Purification and characterization of Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

Genomic and pathogenicity islands of Listeria monocytogenes-overview of selected aspects

Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a disease characterized by a high mortality rate (up to 30%). Since the pathogen is highly tolerant to changing conditions (high and low temperature, wide pH range, low availability of nutrients), it is widespread in the environment, e.g., water, soil, or food. L. monocytogenes possess a number of genes that determine its high virulence potential, i.e., genes involved in the intracellular cycle (e.g., prfA, hly, plcA, plcB, inlA, inlB), response to stress conditions (e.g., sigB, gadA, caspD, clpB, lmo1138), biofilm formation (e.g., agr, luxS), or resistance to disinfectants (e.g., emrELm, bcrABC, mdrL). Some genes are organized into genomic and pathogenicity islands. The islands LIPI-1 and LIPI-3 contain genes related to the infectious life cycle and survival in the food processing environment, while LGI-1 and LGI-2 potentially ensure survival and durability in the production environment. Researchers constantly have been searching for new genes determining the virulence of L. monocytogenes. Understanding the virulence potential of L. monocytogenes is an important element of public health protection, as highly pathogenic strains may be associated with outbreaks and the severity of listeriosis. This review summarizes the selected aspects of L. monocytogenes genomic and pathogenicity islands, and the importance of whole genome sequencing for epidemiological purposes.

Life without air

An early exposure to lipid biochemistry in the laboratory of Konrad Bloch resulted in a fascination with the biosynthesis, structures, and functions of bacterial lipids. The discovery of plasmalogens (1-alk-1'-enyl, 2-acyl phospholipids) in anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria led to studies on the physical chemistry of these lipids and the cellular regulation of membrane lipid polymorphism in bacteria. Later studies in several laboratories showed that the formation of the alk-1-enyl ether bond involves an aerobic process in animal cells and thus is fundamentally different from that in anaerobic organisms. Our work provides evidence for an anaerobic process in which plasmalogens are formed from their corresponding diacyl lipids. Studies on the roles of phospholipases in Listeria monocytogenes revealed distinctions between its phospholipases and those previously discovered in other bacteria and showed how the Listeria enzymes are uniquely fitted to the intracellular lifestyle of this significant human pathogen.

Phosphocholine Antagonizes Listeriolysin O-Induced Host Cell Responses of Listeria monocytogenes

Background

Bacterial toxins disrupt plasma membrane integrity with multitudinous effects on host cells. The secreted pore-forming toxin listeriolysin O (LLO) of the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes promotes egress of the bacteria from vacuolar compartments into the host cytosol often without overt destruction of the infected cell. Intracellular LLO activity is tightly controlled by host factors including compartmental pH, redox, proteolytic, and proteostatic factors, and inhibited by cholesterol.

Methods

Combining infection studies of L. monocytogenes wild type and isogenic mutants together with biochemical studies with purified phospholipases, we investigate the effect of their enzymatic activities on LLO.

Results

Here, we show that phosphocholine (ChoP), a reaction product of the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) of L. monocytogenes, is a potent inhibitor of intra- and extracellular LLO activities. Binding of ChoP to LLO is redox-independent and leads to the inhibition of LLO-dependent induction of calcium flux, mitochondrial damage, and apoptosis. ChoP also inhibits the hemolytic activities of the related cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDC), pneumolysin and streptolysin.

Conclusions

Our study uncovers a strategy used by L. monocytogenes to modulate cytotoxic LLO activity through the enzymatic activity of its PC-PLC. This mechanism appears to be widespread and also used by other CDC pore-forming toxin-producing bacteria.

Secreted phospholipases of the lung pathogen Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen and the main causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal pneumonia. The bacteria infect both mammalian cells and environmental hosts, such as amoeba. Inside host cells, the bacteria withstand the multifaceted defenses of the phagocyte and replicate within a unique membrane-bound compartment, the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). For establishment and maintenance of the infection, L. pneumophila secretes many proteins including effector proteins by means of different secretion systems and outer membrane vesicles. Among these are a large variety of lipolytic enzymes which possess phospholipase/lysophospholipase and/or glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferase activities. Secreted lipolytic activities may contribute to bacterial virulence, for example via modification of eukaryotic membranes, such as the LCV. In this review, we describe the secretion systems of L. pneumophila, introduce the classification of phospholipases, and summarize the state of the art on secreted L. pneumophila phospholipases. We especially highlight those enzymes secreted via the type II secretion system Lsp, via the type IVB secretion system Dot/Icm, via outer membrane vesicles, and such where the mode of secretion has not yet been defined. We also give an overview on the complexity of their activities, activation mechanisms, localization, growth-phase dependent abundance, and their role in infection.

L-glutamine Induces Expression of Listeria monocytogenes Virulence Genes

The high environmental adaptability of bacteria is contingent upon their ability to sense changes in their surroundings. Bacterial pathogen entry into host poses an abrupt and dramatic environmental change, during which successful pathogens gauge multiple parameters that signal host localization. The facultative human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes flourishes in soil, water and food, and in ~50 different animals, and serves as a model for intracellular infection. L. monocytogenes identifies host entry by sensing both physical (e.g., temperature) and chemical (e.g., metabolite concentrations) factors. We report here that L-glutamine, an abundant nitrogen source in host serum and cells, serves as an environmental indicator and inducer of virulence gene expression. In contrast, ammonia, which is the most abundant nitrogen source in soil and water, fully supports growth, but fails to activate virulence gene transcription. We demonstrate that induction of virulence genes only occurs when the Listerial intracellular concentration of L-glutamine crosses a certain threshold, acting as an on/off switch: off when L-glutamine concentrations are below the threshold, and fully on when the threshold is crossed. To turn on the switch, L-glutamine must be present, and the L-glutamine high affinity ABC transporter, GlnPQ, must be active. Inactivation of GlnPQ led to complete arrest of L-glutamine uptake, reduced type I interferon response in infected macrophages, dramatic reduction in expression of virulence genes, and attenuated virulence in a mouse infection model. These results may explain observations made with other pathogens correlating nitrogen metabolism and virulence, and suggest that gauging of L-glutamine as a means of ascertaining host localization may be a general mechanism.

Determination of virulence and antibiotic resistance pattern of biofilm producing Listeria species isolated from retail raw milk

BACKGROUND

One of the foodborne pathogens is Listeria monocytogenes, which causes serious invasive illness in elderly and immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, newborns and infants ranking second after salmonellosis because of its high case fatality rate. Listerial cow mastitis marked by abnormal milk, increased cell counts and reduced production has not been reported. Therefore, apparently healthy cows can be reservoirs of L. monocytogenes. A number of 203 udder milk samples from apparently healthy animals (buffalo, n = 100; cow, n = 103) were collected and tested for Listeria. Isolated colonies on the PALCAM agar were Listeria species confirmed according to their biochemical and the Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen (CAMP) reactions. The Listeria species pathogenicity of was tested by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, DL-alanine-β-naphthylamide HCl, Dalanine-p-nitroanilide tests, chick embryo, mice inoculation tests, Vero cell cytotoxicity and biofilm formation. The virulence-associated genes, hlyA, plcB, actA and iap associated with Listeria were molecularly assayed.

RESULTS

The 17 isolated Listeria spp. represented a prevalence rate of 8.4 %. Of these 3 (1.4 %), 2 (1 %), 5 (2.5 %), 4 (2 %) and 3 (1.5 %) were confirmed as L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, L. welshimeri, L. seelegeri, respectively. While the L. monocytogenes isolate displayed all the four virulence-associated genes, L. seelegeri carried the hlyA gene only. The L. monocytogenes had a strong in vitro affinity to form a biofilm, in particular serotype 4 which is associated with human infections. L. monocytogenes showed resistance for 9/27 antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

The biofilm forming capability of the Listeria spps. makes them particularly successful in colonizing surfaces within the host thus being responsible for persistence infections and due to their antimicrobial resistant phenotype that this structure confers. In addition, strains belonging to serotypes associated with human infections and characterized by pathogenic potential (serotype 4) are capable to persist within the processing plants forming biofilm and thus being a medical hazard.

Mycobacterium abscessus phospholipase C expression is induced during coculture within amoebae and enhances M. abscessus virulence in mice

Mycobacterium abscessus is a pathogenic, rapidly growing mycobacterium involved in pulmonary and cutaneo-mucous infections worldwide, to which cystic fibrosis patients are exquisitely susceptible. The analysis of the genome sequence of M. abscessus showed that this bacterium is endowed with the metabolic pathways typically found in environmental microorganisms that come into contact with soil, plants, and aquatic environments, where free-living amoebae are frequently present. M. abscessus also contains several genes that are characteristically found only in pathogenic bacteria. One of them is MAB_0555, encoding a putative phospholipase C (PLC) that is absent from most other rapidly growing mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Here, we report that purified recombinant M. abscessus PLC is highly cytotoxic to mouse macrophages, presumably due to hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. We further showed by constructing and using an M. abscessus PLC knockout mutant that loss of PLC activity is deleterious to M. abscessus intracellular survival in amoebae. The importance of PLC is further supported by the fact that M. abscessus PLC was found to be expressed only in amoebae. Aerosol challenge of mice with M. abscessus strains that were precultured in amoebae enhanced M. abscessus lung infectivity relative to M. abscessus grown in broth culture. Our study underlines the importance of PLC for the virulence of M. abscessus. Despite the difficulties of isolating M. abscessus from environmental sources, our findings suggest that M. abscessus has evolved in close contact with environmental protozoa, which supports the argument that amoebae may contribute to the virulence of opportunistic mycobacteria.

Confirmed low prevalence of Listeria mastitis in she-camel milk delivers a safe, alternative milk for human consumption

She-camel milk is an alternative solution for people allergic to milk; unfortunately, potential harmful bacteria have not been tested in she-camel milk. Listeria monocytogenes is one harmful bacterium that causes adverse health effects if chronically or acutely ingested by humans. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence, characterize the phenotypic, genetic characterization, virulence factors, and antibiopotential harmful bacteria resistance profile of Listeria isolated from the milk of she-camel. Udder milk samples were collected from 100 she-camels and screened for mastitis using the California mastitis test (46 healthy female camels, 24 subclinical mastitic animals and 30 clinical mastitic animals). Samples were then examined for the presence of pathogenic Listeria spp; if located, the isolation of Listeria was completed using the International Organization for Standards technique to test for pathogenicity. The isolates were subjected to PCR assay for virulence-associated genes. Listeria spp. were isolated from 4% of samples and only 1.0% was confirmed as L. monocytogenes. The results of this study provide evidence for the low prevalence of intramammary Listeria infection; additionally, this study concludes she-camel milk in healthy camels milked and harvested in proper hygienic conditions may be used as alternative milk for human consumption.

Does changing the predicted dynamics of a phospholipase C alter activity and membrane binding?

The enzymatic activity of secreted phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) enzymes is associated with bacterial virulence. Although the PI-PLC active site has no obvious lid, molecular-dynamics simulations suggest that correlated loop motions may limit access to the active site, and two Pro residues, Pro(245) and Pro(254), are associated with these correlated motions. Whereas the region containing both Pro residues is quite variable among PI-PLCs, it shows high conservation in virulence-associated, secreted PI-PLCs that bind to the surface of cells. These regions of the protein are also associated with phosphatidylcholine binding, which enhances PI-PLC activity. In silico mutagenesis of Pro(245) disrupts correlated motions between the two halves of Bacillus thuringiensis PI-PLC, and Pro(245) variants show significantly reduced enzymatic activity in all assay systems. PC still enhanced activity, but not to the level of wild-type enzyme. Mutagenesis of Pro(254) appears to stiffen the PI-PLC structure, but experimental mutations had minor effects on activity and membrane binding. With the exception of P245Y, reduced activity was not associated with reduced membrane affinity. This combination of simulations and experiments suggests that correlated motions between the two halves of PI-PLC may be more important for enzymatic activity than for vesicle binding.

Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C: Kinetic activation and homing in on different interfaces

The phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) from Listeria monocytogenes forms aggregates with anionic lipids leading to low activity. The specific activity of the enzyme can be enhanced by dilution of the protein or by addition of both zwitterionic and neutral amphiphiles (e.g., diheptanoylphosphatidylcholine or Triton X-100) or 0.1-0.2 M inorganic salts. Activation by amphiphiles occurs with both micellar (phosphatidylinositol dispersed in detergents) and monomeric [dibutroylphosphatidylinositol (diC(4)PI)] phosphotransferase substrates and inositol 1,2-(cyclic)-phosphate (cIP), the phosphodiesterase substrate. The presence of zwitterionic and neutral amphiphiles (to which the protein binds weakly) dilutes the surface concentration of the interfacial anionic substrate and thereby reduces the level of enzyme-phospholipid particle aggregation. Zwitterionic amphiphiles also can bind directly to the protein and enhance catalysis since they enhance both diC(4)PI and cIP hydrolysis. In contrast to activation by amphiphiles, the rate enhancement by salt occurs for only the phosphotransferase step of the reaction. Added salt has a synergistic effect with zwitterionic phospholipids, leading to high specific activities for PI cleavage with only moderate dilution of the anionic substrate in the interface. This kinetic activation correlates with weakening of strong PI-PLC hydrophobic interactions with the interface as monitored by a decrease in the maximum monolayer surface pressure for insertion of the protein. Several point mutations of surface hydrophobic residues (W49A, L51A, L235A, and F237W) can dramatically alter the unusual kinetics of this secreted enzyme. The high affinity of PI-PLC for anionic phospholipids along with a strong hydrophobic interaction, which gives rise to the unusual kinetic behavior, is considered in terms of how it might contribute to the role of this phospholipase in L. monocytogenes infectivity.

A small-molecule screen identifies the antipsychotic drug pimozide as an inhibitor of Listeria monocytogenes infection

We developed a screening procedure to identify small-molecule compounds that altered infection by Listeria monocytogenes to gain insights into bacterial/host cellular processes required for intracellular pathogenesis. A small-molecule library of 480 compounds with known biological functions was screened, and 21 compounds that altered the L. monocytogenes infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) were identified. The identified compounds affected various cellular functions, such as actin polymerization, kinase/phosphatase activity, calcium signaling, and apoptosis. Pimozide, an FDA-approved drug used to treat severe Tourette's syndrome and schizophrenia, was further examined and shown to decrease the bacterial uptake and vacuole escape of L. monocytogenes in BMM. The inhibitory effect of pimozide on internalization was not specific for L. monocytogenes, as the phagocytosis of other bacterial species (Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Escherichia coli K12) was significantly inhibited in the presence of pimozide. The invasion and cell-to-cell spread of L. monocytogenes during the infection of nonprofessional phagocytic cells also was decreased by pimozide treatment. Although pimozide has been reported to be an antagonist of mammalian cell calcium channels, the infection of BMM in a calcium-free medium did not relieve the inhibitory effects of pimozide on L. monocytogenes infection. Our results provide a generalizable screening approach for identifying small-molecule compounds that affect cellular pathways that are required for intracellular bacterial pathogenesis. We also have identified pimozide, a clinically approved antipsychotic drug, as a compound that may be suitable for further development as a therapeutic for intracellular bacterial infections.

Insights into the structural specificity of the cytotoxicity of 3-deoxyphosphatidylinositols

D-3-deoxyphosphatidylinositol (D-3-deoxy-PI) derivatives have cytotoxic activity against various human cancer cell lines. These phosphatidylinositols have a potentially wide array of targets in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling network. To explore the specificity of these types of molecules, we have synthesized D-3-deoxydioctanoylphosphatidylinositol (D-3-deoxy-diC8PI), D-3,5-dideoxy-diC8PI, and D-3-deoxy-diC8PI-5-phosphate and their enantiomers, characterized their aggregate formation by novel high-resolution field cycling (31)P NMR, and examined their susceptibility to phospholipase C (PLC), their effects on the catalytic activities of PI3K and PTEN against diC8PI and diC8PI-3-phosphate substrates, respectively, and their ability to induce the death of U937 human leukemic monocyte lymphoma cells. Of these molecules, only D-3-deoxy-diC8PI was able to promote cell death; it did so with a median inhibitory concentration of 40 microM, which is much less than the critical micelle concentration of 0.4 mM. Under these conditions, little inhibition of PI3K or PTEN was observed in assays of recombinant enzymes, although the complete series of deoxy-PI compounds did provide insights into ligand binding by PTEN. D-3-deoxy-diC8PI was a poor substrate and not an inhibitor of the PLC enzymes. The in vivo results are consistent with the current thought that the PI analogue acts on Akt1, since the transcription initiation factor eIF4e, which is a downstream signaling target of the PI3K/Akt pathway, exhibited reduced phosphorylation on Ser209. Phosphorylation of Akt1 on Ser473 but not Thr308 was reduced. Since the potent cytotoxicity for U937 cells was completely lost when L-3-deoxy-diC8PI was used as well as when the hydroxyl group at the inositol C5 in D-3-deoxy-diC8PI was modified (by either replacing this group with a hydrogen or phosphorylating it), both the chirality of the phosphatidylinositol moiety and the hydroxyl group at C5 are major determinants of the binding of 3-deoxy-PI to its target in cells.

Listeria monocytogenes in spontaneous abortions in humans and its detection by multiplex PCR

AIM

To assess the extent of Listeria monocytogenes in causation of human spontaneous abortions by isolation methods and PCR analysis for the presence of virulence-associated genes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 305 samples comprising blood, urine, placental bits, faecal and vaginal swabs were collected from 61 patients with spontaneous abortions. Listeria spp. were isolated from 10 samples collected from nine (14.8%) patients. Confirmation of these isolates was based on biochemical tests, haemolysis on blood agar, CAMP test, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) assay followed by in vivo pathogenicity tests and multiplex PCR to detect virulence-associated genes (prfA, plcA, hlyA, actA and iap). Three isolates were confirmed as L. monocytogenes. Of these, two isolates turned out to be pathogenic and found to posses all five genes. However, the remaining two haemolytic L. monocytogenes isolates lacking the plcA gene and activity in the PI-PLC assay were found to be nonpathogenic by in vivo tests.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of pathogenic L. monocytogenes in cases of spontaneous abortions was 3.3%. It seems that the plcA gene and its expression have an important role as essential virulence determinants in pathogenic Listeria spp.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The recovery of pathogenic L. monocytogenes isolates from cases of spontaneous abortion indicates the significance of listeric infection in pregnant women.

Detection of multiple virulence-associated genes in Listeria monocytogenes isolated from bovine mastitis cases

Clinical samples (n=725) were collected from bovines (n=243) which were positive for mastitis using the California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). The clinical samples comprising blood (n=239), milk (n=243), and faecal swabs (n=243) were examined for the presence of pathogenic Listeria spp. Isolation of the pathogen was done using selective enrichment in University of Vermont Medium and plating onto Dominguez-Rodriguez isolation agar. Confirmation of the isolates was based on biochemical tests and Christie, Atkins, Munch-Petersen (CAMP) test followed by pathogenicity testing. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) assay as well as in vivo tests namely, chick embryo and mice inoculation tests. The isolates were subjected to PCR assay for five virulence-associated genes, plcA, prfA, hlyA, actA and iap. Listeria spp. were isolated from 12 (1.66%) samples. Of these 4 (0.55%) and 1 (0.14%) were confirmed as Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii, respectively. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii were recovered from milk samples (2) and faecal (3) of mastitic cattle (3) and buffaloes (2). L. monocytogenes recovered from the milk of mastitic cattle and L. ivanovii from the faecal swab of buffalo turned out to be pathogenic. However, the remaining three hemolytic isolates exhibiting positive CAMP test turned out to be negative in PI-PLC assay, chick embryo and mice inoculation. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii isolates characterized as pathogenic by PI-PLC assay and in vivo pathogenicity tests were found to possess all the five virulence-associated genes and three genes, plcA, prfA and actA respectively. The remaining three hemolytic but non-pathogenic L. monocytogenes isolates were negative for plcA by PCR. It seems that the plcA gene and its expression (in the PI-PLC assay) have an important role as virulence determinants in pathogenic Listeria spp. In conclusion, the PI-PLC assay and virulence genes targeted PCR (plcA, prfA and hlyA genes for L. monocytogenes and plcA, prfA and actA genes for L. ivanovii) hold a good promise as rapid and reliable in vitro alternatives to in vivo pathogenicity tests.

Differential function of Listeria monocytogenes listeriolysin O and phospholipases C in vacuolar dissolution following cell-to-cell spread

We investigated the role of listeriolysin O (LLO) and the bacterial phospholipases PI-PLC and PC-PLC in cell-to-cell spread of Listeria monocytogenes. We showed that LLO is essential for cell-to-cell spread in primary murine macrophages. Electron micrographs revealed that in the absence of continued LLO expression, bacteria remain trapped in secondary spreading vacuoles having either a double or single membrane. In bacteria lacking PI-PLC and PC-PLC, cessation of LLO expression after initiation of infection resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of bacteria trapped in double-membrane compartments. We propose that the bacterial phospholipases are involved in the dissolution of the inner membrane of the spreading vacuole, yet are not sufficient for disruption of the outer membrane. As a consequence, we identified LLO as a key factor in the disruption of the outer membrane. This model is consistent with the observation that LLO is dispensable for cell-to-cell spread from human macrophages into a cell type in which LLO is not required for vacuolar escape. These data suggest that during human infection, spreading of L. monocytogenes to distant organs is likely to occur even in the absence of LLO expression, and that the bacterial phospholipases may be sufficient to mediate continued cell-to-cell spread.

Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from buffaloes with reproductive disorders and its confirmation by polymerase chain reaction

Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen was isolated from buffaloes with a history of reproductive disorders and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses for the presence of virulence-associated genes were conducted. A total of 530 samples of faecal, nasal, vaginal swabs and blood samples from 135 buffaloes were screened. The prevalence of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. was found to be 4.4 and 7.4%, respectively. All isolates were subjected to PCR for virulence-associated genes (prfA, plcA, hlyA, actA and iap) and to pathogenicity testing by the phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (PI-PLC) assay and mice and chick-embryo inoculation. All L. monocytogenes isolates were hemolytic and positive for the hlyA gene. One L. monocytogenes isolate possessed all five virulence-associated genes and was also positive in the PI-PLC assay as well as in the in vivo pathogenicity tests. The remaining hemolytic L. monocytogenes isolates lacking the plcA gene and PI-PLC assay activity were, however, non-pathogenic via mice and chick-embryo inoculation tests, in spite of having the hlyA gene. The detection of multiple virulence-associated genes, in combination with in vitro pathogenicity tests, must be performed to identify pathogenic L. monocytogenes.

Investigation of specific substitutions in virulence genes characterizing phenotypic groups of low-virulence field strains of Listeria monocytogenes

Several models have shown that virulence varies from one strain of Listeria monocytogenes to another, but little is known about the cause of low virulence. Twenty-six field L. monocytogenes strains were shown to be of low virulence in a plaque-forming assay and in a subcutaneous inoculation test in mice. Using the results of cell infection assays and phospholipase activities, the low-virulence strains were assigned to one of four groups by cluster analysis and then virulence-related genes were sequenced. Group I included 11 strains that did not enter cells and had no phospholipase activity. These strains exhibited a mutated PrfA; eight strains had a single amino acid substitution, PrfAK220T, and the other three had a truncated PrfA, PrfADelta174-237. These genetic modifications could explain the low virulence of group I strains, since mutated PrfA proteins were inactive. Group II and III strains entered cells but did not form plaques. Group II strains had low phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C activity, whereas group III strains had low phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C activity. Several substitutions were observed for five out of six group III strains in the plcA gene and for one out of three group II strains in the plcB gene. Group IV strains poorly colonized spleens of mice and were practically indistinguishable from fully virulent strains on the basis of the above-mentioned in vitro criteria. These results demonstrate a relationship between the phenotypic classification and the genotypic modifications for at least group I and III strains and suggest a common evolution of these strains within a group.

Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes expressing anthrolysin O and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus anthracis

Two virulence factors of Listeria monocytogenes, listeriolysin O (LLO) and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), mediate escape of this pathogen from the phagocytic vacuole of macrophages, thereby allowing the bacterium access to the host cell cytosol for growth and spread to neighboring cells. We characterized their orthologs from Bacillus anthracis by expressing them in L. monocytogenes and characterizing their contribution to bacterial intracellular growth and cell-to-cell spread. We generated a series of L. monocytogenes strains expressing B. anthracis anthrolysin O (ALO) and PI-PLC in place of LLO and L. monocytogenes PI-PLC, respectively. We found that ALO was active at both acidic and neutral pH and could functionally replace LLO in mediating escape from a primary vacuole; however, ALO exerted a toxic effect on the host cell by damaging the plasma membrane. B. anthracis PI-PLC, unlike the L. monocytogenes ortholog, had high activity on glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins. L. monocytogenes expressing B. anthracis PI-PLC showed significantly decreased efficiencies of escape from a phagosome and in cell-to-cell spread. We further compared the level of cytotoxicity to host cells by using mutant strains expressing ALO in combination either with L. monocytogenes PI-PLC or with B. anthracis PI-PLC. The results demonstrated that the mutant strain expressing the combination of ALO and B. anthracis PI-PLC caused less damage to host cells than the strain expressing ALO and L. monocytogenes PI-PLC. The present study indicates that LLO and L. monocytogenes PI-PLC has adapted for L. monocytogenes intracellular growth and virulence and suggests that ALO and B. anthracis PI-PLC may have a role in B. anthracis pathogenesis.

Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C has evolved for virulence by greatly reduced activity on GPI anchors

Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) plays a critical role in escape of this human pathogen from host cell vacuoles. Unlike classical bacterial PI-PLCs, the L. monocytogenes enzyme has very weak activity on glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. Previous crystal structure analysis has revealed that a small beta-strand (Vb) is present in Bacillus cereus PI-PLC and is absent in the enzyme from L. monocytogenes. This Vb beta-strand in B. cereus PI-PLC forms contacts with the glycan linker of GPI anchors, which presumably increases its activity on GPI-anchored proteins. In this study, we show that, of all known bacterial PI-PLCs, those from listeriae are the only ones that lack the beta-strand. Expression by L. monocytogenes of B. cereus PI-PLC, which has strong activity on GPI-anchored proteins, inhibited bacterial escape from a vacuole and cell-to-cell spread, resulting in greatly reduced virulence in mice. Deletion of the Vb beta-strand from B. cereus PI-PLC abolished its ability to cleave GPI-anchored proteins, decreased its inhibitory effects, and increased its virulence in mice. These results strongly suggest that L. monocytogenes PI-PLC has evolved as an important determinant of L. monocytogenes pathogenesis by absence of the Vb beta-strand, thus leading to greatly reduced activity on GPI-anchored proteins.

Involvement of Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and host protein kinase C in permeabilization of the macrophage phagosome

We have previously shown that phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) produced by Listeria monocytogenes activates a host protein kinase C (PKC) cascade which promotes escape of the bacterium from a macrophage-like cell phagosome. Here, we provide evidence linking bacterial PI-PLC and host PKC beta to phagosome permeabilization, which precedes escape.

Phosphatidylinositol-Specific Phospholipase C ofBacillus anthracisDown-Modulates the Immune Response

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases (PI-PLCs) are virulence factors produced by many pathogenic bacteria, including Bacillus anthracis and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacillus PI-PLC differs from Listeria PI-PLC in that it has strong activity for cleaving GPI-anchored proteins. Treatment of murine DCs with Bacillus, but not Listeria, PI-PLC inhibited dendritic cell (DC) activation by TLR ligands. Infection of mice with Listeria expressing B. anthracis PI-PLC resulted in a reduced Ag-specific CD4 T cell response. These data indicate that B. anthracis PI-PLC down-modulates DC function and T cell responses, possibly by cleaving GPI-anchored proteins important for TLR-mediated DC activation.

Influence of environmental conditions on the expression of virulence factors by Listeria monocytogenes and their use in species identification

The hemolytic, lecithinase or phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activities of Listeria monocytogenes can be used to differentiate this pathogenic bacteria from L. innocua, apathogenic, frequently isolated from environmental sources and food. However, the interpretation of these characteristics is problematic because of the variation in the expression of virulence factors by L. monocytogenes, which can be influenced by environmental conditions. We used a cheap, simple plate assay to monitor this expression in strains obtained from various sources and grown under different culture conditions. The results were increasingly significant and were obtained adding activated charcoal and different salts to the culture media, and in some cases changing the culture temperature, all with a rigorous control on the process of media sterilization.

Isolation of pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes and detection of antibodies against phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C in buffaloes

The isolation of pathogenic Listeria spp. in bacteriological samples, and anti-phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (anti-PIPLC) antibodies in sera of buffaloes were studied. Isolation of the pathogen was attempted from the samples by selective enrichment in University of Vermont Medium and plating onto Dominguez-Rodriguez isolation agar. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested by Christie, Atkins, Munch Petersen test and mice incoulation test. Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes were isolated from 8.8 and 2.4%, and 4.8 and 1.6% of 125 each meat and blood samples, respectively. Out of the 125 samples each of feacal, nasal and vaginal swabs from buffaloes 8 and 4%, 13.6 and 2.4%, and 6.4 and 2.4% were positive for Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes, respectively. L. ivanovii was confirmed from 0.8% vaginal sample. A total of 125 serum samples were tested by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC) based indirect ELISA of which 4.0% turned out to be seropositive.

Cross-linking phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C traps two activating phosphatidylcholine molecules on the enzyme

Bacillus thuringiensis phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), a bacterial model for the catalytic domain of mammalian PI-PLC enzymes, was cross-linked by 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride to probe for the aggregation and/or conformational changes of PI-PLC when bound to activating phosphatidylcholine (PC) interfaces. Dimers and higher order multimers (up to 31% of the total protein when cross-linked at pH 7) were observed when the enzyme was cross-linked in the presence of PC vesicles. Aggregates were also detected with PI-PLC bound to diheptanoyl-PC (diC(7)PC) micelles, although the fraction of cross-linked multimers (19% at pH 7) was lower than when the enzyme was cross-linked in the presence of vesicles. PI-PLC cross-linked in the presence of a diC(7)PC interface exhibited an enhanced specific activity for PI cleavage. The extent of this cross-linking-enhanced activation was reduced in PI-PLC mutants lacking either tryptophan in the rim (W47A and W242A) of this (betaalpha)(8)-barrel protein. The higher activity of the native protein cross-linked in the presence of diC(7)PC correlated with an increased affinity of the protein for two diC(7)PC molecules as detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In contrast to wild type protein, W47A and W242A had only a single diC(7)PC tightly associated when cross-linked in the presence of that activator molecule. These results indicate that (i) each rim tryptophan residue is involved in binding a PC molecule at interfaces, (ii) the affinity of the enzyme for an activating PC molecule is enhanced when the protein is bound to a surface, and (iii) this conformation of the enzyme with at least two PC bound that is stabilized by chemical cross-linking interacts more effectively with activating interfaces, leading to higher observed specific activities for the phosphotransferase reaction.

Restricted translocation across the cell wall regulates secretion of the broad-range phospholipase C of Listeria monocytogenes

The virulence of Listeria monocytogenes is directly related to its ability to spread from cell to cell without leaving the intracellular milieu. During cell-to-cell spread, bacteria become temporarily confined to secondary vacuoles. Among the bacterial factors involved in escape from these vacuoles is a secreted broad-range phospholipase C (PC-PLC), the activation of which requires processing of an N-terminal prodomain. Mpl, a secreted metalloprotease of Listeria, is involved in the proteolytic activation of PC-PLC. We previously showed that, during intracellular growth, bacteria maintain a pool of PC-PLC that is not accessible to antibodies and that is rapidly released in its active form in response to a decrease in pH. pH-regulated release of active PC-PLC is Mpl dependent. To further characterize the mechanism regulating secretion of PC-PLC, the bacterial localization of PC-PLC and Mpl was investigated. Both proteins were detected in the bacterial supernatant and lysate with no apparent changes in molecular weight. Extraction of bacteria-associated PC-PLC and Mpl required cell wall hydrolysis, but there was no indication that either protein was covalently bound to the bacterial cell wall. Results from pulse-chase experiments performed with infected macrophages indicated that the rate of synthesis of PC-PLC exceeded the rate of translocation across the bacterial cell wall and confirmed that the pool of PC-PLC associated with bacteria was efficiently activated and secreted upon acidification of the host cell cytosol. These data suggest that bacterially associated PC-PLC and Mpl localize at the cell wall-membrane interface and that translocation of PC-PLC across the bacterial cell wall is rate limiting, resulting in the formation of a bacterially associated pool of PC-PLC that would readily be accessible for activation and release into nascent secondary vacuoles.

Surviving the acid test: responses of gram-positive bacteria to low pH

Gram-positive bacteria possess a myriad of acid resistance systems that can help them to overcome the challenge posed by different acidic environments. In this review the most common mechanisms are described: i.e., the use of proton pumps, the protection or repair of macromolecules, cell membrane changes, production of alkali, induction of pathways by transcriptional regulators, alteration of metabolism, and the role of cell density and cell signaling. We also discuss the responses of Listeria monocytogenes, Rhodococcus, Mycobacterium, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, oral streptococci, and lactic acid bacteria to acidic environments and outline ways in which this knowledge has been or may be used to either aid or prevent bacterial survival in low-pH environments.

Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C: activation and allostery

The animal and human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes secretes several virulence factors, including a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). Sufficient quantities of L. monocytogenes PI-PLC for biophysical studies were obtained by overexpression of the enzyme in Escherichia coli. The purified PI-PLC was examined in enzyme kinetics experiments using a new fluorogenic substrate, methyl-FLIP. Methyl-FLIP is a water-soluble monomeric substrate cleaved in a manner similar to the natural aggregate substrate, phosphatidylinositol (PI). Michaelis-Menten kinetics were observed with K(M) = 61 +/- 7 microM and V(max) = 120 +/- 5 micromol min(-1) mg(-1), corresponding to k(cat) = 66+/-3 s(-1). The catalysis is activated by the addition of a short-chain phospholipid, dihexanoyl phosphatidylcholine (diC(6)PC). The kinetics were fitted to a two-site model in which the substrate binds to the active site and diC(6)PC binds to a second site, with an interaction between the two sites. The result is a decrease in K(M) and an increase in V(max), producing an overall four to five-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(M)). The interaction is not a regulatory mechanism, as is the case for multimeric enzymes; rather, it suggests interfacial cooperativity between the active site and a lipid-binding subsite, presumably adjacent to the active site.

Macrophage intracellular signaling induced by Listeria monocytogenes

Macrophages are critical for control of Listeria monocytogenes infections; accordingly, the interactions of L. monocytogenes with these cells have been intensively studied. It has become apparent that this facultative intracellular pathogen interacts with macrophages both prior to entry and during the intracellular phase. This review covers recent work on signaling induced in macrophages by L. monocytogenes, especially intracellular signals induced by secreted proteins including listeriolysin O and two distinct phospholipases C.

Effect of acid adaptation on the fate of Listeria monocytogenes in THP-1 human macrophages activated by gamma interferon

In Listeria monocytogenes the acid tolerance response (ATR) takes place through a programmed molecular response which ensures cell survival under unfavorable conditions. Much evidence links ATR with virulence, but the molecular determinants involved in the reactivity to low pHs and the behavior of acid-exposed bacteria within host cells are still poorly understood. We have investigated the effect of acid adaptation on the fate of L. monocytogenes in human macrophages. Expression of genes encoding determinants for cell invasion and intracellular survival was tested for acid-exposed bacteria, and invasive behavior in the human myelomonocytic cell line THP-1 activated with gamma interferon was assessed. Functional approaches demonstrated that preexposure to an acidic pH enhances the survival of L. monocytogenes in activated human macrophages and that this effect is associated with an altered pattern of expression of genes involved in acid resistance and cell invasion. Significantly decreased transcription of the plcA gene, encoding a phospholipase C involved in vacuolar escape and cell-to-cell spread, was observed in acid-adapted bacteria. This effect was due to a reduction in the quantity of the bicistronic plcA-prfA transcript, concomitant with an increase in the level(s) of the monocistronic prfA mRNA(s). The transcriptional shift from distal to proximal prfA promoters resulted in equal levels of the prfA transcript (and, as a consequence, of the inlA, hly, and actA transcripts) under neutral and acidic conditions. In contrast, the sodC and gad genes, encoding a cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase and the glutamate-based acid resistance system, respectively, were positively regulated at a low pH. Morphological approaches confirmed the increased intracellular survival and growth of acid-adapted L. monocytogenes cells both in vacuoles and in the cytoplasm of interferon gamma-activated THP-1 macrophages. Our data indicate that preexposure to a low pH has a positive impact on subsequent challenge of L. monocytogenes with macrophagic cells.

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity in Lactobacillus rhamnosus with capacity to translocate

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) activity was investigated in 25 different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus, Weisella, and Enterococcus. PI-PLC activity was detected in 44% of the strains studied in culture medium without carbon source. From the PI-PLC positive strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 was selected for translocation studies. Healthy mice were orally administered with a daily dose of 2.0 x 10(9) of viable L. rhamnosus suspension. Viable bacteria were detected in liver and spleen of mice fed with LAB for 7 days. Bacterial colonies isolated from liver were biochemically characterized, and further subjected to randomly amplified polymorphic DNA. Amplification patterns of five strains displayed identical profiles to L. rhamnosus. PI-PLC activity was determined in the strains recovered from liver.

Listeria pathogenesis and molecular virulence determinants

The gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis, a highly fatal opportunistic foodborne infection. Pregnant women, neonates, the elderly, and debilitated or immunocompromised patients in general are predominantly affected, although the disease can also develop in normal individuals. Clinical manifestations of invasive listeriosis are usually severe and include abortion, sepsis, and meningoencephalitis. Listeriosis can also manifest as a febrile gastroenteritis syndrome. In addition to humans, L. monocytogenes affects many vertebrate species, including birds. Listeria ivanovii, a second pathogenic species of the genus, is specific for ruminants. Our current view of the pathophysiology of listeriosis derives largely from studies with the mouse infection model. Pathogenic listeriae enter the host primarily through the intestine. The liver is thought to be their first target organ after intestinal translocation. In the liver, listeriae actively multiply until the infection is controlled by a cell-mediated immune response. This initial, subclinical step of listeriosis is thought to be common due to the frequent presence of pathogenic L. monocytogenes in food. In normal individuals, the continual exposure to listerial antigens probably contributes to the maintenance of anti-Listeria memory T cells. However, in debilitated and immunocompromised patients, the unrestricted proliferation of listeriae in the liver may result in prolonged low-level bacteremia, leading to invasion of the preferred secondary target organs (the brain and the gravid uterus) and to overt clinical disease. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii are facultative intracellular parasites able to survive in macrophages and to invade a variety of normally nonphagocytic cells, such as epithelial cells, hepatocytes, and endothelial cells. In all these cell types, pathogenic listeriae go through an intracellular life cycle involving early escape from the phagocytic vacuole, rapid intracytoplasmic multiplication, bacterially induced actin-based motility, and direct spread to neighboring cells, in which they reinitiate the cycle. In this way, listeriae disseminate in host tissues sheltered from the humoral arm of the immune system. Over the last 15 years, a number of virulence factors involved in key steps of this intracellular life cycle have been identified. This review describes in detail the molecular determinants of Listeria virulence and their mechanism of action and summarizes the current knowledge on the pathophysiology of listeriosis and the cell biology and host cell responses to Listeria infection. This article provides an updated perspective of the development of our understanding of Listeria pathogenesis from the first molecular genetic analyses of virulence mechanisms reported in 1985 until the start of the genomic era of Listeria research.

Activation of host phospholipases C and D in macrophages after infection with Listeria monocytogenes

Infection of the J774 murine macrophage-derived cell line with Listeria monocytogenes results in several elevations of intracellular calcium during the first 15 min of infection. These appear to result from the actions of secreted bacterial proteins, including phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), a broad-range phospholipase C, and listeriolysin O (LLO) (S. J. Wadsworth and H. Goldfine, Infect. Immun. 67:1770-1778, 1999). We have measured hydrolysis of host PI and the activation of host polyphosphoinositide-specific PLC and host phospholipase D (PLD) during infection with wild-type and mutant L. monocytogenes. Elevated hydrolysis of host PI occurred within the first 10 min of infection and was dependent on both bacterial PI-PLC and LLO, both of which were required for the earliest elevations of intracellular calcium in the host cell. A more rapid hydrolysis of host PI was observed at 30 min after infection, at the time when wild-type bacteria have been internalized. Activation of host PLC, also occurred in the first 10 min of infection but was not dependent on the presence of bacterial PI-PLC. Similar observations were made in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. In J774 cells, activation of host PLD was observed after 20 min of infection and was dependent on bacterial LLO. Mutants in the bacterial phospholipases produced levels of PLD activation similar to those produced by the wild type. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) also activated host PLD, while long-term treatment with PMA resulted in loss of the ability of L. monocytogenes to activate host PLD, suggesting an involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the activation of PLD. Rottlerin, an inhibitor of PKC delta in J774 cells, also inhibited the activation of PLD, but hispidin, an inhibitor of PKC betaI and betaII, did not. Pretreatment of J774 cells with the PLD inhibitor, 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate partially inhibited escape of the bacteria from the primary phagocytic vacuole.

Pathogenicity and production of virulence factors by Listeria monocytogenes isolates from channel catfish

Pathogenicity of four channel catfish Listeria monocytogenes isolates (CCF1, CCF4, HCC7, and HCC23) was examined in a comparative manner with virulent type strains L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115 and EGD and avirulent type strain ATCC 15313 in BDF and A/J mice. Isolates HCC7 and CCF1 (both serovar 1) caused similar percent mortalities and 50% lethal concentration values when compared with virulent type strains and were therefore considered pathogenic. The presence of the virulence factors listeriolysin (LLO), phosphotidylcholine-phospholipase (PC-PLC), and phosphotidylinositol-phospholipase (PI-PLC) was determined using specific activity tests. The virulent catfish isolates were positive for production of LLO, PC-PLC, and PI-PLC. However, catfish isolate HCC23 was not virulent in mice despite being hemolytic, suggesting that not every hemolytic L. monocytogenes strain is virulent. With the exception of HCC7, all virulent strains displayed enhanced LLO production in a special stress medium, whereas almost undetectable LLO activity was present when catfish isolates and virulent type strain L. monocytogenes were grown in a rich medium such as brain heart infusion. Avirulent strains were found to lack or have decreased expression of LLO, PC-PLC, or PI-PLC.

Host cell signal transduction during Listeria monocytogenes infection

The facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes invades and multiplies in many mammalian cell types. During the interaction with its host cells it strongly interferes with and modulates host cell functions. In the present review we summarize the current knowledge on the modulation of signal transduction pathways by secreted listerial products prior to bacterium-cell contact, during uptake, or while L. monocytogenes resides in the different intracellular compartments.

Bacterial phospholipases and pathogenesis

Phospholipases are produced from a diverse group of bacterial pathogens causing very different diseases. In some cases, secreted phospholipases appear to be the major cause of pathophysiological effects. Yet in other cases, phospholipases are key virulence factors, contributing to bacterial survival or dissemination without causing tissue destruction. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of phospholipases as virulence factors is their potential to interfere with cellular signaling cascades and to modulate the host immune response.

Listeria monocytogenes phospholipase C-dependent calcium signaling modulates bacterial entry into J774 macrophage-like cells

Listeria monocytogenes secretes several proteins that have been shown to contribute to virulence. Among these is listeriolysin O (LLO), a pore-forming hemolysin that is absolutely required for virulence. Two other virulence factors are phospholipases: a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC [plcA]) and a broad-range PLC (plcB). Although mutations in plcA or plcB resulted in small increases in mouse 50% lethal dose (LD50), deletions in both genes resulted in a 500-fold increase in LD50. We have examined the role of these secreted proteins in host intracellular signaling in the J774 macrophage-like cell line. Measurements of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) have revealed a rapid spike upon exposure of these cells to wild-type L. monocytogenes. This is followed by a second peak at 5 min and a third prolonged peak with a maximal [Ca2+]i of 800 to 1,000 nM. The pattern of calcium changes was greatly altered by deletion of any of the three virulence factors. An LLO mutant produced none of these elevations in [Ca2+]i; however, a transient elevation was observed whenever these bacteria entered the cell. A PI-PLC mutant produced a diminished single elevation in [Ca2+]i at 15 to 30 min. A broad-range PLC mutant produced only the first calcium spike. Studies with inhibitors suggested that the first elevation arises from influx of calcium from the extracellular medium through plasma membrane channels and that the second and third elevations come from release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. We observed that internalization of wild-type bacteria and the broad-range PLC mutant was delayed for 5 to 10 min, but the LLO and PI-PLC mutants were internalized rapidly upon infection. Inhibitors that affected calcium signaling changed the kinetics of association of wild-type bacteria with J774 cells, the kinetics of entry, and the efficiency of escape from the primary phagosome.

Mutagenesis of active-site histidines of Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C: effects on enzyme activity and biological function

Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen, produces two distinct phospholipases C. PC-PLC, encoded by plcB, is a broad-range phospholipase, whereas PI-PLC, encoded by plcA, is specific for phosphatidylinositol. It was previously shown that PI-PLC plays a role in efficient escape of L. monocytogenes from the primary phagosome. To further understand the function of PI-PLC in intracellular growth, site-directed mutagenesis of plcA was performed. Two potential active-site histidine residues were mutated independently to alanine, serine, and phenylalanine. With the exception of the activity of the enzyme containing H38F, which was unstable, the PI-PLC enzyme activities of culture supernatants containing each mutant enzyme were <1% of wild-type activity. In addition, the levels of expression of the mutant PI-PLC proteins were equivalent to wild-type expression. Derivatives of L. monocytogenes containing these specific plcA mutations were found to have phenotypes similar to that of the plcA deletion strain in an assay for escape from the primary vacuole, in intracellular growth in a murine macrophage cell line, and in a plaquing assay for cell-to-cell spread. Thus, catalytic activity of PI-PLC is required for all its intracellular functions.

Modulation of enzymatic activity and biological function of Listeria monocytogenes broad-range phospholipase C by amino acid substitutions and by replacement with the Bacillus cereus ortholog

The secreted broad-range phosphatidylcholine (PC)-preferring phospholipase C (PC-PLC) of Listeria monocytogenes plays a role in the bacterium's ability to escape from phagosomes and spread from cell to cell. Based on comparisons with two orthologs, Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin and Bacillus cereus PLC (PLCBc), we generated PC-PLC mutants with altered enzymatic activities and substrate specificities and analyzed them for biological function in tissue culture and mouse models of infection. Two of the conserved active-site zinc-coordinating histidines were confirmed by single amino acid substitutions H69G and H118G, which resulted in proteins inactive in broth culture and unstable intracellularly. Substitutions D4E and H56Y remodeled the PC-PLC active site to more closely resemble the PLCBc active site, while a gene replacement resulted in L. monocytogenes secreting PLCBc. All of these mutants yielded similar amounts of active enzyme as wild-type PC-PLC both in broth culture and intracellularly. D4E increased activity on and specificity for PC, while H56Y and D4E H56Y showed higher activity on both PC and sphingomyelin, with reduced specificity for PC. As expected, PLCBc expressed by L. monocytogenes was highly specific for PC. During early intracellular growth in human epithelial cells, the D4E mutant and the PLCBc-expressing strain performed significantly better than the wild type, while the H56Y and D4E H56Y mutants showed a significant defect. In assays for cell-to-cell spread, the H56Y and D4E mutants had close to wild-type characteristics, while the spreading efficiency of PLCBc was significantly lower. These studies emphasize the species-specific features of PC-PLC important for growth in mammalian cells.

Bacterial phospholipases and their role in virulence

Virulence of many bacterial pathogens is based, at least in part, on the action of phospholipases. The consequences may be immediate and direct, as in the action of Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin on red cells or platelets, or subtle, as with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases of Listeria monocytogenes and other bacteria.

Host cell heparan sulfate proteoglycans mediate attachment and entry of Listeria monocytogenes, and the listerial surface protein ActA is involved in heparan sulfate receptor recognition

The mechanisms by which the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes interacts with the host cell surface remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) in listerial infection. Pretreatment of bacteria with heparin or heparan sulfate (HS), but not with other glycosaminoglycans, inhibited attachment and subsequent uptake by IC-21 murine macrophages and CHO epithelial-like cells. Specific removal of HS from target cells with heparinase III significantly impaired listerial adhesion and invasion. Mutant CHO cells deficient in HS synthesis bound and internalized significantly fewer bacteria than wild-type cells did. Pretreatment of target cells with the HS-binding proteins fibronectin and platelet factor 4, or with heparinase III, impaired listerial infectivity only in those cells expressing HS. Moreover, a synthetic peptide corresponding to the HS-binding ligand in Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (pepPf1) inhibited listerial attachment to IC-21 and CHO cells. A motif very similar to the HS-binding site of pepPf1 was found in the N-terminal region of ActA, the L. monocytogenes surface protein responsible for actin-based bacterial motility and cell-to-cell spread. In the same region of ActA, several clusters of positively charged amino acids which could function as HS-binding domains were identified. An ActA-deficient mutant was significantly impaired in attachment and entry due to altered HS recognition functions. This work shows that specific interaction with an HSPG receptor present on the surface of both professional and nonprofessional phagocytes is involved in L. monocytogenes cytoadhesion and invasion and strongly suggests that the bacterial surface protein ActA may be a ligand mediating HSPG receptor recognition.

Antibodies to Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the leading foodborne pathogens and has been implicated in numerous outbreaks in the last 2 decades. Immunocompromised populations are usually the most susceptible to Listeria infections. Although the pathogenic mechanism is a complex process, significant progress has been made in unravelling the mechanism in recent years. It is now clear that numerous extracellular and cell-associated proteins, such as internalin, listeriolysin, actin polymerization protein, phospholipase, metalloprotease, and possibly p60 proteins, are essential for L. monocytogenes entry into mammalian cells, survival inside the phagosome, escape into the cytoplasm, and cell-to-cell spread. Other proteins may be responsible for growth and physiology or to maintain the structural integrity of the bacteria. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies have been developed against many of those antigens or their synthetic derivatives that have helped greatly to determine the structure and function of these antigens. The antibodies were also used for the diagnosis and detection, immunocytochemical staining, and serotyping of Listeria. Humoral immune response to live L. monocytogenes cells was examined in naturally or experimentally infected hosts. Studies revealed that only extracellular antigens induced the humoral response, whereas cell-associated antigens had apparently no response. It is speculated that during the occasional bacteremic phase, L. monocytogenes releases extracellular antigens that are then processed by the immune system for antibody production. As L. monocytogenes is an intracellular pathogen, the cell-associated antigens are not persistent in the blood circulation and thus fail to stimulate the humoral immune response.

Modulation of the cleavage of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins by specific bacterial phospholipases

Many enzymes are tethered to the extracellular face of the plasma membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. These proteins can be released in soluble form by the action of GPI-specific phospholipase. Little is currently known about the factors modulating this release. We investigated the effects of several experimental variables on the cleavage of the GPI-anchored proteins 5'nucleotidase, acetylcholinesterase, and alkaline phosphatase by phospholipases from Bacillus thuringiensis and Staphylococcus aureus. Phospholipase activity was not inhibited by isotonic salt and was relatively unaffected by buffer type and concentration. In both cases, the optimum pH for cleavage was approximately 6.5. Over 80% of 5'-nucleotidase activity present in the lymphocyte plasma membrane was cleaved by the B. thuringiensis enzyme, and the initial rate of release was linear with phospholipase concentration. All three GPI-anchored proteins were released from lymphocyte plasma membrane at comparable phospholipase concentrations, suggesting that they have similar anchor structures. The catalytic activity of 5'-nucleotidase appeared to increase following conversion to the soluble form. The relative surface charge of the host plasma membrane modulated catalytic activity towards GPI-anchored proteins, depending on the net charge of the phospholipase. Studies on purified lymphocyte 5'-nucleotidase reconstituted into bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine indicated that the efficiency of phospholipase cleavage was 12- to 50-fold lower when compared with the native plasma membrane. The ability of the phospholipase to cleave the GPI anchor was further reduced when the bilayer was in the gel phase.

The two distinct phospholipases C of Listeria monocytogenes have overlapping roles in escape from a vacuole and cell-to-cell spread

Listeria monocytogenes secretes two distinct phospholipases C, a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and a broad-range phospholipase C (PC-PLC). In this study, single in-frame deletion mutants with mutations in each PLC and a double mutant lacking both PLCs were characterized with regard to virulence in mice, escape from a primary vacuole, and cell-to-cell spread in cell culture. The mutant lacking PI-PLC, previously shown to be twofold less virulent than the wild type in mice, had a minor defect in escape from a primary vacuole but was not notably affected in cell-to-cell spread. The mutant lacking PC-PLC was 20-fold less virulent in mice and was defective in cell-to-cell spread but had no measurable defect in escape from a primary vacuole. The mutant lacking both PLCs was 500-fold less virulent in mice and was severely diminished in its ability to escape from the primary vacuole and to spread cell to cell. Cellular levels of diacylglycerol and ceramide, products of PLC activity, accumulated beginning 3 to 4 h after infection of cells with wild-type bacteria. The bacterial PLCs were partially responsible for this activity, since cells infected with the mutant lacking both PLCs had a reduced increase in diacylglycerol and no increase in ceramide. Elevation of diacylglycerol in the absence of bacterial PLCs indicated that host cell phospholipase(s) was activated during infection. The results of this study were consistent with the two bacterial PLCs having overlapping functions throughout the course of intracellular infection. Furthermore, the PC-PLC, and possibly PI-PLC, appeared to be enzymatically active intracellularly.

Differential activation of virulence gene expression by PrfA, the Listeria monocytogenes virulence regulator

PrfA is a pleiotropic activator of virulence gene expression in the pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Several lines of evidence have suggested that a hierarchy of virulence gene activation by PrfA exists. This hypothesis was investigated by assessing the ability of PrfA to activate the expression of virulence gene fusions to lacZ in Bacillus subtilis. Expression of PrfA in this heterologous host was sufficient for activation of transcription at the hly, plcA, mpl, and actA promoters. Activation was most efficient at the divergently transcribed hly and plcA promoters. The putative PrfA binding site shared by these promoters is perfectly symmetrical and appears to represent the optimum sequence for target gene activation by PrfA. The activation of actA and mpl expression was considerably weaker and occurred more slowly than that observed at the hly and plcA promoters, suggesting that greater quantities of PrfA are required for productive interaction at these promoters. Interestingly, expression of an inlA-lacZ transcriptional fusion was very poorly activated by PrfA in B. subtilis, suggesting that other Listeria factors, in addition to PrfA, are required for PrfA-mediated activation at this promoter. Further support for the involvement of such factors was obtained by constructing and analyzing a prfA deletion mutant of L. monocytogenes. We observed that, in contrast to that of the other genes of the PrfA regulon, expression of inlA is only partially dependent on PrfA.

The broad-range phospholipase C and a metalloprotease mediate listeriolysin O-independent escape of Listeria monocytogenes from a primary vacuole in human epithelial cells

Intracellular growth of Listeria monocytogenes begins after lysis of the primary vacuole formed upon bacterial entry into a host cell. Listeriolysin O (LLO), a pore-forming hemolysin encoded by hly, is essential for vacuolar lysis in most cell types. However, in human epithelial cells, LLO- mutants are capable of growth, suggesting that gene products other than LLO are capable of mediating escape from a vacuole. In this study, we investigated the role of other bacterial gene products in lysis of the primary vacuole in the human epithelial cell line Henle 407. Double internal in-frame deletion mutants were constructed by introducing a mutated hly allele into strains harboring deletions in either of the phospholipase C (PLC)-encoding genes or a metalloprotease-encoding gene. Bacterial escape from the primary vacuole, intracellular growth, and cell-to-cell spread were evaluated in Henle 407 cells. The results indicated that, in the absence of LLO, the broad-range PLC and the metalloprotease were both required for lysis of the primary vacuole in Henle 407 cells. Although phosphatidylinositol-specific PLC was not required, the efficiency of escape was reduced in an LLO phosphatidylinositol-specific PLC double mutant. These observations suggest that the relative importance of LLO, the phospholipases, and the metalloprotease may vary in different cell types or in cells from different species. In addition, these studies provide insight into the mechanisms of action of virulence determinants involved in the lysis of vacuolar membranes.

The sulphydryl-activated cytolysin and a sphingomyelinase C are the major membrane-damaging factors involved in cooperative (CAMP-like) haemolysis of Listeria spp

The negative mutant approach was used in this study to identify listerial cytolytic factors involved in cooperative haemolysis (CAMP-like phenomenon) with Staphylococcus aureus and Rhodococcus equi. A Listeria monocytogenes non-haemolytic mutant specifically impaired in listeriolysin O (LLO) production gave no CAMP reaction with S. aureus, and was virtually CAMP-negative with R. equi, indicating that the listerial sulphydryl-activated toxin played a major role in cooperative haemolysis. This was confirmed by direct evidence using purified LLO and alveolysin (from Bacillus alvei) in diffusion CAMP assays. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of involvement of a sulphydryl-activated toxin in cooperative lytic processes. Phosphatidylcholine- and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases C from L. monocytogenes did not seem to significantly contribute to cooperative haemolysis, as the corresponding mutants displayed wild-type CAMP reactions. In contrast, the sphingomyelinase C from Listeria iva-novii was the cytolytic factor responsible for the characteristic shovel-shaped CAMP reaction shown by this listerial species with R. equi. Possible mechanisms of lytic cooperation are discussed.

Membrane permeabilization by Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C is independent of phospholipid hydrolysis and cooperative with listeriolysin O

We have examined potential cooperative interactions of Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and listeriolysin O (LLO), a pore-forming hemolysin, in a liposome lysis assay. Large unilamellar vesicles, approximately 0.1 micron in diameter, encapsulating the fluorescent probe calcein, were treated with PI-PLC or LLO at pH 6.0, and each was capable of causing dye release. With phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylinositol/cholesterol liposomes at 0.1 microM lipid, minimal release of dye was observed on addition of 80 pM LLO or 7 nM PI-PLC. Addition of the two proteins together produced rapid dye release. Unexpectedly, essentially identical results were obtained with phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol liposomes. Thus, the effect of PI-PLC did not depend on lipid hydrolysis. Both proteins also released inulin (M(r) 5200) from liposomes. Membrane permeabilization was not accompanied by membrane fusion. Very little dye release from phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylinositol/cholesterol liposomes was seen with PI-PLC from Bacillus thuringiensis, and addition of this enzyme to LLO produced no additional dye release; however PI-PLC from L. monocytogenes cooperated with perfringolysin O from Clostridium perfringens. PI-PLC from L. monocytogenes and LLO bind to phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol liposomes, and the rate of binding of each protein was not influenced by the presence of the other. These data support a postulated accessory role for PI-PLC with LLO in lysing the primary phagosome of a macrophage.