L-asparaginase II produced by Salmonella typhimurium inhibits T cell responses and mediates virulence

A genome-wide collection of barcoded single-gene deletion mutants in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Genetic screening of pools of mutants can reveal genetic determinants involved in complex biological interactions, processes, and systems. We previously constructed two single-gene deletion resources for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028s in which kanamycin (KanR) and chloramphenicol (CamR) cassettes were used to replace non-essential genes. We have now used lambda-red recombination to convert the antibiotic cassettes in these resources into a tetracycline-resistant (TetR) version where each mutant contains a different 21-base barcode flanked by Illumina Read1 and Read2 primer sequences. A motility assay of a pool of the entire library, followed by a single-tube processing of the bacterial pellet, PCR, and sequencing, was used to verify the performance of the barcoded TetR collection. The new resource is useful for experiments with defined subsets of barcoded mutant strains where biological bottlenecks preclude high numbers of founder bacteria, such as in animal infections. The TetR version of the library will also facilitate the construction of triple mutants by transduction. The resource of 6197 mutants covering 3490 genes is deposited at Biological and Emerging Infections Resources (beiresources.org).

Strategies adopted by Salmonella to survive in host: a review

Salmonella, a Gram-negative bacterium that infects humans and animals, causes diseases ranging from gastroenteritis to severe systemic infections. Here, we discuss various strategies used by Salmonella against host cell defenses. Epithelial cell invasion largely depends on a Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-1-encoded type 3 secretion system, a molecular syringe for injecting effector proteins directly into host cells. The internalization of Salmonella into macrophages is primarily driven by phagocytosis. After entering the host cell cytoplasm, Salmonella releases many effectors to achieve intracellular survival and replication using several secretion systems, primarily an SPI-2-encoded type 3 secretion system. Salmonella-containing vacuoles protect Salmonella from contacting bactericidal substances in epithelial cells and macrophages. Salmonella modulates the immunity, metabolism, cell cycle, and viability of host cells to expand its survival in the host, and the intracellular environment of Salmonella-infected cells promotes its virulence. This review provides insights into how Salmonella subverts host cell defenses for survival.

Mycoplasma genitalium Protein of Adhesion Suppresses T Cell Activation via CypA-CaN-NFAT Pathway

Mycoplasma genitalium is a prokaryotic microorganism that causes urogenital tract infections. M. genitalium protein of adhesion (MgPa) was essential for M. genitalium attachment and subsequent invasion into host cells. Our prior research confirmed that Cyclophilin A (CypA) was the binding receptor for MgPa and MgPa-CypA interaction can lead to the production of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we revealed that the recombinant MgPa (rMgPa) could inhibit the CaN-NFAT signaling pathway to reduce the level of IFN-γ, IL-2, CD25, and CD69 in Jurkat cells by binding to the CypA receptor. Moreover, rMgPa inhibited the expressions of IFN-γ, IL-2, CD25, and CD69 in primary mouse T cells. Likewise, the expressions of these T cells activation-related molecules in CypA-siRNA-transfected cells and CypA-/- mouse primary T cell was strengthened by rMgPa. These findings showed that rMgPa suppressed T cell activation by downregulating the CypA-CaN-NFAT pathway, and as a result, acted as an immunosuppressive agent. IMPORTANCE Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted bacterium that can co-infect with other infections and causes nongonococcal urethritis in males, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, premature birth, and ectopic pregnancy in women. The adhesion protein of M. genitalium (MgPa) is the primary virulence factor in the complicated pathogenicity of M. genitalium. This research proved that MgPa could interact with host cell Cyclophilin A (CypA) and prevent T cell activation by inhibiting Calcineurin (CaN) phosphorylation and NFAT nuclear translocation, which clarified the immunosuppression mechanism of M. genitalium to host T cells. Therefore, this study can provide a new idea that CypA can be used for a therapeutic or prophylactic target for M. genitalium infection.

Metabolomics insights into the interaction between Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and Epinephelus coioides

As a highly infectious epidemic in aquaculture, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida infection results in high mortality of teleosts and serious economic losses. Host–pathogen interactions shape the outcome of an infection, yet we still understand little about the molecular mechanism of these pathogen-mediated processes. Here, a P. plecoglossicida strain (NZBD9) and Epinephelus coioides were investigated as a model system to characterize pathogen-induced host metabolic remodeling over the course of infection. We present a non-targeted metabolomics profiling of E. coioides spleens from uninfected E. coioides and those infected with wild-type and clpV-RNA interference (RNAi) strains. The most significant changes of E. coioides upon infection were associated with amino acids, lysophospatidylcholines, and unsaturated fatty acids, involving disturbances in host nutritional utilization and immune responses. Dihydrosphingosine and fatty acid 16:2 were screened as potential biomarkers for assessing P. plecoglossicida infection. The silencing of the P. plecoglossicida clpV gene significantly recovered the lipid metabolism of infected E. coioides. This comprehensive metabolomics study provides novel insights into how P. plecoglossicida shape host metabolism to support their survival and replication and highlights the potential of the virulence gene clpV in the treatment of P. plecoglossicida infection in aquaculture.

Asparagine biosynthesis as a mechanism of increased host lethality induced by Serratia marcescens in simulated microgravity environments

While studies have shown an increase in pathogenicity in several microbes during spaceflight and after exposure to simulated microgravity, the mechanisms underlying these changes in phenotype are not understood across different pathogens, particularly in opportunistic pathogens. This study evaluates the mechanism for increased virulence of the opportunistic gram-negative bacterium, Serratia marcescens, in simulated microgravity. Low-shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG) is used in ground-based studies to simulate the effects of microgravity as experienced in spaceflight. Our previous findings showed that there was a significant increase in mortality rates of the Drosophila melanogaster host when infected with either spaceflight or LSMMG treated S. marcescens. Here, we report that LSMMG increases asparagine uptake and synthesis in S. marcescens and that the increased host lethality induced by LSMMG bacteria grown in rich media can be recapitulated in minimal media by adding only aspartate and glutamine, the substrates of asparagine biosynthesis. Interestingly, increased bacterial growth rate alone is not sufficient to contribute to maximal host lethality, since the addition of aspartate to minimal media caused an LSMMG-specific increase in bacterial growth rate that is comparable to that induced by the combination of aspartate and glutamine, but this increase in growth does not cause an equivalent rate of host mortality. However, the addition of both aspartate and glutamine cause both an increase in host mortality and an overexpression of asparagine pathway genes in a LSMMG-dependent manner. We also report that L-asparaginase-mediated breakdown of asparagine is an effective countermeasure for the increased host mortality caused by LSMMG-treated bacteria. This investigation underscores the importance of the asparagine utilization pathway by helping uncover molecular mechanisms that underlie increased mortality rates of a model host infected with microgravity-treated S. marcescens and provides a potential mitigation strategy.

Degradation product of curcumin restrain Salmonella typhimurium virulent protein L-asparaginase

OBJECTIVES

Salmonella typhimurium is a pathogen responsible for causing a wide range of infectious diseases. The emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in this microbe is a big challenge. L-asparaginase (less explored drug target) is selected as a drug target because it is actively involved in the virulence mechanism. To block this virulent enzyme, curcumin that is traditionally renowned for its medicinal properties was examined. However, its pharmacological behavior and targeting property is less understood because of its poor bioavailability. Therefore, the present work explores the antimicrobial effect of both curcumin and its degradation product against the MDR pathogen.

METHODS

Molecular docking studies were carried out to evaluate the inhibitory effect of curcumin and its degradation product against the L-asparaginase enzyme using Schrodinger Maestro interface tools. The Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) profile of all the test ligands was also performed.

RESULTS

The docking score of curcumin was -5.465 kcal/mol while its degradation product curcumin glucuronide has the lowest i.e., -6.240 kcal/mol. All the test ligands showed better or comparable docking scores with respect to control (Ciprofloxacin). Arg 142 and Asn 84 amino acid residues of L-asparaginase were found to be interacting with test ligands inside the binding pocket of the target protein. ADME/toxicology study also indicated the potency of curcumin/curcumin degradation products as a potent inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that both curcumin and its degradation products have the potential to inhibit Salmonella. This information could be valuable for futuristic drug candidate development against this pathogen and could be a potential lead for mitigation of MDR.

Expanding the bio-catalysis scope and applied perspectives of nanocarrier immobilized asparaginases

l-asparaginase is an essential enzyme in medicine and a well-known chemotherapeutic agent. This enzyme's importance is not limited to its use as an anti-cancer agent; it also has a wide variety of medicinal applications. Antimicrobial properties, prevention of infectious disorders, autoimmune diseases, and canine and feline cancer are among the applications. Apart from the healthcare industry, its importance has been identified in the food industry as a food manufacturing agent to lower acrylamide levels. When isolated from their natural habitats, they are especially susceptible to different denaturing conditions due to their protein composition. The use of an immobilization technique is one of the most common approaches suggested to address these limitations. Immobilization is a technique that involves fixing enzymes to or inside stable supports, resulting in a heterogeneous immobilized enzyme framework. Strong support structures usually stabilize the enzymes' configuration, and their functions are maintained as a result. In recent years, there has been a lot of curiosity and focus on the ability of immobilized enzymes. The nanomaterials with ideal properties can be used to immobilize enzymes to regulate key factors that determine the efficacy of bio-catalysis. With applications in biotechnology, immunosensing, biomedicine, and nanotechnology sectors have opened a realm of opportunities for enzyme immobilization.

Coordination of asparagine uptake and asparagine synthetase expression modulates CD8+ T cell activation

T cell receptor (TCR) triggering by antigen results in metabolic reprogramming that, in turn, facilitates the exit of T cells from quiescence. The increased nutrient requirements of activated lymphocytes are met, in part, by upregulation of cell surface transporters and enhanced uptake of amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose from the environment. However, the role of intracellular pathways of amino acid biosynthesis in T cell activation is relatively unexplored. Asparagine is a nonessential amino acid that can be synthesized intracellularly through the glutamine-hydrolyzing enzyme asparagine synthetase (ASNS). We set out to define the requirements for uptake of extracellular asparagine and ASNS activity in CD8+ T cell activation. At early time points of activation in vitro, CD8+ T cells expressed little or no ASNS, and, as a consequence, viability and TCR-stimulated growth, activation, and metabolic reprogramming were substantially impaired under conditions of asparagine deprivation. At later time points (more than 24 hours of activation), TCR-induced mTOR-dependent signals resulted in ASNS upregulation that endowed CD8+ T cells with the capacity to function independently of extracellular asparagine. Thus, our data suggest that the coordinated upregulation of ASNS expression and uptake of extracellular asparagine is involved in optimal T cell effector responses.

Specific gene SEN1393 contributes to higher survivability of Salmonella Enteritidis in egg white by regulating sulfate assimilation pathway

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) presents an excellent capacity to survive in egg white, which is a hostile environment for bacterial growth. To reveal its survival mechanism, this study focuses on the specific gene SEN1393, which has been found to exist only in the genomic sequence of S. Enteritidis. The survival capacity of the deletion mutant strain ΔSEN1393 was proven to be significantly reduced after incubation in egg white. RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR results demonstrate that the expression levels of 19 genes were up-regulated, while the expression levels of 9 genes were down-regulated in egg white. These genes were classified into 6 groups based on their functional categories, namely the sulfate assimilation pathway, arginine biosynthesis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the fimbrial protein, the transport and chelation of metal ion, and others (sctT, rhs, and pspG). The strain ΔSEN1393 was deduced to damage FeS cluster enzymes and increase the sulfate and iron requirements, and to reduce bacterial motility and copper homeostasis. Via InterProScan analysis, the gene SEN1393 was speculated to encode a TerB-like and/or DjlA-like protein, and therefore, together with cysJ, possibly reduced the oxidative toxicities resulting from oxyanions such as tellurite, and/or improved CysPUWA conformation to restrain the uptake of the toxic oxyanions. In summary, the gene SEN1393 enabled the higher survival of S. Enteritidis in egg white as compared to other pathogens by regulating the sulfate assimilation pathway.

IL-12 Blocks Tfh Cell Differentiation during Salmonella Infection, thereby Contributing to Germinal Center Suppression

Germinal centers (GC) are crucial for the formation of long-lived humoral immunity. Many pathogens suppress GC, including Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm), but the mechanisms driving suppression remain unknown. We report that neither plasmablasts nor STm-specific B cells are required for GC suppression in mice. Rather, we identify that interleukin-12 (IL-12), but not interferon-γ (IFN-γ), directly suppresses T follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation of T cells intrinsically. Administering recombinant IL-12 during nitrophenyl-Chicken Gamma Globulin (NP-CGG) immunization also suppresses Tfh cell differentiation and GC B cells, indicating that IL-12 is sufficient to suppress Tfh cell differentiation independent of STm infection. Recombinant IL-12 induces high levels of T-bet, and T-bet is necessary for Tfh cell suppression. Therefore, IL-12 induced during STm infection in mice contributes to GC suppression via suppression of Tfh cell differentiation. More broadly, these data suggest that IL-12 can tailor the proportions of humoral (Tfh cell) and cellular (T helper type 1 [Th1] cell) immunity to the infection, with implications for IL-12 targeting therapies in autoimmunity and vaccination.

Global transcriptional profiling of tyramine and d-glucuronic acid catabolism in Salmonella

Salmonella has evolved various metabolic pathways to scavenge energy from the metabolic byproducts of the host gut microbiota, however, the precise metabolic byproducts and pathways utilized by Salmonella remain elusive. Previously we reported that Salmonella can proliferate by deriving energy from two metabolites that naturally occur in the host as gut microbial metabolic byproducts, namely, tyramine (TYR, an aromatic amine) and d-glucuronic acid (DGA, a hexuronic acid). Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 13 (SPI-13) plays a critical role in the ability of Salmonella to derive energy from TYR and DGA, however the catabolic pathways of these two micronutrients in Salmonella are poorly defined. The objective of this study was to identify the specific genetic components and construct the regulatory circuits for the TYR and DGA catabolic pathways in Salmonella. To accomplish this, we employed TYR and DGA-induced global transcriptional profiling and gene functional network analysis approaches. We report that TYR induced differential expression of 319 genes (172 up-regulated and 157 down-regulated) when Salmonella was grown in the presence of TYR as a sole energy source. These included the genes originally predicted to be involved in the classical TYR catabolic pathway. TYR also induced expression of majority of genes involved in the acetaldehyde degradation pathway and aided identification of a few new genes that are likely involved in alternative pathway for TYR catabolism. In contrast, DGA induced differential expression of 71 genes (58 up-regulated and 13 down-regulated) when Salmonella was grown in the presence of DGA as a sole energy source. These included the genes originally predicted to be involved in the classical pathway and a few new genes likely involved in the alternative pathway for DGA catabolism. Interestingly, DGA also induced expression of SPI-2 T3SS, suggesting that DGA may also influence nutritional virulence of Salmonella. In summary, this is the first report describing the global transcriptional profiling of TYR and DGA catabolic pathways of Salmonella. This study will contribute to the better understanding of the role of TYR and DGA in metabolic adaptation and virulence of Salmonella.

Deciphering Additional Roles for the EF-Tu, l-Asparaginase II and OmpT Proteins of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes outbreaks and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis. STEC O157:H7 is the most clinically relevant serotype in the world. The major virulence determinants of STEC O157:H7 are the Shiga toxins and the locus of enterocyte effacement. However, several accessory virulence factors, mainly outer membrane proteins (OMPs) that interact with the host cells may contribute to the virulence of this pathogen. Previously, the elongation factor thermo unstable (EF-Tu), l-asparaginase II and OmpT proteins were identified as antigens in OMP extracts of STEC. The known subcellular location of EF-Tu and l-asparaginase II are the cytoplasm and periplasm, respectively. Therefore, we investigate whether these two proteins may localize on the surface of STEC and, if so, what roles they have at this site. On the other hand, the OmpT protein, a well characterized protease, has been described as participating in the adhesion of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strains. Thus, we investigate whether OmpT has this role in STEC. Our results show that the EF-Tu and l-asparaginase II are secreted by O157:H7 and may also localize on the surface of this bacterium. EF-Tu was identified in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), suggesting it as a possible export mechanism for this protein. Notably, we found that l-asparaginase II secreted by O157:H7 inhibits T-lymphocyte proliferation, but the role of EF-Tu at the surface of this bacterium remains to be elucidated. In the case of OmpT, we show its participation in the adhesion of O157:H7 to human epithelial cells. Thus, this study extends the knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms of STEC.

Innate Activation of IFN-γ-iNOS Axis During Infection With Salmonella Represses the Ability of T Cells to Produce IL-2

Pathogenic Salmonella serovars are a major cause of enteric illness in humans and animals, and produce clinical manifestations ranging from localized gastroenteritis to systemic disease. T cells are a critical component of immunity against this intracellular pathogen. The mechanisms by which Salmonella modulates T-cell—mediated immune responses in order to establish systemic infection are not completely understood. We show that infection of mice with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) suppresses IL-2 and increases IFN-γ and IL-17 production from T cells activated in vivo or ex vivo through the T cell receptor. Infection with S. Typhimurium brings about recruitment of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ suppressor cells to the spleen. Ex vivo depletion of these cells restores the ability of activated T cells to produce IL-2 and brings secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17 from these cells back to basal levels. The reduction in IL-2 secretion is not seen in IFN-γ^−/− and iNOS^−/− mice infected with Salmonella. Our findings demonstrate that sustained innate activated IFN-γ production during progression of infection with Salmonella reduces IL-2—secreting capability of T cells through an iNOS-mediated signaling pathway that can adversely affect long term immunity against this pathogen.

Pathogens MenTORing Macrophages and Dendritic Cells: Manipulation of mTOR and Cellular Metabolism to Promote Immune Escape

Myeloid cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells, represent an important first line of defense against infections. Upon recognition of pathogens, these cells undergo a metabolic reprogramming that supports their activation and ability to respond to the invading pathogens. An important metabolic regulator of these cells is mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). During infection, pathogens use host metabolic pathways to scavenge host nutrients, as well as target metabolic pathways for subversion of the host immune response that together facilitate pathogen survival. Given the pivotal role of mTOR in controlling metabolism and DC and macrophage function, pathogens have evolved strategies to target this pathway to manipulate these cells. This review seeks to discuss the most recent insights into how pathogens target DC and macrophage metabolism to subvert potential deleterious immune responses against them, by focusing on the metabolic pathways that are known to regulate and to be regulated by mTOR signaling including amino acid, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and autophagy.

Salmonella SPI-2 type III secretion system-dependent inhibition of antigen presentation and T cell function

Salmonella enterica serovars infect a broad range of mammalian hosts, including humans, causing both gastrointestinal and systemic diseases. Effective immune responses to Salmonella infections depend largely on CD4+ T cell activation by dendritic cells (DCs). Bacteria are internalised by intestinal DCs and respond by translocating effectors of the Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) type III secretion system (T3SS) into host cells. In this review, we discuss processes that are hijacked by SPI-2 T3SS effectors and how this affects DC biology and the activation of T cell responses.

The cellular microbiology of Salmonellae interactions with macrophages

Salmonellae are important enteric pathogens that cause gastroenteritis and systemic illnesses. Macrophages are important components of both the innate and acquired immune system, acting as phagocytes with significant antimicrobial killing activities that present antigen to the adaptive immune system. Macrophages can also be cultured from a variety of sites as primary cells, and the study of the survival and interactions of Salmonellae with these cells is a very early model of infection and cellular microbiology. This review traces the history of discoveries made using Salmonellae infection of macrophages and addresses the possibility of future research in this area, in particular with regards to understanding the complexity of individual bacteria and macrophage cell variability and how such heterogeneity may alter the outcome of infection.

Successful endoscopic hemoclipping and conservative management for typhoid fever complicated by massive intestinal bleeding and acute pancreatitis: Case report

RATIONALE

Massive intestinal bleeding as a complication of typhoid fever has rarely been reported due to the advent of antibiotics. In addition, although several literatures have been issued on the use and success of endoscopic modalities in cases of massive typhoid ulcer bleeding, few have described hemostasis by endoscopic hemoclipping.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We describe a case of a 61-year-old Korean female who presented acute episodes of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding during admission to local hospital with a provisional diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis. She had returned from a trip to Southeast Asia 3 weeks prior to admission DIAGNOSES:: After the result of blood culture was identified as Salmonella typhi, we could make a diagnosis of typhoid fever complicated by massive intestinal bleeding and acute pancreatitis based on elevated serum lipase and computerized tomography (CT) findings.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was treated successfully by two repeat colonoscopic hemostasis procedures involving the deployment of hemoclips on ulcers in the terminal ileum and 10-day course of intravenous ciprofloxacin OUTCOMES:: The patient was stable and reported no further episodes of intestinal bleeding or fever during the follow-up time. In addition, acute pancreatitis, which is a rare complication of typhoid fever, resolved without complication on follow-up CT and a laboratory study.

LESSONS

Considering the risk of procedure-related complications such as perforation of the small intestine wall, which become thin and friable due to ulceration, mechanical hemostasis methods, such as hemoclipping, might be safer than coagulation, when the bleeding spot can be identified and is not multiple, as in our case. In addition, our case demonstrates that S. typhi should be considered in the differential diagnosis of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, especially in the setting of recent travel in South or Southeast Asia.

Optimal protection against Salmonella infection requires noncirculating memory

While CD4 Th1 cells are required for resistance to intramacrophage infections, adoptive transfer of Th1 cells is insufficient to protect against Salmonella infection. Using an epitope-tagged vaccine strain of Salmonella, we found that effective protection correlated with expanded Salmonella-specific memory CD4 T cells in circulation and nonlymphoid tissues. However, naive mice that previously shared a blood supply with vaccinated partners lacked T cell memory with characteristics of tissue residence and did not acquire robust protective immunity. Using a YFP-IFN-γ reporter system, we identified Th1 cells in the liver of immunized mice that displayed markers of tissue residence, including P2X7, ARTC2, LFA-1, and CD101. Adoptive transfer of liver memory cells after ARTC2 blockade increased protection against highly virulent bacteria. Taken together, these data demonstrate that noncirculating memory Th1 cells are a vital component of immunity to Salmonella infection and should be the focus of vaccine strategies.

Direct Manipulation of T Lymphocytes by Proteins of Gastrointestinal Bacterial Pathogens

Gastrointestinal bacterial infection represents a significant threat to human health, as well as a burden on food animal production and welfare. Although there is advanced knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis, including the development of immune responses to these pathogens, gaps in knowledge persist. It is well established that gastrointestinal bacterial pathogens produce a myriad of proteins that affect the development and effectiveness of innate immune responses. However, relatively few proteins that directly affect lymphocytes responsible for humoral or cell-mediated immunity and memory have been identified. Here, we review factors produced by gastrointestinal bacterial pathogens that have direct T cell interactions and what is known about their functions and mechanisms of action. T cell-interacting bacterial proteins that have been identified to date mainly target three major T cell responses: activation and expansion, chemotaxis, or apoptosis. Further, the requirement for more focused studies to identify and understand additional mechanisms used by bacteria to directly affect the T cell immune response and how these may contribute to pathogenesis is highlighted. Increased knowledge in this area will help to drive development of better interventions in prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal bacterial infection.

Proteomic analysis of antimicrobial effects of pegylated silver coated carbon nanotubes in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

BACKGROUND

Synthesis of silver nano-compounds with enhanced antimicrobial effects is of great interest for the development of new antibacterial agents. Previous studies have reported the antibacterial properties of pegylated silver-coated carbon nanotubes (pSWCNT-Ag) showing less toxicity in human cell lines. However, the mechanism underlining the pSWCNT-Ag as a bactericidal agent remained unfolded. Here we assessed the pSWCNT-Ag effects against foodborne pathogenic bacteria growth and proteome profile changes.

RESULTS

Measurements of bioluminescent imaging, optical density, and bacteria colony forming units revealed dose-dependent and stronger bactericidal activity of pSWCNT-Ag than their non-pegylated counterparts (SWCNT-Ag). In ovo administration of pSWCNT-Ag or phosphate-buffered saline resulted in comparable chicken embryo development and growth. The proteomic analysis, using two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry, was performed on control and surviving Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to pSWCNT-Ag. A total of 15 proteins (ten up-regulated and five down-regulated) differentially expressed proteins were identified. Functional analyses showed significant reduction of proteins associated with biofilm formation, nutrient and energy metabolism, quorum sensing and maintenance of cell structure and cell motility in surviving S. Typhimurium. In contrast, proteins associated with oxygen stress, DNA protection, starvation, membrane rebuilding, and alternative nutrient formation were induced as the compensatory reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides further evidence of the antibacterial effects of pSWCNT-Ag nanocomposites and knowledge of their mechanism of action through various protein changes. The findings may lead to the development of more effective and safe antimicrobial agents.

Amino Acids As Mediators of Metabolic Cross Talk between Host and Pathogen

The interaction between host and pathogen decidedly shapes the outcome of an infection, thus understanding this interaction is critical to the treatment of a pathogen-induced infection. Although research in this area of cell biology has yielded surprising findings regarding interactions between host and pathogen, understanding of the metabolic cross talk between host and pathogen is limited. At the site of infection, host and pathogen share similar or identical nutritional substrates and generate common metabolic products, thus metabolic cross talk between host and pathogen could profoundly affect the pathogenesis of an infection. In this review, we present results of a recent discovery of a metabolic interaction between host and pathogen from an amino acid (AA) metabolism-centric point of view. The host depends on AA metabolism to support defensive responses against pathogens, while the pathogens modulate AA metabolism for its own advantage. Some AA, such as arginine, asparagine, and tryptophan, are central points of competition between the host and pathogen. Thus, a better understanding of AA-mediated metabolic cross talk between host and pathogen will provide insight into fruitful therapeutic approaches to manipulate and prevent progression of an infection.

Eugenol derivatives prospectively inhibit l-asparaginase: A heady target protein of Salmonella typhimurium

Salmonella typhimurium is the causative agent of severe human infections and mortality throughout the world. Pacing advent of new resistance mechanisms in this microorganism exists, rendering treatment of infectious disease difficult. Ciprofloxacin is no longer considered the first choice of antimicrobial agent due to the emergence of resistance. Therefore, the need for scenario is to find out novel drug target and its potential inhibitor to fight against this pathogen. The present study was undertaken to find out a novel drug target and its inhibitor for improving the current therapeutic methods for treating Salmonella infections. It is found that l-asparaginase is exploited by the pathogen for its survival benefit. Therefore, it could be targeted to fight against lethality caused by Salmonella infections. In the present in silico study, the 3-D structure of the enzyme l-asparaginase was modelled by using homology modeling technique. Thereafter, molecular docking studies and ADMET prediction to assess pharmacokinetic profiles of test ligands (eugenol and its derivative) was performed. The results show that eugenol and its derivative are capable of inhibiting the Salmonella virulent protein l-asparaginase. There were 18 ligands including ciprofloxacin (used as reference) were docked. The lowest binding energy was observed with eugenol derivative 8 i.e -5.836 kcal/mol while for ciprofloxacin was -4.661 kcal/mol. The docking of the eugenol derivative 8 with l-asparaginase revealed a strong interaction between them with two hydrogen bonds. Thr 35 and Asp 116 residues are actively participating in this interaction. The result of ADMET profiling suggests the potency of eugenol and its derivatives against Salmonellal-asparaginase-II as a compelling drug candidate. These findings provide useful information on the biological role, structure-based drug design and potent inhibitor of l-asparaginase for the development of effective therapeutic molecule against Salmonella infection.

Salmonella FraE, an Asparaginase Homolog, Contributes to Fructose-Asparagine but Not Asparagine Utilization

Salmonella enterica can utilize fructose-asparagine (F-Asn) as a source of carbon and nitrogen. This capability has been attributed to five genes in the fra locus. Previously, we determined that mutations in fraB (deglycase), fraD (kinase), or fraA (transporter) eliminated the ability of Salmonella to grow on F-Asn, while a mutation in fraE allowed partial growth. We hypothesized that FraE, a putative periplasmic fructose-asparaginase, converts F-Asn to NH₄ ⁺ and fructose-aspartate (F-Asp). FraA could then transport F-Asp into the cytoplasm for subsequent catabolism. Here, we report that growth of the fraE mutant on F-Asn is caused by a partially redundant activity provided by AnsB, a periplasmic asparaginase. Indeed, a fraE ansB double mutant is unable to grow on F-Asn. Moreover, biochemical assays using periplasmic extracts of mutants that express only FraE or AnsB confirmed that each of these enzymes converts F-Asn to F-Asp and NH₄ ⁺ However, FraE does not contribute to growth on asparagine. We tested and confirmed the hypothesis that a fraE ansB mutant can grow on F-Asp, while mutants lacking fraA, fraD, or fraB cannot. This finding provides strong evidence that FraA transports F-Asp but not F-Asn from the periplasm to the cytoplasm. Previously, we determined that F-Asn is toxic to a fraB mutant due to the accumulation of the FraB substrate, 6-phosphofructose-aspartate (6-P-F-Asp). Here, we found that, as expected, a fraB mutant is also inhibited by F-Asp. Collectively, these findings contribute to a better understanding of F-Asn utilization by Salmonella IMPORTANCE Salmonella is able to utilize fructose-asparagine (F-Asn) as a nutrient. We recently reported that the disruption of a deglycase enzyme in the F-Asn utilization pathway inhibits the growth of Salmonella in mice and recognized this pathway as a novel and specific drug target. Here, we characterize the first step in the pathway wherein FraE hydrolyzes F-Asn to release NH₄ ⁺ and F-Asp in the periplasm of the cell. A fraE mutant continues to grow slowly on F-Asn due to asparaginase activity encoded by ansB.

Multifocal necrotising leucoencephalopathy following Salmonella infection in an immunocompetent patient

Multifocal necrotising leucoencephalopathy is a rare disorder affecting the central nervous system. It is characterised pathologically by microscopic areas of necrosis with pontine predilection but also involvement of extrapontine regions, including the cerebellum, medulla and cerebral hemispheres. It usually occurs on the background of immunosuppression. Here we describe an immunocompetent patient with a recent history of Salmonella infection who presented with subacute neurological deterioration. At postmortem, she had evidence of multifocal necrotising leucoencephalopathy.

L-Asparaginase of Leishmania donovani: Metabolic target and its role in Amphotericin B resistance

Emergence of Amphotericin B (AmB) resistant Leishmania donovani has posed major therapeutic challenge against the parasite. Consequently, combination therapy aimed at multiple molecular targets, based on proteome wise network analysis has been recommended. In this regard we had earlier identified and proposed L-asparaginase of Leishmania donovani (LdAI) as a crucial metabolic target. Here we report that both LdAI overexpressing axenic amastigote and promastigote forms of L. donovani survives better when challenged with AmB as compared to wild type strain. Conversely, qRT-PCR analysis showed an upregulation of LdAI in both forms upon AmB treatment. Our data demonstrates the importance of LdAI in imparting immediate protective response to the parasite upon AmB treatment. In the absence of structural and functional information, we modeled LdAI and validated its solution structure through small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. We identified its specific inhibitors through ligand and structure-based approach and characterized their effects on enzymatic properties (K_m, V_max, K_cat) of LdAI. We show that in presence of two of the inhibitors L1 and L2, the survival of L. donovani is compromised whereas overexpression of LdAI in these cells restores viability. Taken together, our results conclusively prove that LdAI is a crucial metabolic enzyme conferring early counter measure against AmB treatment by Leishmania.

Salmonella Gives MARCH(ing) Orders to MHC-II

How bacterial pathogens evade adaptive immunity is not well understood. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Bayer-Santos et al. (2016) show that the Salmonella effector protein SteD mediates MARCH8-dependent ubiquitination of class II MHC molecules, thereby inhibiting antigen presentation and limiting T cell responses.

Intracellular Salmonella metabolism

Growth of Salmonella inside infected host cells is a key aspect of their ability to cause local enteritis or systemic disease. This growth depends on exploitation of host nutrients through a large Salmonella metabolism network with hundreds of metabolites and enzymes. Studies in cell culture infection models are unravelling more and more of the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms but also show striking Salmonella metabolic plasticity depending on host cell line and experimental conditions. In vivo studies have revealed a qualitatively diverse, but quantitatively poor, host-Salmonella nutritional interface, which on one side makes Salmonella fitness largely resilient against metabolic perturbations, but on the other side severely limits Salmonella biomass generation and growth rates. This review discusses goals and techniques for studying Salmonella intracellular metabolism, summarises main results and implications, and proposes key issues that could be addressed in future studies.

Biotechnological production and practical application of L-asparaginase enzyme

L-asparaginase is a vital enzyme of medical importance, and renowned as a chemotherapeutic agent. The relevance of this enzyme is not only limited as an anti-cancer agent, it also possesses a wide range of medical application. The application includes the antimicrobial property, treatment of infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, canine and feline cancer. Apart from the health care industry, its significance is also established in the food sector as a food processing agent to reduce the acrylamide concentration. L-asparaginase is known to be produced from various bacterial, fungal and plant sources. However, there is a huge market demand due to its wide range of application. Therefore, the industry is still in the search of better-producing source in terms of high yield and low immunogenicity. It can be produced by both submerged and solid state fermentation, and each fermentation process has its own merits and demerits. This review paper focuses on its improved production strategy by adopting statistical experimental optimization techniques, development of recombinant strains, through mutagenesis and nanoparticle immobilization, adopting advanced and cost-effective purification techniques. Available research literature proves the competence and therapeutic potential of this enzyme. Therefore, research orientation toward the exploration of this clinical significant enzyme has to be accelerated. The objectives of this review are to discuss the high yielding sources, current production strategies, improvement of production, effective downstream processing and therapeutic application of L-asparaginase.

Eucalyptol, sabinene and cinnamaldehyde: potent inhibitors of salmonella target protein L-asparaginase

Salmonella typhimurium is a severe threat to human life. The treatment became more difficult with the emergence of multidrug resistance. In the present in silico study, a novel drug target L-asparaginase was tested against three ligands eucalyptol, sabinene, and cinnamaldehyde, major components of cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon, respectively. The lowest docking score was obtained for sabinene followed by eucalyptol and cinnamaldehyde i.e. -5.648, -3.939 and -3.469. The docking score of sabinene is also better than the standard drug, Ciprofloxacin (-4.661) and natural substrate L-asparagine (-5.497). The amino acid residues involved in interactions inside the binding pocket are threonine 115 and threonine 35. The ADMET profile studied, also suggests the potency of the test ligands as a drug candidate. The results suggest they could be safe alternatives of chemical compounds to treat infections and combat multidrug-resistant bacteria.

To Eat and to Be Eaten: Mutual Metabolic Adaptations of Immune Cells and Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens upon Infection

Intracellular bacterial pathogens (IBPs) invade and replicate in different cell types including immune cells, in particular of the innate immune system (IIS) during infection in the acute phase. However, immune cells primarily function as essential players in the highly effective and integrated host defense systems comprising the IIS and the adaptive immune system (AIS), which cooperatively protect the host against invading microbes including IBPs. As countermeasures, the bacterial pathogens (and in particular the IBPs) have developed strategies to evade or reprogram the IIS at various steps. The intracellular replication capacity and the anti-immune defense responses of the IBP's as well as the specific antimicrobial responses of the immune cells of the innate and the AIS depend on specific metabolic programs of the IBPs and their host cells. The metabolic programs of the immune cells supporting or counteracting replication of the IBPs appear to be mutually exclusive. Indeed, recent studies show that upon interaction of naïve, metabolically quiescent immune cells with IBPs, different metabolic activation processes occur which may result in the provision of a survival and replication niche for the pathogen or its eradication. It is therefore likely that within a possible host cell population subsets exist that are metabolically programmed for pro- or anti-microbial conditions. These metabolic programs may be triggered by the interactions between different bacterial agonistic components and host cell receptors. In this review, we summarize the current status in the field and discuss metabolic adaptation processes within immune cells of the IIS and the IBPs that support or restrict the intracellular replication of the pathogens.

Vaccination against Salmonella Infection: the Mucosal Way

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica includes several serovars infecting both humans and other animals and leading to typhoid fever or gastroenteritis. The high prevalence of associated morbidity and mortality, together with an increased emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, is a current global health issue that has prompted the development of vaccination strategies that confer protection against most serovars. Currently available systemic vaccine approaches have major limitations, including a reduced effectiveness in young children and a lack of cross-protection among different strains. Having studied host-pathogen interactions, microbiologists and immunologists argue in favor of topical gastrointestinal administration for improvement in vaccine efficacy. Here, recent advances in this field are summarized, including mechanisms of bacterial uptake at the intestinal epithelium, the assessment of protective host immunity, and improved animal models that closely mimic infection in humans. The pros and cons of existing vaccines are presented, along with recent progress made with novel formulations. Finally, new candidate antigens and their relevance in the refined design of anti-Salmonella vaccines are discussed, along with antigen vectorization strategies such as nanoparticles or secretory immunoglobulins, with a focus on potentiating mucosal vaccine efficacy.

The role of autophagy in asparaginase-induced immune suppression of macrophages

Erwinia asparaginase, a bacteria-derived enzyme drug, has been used in the treatment of various cancers, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). One of the most significant side effects associated with asparaginase administration is immune suppression, which limits its application in clinic. Macrophages are phagocytic immune cells and have a central role in inflammation and host defense. We reported here that asparaginase disturbed the function of macrophages including phagocytosis, proliferation, ROS and nitric oxide secretion, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) secretion, and major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) molecule expression, thus induced immune suppression in interferon-γ and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. We also observed that asparaginase inhibited autophagy in macrophages via activating Akt/mTOR and suppressing Erk1/2 signaling pathway as evidenced by less formation of autophagosomes, downregulation of autophagy-related protein LC3-II, and decreased number of autophagy-like vacuoles. Further study discovered that treatment with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA in place of asparaginase on activated macrophages could also downregulate phagocytosis, cytokine secretion, and MHC-II expression. Moreover, incubation with autophagy inducer trehalose restored the capacity of phagocytosis, IL-6 and TNF-α secretion, and MHC-II expression in macrophages. These results prove the important role of autophagy in the function of macrophages, and activation of autophagy can overcome asparaginase-induced immune suppression in macrophages.

Contribution of Asparagine Catabolism to Salmonella Virulence

Salmonellae are pathogenic bacteria that cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide. Salmonellae establish infection and avoid clearance by the immune system by mechanisms that are not well understood. We previously showed that l-asparaginase II produced by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S Typhimurium) inhibits T cell responses and mediates virulence. In addition, we previously showed that asparagine deprivation such as that mediated by l-asparaginase II of S Typhimurium causes suppression of activation-induced T cell metabolic reprogramming. Here, we report that STM3997, which encodes a homolog of disulfide bond protein A (dsbA) of Escherichia coli, is required for l-asparaginase II stability and function. Furthermore, we report that l-asparaginase II localizes primarily to the periplasm and acts together with l-asparaginase I to provide S Typhimurium the ability to catabolize asparagine and assimilate nitrogen. Importantly, we determined that, in a murine model of infection, S Typhimurium lacking both l-asparaginase I and II genes competes poorly with wild-type S Typhimurium for colonization of target tissues. Collectively, these results indicate that asparagine catabolism contributes to S Typhimurium virulence, providing new insights into the competition for nutrients at the host-pathogen interface.

Salmonella Infection Enhances Erythropoietin Production by the Kidney and Liver, Which Correlates with Elevated Bacterial Burdens

Salmonella infection profoundly affects host erythroid development, but the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain poorly understood. We monitored the impact of Salmonella infection on erythroid development and found that systemic infection induced anemia, splenomegaly, elevated erythropoietin (EPO) levels, and extramedullary erythropoiesis in a process independent of Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI2) or flagellin. The circulating EPO level was also constitutively higher in mice lacking the expression of signal-regulatory protein α (SIRPα). The expression level of EPO mRNA was elevated in the kidney and liver but not increased in the spleens of infected mice despite the presence of extramedullary erythropoiesis in this tissue. In contrast to data from a previous report, mice lacking EPO receptor (EPOR) expression on nonerythroid cells (EPOR rescued) had bacterial loads similar to those of wild-type mice following Salmonella infection. Indeed, treatment to reduce splenic erythroblasts and mature red blood cells correlated with elevated bacterial burdens, implying that extramedullary erythropoiesis benefits the host. Together, these findings emphasize the profound effect of Salmonella infection on erythroid development and suggest that the modulation of erythroid development has both positive and negative consequences for host immunity.

aroA-Deficient Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Is More Than a Metabolically Attenuated Mutant

Recombinant attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains are believed to act as powerful live vaccine carriers that are able to elicit protection against various pathogens. Auxotrophic mutations, such as a deletion of aroA, are commonly introduced into such bacteria for attenuation without incapacitating immunostimulation. In this study, we describe the surprising finding that deletion of aroA dramatically increased the virulence of attenuated Salmonella in mouse models. Mutant bacteria lacking aroA elicited increased levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) after systemic application. A detailed genetic and phenotypic characterization in combination with transcriptomic and metabolic profiling demonstrated that ΔaroA mutants display pleiotropic alterations in cellular physiology and lipid and amino acid metabolism, as well as increased sensitivity to penicillin, complement, and phagocytic uptake. In concert with other immunomodulating mutations, deletion of aroA affected flagellin phase variation and gene expression of the virulence-associated genes arnT and ansB. Finally, ΔaroA strains displayed significantly improved tumor therapeutic activity. These results highlight the importance of a functional shikimate pathway to control homeostatic bacterial physiology. They further highlight the great potential of ΔaroA-attenuated Salmonella for the development of vaccines and cancer therapies with important implications for host-pathogen interactions and translational medicine.

Recombinant attenuated bacterial vector systems based on genetically engineered Salmonella have been developed as highly potent vaccines. Due to the pathogenic properties of Salmonella, efficient attenuation is required for clinical applications. Since the hallmark study by Hoiseth and Stocker in 1981 (S. K. Hoiseth and B. A. D. Stocker, Nature 291:238–239, 1981, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/291238a0), the auxotrophic ΔaroA mutation has been generally considered safe and universally used to attenuate bacterial strains. Here, we are presenting the remarkable finding that a deletion of aroA leads to pronounced alterations of gene expression, metabolism, and cellular physiology, which resulted in increased immunogenicity, virulence, and adjuvant potential of Salmonella. These results suggest that the enhanced immunogenicity of aroA-deficient Salmonella strains might be advantageous for optimizing bacterial vaccine carriers and immunotherapy. Accordingly, we demonstrate a superior performance of ΔaroA Salmonella in bacterium-mediated tumor therapy. In addition, the present study highlights the importance of a functional shikimate pathway to sustain bacterial physiology and metabolism.

Metabolic crosstalk between host and pathogen: sensing, adapting and competing

Our understanding of bacterial pathogenesis is dominated by the cell biology of the host-pathogen interaction. However, the majority of metabolites that are used in prokaryotic and eukaryotic physiology and signalling are chemically similar or identical. Therefore, the metabolic crosstalk between pathogens and host cells may be as important as the interactions between bacterial effector proteins and their host targets. In this Review we focus on host-pathogen interactions at the metabolic level: chemical signalling events that enable pathogens to sense anatomical location and the local physiology of the host; microbial metabolic pathways that are dedicated to circumvent host immune mechanisms; and a few metabolites as central points of competition between the host and bacterial pathogens.

Leishmania infantum Asparagine Synthetase A Is Dispensable for Parasites Survival and Infectivity

A growing interest in asparagine (Asn) metabolism has currently been observed in cancer and infection fields. Asparagine synthetase (AS) is responsible for the conversion of aspartate into Asn in an ATP-dependent manner, using ammonia or glutamine as a nitrogen source. There are two structurally distinct AS: the strictly ammonia dependent, type A, and the type B, which preferably uses glutamine. Absent in humans and present in trypanosomatids, AS-A was worthy of exploring as a potential drug target candidate. Appealingly, it was reported that AS-A was essential in Leishmania donovani, making it a promising drug target. In the work herein we demonstrate that Leishmania infantum AS-A, similarly to Trypanosoma spp. and L. donovani, is able to use both ammonia and glutamine as nitrogen donors. Moreover, we have successfully generated LiASA null mutants by targeted gene replacement in L. infantum, and these parasites do not display any significant growth or infectivity defect. Indeed, a severe impairment of in vitro growth was only observed when null mutants were cultured in asparagine limiting conditions. Altogether our results demonstrate that despite being important under asparagine limitation, LiAS-A is not essential for parasite survival, growth or infectivity in normal in vitro and in vivo conditions. Therefore we exclude AS-A as a suitable drug target against L. infantum parasites.

From Insect to Man: Photorhabdus Sheds Light on the Emergence of Human Pathogenicity

Photorhabdus are highly effective insect pathogenic bacteria that exist in a mutualistic relationship with Heterorhabditid nematodes. Unlike other members of the genus, Photorhabdus asymbiotica can also infect humans. Most Photorhabdus cannot replicate above 34°C, limiting their host-range to poikilothermic invertebrates. In contrast, P. asymbiotica must necessarily be able to replicate at 37°C or above. Many well-studied mammalian pathogens use the elevated temperature of their host as a signal to regulate the necessary changes in gene expression required for infection. Here we use RNA-seq, proteomics and phenotype microarrays to examine temperature dependent differences in transcription, translation and phenotype of P. asymbiotica at 28°C versus 37°C, relevant to the insect or human hosts respectively. Our findings reveal relatively few temperature dependant differences in gene expression. There is however a striking difference in metabolism at 37°C, with a significant reduction in the range of carbon and nitrogen sources that otherwise support respiration at 28°C. We propose that the key adaptation that enables P. asymbiotica to infect humans is to aggressively acquire amino acids, peptides and other nutrients from the human host, employing a so called “nutritional virulence” strategy. This would simultaneously cripple the host immune response while providing nutrients sufficient for reproduction. This might explain the severity of ulcerated lesions observed in clinical cases of Photorhabdosis. Furthermore, while P. asymbiotica can invade mammalian cells they must also resist immediate killing by humoral immunity components in serum. We observed an increase in the production of the insect Phenol-oxidase inhibitor Rhabduscin normally deployed to inhibit the melanisation immune cascade. Crucially we demonstrated this molecule also facilitates protection against killing by the alternative human complement pathway.

L-asparaginase as a critical component to combat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL): A novel approach to target ALL

L-asparaginase, an anti-leukaemic drug that has been approved for clinical use for many years in the treatment of childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), is obtained from bacterial origin (Escherichia coli and Erwinia carotovora). The efficacy of L-asparaginase has been discussed for the past 40 years, and an ideal substitute for the enzyme has not yet been developed. The early clearance from plasma (short half-life) and requirement for multiple administrations and hence frequent physician visits make the overall treatment cost quite high. In addition, a high rate of allergic reactions in patients receiving treatment with the enzyme isolated from bacterial sources make its clinical application challenging. For these reasons, various attempts are being made to overcome these barriers. Therefore, the present article reviews studies focused on seeking substitutes for L-asparaginase through alternative sources including bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae and plants to overcome these limitations. In addition, the role of chemical modifications and protein engineering approaches to enhance the drug's efficacy are also discussed. Moreover, an overview has also been provided in the current review regarding the contradiction among various researchers regarding the significance of the enzyme's glutaminase activity.

Asparagine deprivation mediated by Salmonella asparaginase causes suppression of activation-induced T cell metabolic reprogramming

Salmonellae are pathogenic bacteria that induce immunosuppression by mechanisms that remain largely unknown. Previously, we showed that a putative type II l-asparaginase produced by Salmonella Typhimurium inhibits T cell responses and mediates virulence in a murine model of infection. Here, we report that this putative L-asparaginase exhibits L-asparagine hydrolase activity required for Salmonella Typhimurium to inhibit T cells. We show that L-asparagine is a nutrient important for T cell activation and that L-asparagine deprivation, such as that mediated by the Salmonella Typhimurium L-asparaginase, causes suppression of activation-induced mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, autophagy, Myc expression, and L-lactate secretion. We also show that L-asparagine deprivation mediated by the Salmonella Typhimurium L-asparaginase causes suppression of cellular processes and pathways involved in protein synthesis, metabolism, and immune response. Our results advance knowledge of a mechanism used by Salmonella Typhimurium to inhibit T cell responses and mediate virulence, and provide new insights into the prerequisites of T cell activation. We propose a model in which l-asparagine deprivation inhibits T cell exit from quiescence by causing suppression of activation-induced metabolic reprogramming.

Asparaginase treatment side-effects may be due to genes with homopolymeric Asn codons (Review-Hypothesis)

The present treatment of childhood T-cell leukemias involves the systemic administration of prokary-otic L-asparaginase (ASNase), which depletes plasma Asparagine (Asn) and inhibits protein synthesis. The mechanism of therapeutic action of ASNase is poorly understood, as are the etiologies of the side-effects incurred by treatment. Protein expression from genes bearing Asn homopolymeric coding regions (N-hCR) may be particularly susceptible to Asn level fluctuation. In mammals, N-hCR are rare, short and conserved. In humans, misfunctions of genes encoding N-hCR are associated with a cluster of disorders that mimic ASNase therapy side-effects which include impaired glycemic control, dislipidemia, pancreatitis, compromised vascular integrity, and neurological dysfunction. This paper proposes that dysregulation of Asn homeostasis, potentially even by ASNase produced by the microbiome, may contribute to several clinically important syndromes by altering expression of N-hCR bearing genes. By altering amino acid abundance and modulating ribosome translocation rates at codon repeats, the microbiomic environment may contribute to genome decoding and to shaping the proteome. We suggest that impaired translation at poly Asn codons elevates diabetes risk and severity.

Infection with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Leads to Increased Proportions of F4/80+ Red Pulp Macrophages and Decreased Proportions of B and T Lymphocytes in the Spleen

Infection of mice with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella) causes systemic inflammatory disease and enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly). Splenomegaly has been attributed to a general increase in the numbers of phagocytes, lymphocytes, as well as to the expansion of immature CD71+Ter119+ reticulocytes. The spleen is important for recycling senescent red blood cells (RBCs) and for the capture and eradication of blood-borne pathogens. Conservation of splenic tissue architecture, comprised of the white pulp (WP), marginal zone (MZ), and red pulp (RP) is essential for initiation of adaptive immune responses to captured pathogens. Using flow cytometry and four color immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM), we show that Salmonella-induced splenomegaly is characterized by drastic alterations of the splenic tissue architecture and cell population proportions, as well as in situ cell distributions. A major cause of splenomegaly appears to be the significant increase in immature RBC precursors and F4/80+ macrophages that are important for recycling of heme-associated iron. In contrast, the proportions of B220+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, as well as MZ MOMA+ macrophages decrease significantly as infection progresses. Spleen tissue sections show visible tears and significantly altered tissue architecture with F4/80+ macrophages and RBCs expanding beyond the RP and taking over most of the spleen tissue. Additionally, F4/80+ macrophages actively phagocytose not only RBCs, but also lymphocytes, indicating that they may contribute to declining lymphocyte proportions during Salmonella infection. Understanding how these alterations of spleen microarchitecture impact the generation of adaptive immune responses to Salmonella has implications for understanding Salmonella pathogenesis and for the design of more effective Salmonella-based vaccines.

The small GTPase Rab29 is a common regulator of immune synapse assembly and ciliogenesis

Accumulating evidence underscores the T-cell immune synapse (IS) as a site of intense vesicular trafficking, on which productive signaling and cell activation crucially depend. Although the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) is known to exploit recycling to accumulate to the IS, the specific pathway that controls this process remains to be elucidated. Here we demonstrate that the small GTPase Rab29 is centrally implicated in TCR trafficking and IS assembly. Rab29 colocalized and interacted with Rab8, Rab11 and IFT20, a component of the intraflagellar transport system that regulates ciliogenesis and participates in TCR recycling in the non-ciliated T cell, as assessed by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence analysis. Rab29 depletion resulted in the inability of TCRs to undergo recycling to the IS, thereby compromizing IS assembly. Under these conditions, recycling TCRs accumulated in Rab11(+) endosomes that failed to polarize to the IS due to defective Rab29-dependent recruitment of the dynein microtubule motor. Remarkably, Rab29 participates in a similar pathway in ciliated cells to promote primary cilium growth and ciliary localization of Smoothened. These results provide a function for Rab29 as a regulator of receptor recycling and identify this GTPase as a shared participant in IS and primary cilium assembly.

Immunity to intestinal pathogens: lessons learned from Salmonella

Salmonella are a common source of food- or water-borne infection and cause a wide range of clinical disease in human and animal hosts. Salmonella are relatively easy to culture and manipulate in a laboratory setting, and the infection of laboratory animals induces robust innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus, immunologists have frequently turned to Salmonella infection models to expand understanding of host immunity to intestinal pathogens. In this review, I summarize current knowledge of innate and adaptive immunity to Salmonella and highlight features of this response that have emerged from recent studies. These include the heterogeneity of the antigen-specific T-cell response to intestinal infection, the prominence of microbial mechanisms to impede T- and B-cell responses, and the contribution of non-cognate pathways for elicitation of T-cell effector functions. Together, these different issues challenge an overly simplistic view of host-pathogen interaction during mucosal infection, but also allow deeper insight into the real-world dynamic of protective immunity to intestinal pathogens.

Exploiting host immunity: the Salmonella paradigm

Pathogens have evolved clever strategies to evade and in some cases exploit the attacks of an activated immune system. Salmonella enterica is one such pathogen, exploiting multiple aspects of host defense to promote its replication in the host. Here we review recent findings on the mechanisms by which Salmonella establishes systemic and chronic infection, including strategies involving manipulation of innate immune signaling and inflammatory forms of cell death, as well as immune evasion by establishing residency in M2 macrophages. We also examine recent evidence showing that the oxidative environment and the high levels of antimicrobial proteins produced in response to localized Salmonella gastrointestinal infection enable the pathogen to successfully outcompete the resident gut microbiota.

Antigen Delivery System II

This chapter reviews papers mostly written since 2005 that report results using live attenuated bacterial vectors to deliver after administration through mucosal surfaces, protective antigens, and DNA vaccines, encoding protective antigens to induce immune responses and/or protective immunity to pathogens that colonize on or invade through mucosal surfaces. Papers that report use of such vaccine vector systems for parenteral vaccination or to deal with nonmucosal pathogens or do not address induction of mucosal antibody and/or cellular immune responses are not reviewed.