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Hung MC, Christodoulides M. The biology of Neisseria adhesins. BIOLOGY 2013; 2:1054-109. [PMID: 24833056 PMCID: PMC3960869 DOI: 10.3390/biology2031054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Members of the genus Neisseria include pathogens causing important human diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia, gonorrhoea and pelvic inflammatory disease syndrome. Neisseriae are found on the exposed epithelia of the upper respiratory tract and the urogenital tract. Colonisation of these exposed epithelia is dependent on a repertoire of diverse bacterial molecules, extending not only from the surface of the bacteria but also found within the outer membrane. During invasive disease, pathogenic Neisseriae also interact with immune effector cells, vascular endothelia and the meninges. Neisseria adhesion involves the interplay of these multiple surface factors and in this review we discuss the structure and function of these important molecules and the nature of the host cell receptors and mechanisms involved in their recognition. We also describe the current status for recently identified Neisseria adhesins. Understanding the biology of Neisseria adhesins has an impact not only on the development of new vaccines but also in revealing fundamental knowledge about human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao-Chiu Hung
- Neisseria Research, Molecular Microbiology, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Neisseria Research, Molecular Microbiology, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
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Neisseria gonorrhoeae induced disruption of cell junction complexes in epithelial cells of the human genital tract. Microbes Infect 2011; 14:290-300. [PMID: 22146107 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2011.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Revised: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/07/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic microorganisms, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, have developed mechanisms to alter epithelial barriers in order to reach subepithelial tissues for host colonization. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of gonococci on cell junction complexes of genital epithelial cells of women. Polarized Ishikawa cells, a cell line derived from endometrial epithelium, were used for experimental infection. Infected cells displayed a spindle-like shape with an irregular distribution, indicating potential alteration of cell-cell contacts. Accordingly, analysis by confocal microscopy and cellular fractionation revealed that gonococci induced redistribution of the adherens junction proteins E-cadherin and its adapter protein β-catenin from the membrane to a cytoplasmic pool, with no significant differences in protein levels. In contrast, gonococcal infection did not induce modification of either expression or distribution of the tight junction proteins Occludin and ZO-1. Similar results were observed for Fallopian tube epithelia. Interestingly, infected Ishikawa cells also showed an altered pattern of actin cytoskeleton, observed in the form of stress fibers across the cytoplasm, which in turn matched a strong alteration on the expression of fibronectin, an adhesive glycoprotein component of extracellular matrix. Interestingly, using western blotting, activation of the ERK pathway was detected after gonococcal infection while p38 pathway was not activated. All effects were pili and Opa independent. Altogether, results indicated that gonococcus, as a mechanism of pathogenesis, induced disruption of junction complexes with early detaching of E-cadherin and β-catenin from the adherens junction complex, followed by a redistribution and reorganization of actin cytoskeleton and fibronectin within the extracellular matrix.
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Wang JA, Meyer TF, Rudel T. Cytoskeleton and motor proteins are required for the transcytosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae through polarized epithelial cells. Int J Med Microbiol 2007; 298:209-21. [PMID: 17683982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2007.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2006] [Revised: 04/27/2007] [Accepted: 05/08/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae interact with polarized T84 epithelial cells by engaging carcinoembryonic antigen-related cellular adhesion molecule (CEACAM) receptors. Adherent bacteria that are taken up by the cells are able to traverse the epithelial layer from the apical to the basal side. Herein, we demonstrate that the actin cytoskeleton of the cells is not required for the initial adherence of the bacteria, however, it is essential for invasion into and traversal through T84 cells. Furthermore, microtubule inhibitors blocked the traversal, but not the adherence and invasion of the bacteria. Inhibition of the motor activity of myosins reduced invasion and traversal, but not bacterial adherence. Immunofluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed the colocalization of the microtubule-based kinesin and dynein motors, and the actin-based motor myosin with adherent and intracellular gonococci. Transcytosis was reduced by blocking kinesin and myosin with specific antibodies. This underlines the importance of these motor proteins for the transcytosis of epithelial monolayers by N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun A Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
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Morales P, Reyes P, Vargas M, Rios M, Imarai M, Cardenas H, Croxatto H, Orihuela P, Vargas R, Fuhrer J, Heckels JE, Christodoulides M, Velasquez L. Infection of human fallopian tube epithelial cells with Neisseria gonorrhoeae protects cells from tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis. Infect Immun 2006; 74:3643-50. [PMID: 16714596 PMCID: PMC1479248 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00012-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Following infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, bacteria may ascend into the Fallopian tubes (FT) and induce salpingitis, a major cause of infertility. In the FT, interactions between mucosal epithelial cells and gonococci are pivotal events in the pathogen's infection cycle and the inflammatory response. In the current study, primary FT epithelial cells were infected in vitro with different multiplicities of infection (MOI) of Pil+ Opa+ gonococci. Bacteria showed a dose-dependent association with cells and induced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). A significant finding was that gonococcal infection (MOI = 1) induced apoptosis in approximately 30% of cells, whereas increasing numbers of bacteria (MOI = 10 to 100) did not induce apoptosis. Apoptosis was observed in only 11% of cells with associated bacteria, whereas >84% of cells with no adherent bacteria were apoptotic. TNF-alpha was a key contributor to apoptosis, since (i) culture supernatants from cells infected with gonococci (MOI = 1) induced apoptosis in naïve cultures, suggesting that a soluble factor was responsible; (ii) gonococcal infection-induced apoptosis was inhibited with anti-TNF-alpha antibodies; and (iii) the addition of exogenous TNF-alpha induced apoptosis, which was inhibited by the presence of increasing numbers of bacteria (MOI = 10 to 100). These data suggest that TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis of FT epithelial cells is likely a primary host defense mechanism to prevent pathogen colonization. However, epithelial cell-associated gonococci have evolved a mechanism to protect the cells from undergoing TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis, and this modulation of the host innate response may contribute to establishment of infection. Understanding the antiapoptotic mechanisms used by Neisseria gonorrhoeae will inform the pathogenesis of salpingitis and could suggest new intervention strategies for prevention and treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Morales
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Brettin T, Altherr MR, Du Y, Mason RM, Friedrich A, Potter L, Langford C, Keller TJ, Jens J, Howie H, Weyand NJ, Clary S, Prichard K, Wachocki S, Sodergren E, Dillard JP, Weinstock G, So M, Arvidson CG. Expression capable library for studies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, version 1.0. BMC Microbiol 2005; 5:50. [PMID: 16137322 PMCID: PMC1236931 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-5-50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2005] [Accepted: 09/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhea, is a serious health problem in developed as well as in developing countries, for which treatment continues to be a challenge. The recent completion of the genome sequence of the causative agent, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, opens up an entirely new set of approaches for studying this organism and the diseases it causes. Here, we describe the initial phases of the construction of an expression-capable clone set representing the protein-coding ORFs of the gonococcal genome using a recombination-based cloning system. RESULTS The clone set thus far includes 1672 of the 2250 predicted ORFs of the N. gonorrhoeae genome, of which 1393 (83%) are sequence-validated. Included in this set are 48 of the 61 ORFs of the gonococcal genetic island of strain MS11, not present in the sequenced genome of strain FA1090. L-arabinose-inducible glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fusions were constructed from random clones and each was shown to express a fusion protein of the predicted size following induction, demonstrating the use of the recombination cloning system. PCR amplicons of each ORF used in the cloning reactions were spotted onto glass slides to produce DNA microarrays representing 2035 genes of the gonococcal genome. Pilot experiments indicate that these arrays are suitable for the analysis of global gene expression in gonococci. CONCLUSION This archived set of Gateway entry clones will facilitate high-throughput genomic and proteomic studies of gonococcal genes using a variety of expression and analysis systems. In addition, the DNA arrays produced will allow us to generate gene expression profiles of gonococci grown in a wide variety of conditions. Together, the resources produced in this work will facilitate experiments to dissect the molecular mechanisms of gonococcal pathogenesis on a global scale, and ultimately lead to the determination of the functions of unknown genes in the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Brettin
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Michael R Altherr
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Ying Du
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Roxie M Mason
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Alexandra Friedrich
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
| | - Laura Potter
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
- Leicester Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Chris Langford
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
| | - Thomas J Keller
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
| | - Jason Jens
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Heather Howie
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
| | - Nathan J Weyand
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
| | - Susan Clary
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
| | - Kimberly Prichard
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Susi Wachocki
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Erica Sodergren
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Joseph P Dillard
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - George Weinstock
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Magdalene So
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA
| | - Cindy Grove Arvidson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
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Edwards JL, Apicella MA. The molecular mechanisms used by Neisseria gonorrhoeae to initiate infection differ between men and women. Clin Microbiol Rev 2004; 17:965-81, table of contents. [PMID: 15489357 PMCID: PMC523569 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.17.4.965-981.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms used by the gonococcus to initiate infection exhibit gender specificity. The clinical presentations of disease are also strikingly different upon comparison of gonococcal urethritis to gonococcal cervicitis. An intimate association occurs between the gonococcus and the urethral epithelium and is mediated by the asialoglycoprotein receptor. Gonococcal interaction with the urethral epithelia cell triggers cytokine release, which promotes neutrophil influx and an inflammatory response. Similarly, gonococcal infection of the upper female genital tract also results in inflammation. Gonococci invade the nonciliated epithelia, and the ciliated cells are subjected to the cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha induced by gonococcal peptidoglycan and lipooligosaccharide. In contrast, gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract is typically asymptomatic. This is in part the result of the ability of the gonococcus to subvert the alternative pathway of complement present in the lower female genital tract. Gonococcal engagement of complement receptor 3 on the cervical epithelia results in membrane ruffling and does not promote inflammation. A model of gonococcal pathogenesis is presented in the context of the male and female human urogenital tracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Edwards
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Iowa, 51 Newton Rd., BSB 3-403, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Lee SW, Bonnah RA, Higashi DL, Atkinson JP, Milgram SL, So M. CD46 is phosphorylated at tyrosine 354 upon infection of epithelial cells by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Cell Biol 2002; 156:951-7. [PMID: 11901164 PMCID: PMC2173477 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200109005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Neisseria type IV pilus promotes bacterial adhesion to host cells. The pilus binds CD46, a complement-regulatory glycoprotein present on nucleated human cells (Källström et al., 1997). CD46 mutants with truncated cytoplasmic tails fail to support bacterial adhesion (Källström et al., 2001), suggesting that this region of the molecule also plays an important role in infection. Here, we report that infection of human epithelial cells by piliated Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) leads to rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of CD46. Studies with wild-type and mutant tail fusion constructs demonstrate that Src kinase phosphorylates tyrosine 354 in the Cyt2 isoform of the CD46 cytoplasmic tail. Consistent with these findings, infection studies show that PP2, a specific Src family kinase inhibitor, but not PP3, an inactive variant of this drug, reduces the ability of epithelial cells to support bacterial adhesion. Several lines of evidence point to the role of c-Yes, a member of the Src family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, in CD46 phosphorylation. GC infection causes c-Yes to aggregate in the host cell cortex beneath adherent bacteria, increases binding of c-Yes to CD46, and stimulates c-Yes kinase activity. Finally, c-Yes immunoprecipitated from epithelial cells is able to phosphorylate the wild-type Cyt2 tail but not the mutant derivative in which tyrosine 354 has been substituted with alanine. We conclude that GC infection leads to rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the CD46 Cyt2 tail and that the Src kinase c-Yes is involved in this reaction. Together, the findings reported here and elsewhere strongly suggest that pilus binding to CD46 is not a simple static process. Rather, they support a model in which pilus interaction with CD46 promotes signaling cascades important for Neisseria infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun W Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, L220, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201
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