microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5822 .- 1462-5814. ; 14:7, s. 1109-1121
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Neutrophils enter sites of infection, where they can eliminate pathogenic bacteria in an oxidative manner. Despite their predominance in active tuberculosis lesions, the function of neutrophils in this important human infection is still highly controversial. We observed that virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis survived inside human neutrophils despite prompt activation of these defence cells' microbicidal effectors. Survival of M.tuberculosis was accompanied by necrotic cell death of infected neutrophils. Necrotic cell death entirely depended on radical oxygen species production since chronic granulomatous disease neutrophils were protected from M.tuberculosis-triggered necrosis. More, importantly, the M. tuberculosisΔRD1 mutant failed to induce neutrophil necrosis rendering this strain susceptible to radical oxygen species-mediated killing. We conclude that this virulence function is instrumental for M.tuberculosis to escape killing by neutrophils and contributes to pathogenesis in tuberculosis.
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16. |
- Costa, Tiago, et al.
(author)
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Type III secretion translocon assemblies that attenuate Yersinia virulence
- 2013
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 15:7, s. 1088-1110
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Type III secretion enables bacteria to intoxicate eukaryotic cells with anti-host effectors. A class of secreted cargo are the two hydrophobic translocators that form a translocon pore in the host cell plasma membrane through which the translocated effectors may gain cellular entry. In pathogenic Yersinia, YopB and YopD shape this translocon pore. Here, four in cis yopD mutations were constructed to disrupt a predicted α-helix motif at the C-terminus. Mutants YopD(I262P) and YopD(K267P) poorly localized Yop effectors into target eukaryotic cells and failed to resist uptake and killing by immune cells. These defects were due to deficiencies in host-membrane insertion of the YopD-YopB translocon. Mutants YopD(A263P) and YopD(A270P) had no measurable in vitro translocation defect, even though they formed smaller translocon pores in erythrocyte membranes. Despite this, all four mutants were attenuated in a mouse infection model. Hence, YopD variants have been generated that can spawn translocons capable of targeting effectors in vitro, yet were bereft of any lethal effect in vivo. Therefore, Yop translocators may possess other in vivo functions that extend beyond being a portal for effector delivery into host cells.
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17. |
- Dahlstrand Rudin, Agnes, et al.
(author)
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Short chain fatty acids released by Fusobacterium nucleatum are neutrophil chemoattractants acting via free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2)
- 2021
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 23:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fusobacterium nucleatum is a gram-negative and anaerobic oral commensal that is implicated in inflammatory conditions of the tooth-supporting structures, that is, periodontal diseases. One of the main characteristics of these conditions is an accumulation of neutrophil granulocytes in the gingival pockets where bacteria reside. Neutrophils are recruited to tissue-residing microbes by gradients of bacteria derived chemoattractants, and the cellular migration over the pocket epithelium into the gingival pocket is likely governed by chemoattractants released by the amino acid fermenting anaerobes typically colonising this site. However, the chemoattractants released by F. nucleatum and other oral anaerobes have long been unidentified. In the present study, we show that the major chemoattractants released during the growth of F. nucleatum are short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), primarily acetate and butyrate. These SCFAs, that are released at high levels as end-products of the metabolism of F. nucleatum, trigger chemotaxis of human neutrophils, as well as cytosolic Ca2+ signals, via free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2). This finding establishes the SCFA-FFAR2 interaction as an important mechanism in the recruitment of neutrophils to the periodontal pocket, but could also be of importance in the pathogenesis of other medical conditions involving colonisation/infection of F. nucleatum.
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18. |
- Deleuil, Fabienne, et al.
(author)
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Interaction between the Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase YopH and eukaryotic Cas/Fyb is an important virulence mechanism
- 2003
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 5:1, s. 53-64
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The tyrosine phosphatase YopH is an essential virulence factor produced by pathogenic Yersinia species. YopH is translocated into host cells via a type III secretion system and its dephosphorylating activity causes disruption of focal complex structures and blockage of the phagocytic process. Among the host cell targets of YopH are the focal adhesion proteins Crk-associated substrate (p130Cas) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in epithelial cells, and p130Cas and Fyn-binding protein (Fyb) in macrophages. Previous studies have shown that the N-terminal domain of YopH acts as a substrate-binding domain. In this study, the mechanism and biological importance of the targeting of YopH to focal complexes relative to its interaction with p130Cas/Fyb was elucidated. Mutants of YopH that were defective in p130Cas/Fyb binding but otherwise indistinguishable from wild type were constructed. Mutants unable to bind p130Cas did not localize to focal complex structures in infected cells, indicating that the association with p130Cas is critical for appropriate subcellular localization of YopH. These yopH mutants were also clearly attenuated in virulence, showing that binding to p130Cas and/or Fyb is biologically relevant in Yersinia infections.
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19. |
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20. |
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21. |
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22. |
- Fahlgren, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Cell type-specific effects of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis virulence effectors
- 2009
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 11:12, s. 1750-1767
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- One important feature of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis that enables resistance against the host immune defence is delivery of the antiphagocytic effectors YopH and YopE into phagocytic cells. The tyrosine phosphatase YopH influences integrin signalling, and YopE impairs cytoskeletal dynamics by inactivating Rho GTPases. Here, we report the impact of these effectors on internalization by dendritic cells (DCs), which internalize antigens to orchestrate host immune responses. We found that this pathogen resists internalization by DCs via YopE. YopH that is important for blocking phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils and which is also present inside the DCs does not contribute to the resistance. However, the YopH targets Fyb and p130Cas show higher expression levels in macrophages than in DCs. Furthermore, live cell microscopy revealed that the cells internalize Y. pseudotuberculosis in different ways: the macrophages utilize a locally restricted receptor-mediated zipper mechanism, whereas DCs utilize macropinocytosis involving constitutive ruffling that randomly catches bacteria into membrane folds. We conclude that YopH impacts early phagocytic signalling from the integrin receptor to which the bacterium binds and that this tight receptor-mediated stimulation is absent in DC macropinocytosis. Inactivation of cytoskeletal dynamics by YopE affects ruffling activity and hence also internalization. The different modes of internalization can be coupled to the major functions of these respective cell types: elimination by phagocytosis and antigen sampling.
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23. |
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24. |
- Fischer, Hans, et al.
(author)
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Ceramide as a TLR4 agonist; a putative signalling intermediate between sphingolipid receptors for microbial ligands and TLR4.
- 2007
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 9:5, s. 1239-1251
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mucosal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) respond to pathogens, but remain inert to the indigenous flora, suggesting that the TLRs can receive pathogen-specific signals. For example, TLR4 signalling is activated in CD14-negative epithelial cells by P-fimbriated, uropathogenic Escherichia coli, but not by lipopolysaccharide. The fimbriae use glycosphingolipids as recognition receptors and there is release of ceramide, which is the membrane-anchoring domain of the receptors. In this study, ceramide was identified as a TLR4 agonist and as a putative signalling intermediate between the glycosphingolipid recognition receptors and TLR4. Exogenous ceramide activated a TLR4-dependent epithelial cell response, as shown by exposing stably transfected TLR4-positive or -negative human embryonal kidney cells to C2 and C6 ceramide. A similar, TLR4-dependent response occurred after deliberate release of endogenous long-chained ceramide with sphingomyelinase. Microbial ligands with glycosphingolipid specificity (P fimbriae or the B subunit of Shiga toxin) were shown to increase the levels of ceramide and to trigger a TLR4-dependent response in epithelial cells. The results show that ceramide activates TLR4 signalling and suggest that this mechanism might allow pathogens to elicit mucosal TLR4 responses by perturbing sphingolipid receptors for virulence ligands like P fimbriae.
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25. |
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26. |
- Frisan, Teresa, 1967-
(author)
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Co- and polymicrobial infections in the gut mucosa : the host-microbiota-pathogen perspective
- 2021
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 23:2
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Infections in humans occur in the context of complex niches where the pathogen interacts with both the host microenvironment and immune response, and the symbiotic microbial community. The polymicrobial nature of many human infections adds a further layer of complexity. The effect of co- or polymicrobial infections can result in enhanced severity due to pathogens cooperative interaction or reduced morbidity because one of the pathogens affects the fitness of the other(s). In this review, the concept of co-infections and polymicrobial interactions in the context of the intestinal mucosa is discussed, focusing on the interplay between the host, the microbiota and the pathogenic organisms. Specifically, we will examine examples of pathogen-cooperative versus -antagonistic behaviour during co- and polymicrobial infections. We discuss: the infection-induced modulation of the host microenvironment and immune responses; the direct modulation of the microorganism's fitness; the potentiation of inflammatory/carcinogenic conditions by polymicrobial biofilms; and the promotion of co-infections by microbial-induced DNA damage. Open questions in this very exciting field are also highlighted.
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27. |
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28. |
- Gekara, Nelson O, et al.
(author)
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Mast cells initiate early anti-Listeria host defences.
- 2008
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 10:1, s. 225-236
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes (L. m.) is the aetiological agent of listeriosis. The early phase listeriosis is characterized by strong innate host responses that play a major role in bacterial clearance. This is emphasized by the fact that mice deficient in T and B cells have a remarkable ability to control infection. Mast cells, among the principal effectors of innate immunity, have largely been studied in the context of hyper-reactive conditions such as allergy and autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the significance of mast cells during the early phase of listeriosis. Compared with controls, mice depleted of mast cells showed hundred-fold higher bacterial burden in spleen and liver and were significantly impaired in neutrophil mobilization. Although L. m. interacts with and triggers mast cell degranulation, bacteria were hardly found within such cells. Mainly neutrophils and macrophages phagozytosed L. m. Thus, mast cells control infection not via direct bacterial uptake, but by initiating neutrophils influx to the site of infection. We show that this is initiated by pre-synthesized TNF-alpha, rapidly secreted by mast cell upon activation by L. m. We also show that upon recruitment, neutrophils also become activated and additionally secrete TNF-alpha thus amplifying the anti-L. m. inflammatory response.
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29. |
- Gekara, Nelson O, et al.
(author)
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The cholesterol-dependent cytolysin listeriolysin O aggregates rafts via oligomerization.
- 2005
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 7:9, s. 1345-1356
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The pore-forming toxin listeriolysin O (LLO) is the main virulence factor of Listeria monocytogenes. LLO is known to act as a pseudo cytokine/chemokine, which induces a broad spectrum of host responses that ultimately influences the outcome of listeriosis. In the present study we demonstrate that LLO is a potent aggregator of lipid rafts. LLO was found to aggregate the raft associated molecules GM1, the GPI-anchored proteins CD14 and CD16 as well as the tyrosine kinase Lyn. Abrogation of the cytolytic activity of LLO by cholesterol pretreatment was found not to interfere with LLO's ability to aggregate rafts or trigger tyrosine phosphorylation in cells. However, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the oligomerization of LLO was found to inhibit rafts' aggregation as well as the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation. This implies that rafts aggregation by LLO which is independent of cytolytic activity, is due to the oligomerization of its membrane bound toxin monomers. Thus, LLO most likely induces signalling through the coaggregation of rafts' associated receptors, kinases and adaptors.
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30. |
- Gekara, Nelson O, et al.
(author)
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The multiple mechanisms of Ca2+ signalling by listeriolysin O, the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin of Listeria monocytogenes.
- 2007
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 9:8, s. 2008-2021
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) represent a large family of conserved pore-forming toxins produced by several Gram-positive bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pyrogenes and Bacillus anthracis. These toxins trigger a broad range of cellular responses that greatly influence pathogenesis. Using mast cells, we demonstrate that listeriolysin O (LLO), a prototype of CDCs produced by L. monocytogenes, triggers cellular responses such as degranulation and cytokine synthesis in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Ca(2+) signalling by LLO is due to Ca(2+) influx from extracellular milieu and release of from intracellular stores. We show that LLO-induced release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores occurs via at least two mechanisms: (i) activation of intracellular Ca(2+) channels and (ii) a Ca(2+) channels independent mechanism. The former involves PLC-IP(3)R operated Ca(2+) channels activated via G-proteins and protein tyrosine kinases. For the latter, we propose a novel mechanism of intracellular Ca(2+) release involving injury of intracellular Ca(2+) stores such as the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition to Ca(2+) signalling, the discovery that LLO causes damage to an intracellular organelle provides a new perspective in our understanding of how CDCs affect target cells during infection by the respective bacterial pathogens.
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31. |
- Genisset, Christophe, et al.
(author)
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The concerted action of the Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin VacA and of the v-ATPase proton pump induces swelling of isolated endosomes
- 2007
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 9:6, s. 1481-1490
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) is a major virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium associated to gastroduodenal ulcers and stomach cancers. VacA induces formation of cellular vacuoles that originate from late endosomal compartments. VacA forms an anion-selective channel and its activity has been suggested to increase the osmotic pressure in the lumen of these acidic compartments, driving their swelling to vacuoles. Here, we have tested this proposal on isolated endosomes that allow one to manipulate at will the medium. We have found that VacA enhances the v-ATPase proton pump activity and the acidification of isolated endosomes in a Cl- dependent manner. Other counter-anions such as pyruvate, Br-, I- and SCN- can be transported by VacA with stimulation of the v-ATPase. The VacA action on isolated endosomes is associated with their increase in size. Single amino acid substituted VacA with no channel-forming and vacuolating activity is unable to induce swelling of endosomes. These data provide a direct evidence that the transmembrane VacA channel mediates an influx of anions into endosomes that stimulates the electrogenic v-ATPase proton pump, leading to their osmotic swelling and transformation into vacuoles.
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32. |
- Geörg, Miriam, et al.
(author)
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Meningococcal resistance to antimicrobial peptides is mediated by bacterial adhesion and host cell RhoA and Cdc42 signalling
- 2013
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 15:11, s. 1938-1954
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute an essential part of the innate immune defence. Pathogenic bacteria have evolved numerous strategies to withstand AMP-mediated killing. The influence of host epithelia on bacterial AMP resistance is, however, still largely unknown. We found that adhesion to pharyngeal epithelial cells protected Neisseria meningitidis, a leading cause of meningitis and sepsis, from the human cathelicidin LL-37, the cationic model amphipathic peptide (MAP) and the peptaibol alamethicin, but not from polymyxin B. Adhesion to primary airway epithelia resulted in a similar increase in LL-37 resistance. The inhibition of selective host cell signalling mediated by RhoA and Cdc42 was found to abolish the adhesion-induced LL-37 resistance by a mechanism unrelated to the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, N. meningitidis triggered the formation of cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains in pharyngeal epithelial cells, and host cell cholesterol proved to be essential for adhesion-induced resistance. Our data highlight the importance of Rho GTPase-dependent host cell signalling for meningococcal AMP resistance. These results indicate that N. meningitidis selectively exploits the epithelial microenvironment in order to protect itself from LL-37.
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33. |
- Godaly, Gabriela, et al.
(author)
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Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette Guerin infection of human neutrophils induces CXCL8 secretion by MyD88-dependent TLR2 and TLR4 activation
- 2005
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 7:4, s. 591-601
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To investigate the potential role of neutrophils in initiation of immune responses to mycobacteria, we have characterized the response of human neutrophils to infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette Guerin, the BCG vaccine. BCG induced transcription and secretion of the chemokine CXCL8, by signalling through Toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR4, in conjunction with the adaptor protein myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). Blocking of responses with antibodies revealed a difference in the kinetics of signalling through the different TLRs. Anti-TLR2 antibody blocked the early phase of CXCL8 and MyD88 induction. Anti-TLR4 antibody blocked the late phase of induction occurring 2 h after infection. The existence of a TLR/MyD88 pathway for recognition and response to mycobacterial ligands provides neutrophils with the ability to drive the recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells during the early phase of mycobacterial infection and immunization.
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34. |
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35. |
- Guerra, Lina, et al.
(author)
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Cellular internalization of cytolethal distending toxin : a new end to a known pathway
- 2005
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 7:7, s. 921-34
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) are unique in their ability to induce DNA damage, activate checkpoint responses and cause cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in intoxicated cells. However, little is known about their cellular internalization pathway. We demonstrate that binding of the Haemophilus ducreyi CDT (HdCDT) on the plasma membrane of sensitive cells was abolished by cholesterol extraction with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The toxin was internalized via the Golgi complex, and retrogradely transported to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), as assessed by N-linked glycosylation. Further translocation from the ER did not require the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, and was Derlin-1 independent. The genotoxic activity of HdCDT was dependent on its internalization and its DNase activity, as induction of DNA double-stranded breaks was prevented in Brefeldin A-treated cells and in cells exposed to a catalytically inactive toxin. Our data contribute to a better understanding of the CDT mode of action and highlight two important aspects of the biology of this bacterial toxin family: (i) HdCDT translocation from the ER to the nucleus does not involve the classical pathways followed by other retrogradely transported toxins and (ii) toxin internalization is crucial for execution of its genotoxic activity.
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36. |
- Guidi, Riccardo, et al.
(author)
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Chronic exposure to the cytolethal distending toxins of Gram-negative bacteria promotes genomic instability and altered DNA damage response
- 2013
-
In: Cellular Microbiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 15:1, s. 98-113
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Epidemiological evidence links chronic bacterial infections to the increased incidence of certain types of cancer but the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria contribute to tumour initiation and progression are still poorly characterized. Here we show that chronic exposure to the genotoxin cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of Gram-negative bacteria promotes genomic instability and acquisition of phenotypic properties of malignancy in fibroblasts and colon epithelial cells. Cells grown for more than 30 weeks in the presence of sublethal doses of CDT showed increased mutation frequency, and accumulation of chromatin and chromosomal aberrations in the absence of significant alterations of cell cycle distribution, decreased viability or senescence. Cell survival was dependent on sustained activity of the p38 MAP kinase. The ongoing genomic instability was associated with impaired activation of the DNA damage response and failure to efficiently activate cell cycle checkpoints upon exposure to genotoxic stress. Independently selected sublines showed enhanced anchorage-independent growth as assessed by the formation of colonies in semisolid agarose. These findings support the notion that chronic infection by CDT-producing bacteria may promote malignant transformation, and point to the impairment of cellular control mechanisms associated with the detection and repair of DNA damage as critical events in the process.
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37. |
- Guidi, Riccardo, et al.
(author)
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Salmonella enterica delivers its genotoxin through outer membrane vesicles secreted from infected cells
- 2013
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 15:12, s. 2034-2050
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cytolethal-distending toxins (CDTs) belong to a family of DNA damage inducing exotoxins that are produced by several Gram-negative bacteria. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi expresses its CDT (named as Typhoid toxin) only in the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) of infected cells, which requires its export for cell intoxication. The mechanisms of secretion, release in the extracellular space and uptake by bystander cells are poorly understood. We have addressed these issues using a recombinant S. Typhimurium strain, MC71-CDT, where the genes encoding for the PltA, PltB and CdtB subunits of the Typhoid toxin are expressed under control of the endogenous promoters. MC71-CDT grown under conditions that mimic the SCV secreted the holotoxin in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Epithelial cells infected with MC71-CDT also secreted OMVs-like vesicles. The release of these extracellular vesicles required an intact SCV and relied on anterograde transport towards the cellular cortex on microtubule and actin tracks. Paracrine internalization of Typhoid toxin-loaded OMVs by bystander cells was dependent on dynamin-1, indicating active endocytosis. The subsequent induction of DNA damage required retrograde transport of the toxin through the Golgi complex. These data provide new insights on the mode of secretion of exotoxins by cells infected with intracellular bacteria.
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38. |
- Hausmann, Annika, et al.
(author)
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Germ-free and microbiota-associated mice yield small intestinal epithelial organoids with equivalent and robust transcriptome/proteome expression phenotypes
- 2020
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : WILEY. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 22:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intestinal epithelial organoids established from gut tissue have become a widely used research tool. However, it remains unclear how environmental cues, divergent microbiota composition and other sources of variation before, during and after establishment confound organoid properties, and how these properties relate to the original tissue. While environmental influences cannot be easily addressed in human organoids, mice offer a controlled assay-system. Here, we probed the effect of donor microbiota differences, previously identified as a confounding factor in murine in vivo studies, on organoids. We analysed the proteomes and transcriptomes of primary organoid cultures established from two colonised and one germ-free mouse colony of C57BL/6J genetic background, and compared them to their tissue of origin and commonly used cell lines. While an imprint of microbiota-exposure was observed on the proteome of epithelial samples, the long-term global impact of donor microbiota on organoid expression patterns was negligible. Instead, stochastic culture-to-culture differences accounted for a moderate variability between independently established organoids. Integration of transcriptome and proteome datasets revealed an organoid-typic expression signature comprising 14 transcripts and 10 proteins that distinguished organoids across all donors from murine epithelial cell lines and fibroblasts and closely mimicked expression patterns in the gut epithelium. This included the inflammasome components ASC, Naip1-6, Nlrc4 and Caspase-1, which were highly expressed in all organoids compared to the reference cell line m-ICc12 or mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Taken together, these results reveal that the donor microbiota has little effect on the organoid phenotype and suggest that organoids represent a more suitable culture model than immortalised cell lines, in particular for studies of intestinal epithelial inflammasomes.
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39. |
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40. |
- Heinrich, A, et al.
(author)
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Moraxella catarrhalis induces CEACAM3-Syk-Card9-dependent activation of human granulocytes
- 2016
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 18:11, s. 1570-1582
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The human restricted pathogen Moraxella catarrhalis is an important causal agent for exacerbations in chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) in adults. In such patients, increased numbers of granulocytes are present in the airways, which correlate with bacteria-induced exacerbations and severity of the disease. Our study investigated whether the interaction of M. catarrhalis with the human granulocyte-specific carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM)-3 is linked to NF-κB activation, resulting in chemokine production. Granulocytes from healthy donors and NB4 cells were infected with M. catarrhalis in the presence of different inhibitors, blocking antibodies and siRNA. The supernatants were analysed by ELISA for chemokines. NF-κB activation was determined using a luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin-immunoprecipitation. We found evidence that the specific engagement of CEACAM3 by Moraxella catarrhalis ubiquitous surface protein A1 (UspA1) results in the activation of pro-inflammatory events, such as degranulation of neutrophils, ROS production and chemokine secretion. The interaction of UspA1 with CEACAM3 induced the activation of the NF-κB pathway via Syk and the Card9 pathway and was dependent on the phosphorylation of the CEACAM3 ITAM -like motif. These findings suggest that the CEACAM3 signalling in neutrophils is able to specifically modulate airway inflammation caused by infection with M. catarrhalis.
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41. |
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42. |
- Holm, Åsa, et al.
(author)
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Leishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan causes periphagosomal actin accumulation : correlation with impaired translocation of PKCα and defective phagosome maturation
- 2001
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 3:7, s. 439-447
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is the major surface glycoconjugate of Leishmania donovani promastigotes. The repeating disaccharide–phosphate units of LPG are crucial for promastigote survival inside macrophages and establishment of infection. LPG has a number of effects on the host cell, including inhibition of PKC activity, inhibition of nitric oxide production and altered expression of cytokines. LPG also inhibits phagosomal maturation, a process requiring depolymerization of periphagosomal F-actin. In the present study, we have characterized the dynamics of F-actin during the phagocytosis of L. donovani promastigotes in J774 macrophages. We observed that F-actin accumulated progressively around phagosomes containing wild-type L. donovani promastigotes during the first hour of phagocytosis. Using LPG-defective mutants and yeast particles coated with purified LPG, we obtained evidence that this effect could be attributed to the repeating units of LPG. LPG also disturbed cortical actin turnover during phagocytosis. The LPG-dependent accumulation of periphagosomal F-actin correlated with an impaired recruitment of the lysosomal marker LAMP1 and PKCα to the phagosome. Accumulation of periphagosomal F-actin during phagocytosis of L. donovani promastigotes may contribute to the inhibition of phagosomal maturation by physically preventing vesicular trafficking to and from the phagosome.
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43. |
- Hopp, Christine S, et al.
(author)
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Palmitoyl transferases have critical roles in the development of mosquito and liver stages of Plasmodium
- 2016
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 18:11, s. 1625-1641
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As the Plasmodium parasite transitions between mammalian and mosquito host, it has to adjust quickly to new environments. Palmitoylation, a reversible and dynamic lipid post‐translational modification, plays a central role in regulating this process and has been implicated with functions for parasite morphology, motility and host cell invasion. While proteins associated with the gliding motility machinery have been described to be palmitoylated, no palmitoyl transferase responsible for regulating gliding motility has previously been identified. Here, we characterize two palmityol transferases with gene tagging and gene deletion approaches. We identify DHHC3, a palmitoyl transferase, as a mediator of ookinete development, with a crucial role for gliding motility in ookinetes and sporozoites, and we co‐localize the protein with a marker for the inner membrane complex in the ookinete stage. Ookinetes and sporozoites lacking DHHC3 are impaired in gliding motility and exhibit a strong phenotype in vivo; with ookinetes being significantly less infectious to their mosquito host and sporozoites being non‐infectious to mice. Importantly, genetic complementation of the DHHC3‐ko parasite completely restored virulence. We generated parasites lacking both DHHC3, as well as the palmitoyl transferase DHHC9, and found an enhanced phenotype for these double knockout parasites, allowing insights into the functional overlap and compensational nature of the large family of PbDHHCs. These findings contribute to our understanding of the organization and mechanism of the gliding motility machinery, which as is becoming increasingly clear, is mediated by palmitoylation.
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44. |
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45. |
- Husler, Dario, et al.
(author)
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Dictyostelium lacking the single atlastin homolog Sey1 shows aberrant ER architecture, proteolytic processes and expansion of the Legionella-containing vacuole
- 2021
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : WILEY. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 23:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dictyostelium discoideum Sey1 is the single ortholog of mammalian atlastin 1-3 (ATL1-3), which are large homodimeric GTPases mediating homotypic fusion of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tubules. In this study, we generated a D. discoideum mutant strain lacking the sey1 gene and found that amoebae deleted for sey1 are enlarged, but grow and develop similarly to the parental strain. The increment sey1 mutant amoebae showed an altered ER architecture, and the tubular ER network was partially disrupted without any major consequences for other organelles or the architecture of the secretory and endocytic pathways. Macropinocytic and phagocytic functions were preserved; however, the mutant amoebae exhibited cumulative defects in lysosomal enzymes exocytosis, intracellular proteolysis, and cell motility, resulting in impaired growth on bacterial lawns. Moreover, increment sey1 mutant cells showed a constitutive activation of the unfolded protein response pathway (UPR), but they still readily adapted to moderate levels of ER stress, while unable to cope with prolonged stress. In D. discoideum increment sey1 the formation of the ER-associated compartment harbouring the bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila was also impaired. In the mutant amoebae, the ER was less efficiently recruited to the "Legionella-containing vacuole" (LCV), the expansion of the pathogen vacuole was inhibited at early stages of infection and intracellular bacterial growth was reduced. In summary, our study establishes a role of D. discoideum Sey1 in ER architecture, proteolysis, cell motility and intracellular replication of L. pneumophila.
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46. |
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47. |
- Jacobsen, M.C., et al.
(author)
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A critical role for ATF2 transcription factor in the regulation of E-selectin expression in response to non-endotoxin components of Neisseria meningitidis
- 2016
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 18:1, s. 66-79
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Vascular injury is a serious complication of sepsis due to the gram-negative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. One of the critical early steps in initiating this injury is via the interaction of leucocytes, particularly neutrophils, with adhesion molecules expressed on inflamed endothelium. We have previously demonstrated that both lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and non-LPS components of meningococci can induce very high levels of expression of the vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecule E-selectin, which is critical for early tethering and capture of neutrophils onto endothelium under flow. Using an LPS-deficient strain of meningococcus, we showed that very high levels of expression can be induced in primary endothelial cells, even in the context of weak activation of the major host signal transduction factor [nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)]. In this study, we show that the particular propensity for N.meningitidis to induce high levels of expression is regulated at a transcriptional level, and demonstrate a significant role for phosphorylation of the ATF2 transcription factor, likely via mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, on the activity of the E-selectin promoter. Furthermore, inhibition of E-selectin expression in response to the lpxA- strain by a p38 inhibitor indicates a significant role of a p38-dependent MAPK signalling pathway in ATF2 activation. Collectively, these data highlight the role that LPS and other bacterial components have in modulating endothelial function and their involvement in the pathogenesis of meningococcal sepsis. Better understanding of these multiple mechanisms induced by complex stimuli such as bacteria, and the specific inflammatory pathways they activate, may lead to improved, focused interventions in both meningococcal and potentially bacterial sepsis more generally.
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48. |
- John, Constance M, et al.
(author)
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Galectin-3 binds lactosaminylated lipooligosaccharides from Neisseria gonorrhoeae and is selectively expressed by mucosal epithelial cells that are infected
- 2002
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In: Cellular Microbiology. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1462-5814 .- 1462-5822. ; 4:10, s. 649-661
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Galectins are a family of beta-galactoside binding proteins that have been proposed as host receptors for bacteria because beta-galactoside carbohydrates are common in bacterial membrane glycolipid lipooligosaccharides (LOS) and lipopolysaccharides. We investigated the interaction of galectin-3 with gonococcal LOS that make lactosyl (Lc(2) or Lac), paraglobosyl (nLc(4) ; LNnT; lacto-N -neotetraose), gangliosyl (IV3 GalNAcnLc(4) ), and neolactohexaosyl (nLc(6) , lactonorhexaosyl) oligosaccharides. All but gangliosyl LOS terminate in beta-galactoside. Galectin-3 had the highest affinity for the nLc(6) LOS, which is made by a strain that is highly infectious for the male urethra, but also bound nLc(4) LOS and to a Lac LOS. The lacto-N -neotetraose tetrasaccharide was a more potent inhibitor of galectin-3 binding to LOS than either lactose or N -acetyllactosamine. The relative affinity of galectin-3 for gonococci mirrored its affinity for purified LOS. Western blot analysis revealed expression of galectin-3 by human endometrial adenocarcinoma and prostatic epithelial cells that can be invaded by gonococci. Immunohistochemistry of human fallopian tube epithelium showed localized expression of galectin-3 by non-ciliated cells, the specific cell gonococci invade in this tissue. We conclude that because of its location and affinity for gonococcal LOS galectin-3 could play a role in gonococcal infection.
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49. |
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50. |
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