Salmonella interactions with host cells: in vitro to in vivo

Salmonellosis (diseases caused by Salmonella species) have several clinical manifestations, ranging from gastroenteritis (food poisoning) to typhoid (enteric) fever and bacteraemia. Salmonella species (especially Salmonella typhimurium) also represent organisms that can be readily used to investigate the complex interplay that occurs between a pathogen and its host, both in vitro and in vivo. The ease with which S. typhimurium can be cultivated and genetically manipulated, in combination with the availability of tissue culture models and animal models, has made S. typhimurium a desirable organism for such studies. In this review, we focus on Salmonella interactions with its host cells, both in tissue culture (in vitro) and in relevant animal models (in vivo), and compare results obtained using these different models. The recent advent of sophisticated imaging and molecular genetic tools has facilitated studying the events that occur in disease, thereby confirming tissue culture results, yet identifying new questions that need to be addressed in relevant disease settings.

Segmented filamentous bacteria prevent colonization of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O103 in rabbits

Despite their distribution in the intestines of many mammals, including man, segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) have not been found in rabbits, nor has any function been identified for these uncultivable microbes. New Zealand White rabbits were infected with rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O103 (REPEC O103) derivatives, followed up clinically, and randomly killed 1-4 days after inoculation. Intestinal tissue samples were examined by electron and light microscopy to search for SFB and to evaluate REPEC O103 colonization. Twelve of 21 rabbits showed SFB colonization on ileal absorptive villi. The presence of SFB was correlated with lack of REPEC 0103 ileal colonization (P<.01) and disease. Rabbits without SFB were always colonized by this pathogen. SFB appear to inhibit intestinal colonization by REPEC O103 and thus protect against REPEC 0103 disease. SFB colonization in rabbits is also described for the first time.

Antibacterial efficacy of gentamicin encapsulated in pH-sensitive liposomes against an in vivo Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium intracellular infection model

Encapsulation of gentamicin in liposomes can be used to achieve intracellular delivery and broaden the clinical utility of this drug. We have previously described a novel, rationally designed, pH-sensitive liposomal carrier for gentamicin that has superior in vitro efficacy against intracellular infections compared to the efficacies of both free gentamicin and non-pH-sensitive liposomal controls. This liposomal carrier demonstrated pH-sensitive fusion that was dependent on the presence of unsaturated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and the pH-sensitive lipid N-succinyldioleoyl-PE. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of the free and liposomal gentamicin were examined in mice bearing a systemic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. Encapsulation of gentamicin in pH-sensitive liposomes significantly increased the concentrations of the drug in plasma compared to those of free gentamicin. Furthermore, the levels of accumulation of drug in the infected liver and spleen were increased by 153- and 437-fold, respectively, as a result of liposomal encapsulation. The increased accumulation of gentamicin in the liver and spleen effected by liposomal delivery was associated with 10(4)-fold greater antibacterial activity than that associated with free gentamicin in a murine salmonellosis model. These pH-sensitive liposomal antibiotic carriers with enhanced in vitro activity could be used to improve both in vivo intracellular drug delivery and biological activity.

Penetration of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa through MDCK epithelial cell monolayers

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes both invasive (bacteremic) and chronic noninvasive infections. A simple in vitro system to screen P. aeruginosa clinical isolates for their capacity to penetrate MDCK cell monolayers has been developed. By means of this system, P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, including 32 blood and 45 respiratory isolates, were examined. When monolayers were infected with 3.5x107 cfu of bacteria, significantly more blood (93.7%) than respiratory (54.4%) isolates (P<.001) were detected in the basolateral medium after 3 h. Penetration ability was usually independent of cytotoxicity. Only 8 (4 blood and 4 respiratory) isolates were cytotoxic, possessed exoU, and passed through the monolayer after epithelial cell death, associated with a marked drop in transepithelial electrical resistance. Conversely, noncytotoxic isolates with high penetration ability but without severe epithelial damage were invasive. This system is well suited for screening clinical isolates and their mutants for specific genes conferring the invasiveness phenotype.

Salmonella pathogenicity islands: big virulence in small packages

Reflecting a complex set of interactions with its host, Salmonella spp. require multiple genes for full virulence. Many of these genes are found in 'pathogenicity islands' in the chromosome. Salmonella typhimurium possesses at least five such pathogenicity islands (SPI), which confer specific virulence traits and may have been acquired by horizontal transfer from other organisms. We highlight recent progress in characterizing these SPIs and the function of some of their genes. The role of virulence genes found on a highly conserved plasmid is also discussed. Collectively, these packages of virulence cassettes are essential for Salmonella pathogenesis.

Poisons, ruffles and rockets: bacterial pathogens and the host cell cytoskeleton

The cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells is affected by a number of bacterial and viral pathogens. In this review we consider three recurring themes of cytoskeletal involvement in bacterial pathogenesis: 1) the effect of bacterial toxins on actin-regulating small GTP-binding proteins; 2) the invasion of non-phagocytic cells by the bacterial induction of ruffles at the plasma membrane; 3) the formation of actin tails and pedestals by intracellular and extracellular bacteria, respectively. Considerable progress has been made recently in the characterization of these processes. It is becoming clear that bacterial pathogens have developed a variety of sophisticated mechanisms for utilizing the complex cytoskeletal system of host cells. These bacterially-induced processes are now providing unique insights into the regulation of fundamental eukaryotic mechanisms.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) attachment to epithelial cells: exploiting the host cell cytoskeleton from the outside

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), a leading cause of human infantile diarrhoea, is the prototype for a family of intestinal bacterial pathogens that induce attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on host cells. A/E lesions are characterized by localized effacement of the brush border of enterocytes, intimate bacterial attachment and pedestal formation beneath the adherent bacteria. As a result of some recent breakthrough discoveries, EPEC has now emerged as a fascinating paradigm for the study of host-pathogen interactions and cytoskeletal rearrangements that occur at the host cell membrane. EPEC uses a type III secretion machinery to attach to epithelial cells, translocating its own receptor for intimate attachment, Tir, into the host cell, which then binds to intimin on the bacterial surface. Studies of EPEC-induced cytoskeletal rearrangements have begun to provide clues as to the mechanisms used by this pathogen to subvert the host cell cytoskeleton and signalling pathways. These findings have unravelled new ways by which pathogenic bacteria exploit host processes from the cell surface and have shed new light on how EPEC might cause diarrhoea.

Phosphatases and kinases delivered to the host cell by bacterial pathogens

The gram-negative type III secretion pathway translocates bacterial proteins directly into eukaryotic host cells, thus allowing a pathogen to interfere directly with host signalling pathways. Protein and inositol phosphatases and protein kinases have been identified as delivered effectors in three bacterial pathogens, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia, and it is expected that several more such type III effectors will be found.

In vivo interactions of rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O103 with its host: an electron microscopic and histopathologic study

A family of human and animal pathogens, including enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC), trigger formation of 'attaching and effacing' lesions on cultured and intestinal epithelial surfaces. However, our understanding of these events in vivo is incomplete. To further study these interactions in a natural infection model, weaned rabbits were infected with rabbit enteropathogenic E. coli O103 (REPEC O103), followed clinically, and infected tissues were evaluated by electron and light microscopy. Of the 36 rabbits challenged, morbidity and mortality were 65 and 23%, respectively. Twenty-four hours after infection, expression of fimbriae-like organelles was observed on the bacterial surface. Microvilli of ileal Peyer's patches (PP) became disorganized, and intestinal mucus secretion increased which coincided with intraluminal binding of the pathogen in the proximal colon. Forty-eight hours after infection, there was conspicuous lack of fimbriae-like organelle expression, while bacterial adherence preferentially occurred at the domed villi of PP. Seventy-two hours after infection, broad morphological heterogeneity was noted within pedestals beneath attached bacteria, including extended pseudopods. We conclude that REPEC O103 express surface organelles during initial exposure to the host, that the initial target sites of adherence are the domed villi of ileal PP, and that increased mucus secretion occurs during REPEC O103 infection. As well, extended pseudopod formation was demonstrated in vivo.

Salmonella typhimurium virulence genes are induced upon bacterial invasion into phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells

Survival and growth of salmonellae within host cells are important aspects of bacterial virulence. We have developed an assay to identify Salmonella typhimurium genes that are induced inside Salmonella-containing vacuoles within macrophage and epithelial cells. A promoterless luciferase gene cassette was inserted randomly into the Salmonella chromosome, and the resulting mutants were screened for genes upregulated in intracellular bacteria compared to extracellular bacteria. We identified four genes in S. typhimurium that were upregulated upon bacterial invasion of both phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells. Expression of these genes was not induced by factors secreted by host cells or media alone. All four genes were induced at early time points (2 to 4 h) postinvasion and continued to be upregulated within host cells at later times (5 to 7 h). One mutant contained an insertion in the ssaR gene, within Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2), which abolished bacterial virulence in a murine typhoid model. Two other mutants contained insertions within SPI-5, one in the sopB/sigD gene and the other in a downstream gene, pipB. The insertions within SPI-5 resulted in the attenuation of S. typhimurium in the mouse model. The fourth mutant contained an insertion within a previously undescribed region of the S. typhimurium chromosome, iicA (induced intracellularly A). We detected no effect on virulence as a result of this insertion. In conclusion, all but one of the genes identified in this study were virulence factors within pathogenicity islands, illustrating the requirement for specific gene expression inside mammalian cells and indicating the key role that virulence factor regulation plays in Salmonella pathogenesis.

Type III secretion-dependent hemolytic activity of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was found to exhibit a type III secretion-dependent, contact-mediated, hemolytic activity requiring the EspA, EspB, and EspD secreted proteins. EspB and EspD display homology to pore-forming molecules. Our data suggest a mechanism to explain the requirement for all three Esp proteins in the transfer of EPEC proteins, such as Tir, into target cells.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli translocated intimin receptor, Tir, requires a specific chaperone for stable secretion

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) secretes several Esps (E. coli-secreted proteins) that are required for full virulence. Insertion of the bacterial protein Tir into the host epithelial cell membrane is facilitated by a type III secretion apparatus, and at least EspA and EspB are required for Tir translocation. An EPEC outer membrane protein, intimin, interacts with Tir on the host membrane to establish intimate attachment and formation of a pedestal-like structure. In this study, we identified a Tir chaperone, CesT, whose gene is located between tir and eae (which encodes intimin). A mutation in cesT abolished Tir secretion into culture supernatants and significantly decreased the amount of Tir in the bacterial cytoplasm. In contrast, this mutation did not affect the secretion of the Esp proteins. The level of tir mRNA was not affected by the cesT mutation, indicating that CesT acts at the post-transcriptional level. The cesT mutant could not induce host cytoskeletal rearrangements, and displayed the same phenotype as the tir mutant. Gel overlay and GST pulldown assays demonstrated that CesT specifically interacts with Tir, but not with other Esp proteins. Furthermore, by using a series of Tir deletion derivatives, we determined that the CesT binding domain is located within the first 100 amino-terminal residues of Tir, and that the pool of Tir in the bacterial cytoplasm was greatly reduced when this domain was disrupted. Interestingly, this domain was not sufficient for Tir secretion, and at least the first 200 residues of Tir were required for efficient secretion. Gel filtration studies showed that Tir-CesT forms a large multimeric complex. Collectively, these results indicate that CesT is a Tir chaperone that may act as an anti-degradation factor by specifically binding to its amino-terminus, forming a multimeric stabilized complex.

The rab7 GTPase controls the maturation of Salmonella typhimurium-containing vacuoles in HeLa cells

Following entry into non-phagocytic HeLa cells, the facultative pathogen Salmonella typhimurium survives and replicates within a membrane-bound vacuole. Preceding the initiation of intracellular replication there is a lag phase, during which the bacteria modulate their environment. This phase is characterized by the rapid recycling of early endosomal proteins present on the nascent vacuole followed by the acquisition of a subset of lysosomal proteins. To gain a better understanding of the mechanism of intracellular survival, we have followed the biogenesis of the S. typhimurium-containing vacuole (SCV) in HeLa cells expressing different mutant forms of the small GTPase rab7. We demonstrate that the SCV recruits pre-existing lysosomal glycoproteins (Lgps) in a rab7-dependent manner, without directly interacting with lysosomes. We also show the transient accumulation, in the vicinity of the SCV, of novel rab7- and Lgp-containing vesicles containing very low amounts of cathepsin D. The size of these vesicles is dependent on rab7 activity, suggesting a role for rab7 in their homotypic fusion. Taken together, these results indicate that rab7 regulates SCV biogenesis during the phase characterized by the rapid acquisition of lysosomal proteins. We propose that SCV maturation involves its interaction with rab7/Lgp-containing vesicles which are possible intermediate cargo components of the late endocytic pathway.

Identification of the intimin-binding domain of Tir of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) attaches intimately to mammalian cells via a bacterial outer membrane adhesion molecule, intimin, and its receptor in the host cell membrane, Tir. Tir is a bacterial protein translocated into the host cell membrane and tyrosine phosphorylated after insertion. Tir-intimin binding induces organized actin polymerization beneath the adherent bacteria, resulting in the formation of pedestal-like structures. A series of Tir deletion derivatives were constructed to analyse which Tir domains are involved in intimin binding. We have localized the intimin-binding domain (IBD) of Tir using a yeast two-hybrid system and a gel-overlay approach to a region of 109 amino acids that is predicted to be exposed on the surface of the plasma membrane. A truncated Tir protein lacking this domain was translocated to the host cell membrane and tyrosine phosphorylated, but failed to bind intimin or to induce either actin polymerization or Tir accumulation beneath the bacteria. These results indicate that only a small region of Tir is needed to bind intimin and support the predicted topology for Tir, with both N- and C-terminal regions in the mammalian cell cytosol. They also confirm that Tir-intimin interactions are needed for cytoskeletal organization. We have also identified N-terminal regions involved in Tir stability and Tir secretion to the media.

Biogenesis of Salmonella typhimurium-containing vacuoles in epithelial cells involves interactions with the early endocytic pathway

In epithelial cells, the intracellular pathogen Salmonella typhimurium resides and replicates within a unique cytoplasmic organelle, the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV). In vitro studies have shown that the SCV is a dynamic organelle that selectively acquires lysosomal glycoproteins (Igps) without fusing directly with lyosomes. Here, we have investigated early events in SCV biogenesis using immunofluorescence microscopy and epitope-specific flow cytometry. We show that proteins specific to the early endocytic pathway, EEA1 and transferrin receptor (TR), are present on early SCVs. The association of these proteins with SCVs is transient, and both proteins are undetectable at later time points when Igp and vATPase are acquired. Analysis of the fraction of SCVs containing both TR and lamp-1 showed that TR is lost from SCVs as the Igp is acquired, and that these processes occur progressively and not as the result of a single fusion/fission event. These experiments reveal a novel mechanism of SCV biogenesis, involving previously undetected initial interactions with the early endocytic pathway followed by the sequential delivery of Igp. The pathway does not involve interactions with the late endosome/prelysosome and is distinct from traditional phagocytic and endocytic pathways. Our study indicates that intracellular S. typhimurium occupies a unique niche, branching away from the traditional endocytic pathway between the early and late endosomal compartments.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli: a pathogen that inserts its own receptor into host cells

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major cause of infant diarrhea, killing hundreds of thousands of children per year worldwide. Intimate attachment to the host cell leading to the formation of actin-rich pedestals beneath the adhering bacteria is an essential feature of EPEC pathogenesis. EPEC attaches to host cells via the outer membrane adhesin, intimin. It was recently shown that EPEC inserts its own receptor for intimate adherence, Tir (translocated intimin receptor) into the host cell membrane. The focus of this review is on the discovery and characterization of this novel receptor, and our current understanding of its role in pedestal formation. Gram-negative bacterial secretion systems, including type III secretion systems, are reviewed and discussed in the context of Tir delivery into the host cell membrane. The relationship and relevance of in vitro models compared to the actual in vivo situation is essential to understanding disease. We have critically reviewed the use of animal models in studying EPEC infection. Elucidating the function of Tir will contribute to our understanding of how EPEC mediates disease.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 produces Tir, which is translocated to the host cell membrane but is not tyrosine phosphorylated

Intimate attachment to the host cell leading to the formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions is an essential feature of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 pathogenesis. In a related pathogen, enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), this activity is dependent upon translocation of the intimin receptor, Tir, which becomes tyrosine phosphorylated within the host cell membrane. In contrast, the accumulation of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins beneath adherent EHEC bacteria does not occur, leading to questions about whether EHEC uses a Tir-based mechanism for adherence and A/E lesion formation. In this report, we demonstrate that EHEC produces a functional Tir that is inserted into host cell membranes, where it serves as an intimin receptor. However, unlike in EPEC, in EHEC Tir is not tyrosine phosphorylated yet plays a key role in both bacterial adherence to epithelial cells and pedestal formation. EHEC, but not EPEC, was unable to synthesize Tir in Luria-Bertani medium but was able to secrete Tir into M9 medium, suggesting that Tir synthesis and secretion may be regulated differently in these two pathogens. EHEC Tir and EPEC Tir both bind intimin and focus cytoskeletal rearrangements, indicating that tyrosine phosphorylation is not needed for pedestal formation. EHEC and EPEC intimins are functionally interchangeable, but EHEC Tir shows a much greater affinity for EHEC intimin than for EPEC intimin. These findings highlight some of the differences and similarities between EHEC and EPEC virulence mechanisms, which can be exploited to further define the molecular basis of pedestal formation.

Functional expression of Nramp1 in vitro in the murine macrophage line RAW264.7

Mutations at the Nramp1 locus in vivo cause susceptibility to infection by unrelated intracellular microbes. Nramp1 encodes an integral membrane protein abundantly expressed in the endosomal-lysosomal compartment of macrophages and is recruited to the phagosomal membrane following phagocytosis. The mechanism by which Nramp1 affects the biochemical properties of the phagosome to control microbial replication is unknown. To devise an in vitro assay for Nramp1 function, we introduced a wild-type Nramp1(G169) cDNA into RAW 264.7 macrophages (which bear a homozygous mutant Nramp1(D169) allele and thus are permissive to replication of specific intracellular parasites). Recombinant Nramp1 was expressed in a membranous compartment in RAW264.7 cells and was recruited to the membrane of Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica containing phagosomes. Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of RAW264.7 transfectants showed that expression of the recombinant Nramp1 protein abrogated intracellular replication of S. typhimurium. Studies with a replication-defective S. typhimurium mutant suggest that this occurs through an enhanced bacteriostatic activity. The effect of Nramp1 expression was specific, since (i) it was not seen in RAW264.7 transfectants overexpressing the closely related Nramp2 protein, and (ii) control RAW264.7 cells, Nramp1, and Nramp2 transfectants could all efficiently kill a temperature-sensitive, replication-defective mutant of S. typhimurium. Finally, increased antibacterial activity of the Nramp1 RAW264.7 transfectants was linked to increased phagosomal acidification, a distinguishing feature of primary macrophages expressing a wild-type Nramp1 allele. Together, these results indicate that transfection of Nramp1 cDNAs in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line can be used as a direct assay to study both Nramp1 function and mechanism of action as well as to identify structure-function relationships in this protein.

Bacterial invasion: Force feeding by Salmonella

Recent findings have shed new light on mammalian-cell invasion by Salmonella. Using a type III secretion system, Salmonella deliver virulence factors into the host cell that directly activate signal transduction pathways, initiating cytoskeletal rearrangements and bacterial uptake by a ruffling mechanism.

Enteropathogenic E. coli interactions with host cells

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) interacts with intestinal epithelial cells, causing diarrhea and associated diseases. This pathogen binds to epithelial cells using sophisticated mechanisms that exploit existing epithelial signal transduction pathways and host cytoskeletal components, ultimately resulting in the bacterium resting upon a pedestal on host cell surfaces. Recent data indicates that similar mechanisms occur in vivo. EPEC interactions with host cells illustrate several principles of pathogenesis that are used by bacteria that interact with mammalian host cells.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli inhibits phagocytosis

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) interacts with intestinal epithelial cells, activating host signaling pathways leading to cytoskeletal rearrangements and ultimately diarrhea. In this study, we demonstrate that EPEC interacts with the macrophage-like cell line J774A.1 to inhibit phagocytosis by these cells. Antiphagocytic activity was also observed in cultured RAW macrophage-like cells upon EPEC infection. The EPEC antiphagocytic phenotype was dependent on the type III secretion pathway of EPEC and its secreted proteins, including EspA, EspB, and EspD. Intimin and Tir mutants displayed intermediate antiphagocytic activity, suggesting that intimate attachment mediated by intimin-Tir binding may also play a role in antiphagocytosis. Tyrosine dephosphorylation of several host proteins was observed following infection with secretion-competent EPEC but not with secretion-deficient mutants. Dephosphorylation was detectable 120 min after infection with EPEC, directly correlating with the onset of the antiphagocytic phenotype. Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases by pervanadate treatment increased the number of intracellular wild-type EPEC organisms to levels seen with secretion-deficient mutants, suggesting that dephosphorylation events are linked to the antiphagocytic phenotype. No tyrosine phosphatase activity was detected with the EPEC-secreted proteins, suggesting that EPEC induces antiphagocytosis via a different mechanism than Yersinia species. Taken together, the present findings demonstrate a novel function for EPEC-secreted proteins in triggering macrophage protein tyrosine dephosphorylation and inhibition of phagocytosis.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli: cellular harassment

The mechanisms by which enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) mediates diarrhea remain a mystery. Recently a number of interesting and at times surprising results have come from studying EPEC interactions with host cells. Identification and characterization of bacterial factors, including Tir, EspA, EspB and EspD, and host responses have expanded our grasp of the diverse effects of EPEC on host cells.

High-frequency intracellular invasion of epithelial cells by serotype M1 group A streptococci: M1 protein-mediated invasion and cytoskeletal rearrangements

A clonal variant of serotype M1 group A streptococcus (designated M1inv+) has been linked to severe and invasive infections, including sepsis, necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock. High frequency internalization of cultured epithelial cells by the M1inv+ strain 90-226 is dependent upon the M1 protein. Invasion of HeLa cells was blocked by an anti-M1 antibody, invasion by an M1- strain (90-226 emm1::km) was greatly reduced, and latex beads bound to M1 protein were readily internalized by HeLa cells. Beads coated with a truncated M1 protein were internalized far less frequently. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that streptococci invade by a zipper-like mechanism, that may be mediated by interactions with host cell microvilli. Initially, internalized streptococci and streptococci undergoing endocytosis are associated with polymerized actin. Later in the internalization process, streptococcal-containing vacuoles are associated with the lysosomal membrane glycoprotein, LAMP-1.