Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Tir is an SH2/3 ligand that recruits and activates tyrosine kinases required for pedestal formation

The pathogen-encoded signalling receptor Tir exploits host-like intrinsic disorder for infection

The translocated intimin receptor (Tir) is an essential type III secretion system (T3SS) effector of attaching and effacing pathogens contributing to the global foodborne disease burden. Tir acts as a cell-surface receptor in host cells, rewiring intracellular processes by targeting multiple host proteins. We investigated the molecular basis for Tir's binding diversity in signalling, finding that Tir is a disordered protein with host-like binding motifs. Unexpectedly, also are several other T3SS effectors. By an integrative approach, we reveal that Tir dimerises via an antiparallel OB-fold within a highly disordered N-terminal cytosolic domain. Also, it has a long disordered C-terminal cytosolic domain partially structured at host-like motifs that bind lipids. Membrane affinity depends on lipid composition and phosphorylation, highlighting a previously unrecognised host interaction impacting Tir-induced actin polymerisation and cell death. Furthermore, multi-site tyrosine phosphorylation enables Tir to engage host SH2 domains in a multivalent fuzzy complex, consistent with Tir's scaffolding role and binding promiscuity. Our findings provide insights into the intracellular Tir domains, highlighting the ability of T3SS effectors to exploit host-like protein disorder as a strategy for host evasion.

EPEC-induced activation of the Ca2+ transporter TRPV2 leads to pyroptotic cell death

The enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) type III secretion system effector Tir, which mediates intimate bacterial attachment to epithelial cells, also triggers Ca2+ influx followed by LPS entry and caspase-4-dependent pyroptosis, which could be antagonized by the effector NleF. Here we reveal the mechanism by which EPEC induces Ca2+ influx. We show that in the intestinal epithelial cell line SNU-C5, Tir activates the mechano/osmosensitive cation channel TRPV2 which triggers extracellular Ca2+ influx. Tir-induced Ca2+ influx could be blocked by siRNA silencing of TRPV2, pre-treatment with the TRPV2 inhibitor SET2 or by growing cells in low osmolality medium. Pharmacological activation of TRPV2 in the absence of Tir failed to initiate caspase-4-dependent cell death, confirming the necessity of Tir. Consistent with the model implicating activation on translocation of TRPV2 from the ER to plasma membrane, inhibition of protein trafficking by either brefeldin A or the effector NleA prevented TRPV2 activation and cell death. While infection with EPECΔnleA triggered pyroptotic cell death, this could be prevented by NleF. Taken together this study shows that while integration of Tir into the plasma membrane activates TRPV2, EPEC uses NleA to inhibit TRPV2 trafficking and NleF to inhibit caspase-4 and pyroptosis.

Citrobacter rodentium Lysogenized with a Shiga Toxin-Producing Phage: A Murine Model for Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli Infection

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a common foodborne pathogen in developed countries. STEC generates "attaching and effacing" (AE) lesions on colonic epithelium, characterized by effacement of microvilli and the formation of actin "pedestals" beneath intimately attached bacteria. In addition, STEC are lysogenized with a phage that, upon induction, can produce potent Shiga toxins (Stx), potentially leading to both hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Investigation of the pathogenesis of this disease has been challenging because STEC does not readily colonize conventional mice.Citrobacter rodentium (CR) is a related mouse pathogen that also generates AE lesions. Whereas CR does not produce Stx, a murine model for STEC utilizes CR lysogenized with an E. coli-derived Stx phage, generating CR(Φstx), which both colonizes conventional mice and readily gives rise to systemic disease. We present here key methods for the use of CR(Φstx) infection as a highly predictable murine model for infection and disease by STEC. Importantly, we detail CR(Φstx) inoculation by feeding, determination of pathogen colonization, production of phage and toxin, and assessment of intestinal and renal pathology. These methods provide a framework for studying STEC-mediated systemic disease that may aid in the development of efficacious therapeutics.

Distribution of PDLIM1 at actin-rich structures generated by invasive and adherent bacterial pathogens

The enteric bacterial pathogens Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) remodel the eukaryotic actin cytoskeleton during their disease processes. Listeria generate slender actin-rich comet/rocket tails to move intracellularly, and later, finger-like membrane protrusions to spread amongst host cells. EPEC remain extracellular, but generate similar actin-rich membranous protrusions (termed pedestals) to move atop the host epithelia. These structures are crucial for disease as diarrheal (and systemic) infections are significantly abrogated during infections with mutant strains that are unable to generate the structures. The current repertoire of host components enriched within these structures is vast and diverse. In this protein catalog, we and others have found that host actin crosslinkers, such as palladin and α-actinin-1, are routinely exploited. To expand on this list, we set out to investigate the distribution of PDLIM1, a scaffolding protein and binding partner of palladin and α-actinin-1, during bacterial infections. We show that PDLIM1 localizes to the site of initial Listeria entry into cells. Following this, PDLIM1 localizes to actin filament clouds surrounding immotile bacteria, and then colocalizes with actin once the comet/rocket tails are generated. Unlike palladin or α-actinin-1, PDLIM1 is maintained within the actin-rich core of membrane protrusions. Conversely, α-actinin-1, but not PDLIM1 (or palladin), is enriched at the membrane invagination that internalizes the Listeria-containing membrane protrusion. We also show that PDLIM1 is a component of the EPEC pedestal core and that its recruitment is dependent on the bacterial effector Tir. Our findings highlight PDLIM1 as another protein present within pathogen-induced actin-rich structures.

Staying out or Going in? The Interplay between Type 3 and Type 5 Secretion Systems in Adhesion and Invasion of Enterobacterial Pathogens

Enteric pathogens rely on a variety of toxins, adhesins and other virulence factors to cause infections. Some of the best studied pathogens belong to the Enterobacterales order; these include enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., and the enteropathogenic Yersiniae. The pathogenesis of these organisms involves two different secretion systems, a type 3 secretion system (T3SS) and type 5 secretion systems (T5SSs). The T3SS forms a syringe-like structure spanning both bacterial membranes and the host cell plasma membrane that translocates toxic effector proteins into the cytoplasm of the host cell. T5SSs are also known as autotransporters, and they export part of their own polypeptide to the bacterial cell surface where it exerts its function, such as adhesion to host cell receptors. During infection with these enteropathogens, the T3SS and T5SS act in concert to bring about rearrangements of the host cell cytoskeleton, either to invade the cell, confer intracellular motility, evade phagocytosis or produce novel structures to shelter the bacteria. Thus, in these bacteria, not only the T3SS effectors but also T5SS proteins could be considered "cytoskeletoxins" that bring about profound alterations in host cell cytoskeletal dynamics and lead to pathogenic outcomes.

Endocytosis and the internalization of pathogenic organisms: focus on phosphoinositides

Despite their comparatively low abundance in biological membranes, phosphoinositides are key to the regulation of a diverse array of signaling pathways and direct membrane traffic. The role of phosphoinositides in the initiation and progression of endocytic pathways has been studied in considerable depth. Recent advances have revealed that distinct phosphoinositide species feature prominently in clathrin-dependent and -independent endocytosis as well as in phagocytosis and macropinocytosis. Moreover, a variety of intracellular and cell-associated pathogens have developed strategies to commandeer host cell phosphoinositide metabolism to gain entry and/or metabolic advantage, thereby promoting their survival and proliferation. Here, we briefly survey the current knowledge on the involvement of phosphoinositides in endocytosis, phagocytosis, and macropinocytosis and highlight several examples of molecular mimicry employed by pathogens to either “hitch a ride” on endocytic pathways endogenous to the host or create an entry path of their own.

Coordinated transient interaction of ZO-1 and afadin is required for pedestal maturation induced by EspF from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection causes a histopathological lesion including recruitment of F‐actin beneath the attached bacteria and formation of actin‐rich pedestal‐like structures. Another important target of EPEC is the tight junction (TJ), and EspF induces displacement of TJ proteins and increased intestinal permeability. Previously, we determined that an EPEC strain lacking EspF did not cause TJ disruption; meanwhile, pedestals were located on the TJ and smaller than those induced by the wild‐type strain. Therefore, EspF could be playing an important role in both phenotypes. Here, using different cell models, we found that EspF was essential for pedestal maturation through ZO‐1 disassembly from TJ, leading to (a) ZO‐1 recruitment to the pedestal structure; no other main TJ proteins were required. Recruited ZO‐1 allowed the afadin recruitment. (b) Afadin recruitment caused an afadin–ZO‐1 transient interaction, like during TJ formation. (c) Afadin and ZO‐1 were segregated to the tip and the stem of pedestal, respectively, causing pedestal maturation. Initiation of these three discrete phases for pedestal maturation functionally and physically required EspF expression. Pedestal maturation process could help coordinate the epithelial actomyosin function by maintaining the actin‐rich column composing the pedestal structure and could be important in the dynamics of the pedestal movement on epithelial cells.

Enteropathogenic E. coli relies on collaboration between the formin mDia1 and the Arp2/3 complex for actin pedestal biogenesis and maintenance

Enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EPEC and EHEC) are closely related extracellular pathogens that reorganize host cell actin into “pedestals” beneath the tightly adherent bacteria. This pedestal-forming activity is both a critical step in pathogenesis, and it makes EPEC and EHEC useful models for studying the actin rearrangements that underlie membrane protrusions. To generate pedestals, EPEC relies on the tyrosine phosphorylated bacterial effector protein Tir to bind host adaptor proteins that recruit N-WASP, a nucleation-promoting factor that activates the Arp2/3 complex to drive actin polymerization. In contrast, EHEC depends on the effector EspF_U to multimerize N-WASP and promote Arp2/3 activation. Although these core pathways of pedestal assembly are well-characterized, the contributions of additional actin nucleation factors are unknown. We investigated potential cooperation between the Arp2/3 complex and other classes of nucleators using chemical inhibitors, siRNAs, and knockout cell lines. We found that inhibition of formins impairs actin pedestal assembly, motility, and cellular colonization for bacteria using the EPEC, but not the EHEC, pathway of actin polymerization. We also identified mDia1 as the formin contributing to EPEC pedestal assembly, as its expression level positively correlates with the efficiency of pedestal formation, and it localizes to the base of pedestals both during their initiation and once they have reached steady state. Collectively, our data suggest that mDia1 enhances EPEC pedestal biogenesis and maintenance by generating seed filaments to be used by the N-WASP-Arp2/3-dependent actin nucleation machinery and by sustaining Src-mediated phosphorylation of Tir.

Microbial pathogens that rearrange the host actin cytoskeleton have made valuable contributions to our understanding of cell signaling and movement. The assembly and organization of the actin cytoskeleton is driven by proteins called nucleators, which can be manipulated by bacteria including enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), a frequent cause of pediatric diarrhea in developing countries. After ingestion, EPEC adhere tightly to cells of the intestine and hijack the underlying cytoskeleton to create protrusions called actin pedestals. While mechanisms of pedestal assembly involving a nucleator called the Arp2/3 complex have been defined for EPEC, the contribution of additional host nucleators has not been determined. We assessed the roles of several actin nucleators in EPEC pedestals and found that in addition to Arp2/3 complex-mediated nucleation, the formin mDia1 is a key contributor to actin assembly. These findings highlight the importance of nucleator collaboration in pathogenesis, and also advance our understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of EPEC infection, which is ultimately important for the discovery of new drug targets.

Role of SHP2 protein tyrosine phosphatase in SERT inhibition by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), one of the diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes, is among the most important food-borne pathogens infecting children worldwide. Inhibition of serotonin transporter (SERT), which regulates extracellular availability of serotonin (5-HT), has been implicated previously in EPEC-associated diarrhea. EPEC was shown to inhibit SERT via activation of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase), albeit the specific PTPase involved is not known. Current studies aimed to identify EPEC-activated PTPase and its role in SERT inhibition. Infection of Caco-2 monolayers with EPEC strain E2348/69 for 30 min increased the activity of Src-homology-2 domain containing PTPase (SHP2) but not SHP1 or PTPase 1B. Similarly, Western blot studies showed increased tyrosine phosphorylation of (p-tyrosine) SHP2, indicative of its activation. Concomitantly, EPEC infection decreased SERT p-tyrosine levels. This was associated with increased interaction of SHP2 with SERT, as evidenced by coimmunoprecipitation studies. To examine whether SHP2 directly influences SERT phosphorylation status or function, SHP2 cDNA plasmid constructs (wild type, constitutively active, or dominant negative) were overexpressed in Caco-2 cells by Amaxa electroporation. In the cells overexpressing constitutively active SHP2, SERT polypeptide showed complete loss of p-tyrosine. In addition, there was a decrease in SERT function, as measured by Na⁺Cl^--sensitive [³H]5-HT uptake, and an increase in association of SERT with SHP2 in Caco-2 cells expressing constitutively active SHP2 compared with dominant-negative SHP2. Our data demonstrate that intestinal SERT is a target of SHP2 and reveal a novel mechanism by which a common food-borne pathogen uses cellular SHP2 to inhibit SERT.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The data presented in the current study reveal that intestinal serotonin transporter (SERT) is a target of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 and show a novel mechanism by which a common diarrheagenic pathogen, EPEC, activates cellular SHP2 to inhibit SERT function. These studies highlight host-pathogen interactions, which may be of therapeutic relevance in the management of diarrhea associated with enteric infections.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin LecA triggers host cell signalling by glycosphingolipid-dependent phosphorylation of the adaptor protein CrkII

The human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces phosphorylation of the adaptor protein CrkII by activating the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Abl to promote its uptake into host cells. So far, specific factors of P. aeruginosa, which induce Abl/CrkII signalling, are entirely unknown. In this research, we employed human lung epithelial cells H1299, Chinese hamster ovary cells and P. aeruginosa wild type strain PAO1 to study the invasion process of P. aeruginosa into host cells by using microbiological, biochemical and cell biological approaches such as Western Blot, immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Here, we demonstrate that the host glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide, also termed Gb3, represents a signalling receptor for the P. aeruginosa lectin LecA to induce CrkII phosphorylation at tyrosine 221. Alterations in Gb3 expression and LecA function correlate with CrkII phosphorylation. Interestingly, phosphorylation of CrkII^Y221 occurs independently of Abl kinase. We further show that Src family kinases transduce the signal induced by LecA binding to Gb3, leading to Crk^Y221 phosphorylation. In summary, we identified LecA as a bacterial factor, which utilizes a so far unrecognized mechanism for phospho-CrkII^Y221 induction by binding to the host glycosphingolipid receptor Gb3. The LecA/Gb3 interaction highlights the potential of glycolipids to mediate signalling processes across the plasma membrane and should be further elucidated to gain deeper insights into this non-canonical mechanism of activating host cell processes.

Modification of Bacterial Effector Proteins Inside Eukaryotic Host Cells

Pathogenic bacteria manipulate their hosts by delivering a number of virulence proteins -called effectors- directly into the plant or animal cells. Recent findings have shown that such effectors can suffer covalent modifications inside the eukaryotic cells. Here, we summarize the recent reports where effector modifications by the eukaryotic machinery have been described. We restrict our focus on proteins secreted by the type III or type IV systems, excluding other bacterial toxins. We describe the known examples of effectors whose enzymatic activity is triggered by interaction with plant and animal cell factors, including GTPases, E2-Ubiquitin conjugates, cyclophilin and thioredoxins. We focus on the structural interactions with these factors and their influence on effector function. We also review the described examples of host-mediated post-translational effector modifications which are required for proper subcellular location and function. These host-specific covalent modifications include phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, and lipidations such as prenylation, fatty acylation and phospholipid binding.

Plasticity of the brush border - the yin and yang of intestinal homeostasis

The brush border on the apical surface of enterocytes is a highly specialized structure well-adapted for efficient digestion and nutrient transport, whilst at the same time providing a protective barrier for the intestinal mucosa. The brush border is constituted of a densely ordered array of microvilli, protrusions of the plasma membrane, which are supported by actin-based microfilaments and interacting proteins and anchored in an apical network of actomyosin and intermediate filaments, the so-called terminal web. The highly dynamic, specialized apical domain is both an essential partner for the gut microbiota and an efficient signalling platform that enables adaptation to physiological stimuli from the external and internal milieu. Nevertheless, genetic alterations or various pathological stresses, such as infection, inflammation, and mechanical or nutritional alterations, can jeopardize this equilibrium and compromise intestinal functions. Long-time neglected, the intestinal brush-border shall be enlightening again as the central actor of the complex but essential intestinal homeostasis. Here, we review the processes and components involved in brush border organization and discuss pathological mechanisms that can induce brush border defects and their physiological consequences.

Type III Secreted Virulence Factors Manipulating Signaling to Actin Dynamics

A key aspect of bacterial pathogenesis is the colonization and persistence within the host and, later on, its dissemination to new niches. During evolution, bacteria developed a myriad of virulence mechanisms to usurp the host's sophisticated defense mechanisms in order to establish their colonization niche. Elucidation of the highly dynamic and complex interactions between host and pathogens remains an important field of study. Here, we highlight the conserved manipulation of the actin cytoskeleton by some Gram-negative gastrointestinal pathogens, addressing the role of type III secreted bacterial GEFs at the different steps of pathogenesis. As a final topic, we review cytoskeleton dynamics induced by EPEC/EHEC strains for pedestal formation.

Common Themes in Cytoskeletal Remodeling by Intracellular Bacterial Effectors

Bacterial pathogens interact with various types of tissues to promote infection. Because it controls the formation of membrane extensions, adhesive processes, or the junction integrity, the actin cytoskeleton is a key target of pathogens during infection. We will highlight common and specific functions of the actin cytoskeleton during bacterial infections, by first reviewing the mechanisms of intracellular motility of invasive Shigella, Listeria, and Rickettsia. Through the models of EPEC/EHEC, Shigella, Salmonella, and Chlamydia spp., we will illustrate various strategies of diversion of actin cytoskeletal processes used by these bacteria to colonize or breach epithelial/endothelial barriers.

Indispensable functions of ABL and PDGF receptor kinases in epithelial adherence of attaching/effacing pathogens under physiological conditions

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Citrobacter rodentium are attaching-and-effacing (A/E) pathogens that cause intestinal inflammation and diarrhea. The bacteria adhere to the intestinal epithelium, destroy microvilli, and induce actin-filled membranous pedestals but do not invade the mucosa. Adherence leads to activation of several host cell kinases, including FYN, n-SRC, YES, ABL, and ARG, phosphorylation of the bacterial translocated intimin receptor, and actin polymerization and pedestal formation in cultured cells. However, marked functional redundancy appears to exist between kinases, and their physiological importance in A/E pathogen infections has remained unclear. To address this question, we employed a novel dynamic in vitro infection model that mimics transient and short-term interactions in the intestinal tract. Screening of a kinase inhibitor library and RNA interference experiments in vitro revealed that ABL and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor (PDGFR) kinases, as well as p38 MAP kinase, have unique, indispensable roles in early attachment of EPEC to epithelial cells under dynamic infection conditions. Studies with mutant EPEC showed that the attachment functions of ABL and PDGFR were independent of the intimin receptor but required bacterial bundle-forming pili. Furthermore, inhibition of ABL and PDGFR with imatinib protected against infection of mice with modest loads of C. rodentium, whereas the kinases were dispensable for high inocula or late after infection. These results indicate that ABL and PDGFR have indispensable roles in early A/E pathogen attachment to intestinal epithelial cells and for in vivo infection with limiting inocula but are not required for late intimate bacterial attachment or high inoculum infections.

Crk adaptors negatively regulate actin polymerization in pedestals formed by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) by binding to Tir effector

Infections by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) cause diarrhea linked to high infant mortality in developing countries. EPEC adheres to epithelial cells and induces the formation of actin pedestals. Actin polymerization is driven fundamentally through signaling mediated by Tir bacterial effector protein, which inserts in the plasma membrane of the infected cell. Tir binds Nck adaptor proteins, which in turn recruit and activate N-WASP, a ubiquitous member of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome family of proteins. N-WASP activates the Arp2/3 complex to promote actin polymerization. Other proteins aside from components of the Tir-Nck-N-WASP pathway are recruited to the pedestals but their functions are unknown. Here we investigate the function of two alternatively spliced isoforms of Crk adaptors (CrkI/II) and the paralog protein CrkL during pedestal formation by EPEC. We found that the Crk isoforms act as redundant inhibitors of pedestal formation. The SH2 domain of CrkII and CrkL binds to phosphorylated tyrosine 474 of Tir and competes with Nck to bind Tir, preventing its recruitment to pedestals and thereby inhibiting actin polymerization. EPEC infection induces phosphorylation of the major regulatory tyrosine in CrkII and CrkL, possibly preventing the SH2 domain of these proteins from interacting with Tir. Phosphorylated CrkII and CrkL proteins localize specifically to the plasma membrane in contact with EPEC. Our study uncovers a novel role for Crk adaptors at pedestals, opening a new perspective in how these oncoproteins regulate actin polymerization.

Actin cytoskeleton manipulation by effector proteins secreted by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes

The actin cytoskeleton is a dynamic structure necessary for cell and tissue organization, including the maintenance of epithelial barriers. Disruption of the epithelial barrier coincides with alterations of the actin cytoskeleton in several disease states. These disruptions primarily affect the paracellular space, which is normally regulated by tight junctions. Thereby, the actin cytoskeleton is a common and recurring target of bacterial virulence factors. In order to manipulate the actin cytoskeleton, bacteria secrete and inject toxins and effectors to hijack the host cell machinery, which interferes with host-cell pathways and with a number of actin binding proteins. An interesting model to study actin manipulation by bacterial effectors is Escherichia coli since due to its genome plasticity it has acquired diverse genetic mobile elements, which allow having different E. coli varieties in one bacterial species. These E. coli pathotypes, including intracellular and extracellular bacteria, interact with epithelial cells, and their interactions depend on a specific combination of virulence factors. In this paper we focus on E. coli effectors that mimic host cell proteins to manipulate the actin cytoskeleton. The study of bacterial effector-cytoskeleton interaction will contribute not only to the comprehension of the molecular causes of infectious diseases but also to increase our knowledge of cell biology.

The enteropathogenic E. coli effector EspH promotes actin pedestal formation and elongation via WASP-interacting protein (WIP)

Enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC) are diarrheagenic pathogens that colonize the gut mucosa via attaching-and-effacing lesion formation. EPEC and EHEC utilize a type III secretion system (T3SS) to translocate effector proteins that subvert host cell signalling to sustain colonization and multiplication. EspH, a T3SS effector that modulates actin dynamics, was implicated in the elongation of the EHEC actin pedestals. In this study we found that EspH is necessary for both efficient pedestal formation and pedestal elongation during EPEC infection. We report that EspH induces actin polymerization at the bacterial attachment sites independently of the Tir tyrosine residues Y474 and Y454, which are implicated in binding Nck and IRSp53/ITRKS respectively. Moreover, EspH promotes recruitment of neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) and the Arp2/3 complex to the bacterial attachment site, in a mechanism involving the C-terminus of Tir and the WH1 domain of N-WASP. Dominant negative of WASP-interacting protein (WIP), which binds the N-WASP WH1 domain, diminished EspH-mediated actin polymerization. This study implicates WIP in EPEC-mediated actin polymerization and pedestal elongation and represents the first instance whereby N-WASP is efficiently recruited to the EPEC attachment sites independently of the Tir:Nck and Tir:IRTKS/IRSp53 pathways. Our study reveals the intricacies of Tir and EspH-mediated actin signalling pathways that comprise of distinct, convergent and synergistic signalling cascades.

Productive replication of Ebola virus is regulated by the c-Abl1 tyrosine kinase

Ebola virus causes a fulminant infection in humans resulting in diffuse bleeding, vascular instability, hypotensive shock, and often death. Because of its high mortality and ease of transmission from human to human, Ebola virus remains a biological threat for which effective preventive and therapeutic interventions are needed. An understanding of the mechanisms of Ebola virus pathogenesis is critical for developing antiviral therapeutics. Here, we report that productive replication of Ebola virus is modulated by the c-Abl1 tyrosine kinase. Release of Ebola virus-like particles (VLPs) in a cell culture cotransfection system was inhibited by c-Abl1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) or by Abl-specific kinase inhibitors and required tyrosine phosphorylation of the Ebola matrix protein VP40. Expression of c-Abl1 stimulated an increase in phosphorylation of tyrosine 13 (Y(13)) of VP40, and mutation of Y(13) to alanine decreased the release of Ebola VLPs. Productive replication of the highly pathogenic Ebola virus Zaire strain was inhibited by c-Abl1-specific siRNAs or by the Abl-family inhibitor nilotinib by up to four orders of magnitude. These data indicate that c-Abl1 regulates budding or release of filoviruses through a mechanism involving phosphorylation of VP40. This step of the virus life cycle therefore may represent a target for antiviral therapy.

CsrA and TnaB coregulate tryptophanase activity to promote exotoxin-induced killing of Caenorhabditis elegans by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(EPEC) requires the tnaA-encoded enzyme tryptophanase and its substrate tryptophan to synthesize diffusible exotoxins that kill the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we demonstrate that the RNA-binding protein CsrA and the tryptophan permease TnaB coregulate tryptophanase activity, through mutually exclusive pathways, to stimulate toxin-mediated paralysis and killing of C. elegans.

The host phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase SHIP2 regulates dissemination of vaccinia virus

After fusing with the plasma membrane, enveloped poxvirus virions form actin-filled membranous protrusions, called tails, beneath themselves and move toward adjacent uninfected cells. While much is known about the host and viral proteins that mediate formation of actin tails, much less is known about the factors controlling release. We found that the phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase SHIP2 localizes to actin tails. Localization requires phosphotyrosine, Abl and Src family tyrosine kinases, and neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) but not the Arp2/Arp3 complex or actin. Cells lacking SHIP2 have normal actin tails but release more virus. Moreover, cells infected with viral strains with mutations in the release inhibitor A34 release more virus but recruit less SHIP2 to tails. Thus, the inhibitory effects of A34 on virus release are mediated by SHIP2. Together, these data suggest that SHIP2 and A34 may act as gatekeepers to regulate dissemination of poxviruses when environmental conditions are conducive.

Abl family of tyrosine kinases and microbial pathogenesis

Abl nonreceptor tyrosine kinases are activated by multiple stimuli and regulate cytoskeletal reorganization, cell proliferation, survival, and stress responses. Several downstream pathways have direct impact on physiological processes, including development and maintenance of the nervous and immune systems and epithelial morphogenesis. Recent studies also indicated that numerous viral and bacterial pathogens highjack Abl signaling for different purposes. Abl kinases are activated to reorganize the host actin cytoskeleton and promote the direct tyrosine phosphorylation of viral surface proteins and injected bacterial type-III and type-IV effector molecules. However, Abl kinases also play other roles in infectious processes of bacteria, viruses, and prions. These activities have crucial impact on microbial invasion and release from host cells, actin-based motility, pedestal formation, as well as cell-cell dissociation involved in epithelial barrier disruption and other responses. Thus, Abl kinases exhibit important functions in pathological signaling during microbial infections. Here, we discuss the different signaling pathways activated by pathogens and highlight possible therapeutic intervention strategies.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Samonella, Shigella and Yersinia: cellular aspects of host-bacteria interactions in enteric diseases

A successful infection of the human intestine by enteropathogenic bacteria depends on the ability of bacteria to attach and colonize the intestinal epithelium and, in some cases, to invade the host cell, survive intracellularly and disseminate from cell to cell. To accomplish these processes bacteria have evolved an arsenal of molecules that are mostly secreted by dedicated type III secretion systems, and that interact with the host, subverting normal cellular functions. Here we overview the most important molecular strategies developed by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Shigella flexneri, and Yersinia enterocolitica to cause enteric infections. Despite having evolved different effectors, these four microorganisms share common host cellular targets.

Multiple phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases regulate vaccinia virus morphogenesis

Poxvirus morphogenesis is a complex process that involves the successive wrapping of the virus in host cell membranes. We screened by plaque assay a focused library of kinase inhibitors for those that caused a reduction in viral growth and identified several compounds that selectively inhibit phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Previous studies demonstrated that PI3Ks mediate poxviral entry. Using growth curves and electron microscopy in conjunction with inhibitors, we show that that PI3Ks additionally regulate morphogenesis at two distinct steps: immature to mature virion (IMV) transition, and IMV envelopment to form intracellular enveloped virions (IEV). Cells derived from animals lacking the p85 regulatory subunit of Type I PI3Ks (p85α^−/−β^−/−) presented phenotypes similar to those observed with PI3K inhibitors. In addition, VV appear to redundantly use PI3Ks, as PI3K inhibitors further reduce plaque size and number in p85α^−/−β^−/− cells. Together, these data provide evidence for a novel regulatory mechanism for virion morphogenesis involving phosphatidylinositol dynamics and may represent a new therapeutic target to contain poxviruses.

Cytoskeleton-modulating effectors of enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli: Tir, EspFU and actin pedestal assembly

A variety of microbes manipulate the cytoskeleton of mammalian cells to promote their internalization, motility and/or spread. Among such bacteria, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli are closely related pathogens that adhere to human intestinal cells and reorganize the underlying actin cytoskeleton into 'pedestals'. The assembly of pedestals is likely to be an important step in colonization, and is triggered by the E. coli virulence factors translocated intimin receptor and E. coli secreted protein F in prophage U, which modulate multiple host signaling cascades that lead to actin polymerization. In recent years, these bacterial effectors have been exploited as powerful experimental tools for investigating actin cytoskeletal and membrane dynamics, and several studies have significantly advanced our understanding of the regulation of actin assembly in mammalian cells and the potential role of pedestal formation in pathogenesis.

Phosphoinositides influence pathogen surfing: EPEC rights the SHIP

Tir, a translocated effector protein from enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), contains two phosphotyrosines that initiate cellular signaling cascades, leading to localized actin polymerization into pedestals. A recent study now shows that two additional tyrosines within Tir recruit the inositol phosphatase SHIP2 to generate a PI(3,4)P2-enriched membrane platform that stabilizes pedestal assembly.

Abl family tyrosine kinases regulate sialylated ganglioside receptors for polyomavirus

Sialylated lipids serve as cellular receptors for polyomaviruses. Using pharmacological inhibitors and cell lines derived from knockout mice, we demonstrate that Abl family tyrosine kinases are required for replication of mouse polyomavirus and BK virus, a human polyomavirus associated with allograft failure following kidney transplantation. We show that decreasing Abl family kinase activity results in low levels of cell surface ganglioside receptors for mouse polyomavirus and that inhibition of sialidase activity promotes virion binding in the absence of Abl family kinase activity. These data provide evidence that Abl family kinases reduce ganglioside turnover in the plasma membrane by inhibiting host cell sialidase activity. Thus, Abl family kinases regulate the susceptibility of cells to polyomavirus infection by modulating gangliosides required for viral attachment.

PKA-mediated phosphorylation of EPEC-Tir at serine residues 434 and 463: A novel pathway in regulating Rac1 GTPase function

Type-III or type-IV secretion systems of many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens inject effector proteins into host cells that modulate cellular functions in their favour. A preferred target of these effectors is the actin-cytoskeleton as shown by studies using the gastric pathogens Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). We recently developed a co-infection approach to study effector protein function and molecular mechanisms by which they highjack cellular signalling cascades. This is exemplified by our observation that EPEC profoundly blocks H. pylori-induced epithelial cell scattering and elongation, a disease-related event requiring the activity of small Rho GTPase Rac1. While this suppressive effect is dependent on the effector protein Tir and the outer-membrane protein Intimin, it unexpectedly revealed evidence for Tir-signalling independent of phosphorylation of Tir at tyrosine residues 454 and 474. Instead, our studies revealed a previously unidentified function for protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation of Tir at serine residues 434 and 463. We demonstrated that EPEC infection activates PKA for Tir phosphorylation. Activated PKA then phosphorylates Rac1 at its serine residue 71 associated with reduced GTP-load and inhibited cell elongation. Phosphorylation of Rho GTPases such as Rac1 might be an interesting novel strategy in microbial pathogenesis.

PKA-mediated phosphorylation of EPEC-Tir at serine residues 434 and 463: A novel pathway in regulating Rac1 GTPase function

Type-III or type-IV secretion systems of many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens inject effector proteins into host cells that modulate cellular functions in their favour. A preferred target of these effectors is the actin-cytoskeleton as shown by studies using the gastric pathogens Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). We recently developed a co-infection approach to study effector protein function and molecular mechanisms by which they highjack cellular signalling cascades. This is exemplified by our observation that EPEC profoundly blocks H. pylori-induced epithelial cell scattering and elongation, a disease-related event requiring the activity of small Rho GTPase Rac1. While this suppressive effect is dependent on the effector protein Tir and the outer-membrane protein Intimin, it unexpectedly revealed evidence for Tir-signalling independent of phosphorylation of Tir at tyrosine residues 454 and 474. Instead, our studies revealed a previously unidentified function for protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation of Tir at serine residues 434 and 463. We demonstrated that EPEC infection activates PKA for Tir phosphorylation. Activated PKA then phosphorylates Rac1 at its serine residue 71 associated with reduced GTP-load and inhibited cell elongation. Phosphorylation of Rho GTPases such as Rac1 might be an interesting novel strategy in microbial pathogenesis.

Dissecting the role of the Tir:Nck and Tir:IRTKS/IRSp53 signalling pathways in vivo

Attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions and actin polymerization, the hallmark of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and Citrobacter rodentium (CR) infections, are dependent on the effector Tir. Phosphorylation of Tir_EPEC/CR Y474/1 leads to recruitment of Nck and neural Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) and strong actin polymerization in cultured cells. Tir_EPEC/CR also contains an Asn-Pro-Tyr (NPY_454/1) motif, which triggers weak actin polymerization. In EHEC the NPY₄₅₈ actin polymerization pathway is amplified by TccP/EspF_U, which is recruited to Tir via IRSp53 and/or insulin receptor tyrosine kinase substrate (IRTKS). Here we used C. rodentium to investigate the different Tir signalling pathways in vivo. Following infection with wild-type C. rodentium IRTKS, but not IRSp53, was recruited to the bacterial attachment sites. Similar results were seen after infection of human ileal explants with EHEC. Mutating Y471 or Y451 in Tir_CR abolished recruitment of Nck and IRTKS respectively, but did not affect recruitment of N-WASP or A/E lesion formation. This suggests that despite their crucial role in actin polymerization in cultured cells the Tir:Nck and Tir:IRTKS pathways are not essential for N-WASP recruitment or A/E lesion formation in vivo. Importantly, wild-type C. rodentium out-competed the tir tyrosine mutants during mixed infections. These results uncouple the Tir:Nck and Tir:IRTKS pathways from A/E lesion formation in vivo but assign them an important in vivo role.

Bacterial tyrosine kinases: novel targets for antibacterial therapy?

The resistance of pathogenic bacteria to current antibiotics has become a crucial public health problem. To combat this resistance, there is a constant need for antibacterial drugs with new modes of action on therapeutic targets. Recent data have shown that a variety of cellular processes essential for bacterial survival and virulence are regulated by the phosphorylation of certain endogenous proteins catalyzed by specific tyrosine kinases. In this article, I highlight a selection of recent findings that confirm the central role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the control of bacterial physiology. Based on this knowledge, potential applications in the discovery of novel antibiotics are proposed.

The RNA binding protein CsrA is a pleiotropic regulator of the locus of enterocyte effacement pathogenicity island of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

The attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogen enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) forms characteristic actin-filled membranous protrusions upon infection of host cells termed pedestals. Here we examine the role of the RNA binding protein CsrA in the expression of virulence genes and proteins that are necessary for pedestal formation. The csrA mutant was defective in forming actin pedestals on epithelial cells and in disrupting transepithelial resistance across polarized epithelial cells. Consistent with reduced pedestal formation, secretion of the translocators EspA, EspB, and EspD and the effector Tir was substantially reduced in the csrA mutant. Purified CsrA specifically bound to the sepL espADB mRNA leader, and the corresponding transcript levels were reduced in the csrA mutant. In contrast, Tir synthesis was unaffected in the csrA mutant. Reduced secretion of Tir appeared to be in part due to decreased synthesis of EscD, an inner membrane architectural protein of the type III secretion system (TTSS) and EscF, a protein that forms the protruding needle complex of the TTSS. These effects were not mediated through the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) transcriptional regulator GrlA or Ler. In contrast to the csrA mutant, multicopy expression of csrA repressed transcription from LEE1, grlRA, LEE2, LEE5, escD, and LEE4, an effect mediated by GrlA and Ler. Consistent with its role in other organisms, CsrA also regulated flagellar motility and glycogen levels. Our findings suggest that CsrA governs virulence factor expression in an A/E pathogen by regulating mRNAs encoding translocators, effectors, or transcription factors.

Host cell interactome of tyrosine-phosphorylated bacterial proteins

Selective interactions between tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and their cognate, SH2-domain containing ligands play key roles in mammalian signal transduction. Several bacterial pathogens use secretion systems to inject tyrosine kinase substrates into host cells. Upon phosphorylation, these effector proteins recruit cellular binding partners to manipulate host cell functions. So far, only a few interaction partners have been identified. Here we report the results of a proteomic screen to systematically identify binding partners of all known tyrosine-phosphorylated bacterial effectors by high-resolution mass spectrometry. We identified 39 host interactions, all mediated by SH2 domains, including four of the five already known interaction partners. Individual phosphorylation sites recruited a surprisingly high number of cellular interaction partners suggesting that individual phosphorylation sites can interfere with multiple cellular signaling pathways. Collectively, our results indicate that tyrosine-phosphorylation sites of bacterial effector proteins have evolved as versatile interaction modules that can recruit a rich repertoire of cellular SH2 domains.

Distinct phosphorylation requirements regulate cortactin activation by TirEPEC and its binding to N-WASP

BACKGROUND

Cortactin activates the actin-related 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex promoting actin polymerization to remodel cell architecture in multiple processes (e.g. cell migration, membrane trafficking, invadopodia formation etc.). Moreover, it was called the Achilles' heel of the actin cytoskeleton because many pathogens hijack signals that converge on this oncogenic scaffolding protein. Cortactin is able to modulate N-WASP activation in vitro in a phosphorylation-dependent fashion. Thus Erk-phosphorylated cortactin is efficient in activating N-WASP through its SH3 domain, while Src-phosphorylated cortactin is not. This could represent a switch on/off mechanism controlling the coordinated action of both nucleator promoting factors (NPFs). Pedestal formation by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) requires N-WASP activation. N-WASP is recruited by the cell adapter Nck which binds a major tyrosine-phosphorylated site of a bacterial injected effector, Tir (translocated intimin receptor). Tir-Nck-N-WASP axis defines the current major pathway to actin polymerization on pedestals. In addition, it was recently reported that EPEC induces tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin.

RESULTS

Here we demonstrate that cortactin phosphorylation is absent on N-WASP deficient cells, but is recovered by re-expression of N-WASP. We used purified recombinant cortactin and Tir proteins to demonstrate a direct interaction of both that promoted Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization in vitro, independently of cortactin phosphorylation.

CONCLUSION

We propose that cortactin binds Tir through its N-terminal part in a tyrosine and serine phosphorylation independent manner while SH3 domain binding and activation of N-WASP is regulated by tyrosine and serine mediated phosphorylation of cortactin. Therefore cortactin could act on Tir-Nck-N-WASP pathway and control a possible cycling activity of N-WASP underlying pedestal formation.

Dual infection system identifies a crucial role for PKA-mediated serine phosphorylation of the EPEC-Tir-injected effector protein in regulating Rac1 function

Many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria possess type-III or type-IV secretion systems to inject 'effector' proteins directly into host cells to modulate cellular processes in their favour. A common target is the actin-cytoskeleton linked to the delivery of a single (CagA) effector by Helicobacter pylori and multiple effectors by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) respectively. Here we report co-infection as a powerful strategy for defining effector protein function and mechanisms by which they modulate cellular responses. This is exemplified by our finding that EPEC inhibits H. pylori-induced AGS cell elongation, a disease-related event linked to Rac1 activation. While this inhibitory process is dependent on the translocated Intimin receptor, Tir, and the outer-membrane protein, Intimin, it unexpectedly revealed evidence for Tir signalling independent of Intimin interaction and tyrosine phosphorylation of Tir. Furthermore, the work defined a long awaited role for protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation of Tir at serine-434 and serine-463. Our data are consistent with a model whereby EPEC activates PKA for Tir phosphorylation. Activated PKA then phosphorylates Rac1 at serine-71 associated with reduced GTP-load and inhibited cell elongation. Thus, the co-infection approach is a powerful strategy for defining novel effector function with important implications for characterizing mechanisms and regulatory signalling pathways in bacterial pathogenesis.

The cytoskeletal scaffold Shank3 is recruited to pathogen-induced actin rearrangements

The common gastrointestinal pathogens enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Salmonella typhimurium both reorganize the gut epithelial cell actin cytoskeleton to mediate pathogenesis, utilizing mimicry of the host signaling apparatus. The PDZ domain-containing protein Shank3, is a large cytoskeletal scaffold protein with known functions in neuronal morphology and synaptic signaling, and is also capable of acting as a scaffolding adaptor during Ret tyrosine kinase signaling in epithelial cells. Using immunofluorescent and functional RNA-interference approaches we show that Shank3 is present in both EPEC- and S. typhimurium-induced actin rearrangements and is required for optimal EPEC pedestal formation. We propose that Shank3 is one of a number of host synaptic proteins likely to play key roles in bacteria-host interactions.

Aligning antimicrobial drug discovery with complex and redundant host-pathogen interactions

Drug-resistant microorganisms pose an enormous threat to public health. Here we provide examples of experimental approaches that offer novel ways to think about drug development considering the complexity inherent to host-pathogen interactions. Emergent themes include (1) targeting pathogenicity rather than microbial growth, (2) targeting the host or host-pathogen interface rather than the pathogen, (3) facilitating pathogen-specific immune responses, and (4) utilizing systems-based approaches to identify new drug targets and validate drug efficacy. We posit that together these approaches may allow identification of drugs that disrupt pathogenesis and allow the immune system time to protect, but do not easily engender resistance.

The effector repertoire of enteropathogenic E. coli: ganging up on the host cell

Diarrhoeal disease caused by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) is dependent on a delivery system that injects numerous bacterial ‘effector’ proteins directly into host cells. The best-described EPEC effectors are encoded together on the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island and display high levels of multifunctionality and cooperativity within the host cell. More recently, effectors encoded outside the LEE (non-LEE effectors) have been discovered and their functions are beginning to be uncovered. The recent completion of the EPEC genome sequence suggests its effector repertoire consists of at least 21 effector proteins. Here, we describe the genomic location of effectors and discuss recent advances made on effector cellular function as well as their role in the infection process.

Host factor reveals the intrinsic enzymatic activity of a bacterial effector

Evaluation of: Lossi NS, Rolhion N, Magee AI, Boyle C, Holden DW: The Salmonella SPI-2 effector SseJ exhibits eukaryotic activator-dependent phospholipase A and glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Microbiology 154, 2680–2688 (2008). The integral role that pathogenic bacterial effectors play during infection is well accepted; however, the biochemical activities of many pathogenic bacterial effectors remain unknown. Complicating the matter is the interplay between the bacterial effector and the host-cell environment. By way of example Lossi et al. demonstrate that recombinant SseJ is catalytically inactive in vitro but can be activated by a eukaryotic proteinaceous factor that remains to be identified and characterized.

Repetitive N-WASP-binding elements of the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli effector EspF(U) synergistically activate actin assembly

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) generate F-actin–rich adhesion pedestals by delivering effector proteins into mammalian cells. These effectors include the translocated receptor Tir, along with EspF_U, a protein that associates indirectly with Tir and contains multiple peptide repeats that stimulate actin polymerization. In vitro, the EspF_U repeat region is capable of binding and activating recombinant derivatives of N-WASP, a host actin nucleation-promoting factor. In spite of the identification of these important bacterial and host factors, the underlying mechanisms of how EHEC so potently exploits the native actin assembly machinery have not been clearly defined. Here we show that Tir and EspF_U are sufficient for actin pedestal formation in cultured cells. Experimental clustering of Tir-EspF_U fusion proteins indicates that the central role of the cytoplasmic portion of Tir is to promote clustering of the repeat region of EspF_U. Whereas clustering of a single EspF_U repeat is sufficient to bind N-WASP and generate pedestals on cultured cells, multi-repeat EspF_U derivatives promote actin assembly more efficiently. Moreover, the EspF_U repeats activate a protein complex containing N-WASP and the actin-binding protein WIP in a synergistic fashion in vitro, further suggesting that the repeats cooperate to stimulate actin polymerization in vivo. One explanation for repeat synergy is that simultaneous engagement of multiple N-WASP molecules can enhance its ability to interact with the actin nucleating Arp2/3 complex. These findings define the minimal set of bacterial effectors required for pedestal formation and the elements within those effectors that contribute to actin assembly via N-WASP-Arp2/3–mediated signaling pathways.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen that causes diarrhea and life-threatening systemic illnesses. EHEC colonizes the intestine by adhering tightly to host cells and injecting bacterial molecules that trigger the formation of a “pedestal” below bound bacteria. These pedestals are generated by reorganizing the actin cytoskeleton into densely packed filaments beneath the plasma membrane. Pedestal formation is therefore not only important for EHEC disease, it provides a means to study how mammalian cells control their shape. We show here that two EHEC proteins, Tir and EspF_U, are sufficient to trigger pedestal formation. Tir localizes to the mammalian plasma membrane, and its central function is to promote clustering of EspF_U. EspF_U contains multiple repeat sequences that stimulate actin polymerization by binding N-WASP, a host protein that initiates actin assembly. Although a single repeat of EspF_U can generate pedestals, multi-repeat variants promote actin assembly cooperatively. One explanation for this synergy is that tandem repeats can potently trigger the formation of a complex of mammalian proteins that modulate the actin cytoskeleton. These findings define the minimal set of EHEC effectors required for pedestal formation and the elements within those effectors that confer their ability to alter cell shape.

Abelson tyrosine kinase facilitates Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium entry into epithelial cells

The intracellular gram-negative bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium gains entry into nonphagocytic cells by manipulating the assembly of the host actin cytoskeleton. S. enterica serovar Typhimurium entry requires a functional type III secretion system, a conduit through which bacterial effector proteins are directly translocated into the host cytosol. We and others have previously reported the enhancement of tyrosine kinase activities during Salmonella serovar Typhimurium infection; however, neither specific kinases nor their targets have been well characterized. In this study, we investigated the roles of the cellular Abelson tyrosine kinase (c-Abl) and the related protein Arg in the context of serovar Typhimurium infection. We found that bacterial internalization was inhibited by more than 70% in cells lacking both c-Abl and Arg and that treatment of wild-type cells with a pharmaceutical inhibitor of the c-Abl kinase, STI571 (imatinib), reduced serovar Typhimurium invasion efficiency to a similar extent. Bacterial infection led to enhanced phosphorylation of two previously identified c-Abl substrates, the adaptor protein CT10 regulator of kinase (CrkII) and the Abelson-interacting protein Abi1, a component of the WAVE2 complex. Furthermore, overexpression of the nonphosphorylatable form of CrkII resulted in decreased invasion. Taken together, these findings indicate that c-Abl is activated during S. enterica serovar Typhimurium infection and that its phosphorylation of multiple downstream targets is functionally important in bacterial internalization.

Protective and destructive innate immune responses to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and related A/E pathogens

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli (O157:H7) and Citrobacter rodentium are classified as attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogens based on their ability to adhere to intestinal epithelium, destroy microvilli and induce pedestal formation at the site of infection. A/E bacterial infections also cause acute diarrheal episodes and intestinal inflammation. The use of model systems has led to an understanding of the innate immune response to A/E pathogens. The innate immune system plays a protective role, initiating a productive antibody response, directly killing bacteria and inducing repair mechanisms following tissue damage caused by infection. However, hyperactivation of the innate immune system can have negative consequences, including exacerbated tissue destruction following neutrophil infiltration. Here we review how innate immune cell types, including neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells, orchestrate both protective and destructive responses. Such information is crucial for the development of therapeutics that can mitigate destructive inflammatory responses while accentuating those that are protective.

Cytosolic extract induces Tir translocation and pedestals in EPEC-infected red blood cells

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) are deadly contaminants in water and food, and induce protrusion of actin-filled membranous pedestals beneath themselves upon attachment to intestinal epithelia. Pedestal formation requires clustering of Tir and subsequent recruitment of cellular tyrosine kinases including Abl, Arg, and Etk as well as signaling molecules Nck, N-WASP, and Arp2/3 complex. We have developed a cytosolic extract-based cellular system that recapitulates actin pedestal formation in permeabilized red blood cells (RBC) infected with EPEC. RBC support attachment of EPEC and translocation of virulence factors, but not pedestal formation. We show here that extract induces a rapid Ca⁺⁺-dependent release of Tir from the EPEC Type III secretion system, and that cytoplasmic factor(s) present in the extract facilitate translocation of Tir into the RBC plasma membrane. We show that Abl and related kinases in the extract phosphorylate Tir and that actin polymerization can be reconstituted in infected RBC following addition of cytosolic extract. Reconstitution requires the bacterial virulence factors Tir and intimin, and phosphorylation of Tir on tyrosine residue 474 results in the recruitment of Nck, N-WASP, and Arp2/3 complex beneath attached bacteria at sites of actin polymerization. Together these data describe a biochemical system for dissection of host components that mediate Type III secretion and the mechanisms by which complexes of proteins are recruited to discrete sites within the plasma membrane to initiate localized actin polymerization and morphological changes.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a diarrheagenic enteric pathogen that attaches to host cells and forms actin-filled membranous protrusions called pedestals. Pedestal formation is initiated when the EPEC virulence factor, Tir, is translocated into the host cell via bacterial Type III secretion (T3S) and inserted into the plasma membrane, initiating a signaling cascade that results in actin polymerization beneath attached bacteria. We have developed a cytoplasmic extract-based system in permeabilized cells to study these early events in EPEC pathogenesis, many of which are not easily studied in intact cells. We have taken advantage of the observation that EPEC fail to form pedestals on red blood cells (RBC). We report that low calcium triggers T3S of Tir into RBC, indicating how the T3S apparatus may sense entry into the host cytoplasm. Additionally, insertion of Tir into the host membrane depends upon host cytoplasmic components, a requirement not previously recognized or accessible to experimental manipulation in intact cells. Finally, cytoplasmic extract reconstitutes actin polymerization beneath attached bacteria using signaling molecules required in intact cells. We are currently purifying the components that mediate these processes. Together, these experiments show how functional biochemistry approaches can reveal novel roles for cytoplasmic factors in host–pathogen interactions.

RNA interference screen identifies Abl kinase and PDGFR signaling in Chlamydia trachomatis entry

To elucidate the mechanisms involved in early events in Chlamydia trachomatis infection, we conducted a large scale unbiased RNA interference screen in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells. This allowed identification of candidate host factors in a simple non-redundant, genetically tractable system. From a library of 7,216 double stranded RNAs (dsRNA), we identified ∼226 host genes, including two tyrosine kinases, Abelson (Abl) kinase and PDGF- and VEGF-receptor related (Pvr), a homolog of the Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). We further examined the role of these two kinases in C. trachomatis binding and internalization into mammalian cells. Both kinases are phosphorylated upon infection and recruited to the site of bacterial attachment, but their roles in the infectious process are distinct. We provide evidence that PDGFRβ may function as a receptor, as inhibition of PDGFRβ by RNA interference or by PDGFRβ neutralizing antibodies significantly reduces bacterial binding, whereas depletion of Abl kinase has no effect on binding. Bacterial internalization can occur through activation of PDGFRβ or through independent activation of Abl kinase, culminating in phosphorylation of the Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), Vav2, and two actin nucleators, WAVE2 and Cortactin. Finally, we show that TARP, a bacterial type III secreted actin nucleator implicated in entry, is a target of Abl kinase. Together, our results demonstrate that PDGFRβ and Abl kinases function redundantly to promote efficient uptake of this obligate intracellular parasite.

Chlamydia trachomatis infections are a worldwide problem; they are the leading cause of preventable blindness in developing nations and the most common cause of sexually transmitted disease in the Western world. Binding and entry into host cells are critical steps to the pathogenesis of this obligate intracellular parasite; however little is known regarding the mechanism of these processes. In this work, we describe a large scale RNA interference screen to identify host factors essential for early steps in C. trachomatis infection. We discover that the Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor β (PDGFRβ) can function as a receptor for C. trachomatis, and that activation of both PDGFRβ and Abl kinase signaling pathways by C. trachomatis leads to phosphorylation of a Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Vav2, and several actin nucleators, including WAVE2, Cortactin, and TARP, a Chlamydia type III secreted effector. Our work suggests a model of redundant activation of PDGFRβ and Abl kinase upon C. trachomatis binding that culminates in cytoskeletal rearrangements that modulate efficient uptake of this obligate intracellular parasite.