Functional conservation among members of the Salmonella typhimurium InvA family of proteins

InvA, which is essential for Salmonella spp. to enter cultured epithelial cells, is a member of a family of proteins involved in either flagellar biosynthesis or the secretion of virulence determinants by a number of plant and mammalian pathogens. The predicted overall secondary structures of these proteins show significant similarities and indicate a modular construction with a hydrophobic amino-terminal half, consisting of six to eight potential transmembrane domains, and a hydrophilic carboxy terminus which is predicted to reside in the cytoplasm. These proteins can be aligned over the entire length of their polypeptide sequences, with the highest degree of homology found in the amino terminus and clusters of conserved residues in the carboxy terminus. We examined the functional conservation among members of this protein family by assessing the ability of MxiA of Shigella flexneri and LcrD of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis to restore invasiveness to an invA mutant of Salmonella typhimurium. We found that MxiA was able to complement the entry defect of the invA mutant strain of S. typhimurium. In contrast, LcrD failed to complement the same strain. However, a plasmid carrying a gene encoding a chimeric protein consisting of the amino terminus of LcrD and the carboxy terminus of InvA complemented the defect of the Salmonella invA mutant. These results indicate that the secretory systems in which these proteins participate are functionally similar and that the Salmonella and Shigella systems are very closely related. These data also suggest that determinants of specificity may be located at the carboxy termini of these proteins.

Functional analysis of the Salmonella typhimurium invasion genes invl and invJ and identification of a target of the protein secretion apparatus encoded in the inv locus

We have carried out a functional analysis of invl and invJ, two Salmonella typhimurium genes required for this organism to gain access to cultured mammalian cells. These genes are located immediately down-stream of invC, a previously identified gene also required for bacterial invasion. Non-polar mutations in either of these genes rendered S. typhimurium severely defective for entry into cultured epithelial cells, although these mutations did not affect the ability of these organisms to attach to those cells. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the invl and invJ genes encode proteins with molecular weights of 18,077 and 36,415, respectively. Polypeptides of similar sizes were observed when these genes were expressed in a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase-based expression system. Comparison of the predicted sequences of invl and invJ with translated sequences in the existing databases indicated that these proteins are identical to the previously identified S. typhimurium SpaM and SpaN proteins. Further analysis of these sequences revealed regions of homology between Invl and the N-terminus of IpaB of Shigella spp. and between InvJ and EaeB of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Localization studies by immunoblot analysis indicated that InvJ is secreted to the culture supernatant, a surprising finding since this protein also lacks a typical signal sequence. Mutations in invG and invC, two members of the Salmonella inv locus, effectively prevented the transport of InvJ to the culture supernatant. Thus, InvJ is the first identified target of the protein secretion apparatus encoded in the inv locus and therefore a candidate to have effector functions related to bacterial entry.

Interactions of bacteria with non-phagocytic cells

It is becoming increasingly clear that bacterial pathogens can manipulate the host cell to their advantage. Recently, we have learnt more about the different strategies that microorganisms have evolved to subvert normal host-cellular functions. These strategies allow bacteria to gain access to, survive, and replicate within host cells, as well as to spread to neighboring cells, without the need for an extracellular phase. During the next few years, we expect to learn much more about these mechanisms and, in the process, it is likely that we will learn more about the host itself.

The Salmonella typhimurium invasion genes invF and invG encode homologues of the AraC and PulD family of proteins

We have identified two novel Salmonella typhimurium genes, invF and invG, which are required for the efficient entry of these organisms into cultured epithelial cells. invF and invG are located immediately upstream of invE, a previously identified gene also required for Salmonella entry. Non-polar mutations in these genes rendered S. typhimurium severely deficient for entry into cultured epithelial cells. The nucleotide sequences of invF and invG indicated that these genes encode polypeptides with predicted molecular weights of 24,373 and 62,275, respectively. Proteins of similar sizes were observed when invF and invG were expressed in a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase-based expression system. Comparison of the predicted sequence of InvF with translated sequences in the existing databases indicated that this protein is homologous to members of the AraC family of prokaryotic transcription regulators. However, mutations in invF did not significantly affect the expression of other members of the inv locus. InvG was found to be homologous to members of the PulD family of specialized translocases. This homology suggests that InvG may be necessary for the export of invasion-related determinants or involved in the assembly of a supramolecular structure that promotes entry.

Molecular and functional characterization of the Salmonella typhimurium invasion genes invB and invC: homology of InvC to the F0F1 ATPase family of proteins

Entry into intestinal epithelial cells is an essential step in the pathogenesis of Salmonella infections. Our laboratory has previously identified a genetic locus, inv, that is necessary for efficient entry of Salmonella typhimurium into cultured epithelial cells. We have carried out a molecular and functional analysis of invB and invC, two members of this locus. The nucleotide sequence of these genes indicated that invB and invC encode polypeptides with molecular masses of 15 and 47 kDa, respectively. Polypeptides with the predicted sizes were observed when these genes were expressed under the control of a T7 promoter. Strains carrying nonpolar mutations in these genes were constructed, and their phenotypes were examined in a variety of assays. A mutation in invC rendered S. typhimurium defective in their ability to enter cultured epithelial cells, while mutations in invB did not. Comparison of the predicted sequences of InvB and InvC with translated sequences in GenBank revealed that these polypeptides are similar to the Shigella spp. proteins Spa15 and Spa47, which are involved in the surface presentation of the invasion protein antigens (Ipa) of these organisms. In addition, InvC showed significant similarity to a protein family which shares sequence homology with the catalytic beta subunit of the F0F1 ATPase from a number of microorganisms. Consistent with this finding, purified preparations of InvC showed significant ATPase activity. Site-directed mutagenesis of a residue essential for the catalytical function of this family of proteins resulted in a protein devoid of ATPase activity and unable to complement an invC mutant of S. typhimurium. These results suggest that InvC may energize the protein export apparatus encoded in the inv locus which is required for the surface presentation of determinants needed for the entry of Salmonella species into mammalian cells. The role of InvB in this process remains uncertain.

Salmonella entry into mammalian cells: different yet converging signal transduction pathways?

Salmonella bacteria have evolved means to subvert host cell signal transduction pathways to induce their uptake. Recently, progress has been made towards defining those pathways. Although it is clear that Salmonella evoke different signalling pathways in different cell lines, it is possible that these responses may be triggered by a common mechanism and that the diverse pathways may converge downstream in common effector molecules.

Contact with epithelial cells induces the formation of surface appendages on Salmonella typhimurium

The enteric bacteria Salmonella typhimurium has the ability to invade (enter) nonphagocytic cells. The internalization process occurs as a result of an intimate interaction between the bacteria and the host cell, in which S. typhimurium triggers a cascade of host cell-signaling events leading to the formation of host cell membrane ruffles and bacterial uptake. Using high resolution scanning electron microscopy, we have observed that contact with cultured epithelial cells results in the formation of appendages on the surface of S. typhimurium. The formation of such appendages did not require de novo protein synthesis, and it was transient, since these surface structures were no longer present on bacteria that had initiated the internalization event. Salmonella mutants defective in the transient formation of these surface organelles were unable to enter into cultured epithelial cells, indicating that such structures are required for bacterial internalization.

Signal transduction and invasion of epithelial cells by S. typhimurium

Invasion of host cells is essential for the pathogenicity of Salmonella. We have recently shown that invasion of cultured epithelial cells by S. typhimurium is accompanied by activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. In this report we show that S. typhimurium invasion stimulated a rapid increase in the levels of free intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in cultured epithelial cells. Mutants defective in invasion were unable to induce these calcium fluxes, and addition of calcium antagonists blocked wild-type S. typhimurium entry. These results indicate that [Ca2+]i increase is required for bacterial entry. Further analysis demonstrated that phospholipase A2 and 5-lipoxygenase activities resulting in production of leukotrienes are required for bacterial entry. Addition of the leukotriene D4 to Henle-407 cells caused both an increase in [Ca2+]i and the internalization of an invasion-defective mutant of S. typhimurium. Furthermore, S. typhimurium caused the activation of mitogen-activated protein (also known as extracellular signal-regulated protein) kinase in infected cells.

Cloning and molecular characterization of a gene involved in Salmonella adherence and invasion of cultured epithelial cells

Our laboratories have independently identified a gene in Salmonella choleraesuis and Salmonella typhimurium that is necessary for efficient adherence and entry of these organisms into cultured epithelial cells. Introduction of a mutated gene into several Salmonella strains belonging to different serotypes rendered these organisms deficient for adherence and invasion of cultured cells. This effect was most pronounced in the host-adapted serotypes Salmonella gallinarum, S. choleraesuis, and Salmonella typhi. The nucleotide sequence of this gene, which we have termed invH, encodes a predicted 147-amino-acid polypeptide containing a signal sequence. The InvH predicted polypeptide is highly conserved in S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis, differing at only three residues. The invH gene was expressed in Escherichia coli using a T7 RNA polymerase expression system and a polypeptide of approximately 16,000 molecular weight was observed, in agreement with the predicted size of its gene product. Upon fractionation, the expressed polypeptide was localized in the bacterial membrane fraction. Southern and colony hybridization analyses indicated that the invH gene is present in all Salmonella strains tested (91 strains belonging to 37 serotypes) with the exception of strains of Salmonella arizonae. No homologous sequences were detected in Yersinia, Shigella, Proteus, and several strains of enteroinvasive and enteropathogenic E. coli. Downstream from the S. choleraesuis (but not S. typhimurium) invH gene, a region with extensive homology to the insertion sequence IS3 was detected.

Amplification of an invA gene sequence of Salmonella typhimurium by polymerase chain reaction as a specific method of detection of Salmonella

Amplification of nucleotide sequences within the invA gene of Salmonella typhimurium was evaluated as a means of detecting Salmonella. A collection of 630 strains of Salmonella comprising over 100 serovars, including the 20 most prevalent serovars isolated from animals and humans in Canada, was examined. Controls consisted of 142 non-Salmonella strains comprising 21 genera of bacteria. Cultures were screened by inoculating a single colony of bacteria directly into a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mixture which contained a pair of primers specific for the invA gene. The specific PCR product was a 284 bp DNA fragment which was visualized in 2% agarose gels. With the exception of two S. litchfield and two S. senftenberg strains, all Salmonella strains were detected. In contrast, none of the non-Salmonella strains yielded the specific amplification product. Non-specific amplification of a few non-Salmonella strains resulted in a product that was distinctly different in size from the specific 284 bp product. Specificity of amplification was further confirmed by demonstration of hybridization of a 32P-labelled invA gene fragment only to the specific 284 bp product. The detection of 99.4% of Salmonella strains tested and the failure to specifically amplify DNA from non-Salmonella strains confirm that the invA gene contains sequences unique to Salmonella and demonstrate that this gene is a suitable PCR target, with potential diagnostic applications.

Molecular and functional characterization of the Salmonella invasion gene invA: homology of InvA to members of a new protein family

One of the earliest steps in the pathogenic cycle of the facultative intracellular pathogen Salmonella spp. is the invasion of the cells of the intestinal epithelium. We have previously identified a genetic locus, inv, that allows Salmonella spp. to enter cultured epithelial cells. invA is a member of this locus, and it is the first gene of an operon consisting of at least two additional invasion genes. We have constructed strains carrying nonpolar mutations in invA and examined the individual contribution of this gene to the invasion phenotype of Salmonella typhimurium. Nonpolar S. typhimurium invA mutants were deficient in invasion of cultured epithelial cells although they were fully capable of attaching to the same cells. In addition, unlike wild-type S. typhimurium, invA mutants did not alter the normal architecture of the microvilli of polarized epithelial cells nor did they cause any alterations in the distribution of actin microfilaments of infected cells. The invasion phenotype of invA mutants was readily rescued by wild-type S. typhimurium when cultured epithelial cells were simultaneously infected with both strains. On the contrary, in a similar experiment, the adherent Escherichia coli strain RDEC-1 was not internalized into cultured cells when coinfected with wild-type S. typhimurium. The invA locus was found to be located at about 59 min on the Salmonella chromosome, 7% linked to mutS. The nucleotide sequence of invA showed an open reading frame capable of encoding a polypeptide of 686 amino acids with eight possible membrane-spanning regions and a predicted molecular weight of 75,974. A protein of this size was visualized when invA was expressed in a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase-based expression system. The predicted sequence of InvA was found to be homologous to Caulobacter crescentus FlbF, Yersinia LcrD, Shigella flexneri VirH, and E. coli FlhA proteins. These proteins may form part of a family of proteins with a common function, quite possibly the translocation of specific proteins across the bacterial cell membrane.

Identification and molecular characterization of a Salmonella typhimurium gene involved in triggering the internalization of salmonellae into cultured epithelial cells

Penetration of intestinal epithelial cells is an important step in the pathogenesis of Salmonella infections. We have characterized a gene, invE, that is necessary for Salmonella invasion of cultured epithelial cells. The predicted amino acid sequence of InvE showed significant homology to the Yersinia outer membrane protein YopN (LcrE). Strains of Salmonella carrying mutations in invE were unable to penetrate Henle-407 human intestinal cells and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, although they were fully capable of attaching to the same cells. Unlike wild-type Salmonella typhimurium, invE mutants failed to change the intracellular free calcium levels or the distribution of polymerized actin in cultured epithelial cells; neither did they alter the normal architecture of the microvilli of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Wild-type S. typhimurium was able to rescue the invasive phenotype of the invE mutants in simultaneous infections of cultured epithelial cells although it did not rescue the Escherichia coli strain RDEC-1. We hypothesize that invE mutants are deficient in triggering the intracellular events that lead to bacterial internalization.

Involvement of the epidermal growth factor receptor in the invasion of cultured mammalian cells by Salmonella typhimurium

Salmonella infection continues to be a major world-wide health problem. One essential pathogenic feature common to all Salmonella is their ability to penetrate the cells of the intestinal epithelium which are normally non-phagocytic. The internalization of Salmonella into mammalian cells is thought to be a receptor-mediated phenomenon and the invasion of cultured epithelial cells depends on several Salmonella genes, but nothing is known about the host determinants participating in this interaction. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation follows stimulation of many cell-surface receptors to initiate signal transduction pathways that stimulate cellular responses. We report here that invasion of cultured Henle-407 cells by Salmonella typhimurium induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. In contrast, an isogenic strain of S. typhimurium that is defective in invasion owing to a mutation in the invA gene is unable to induce such phosphorylation. Addition of EGF to cultured Henle-407 cells allowed the internalization of the invasion-defective S. typhimurium invA mutant although it did not cause the internalization of an adherent, but non-invasive, strain of Escherichia coli. This result indicates that stimulation of the EGF receptor is involved in the invasion of cultured Henle-407 cells by S. typhimurium.

Distribution of the invA, -B, -C, and -D genes of Salmonella typhimurium among other Salmonella serovars: invA mutants of Salmonella typhi are deficient for entry into mammalian cells

Invasion of intestinal epithelial cells is an essential virulence factor of salmonellae. A group of genes, invABC and invD, that allow Salmonella typhimurium to penetrate cultured epithelial cells have previously been characterized (J. E. Galán and R. Curtiss III, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:6383-6387, 1989). The distribution of these genes among Salmonella isolates belonging to 37 different species or serovars was investigated by Southern and colony blot hybridization analyses. Regions of high sequence similarity to the invABC genes were present in all Salonella isolates examined, while regions of sequence similarity to the invD gene were present in all but one (S. arizonae) of the isolates tested, with little restriction fragment length polymorphism. Sequences similar to these genes were not detected in strains of Escherichia coli, Yersinia spp., or Shigella spp. invA mutants (unable to express the invABC genes) of several Salmonella species or serovars, including S. typhi, were constructed and examined for their ability to penetrate Henle-407 cells. All mutants were deficient for entry into cultured epithelial cells, indicating that the invABC genes were not only present in these strains but also functional.

Cloning and characterization of the asd gene of Salmonella typhimurium: use in stable maintenance of recombinant plasmids in Salmonella vaccine strains

The asd mutants of Salmonella typhimurium have an obligate requirement for diaminopimelic acid (DAP) and will undergo lysis in environments deprived of DAP. This has allowed the development of a balanced-lethal system for the expression of heterologous antigens in vaccine strains using vectors containing the wild-type asd gene from Streptococcus mutans and asd mutant Salmonella hosts [Nakayama et al., Biotechnology 6 (1988) 693-697]. We have cloned the asd gene from S. typhimurium, characterized the gene product and used this gene to construct Asd+ expression cloning vectors. In addition we have constructed an asd cassette and a transposon derived from Tn5 that allow the rapid modification of other vectors for use with delta asd vaccine strains of S. typhimurium adding versatility to the Asd+ vector/delta asd host system of plasmid maintenance.

Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a protective antigen of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a primary pathogen of swine and turkeys and sporadic cause of disease in a variety of other hosts, including humans. A genomic library of the highly virulent strain of E. rhusiopathiae E1-6P was constructed in the expression-cloning vector lambda gt11 and screened with serum from a pig convalescent from an E. rhusiopathiae experimental infection. Immunoreactive clones were screened for their ability to protectively immunized mice. Two clones, lambda gt11/ersA and lambda gt11/ersB, were obtained that protected mice against challenge with E. rhusiopathiae E1-6P. Antisera against the recombinant clones reacted with polypeptides of molecular weights 66,000, 64,000, and 43,000 in detergent-solubilized surface antigen preparations and whole-cell lysates of E. rhusiopathiae. These polypeptides were also the major antigens recognized by convalescent pig serum when reacted with the same preparations. Western immunoblot and Southern blot analysis revealed that the cloned genes and gene products were present in all of the E. rhusiopathiae strains tested.

Expression of Salmonella typhimurium genes required for invasion is regulated by changes in DNA supercoiling

The ability to enter intestinal epithelial cells is an essential virulence factor of salmonellae. We have previously cloned a group of genes (invA, B, C, and D) that allow S. typhimurium to penetrate tissue culture cells (J. E. Galán and R. Curtiss III, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:6383-6387, 1989). Transcriptional and translational cat and phoA fusions to invA (the proximal gene in the invABC operon) were constructed, and their expression was studied by measuring the levels of alkaline phosphatase or chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in mutants grown under different conditions. It was found that when strains containing the fusions were grown on media with high osmolarity, a condition known to increase DNA superhelicity, the level of invA transcription was approximately eightfold higher than that in strains grown on media with low osmolarity. The osmoinducibility of invA was independent of ompR, which controls the osmoinducibility of other genes. Strains grown in high-osmolarity media in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of gyrase inhibitors (novobiocin or coumermycin A1), which reduce the level of DNA supercoiling, showed reduced expression of invA. Nevertheless, invA was poorly expressed in topA mutants of S. typhimurium, which have increased DNA superhelicity. In all cases, the differential expression of the invasion genes was correlated with the ability of S. typhimurium to penetrate tissue culture cells. These results taken together indicate that expression of S. typhimurium invasion genes is affected by changes in DNA supercoiling and suggest that this may represent a way in which this organism regulates the expression of these genes.

Cloning and molecular characterization of genes whose products allow Salmonella typhimurium to penetrate tissue culture cells

Invasion of the intestinal epithelium is thought to be an important step in the pathogenesis of Salmonella infections. Using an in vitro system, we have isolated a genetic locus, inv, that confers to a noninvasive strain of Salmonella typhimurium the ability to penetrate tissue culture cells. Highly virulent S. typhimurium strains carrying inv mutations were defective for entry into Henle-407 cells while remaining unaffected in their ability to attach to cultured cells. When administered perorally to BALB/c mice, inv mutants of S. typhimurium had higher 50% lethal doses (LD50) than their wild-type parent strains. To the contrary, there were no differences in the observed LD50 when strains were administered intraperitoneally. In addition, inv mutants presented decreased ability to colonize the Peyer's patches, the small intestinal wall, and the spleen when administered perorally, although when administered intraperitoneally, they showed no difference in their ability to colonize the spleen compared to the wild-type parent strain.

Virulence and vaccine potential of phoP mutants of Salmonella typhimurium

We have constructed Salmonella typhimurium phoP mutants and found them to be avirulent and able to induce a protective immune response. BALB/c mice survived challenge with phoP derivatives of the highly virulent S. typhimurium strains SR-11 and SL1344 when inoculated intraperitoneally and per oral with doses equivalent to 10(4) 50% lethal doses (LD50) of the parent virulent strains. The avirulent mutants were able to establish an infection of the Peyer's patches of orally infected animals for up to 10 days after inoculation but were very inefficient at reaching the spleens. Despite the low level of infectivity of these mutants, immunized animals developed a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to Salmonella antigens and resisted challenge with up to 10(4) LD50 of the virulent parent strain 30 days after immunization.

Immunologic and genetic comparison of Streptococcus equi isolates from the United States and Europe

A series of isolates of Streptococcus equi from the United States and Europe were compared by the bactericidal test, immunoblotting, DNA restrictions, and Southern hybridization analysis. All isolates tested were sensitive to the same bactericidal serum. In addition, immunoblotting revealed no differences in M proteins prepared by acid or mutanolysin extraction. Immunoblotting of acid extracts of the isolates with mucosal nasopharyngeal mucus from a convalescent horse revealed the presence of the 41,000- and 46,000-Mr polypeptide fragments of the M protein of S. equi known to be important in stimulating mucosal nasopharyngeal immune responses. DNA restriction analysis of total cell DNA digests, as well as Southern hybridizations using an S. equi M protein gene probe, did not detect any differences among these isolates. Our results, therefore, confirm the antigenic homogeneity of the M proteins of S. equi isolates and suggest that variation in this antigen is not a reason for the failure of commercial vaccines in the field. Interestingly, the protoplast M proteins of all isolates showed remarkable size homogeneity, in contrast to the size variation reported in M proteins of group A streptococci.

Molecular analysis of the M protein of Streptococcus equi and cloning and expression of the M protein gene in Escherichia coli

A Streptococcus equi gene bank was constructed in the bacteriophage lambda gt11 cloning vector, and hybrid phage plaques were screened with S. equi M protein antiserum. A hybrid phage expressing the S. equi M protein (lambda gt11/SEM7) was identified and lysogenized into Escherichia coli Y1089. The cloned M protein appeared in immunoblots as three polypeptides with relative molecular weights of 58,000, 53,000, and 50,000. When reacted with S. equi M protein antiserum in an agar double-diffusion assay, the cloned M protein formed a line of identity with a protein in an acid extract of S. equi. Furthermore, lambda gt11/SEM7 protein inhibited opsonization of S. equi by antiserum to S. equi M protein. In addition, the recombinant protein expressed determinants of the antigen in the immune complexes of purpura hemorrhagica. Native M protein obtained from S. equi and recombinant M protein showed very similar molecular weight distributions on immunoblots, appearing as multiple closely spaced bands with molecular weights ranging from 52,000 to 60,000. Antisera prepared separately against each of the acid-extracted polypeptides shown to be important in serum bactericidal responses (molecular weight, 29,000) and nasopharyngeal local antibody responses (molecular weights, 41,000 and 46,000) of the horse each reacted with all three polypeptides in an acid extract. Moreover, antisera against protoplasts and against recombinant M protein of S. equi also reacted with these polypeptides. These results suggest that the entire M protein molecule of S. equi is present in these preparations and that the fragments in acid extracts carry overlapping segments.