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Gonyar LA, Sauder AB, Mortensen L, Willsey GG, Kendall MM. The yad and yeh fimbrial loci influence gene expression and virulence in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. mSphere 2024; 9:e0012424. [PMID: 38904402 PMCID: PMC11287998 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00124-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Fimbriae are essential virulence factors for many bacterial pathogens. Fimbriae are extracellular structures that attach bacteria to surfaces. Thus, fimbriae mediate a critical step required for any pathogen to establish infection by anchoring a bacterium to host tissue. The human pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7encodes 16 fimbriae that may be important for EHEC to initiate infection and allow for productive expression of virulence traits important in later stages of infection, including a type III secretion system (T3SS) and Shiga toxin; however, the roles of most EHEC fimbriae are largely uncharacterized. Here, we provide evidence that two EHEC fimbriae, Yad and Yeh, modulate expression of diverse genes including genes encoding T3SS and Shiga toxin and that these fimbriae are required for robust colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. These findings reveal a significant and previously unappreciated role for fimbriae in bacterial pathogenesis as important determinants of virulence gene expression.IMPORTANCEFimbriae are extracellular proteinaceous structures whose defining role is to anchor bacteria to surfaces. This is a fundamental step for bacterial pathogens to establish infection in a host. Here, we show that the contributions of fimbriae to pathogenesis are more complex. Specifically, we demonstrate that fimbriae influence expression of virulence traits essential for disease progression in the intestinal pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria express multiple fimbriae; therefore, these findings may have broad implications for understanding how pathogens use fimbriae, beyond adhesion, to initiate infection and coordinate gene expression, which ultimately results in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Gonyar
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Amber B. Sauder
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lindsay Mortensen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Graham G. Willsey
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Melissa M. Kendall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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2
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Gershberg J, Morhaim M, Rostrovsky I, Eichler J, Sal-Man N. The sequence of events of enteropathogenic E. coli's type III secretion system translocon assembly. iScience 2024; 27:109108. [PMID: 38375228 PMCID: PMC10875159 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial pathogens employ the type III secretion system (T3SS), a specialized complex that transports effector proteins that manipulate various cellular processes. The T3SS forms a translocon pore within the host-cell membrane consisting of two secreted proteins that transition from a soluble state into a transmembrane complex. Still, the exact sequence of events leading to the formation of a membranous functional pore remains uncertain. Here, we utilized the translocon proteins of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) to investigate the sequence of those steps leading to translocon assembly, including self-oligomerization, hetero-oligomerization, interprotein interaction, and membrane insertion. We found that in EPEC, EspD (SctE) plays a dominant role in pore formation as it assembles into an oligomeric state, regardless of pH, membrane contact, or the presence of EspB (SctB). Subsequently, EspB subunits integrate into EspD homo-oligomers to create EspB-EspD hetero-oligomers that adopt a transmembrane orientation to create a functional pore complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenia Gershberg
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - May Morhaim
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Irina Rostrovsky
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jerry Eichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Neta Sal-Man
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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3
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Asensio‐Calavia A, Ceballos‐Munuera Á, Méndez‐Pérez A, Álvarez B, Fernández LÁ. A tuneable genetic switch for tight control of tac promoters in Escherichia coli boosts expression of synthetic injectisomes. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14328. [PMID: 37608576 PMCID: PMC10832536 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosafety of engineered bacteria as living therapeutics requires a tight regulation to control the specific delivery of protein effectors, maintaining minimum leakiness in the uninduced (OFF) state and efficient expression in the induced (ON) state. Here, we report a three repressors (3R) genetic circuit that tightly regulates the expression of multiple tac promoters (Ptac) integrated in the chromosome of E. coli and drives the expression of a complex type III secretion system injectisome for therapeutic protein delivery. The 3R genetic switch is based on the tetracycline repressor (TetR), the non-inducible lambda repressor cI (ind-) and a mutant lac repressor (LacIW220F ) with higher activity. The 3R switch was optimized with different protein translation and degradation signals that control the levels of LacIW220F . We demonstrate the ability of an optimized switch to fully repress the strong leakiness of the Ptac promoters in the OFF state while triggering their efficient activation in the ON state with anhydrotetracycline (aTc), an inducer suitable for in vivo use. The implementation of the optimized 3R switch in the engineered synthetic injector E. coli (SIEC) strain boosts expression of injectisomes upon aTc induction, while maintaining a silent OFF state that preserves normal growth in the absence of the inducer. Since Ptac is a commonly used promoter, the 3R switch may have multiple applications for tight control of protein expression in E. coli. In addition, the modularity of the 3R switch may enable its tuning for the control of Ptac promoters with different inducers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Asensio‐Calavia
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Álvaro Ceballos‐Munuera
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Programa de Doctorado en Biociencias MolecularesUniversidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)MadridSpain
| | - Almudena Méndez‐Pérez
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Programa de Doctorado en Biociencias MolecularesUniversidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)MadridSpain
| | - Beatriz Álvarez
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Luis Ángel Fernández
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
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4
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D'Amico F, Casalino G, Dinardo FR, Schiavitto M, Camarda A, Romito D, Bove A, Circella E. Antimicrobial Efficacy of Phyto-L, Thiosulfonate from Allium spp. Containing Supplement, against Escherichia Coli Strains from Rabbits. Vet Sci 2023; 10:411. [PMID: 37505817 PMCID: PMC10384763 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10070411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colibacillosis, caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), is one of the most common diseases in rabbit farms, resulting in economic losses due to mortality and decrease in production. Until recently, antimicrobials were used to both treat and prevent disease on livestock farms, leading to the possible risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the selection of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Therefore, interest in alternative control methods, such as the use of natural substances, has increased in the scientific community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Phyto-L (Pro Tech s.r.l.), a product containing organosulfur compounds (OSCs) such as propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium spp., against 108 strains of E. coli isolated from rabbits with colibacillosis from 19 farms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Phyto-L were assessed. Bacterial suspensions with a charge of 108 CFU/mL, corresponding to those found in the rabbit gut under pathologic conditions, were tested with different concentrations from 20 to 0.15 μL/mL of Phyto-L. For each strain, the MIC and concentrations above the MIC were plated on Tryptic Soy agar (TSA) without Phyto-L to assess the MBCs. MIC and MBC values ranged from 1.25 to 5 μL/mL and 1.25 to 20 μL/mL, respectively, depending on the strain tested. The data showed an interesting antibacterial activity of Phyto-L against EPEC strains. Therefore, this product could be effective in preventing colibacillosis in field application, especially considering that 104-105 CFU/g of feces is the amount of E. coli usually found in the gut contents of rabbits under physiological condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco D'Amico
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Gaia Casalino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Francesca Rita Dinardo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Michele Schiavitto
- Italian Rabbit Breeders Association-ANCI, Contrada Giancola snc, 71030 Volturara Appula, FG, Italy
| | - Antonio Camarda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Diana Romito
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Antonella Bove
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Elena Circella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", S. P. Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
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5
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Abstract
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is crucial for the virulence of several pathogenic Escherichia coli species as well as for other gram-negative bacterial strains. Therefore, the ability to monitor this system constitutes a valuable tool for assessing the involvement of different proteins in bacterial virulence, for identifying critical domains and specific mutations, and for evaluating the antivirulence activities of various drugs. The major advantage of the T3SS secretion assay for E. coli over assays for other gram-negative pathogens is that it does not necessarily require specific antibodies. Here, we describe how to grow enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains under T3SS-inducing conditions, separate the supernatant fraction from the bacterial pellet, analyze this fraction on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels, and evaluate the level of T3SS activity. We describe a qualitative analysis using Coomassie staining and a quantitative assay using western blotting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bosko Mitrovic
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Neta Sal-Man
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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6
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Hajra D, Nair AV, Chakravortty D. An elegant nano-injection machinery for sabotaging the host: Role of Type III secretion system in virulence of different human and animal pathogenic bacteria. Phys Life Rev 2021; 38:25-54. [PMID: 34090822 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Various Gram-negative bacteria possess a specialized membrane-bound protein secretion system known as the Type III secretion system (T3SS), which transports the bacterial effector proteins into the host cytosol thereby helping in bacterial pathogenesis. The T3SS has a special needle-like translocon that can sense the contact with the host cell membrane and translocate effectors. The export apparatus of T3SS recognizes these effector proteins bound to chaperones and translocates them into the host cell. Once in the host cell cytoplasm, these effector proteins result in modulation of the host system and promote bacterial localization and infection. Using molecular biology, bioinformatics, genetic techniques, electron microscopic studies, and mathematical modeling, the structure and function of the T3SS and the corresponding effector proteins in various bacteria have been studied. The strategies used by different human pathogenic bacteria to modulate the host system and thereby enhance their virulence mechanism using T3SS have also been well studied. Here we review the history, evolution, and general structure of the T3SS, highlighting the details of its comparison with the flagellar export machinery. Also, this article provides mechanistic details about the common role of T3SS in subversion and manipulation of host cellular processes. Additionally, this review describes specific T3SS apparatus and the role of their specific effectors in bacterial pathogenesis by considering several human and animal pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipasree Hajra
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, India
| | - Abhilash Vijay Nair
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, India
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7
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He Z, Li T, Wang J, Luo D, Ning N, Li Z, Chen F, Wang H. AtaT Improves the Stability of Pore-Forming Protein EspB by Acetylating Lysine 206 to Enhance Strain Virulence. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:627141. [PMID: 33732222 PMCID: PMC7957018 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.627141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel type II toxin of toxin–antitoxin systems (TAs), Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) family, was reported recently. GNAT toxins are mainly present in pathogenic species, but studies of their involvement in pathogenicity are rare. This study discovered that the GANT toxin AtaT in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) can significantly enhance strain pathogenicity. First, we detected the virulence of ΔataT and ΔataR in cell and animal models. In the absence of ataT, strains showed a lower adhesion number, and host cells presented weaker attaching and effacing lesions, inflammatory response, and pathological injury. Next, we screened the acetylation substrate of AtaT to understand the underlying mechanism. Results showed that E. coli pore-forming protein EspB, which acts as a translocon in type III secretion system (T3SS) in strains, can be acetylated specifically by AtaT. The acetylation of K206 in EspB increases protein stability and maintains the efficiency of effectors translocating into host cells to cause close adhesion and tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhili He
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Deyan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Nianzhi Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Fanghong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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8
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Gershberg J, Braverman D, Sal-Man N. Transmembrane domains of type III-secreted proteins affect bacterial-host interactions in enteropathogenic E. coli. Virulence 2021; 12:902-917. [PMID: 33729090 PMCID: PMC7993127 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1898777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial pathogens utilize a specialized secretion system, termed type III secretion system (T3SS), to translocate effector proteins into host cells and establish bacterial infection. The T3SS is anchored within the bacterial membranes and contains a long needle/filament that extends toward the host-cell and forms, at its distal end, a pore complex within the host membrane. The T3SS pore complex consists of two bacterial proteins, termed SctB and SctE, which have conflicting targeting indications; a signal sequence that targets to secretion to the extracellular environment via the T3SS, and transmembrane domains (TMDs) that target to membrane localization. In this study, we investigate whether the TMD sequences of SctB and SctE have special features that differentiate them from classical TMDs and allow them to escape bacterial membrane integration. For this purpose, we exchanged the SctB and SctE native TMDs for alternative hydrophobic sequences and found that the TMD sequences of SctB and SctE dictate membrane destination (bacterial versus host membrane). Moreover, we examined the role of the SctB TMD sequence in the activity of the full-length protein, post secretion, and found that the TMD does not serve only as a hydrophobic segment, but is also involved in the ability of the protein to translocate itself and other proteins into and across the host cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenia Gershberg
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Dor Braverman
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Neta Sal-Man
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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9
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Tang Y, Guo H, Vermeulen AJ, Heuck AP. Topological analysis of type 3 secretion translocons in native membranes. Methods Enzymol 2021; 649:397-429. [PMID: 33712194 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PFPs (Pore-forming proteins) perforate cellular membranes to create an aqueous pore and allow the passage of ions and polar molecules. The molecular mechanisms for many of these PFPs have been elucidated by combining high resolution structural information of these proteins with biochemical and biophysical approaches. However, some PFPs do not adopt stable conformations and are difficult to study in vitro. An example of these proteins are the bacterial Type 3 Secretion (T3S) translocators. The translocators are secreted by the bacterium and insert into the target cell membrane to form a translocon pore providing a portal for the passage of T3S toxins into eukaryotic cells. Given the important role that the T3S systems play in pathogenesis, methods to study these translocon pores in cellular membranes are needed. Using a combination of protein modifications and methods to selectively permeate and solubilized eukaryotic membranes, we have established an experimental procedure to analyze the topology of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa T3S translocon using P. aeruginosa strain variants and HeLa cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhou Tang
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Hanling Guo
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Arjan J Vermeulen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Alejandro P Heuck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States.
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10
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Hotinger JA, Pendergrass HA, May AE. Molecular Targets and Strategies for Inhibition of the Bacterial Type III Secretion System (T3SS); Inhibitors Directly Binding to T3SS Components. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020316. [PMID: 33669653 PMCID: PMC7922566 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a virulence apparatus used by many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria to cause infections. Pathogens utilizing a T3SS are responsible for millions of infections yearly. Since many T3SS knockout strains are incapable of causing systemic infection, the T3SS has emerged as an attractive anti-virulence target for therapeutic design. The T3SS is a multiprotein molecular syringe that enables pathogens to inject effector proteins into host cells. These effectors modify host cell mechanisms in a variety of ways beneficial to the pathogen. Due to the T3SS’s complex nature, there are numerous ways in which it can be targeted. This review will be focused on the direct targeting of components of the T3SS, including the needle, translocon, basal body, sorting platform, and effector proteins. Inhibitors will be considered a direct inhibitor if they have a binding partner that is a T3SS component, regardless of the inhibitory effect being structural or functional.
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11
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Cryoelectron-microscopy structure of the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli type III secretion system EspA filament. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2022826118. [PMID: 33397726 PMCID: PMC7812819 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022826118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) utilize a macromolecular type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject effector proteins into eukaryotic cells. This apparatus spans the inner and outer bacterial membranes and includes a helical needle protruding into the extracellular space. Thus far observed only in EPEC and EHEC and not found in other pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria that have a T3SS is an additional helical filament made by the EspA protein that forms a long extension to the needle, mediating both attachment to eukaryotic cells and transport of effector proteins through the intestinal mucus layer. Here, we present the structure of the EspA filament from EPEC at 3.4 Å resolution. The structure reveals that the EspA filament is a right-handed 1-start helical assembly with a conserved lumen architecture with respect to the needle to ensure the seamless transport of unfolded cargos en route to the target cell. This functional conservation is despite the fact that there is little apparent overall conservation at the level of sequence or structure with the needle. We also unveil the molecular details of the immunodominant EspA epitope that can now be exploited for the rational design of epitope display systems.
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12
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Hillman Y, Gershberg J, Lustiger D, Even D, Braverman D, Dror Y, Ashur I, Vernick S, Sal-Man N, Wine Y. Monoclonal Antibody-Based Biosensor for Point-of-Care Detection of Type III Secretion System Expressing Pathogens. Anal Chem 2020; 93:928-935. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Hillman
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Green building, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Jenia Gershberg
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Dan Lustiger
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Green building, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Dan Even
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Green building, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Dor Braverman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Yael Dror
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Green building, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Idan Ashur
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, 68 Hamaccabim Rd, Rishon Lezion 5025001, Israel
| | - Sefi Vernick
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, 68 Hamaccabim Rd, Rishon Lezion 5025001, Israel
| | - Neta Sal-Man
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Yariv Wine
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Green building, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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13
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Palace SG, Vitseva O, Proulx MK, Freedman JE, Goguen JD, Koupenova M. Yersinia pestis escapes entrapment in thrombi by targeting platelet function. J Thromb Haemost 2020; 18:3236-3248. [PMID: 33470041 PMCID: PMC8040536 DOI: 10.1111/jth.15065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platelets are classically recognized for their role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Recent work has demonstrated that platelets can also execute a variety of immune functions. The dual prothrombotic and immunological roles of platelets suggest that they may pose a barrier to the replication or dissemination of extracellular bacteria. However, some bloodborne pathogens, such as the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis, routinely achieve high vascular titers that are necessary for pathogen transmission. OBJECTIVES It is not currently known how or if pathogens circumvent platelet barriers to bacterial dissemination and replication. We sought to determine whether extracellular bloodborne bacterial pathogens actively interfere with platelet function, using Y pestis as a model system. METHODS The interactions and morphological changes of human platelets with various genetically modified Y pestis strains were examined using aggregation assays, immunofluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS Yersinia pestis directly destabilized platelet thrombi, preventing bacterial entrapment in fibrin/platelet clots. This activity was dependent on two well-characterized bacterial virulence factors: the Y pestis plasminogen activator Pla, which stimulates host-mediated fibrinolysis, and the bacterial type III secretion system (T3SS), which delivers bacterial proteins into the cytoplasm of targeted host cells to reduce or prevent effective immunological responses. Platelets intoxicated by the Y pestis T3SS were unable to respond to prothrombotic stimuli, and T3SS expression decreased the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in platelet thrombi. CONCLUSIONS These findings are the first demonstration of a bacterial pathogen using its T3SS and an endogenous protease to manipulate platelet function and to escape entrapment in platelet thrombi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha G. Palace
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Olga Vitseva
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Megan K. Proulx
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jane E. Freedman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jon D. Goguen
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Milka Koupenova
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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14
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Lyons BJE, Strynadka NCJ. On the road to structure-based development of anti-virulence therapeutics targeting the type III secretion system injectisome. MEDCHEMCOMM 2019; 10:1273-1289. [PMID: 31534650 PMCID: PMC6748289 DOI: 10.1039/c9md00146h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The type III secretion system injectisome is a syringe-like multimembrane spanning nanomachine that is essential to the pathogenicity but not viability of many clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria, such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, new strategies must be developed to treat the growing spectre of drug resistant infections. Targeting the injectisome via an 'anti-virulence strategy' is a promising avenue to pursue as an alternative to the more commonly used bactericidal therapeutics, which have a high propensity for resulting resistance development and often more broad killing profile, including unwanted side effects in eliminating favourable members of the microbiome. Building on more than a decade of crystallographic work of truncated or isolated forms of the more than two dozen components of the secretion apparatus, recent advances in the field of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy have allowed for the elucidation of atomic resolution structures for many of the type III secretion system components in their assembled, oligomerized state including the needle complex, export apparatus and ATPase. Cryo-electron tomography studies have also advanced our understanding of the direct pathogen-host interaction between the type III secretion system translocon and host cell membrane. These new structural works that further our understanding of the myriad of protein-protein interactions that promote injectisome function will be highlighted in this review, with a focus on those that yield promise for future anti-virulence drug discovery and design. Recently developed inhibitors, including both synthetic, natural product and peptide inhibitors, as well as promising new developments of immunotherapeutics will be discussed. As our understanding of this intricate molecular machinery advances, the development of anti-virulence inhibitors can be enhanced through structure-guided drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwyn J E Lyons
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Center for Blood Research , University of British Columbia , 2350 Health Sciences Mall , Vancouver , British Columbia V6T 1Z3 , Canada .
| | - Natalie C J Strynadka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Center for Blood Research , University of British Columbia , 2350 Health Sciences Mall , Vancouver , British Columbia V6T 1Z3 , Canada .
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15
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Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a major cause of foodborne gastrointestinal illness. EHEC uses a specialized type III secretion system (T3SS) to form attaching and effacing lesions in the colonic epithelium and outcompete commensal gut microbiota to cause disease. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a major cause of foodborne gastrointestinal illness. EHEC uses a specialized type III secretion system (T3SS) to form attaching and effacing lesions in the colonic epithelium and outcompete commensal gut microbiota to cause disease. A recent report in mBio (E. A. Cameron, M. M. Curtis, A. Kumar, G. M. Dunny, et al., mBio 9:e02204-18, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.02204-18) describes a new role for gut commensals in potentiating disease caused by EHEC. Proteases produced by EHEC and the prevalent human commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron cleave proteins in the EHEC T3SS translocon that modulate T3SS function. B. thetaiotaomicron protease activity promotes translocation of bacterial effectors required for lesion formation. These results describe a new role for the microbiota in gastrointestinal disease that could uncover future treatments to prevent the spread of gastroenteritis.
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16
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Multitalented EspB of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) enters cells autonomously and induces programmed cell death in human monocytic THP-1 cells. Int J Med Microbiol 2018; 308:387-404. [PMID: 29550166 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) subvert host cell signaling pathways by injecting effector proteins via a Type 3 Secretion System (T3SS). The T3SS-dependent EspB protein is a multi-functional effector protein, which contributes to adherence and translocator pore formation and after injection exhibits several intracellular activities. In addition, EspB is also secreted into the environment. Effects of secreted EspB have not been reported thus far. As a surrogate for secreted EspB we employed recombinant EspB (rEspB) derived from the prototype EPEC strain E2348/69 and investigated the interactions of the purified protein with different human epithelial and immune cells including monocytic THP-1 cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, U-937, epithelial T84, Caco-2, and HeLa cells. To assess whether these proteins might exert a cytotoxic effect we monitored the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as propidium iodide (PI) uptake. For comparison, we also investigated several homologs of EspB such as IpaD of Shigella, and SipC, SipD, SseB, and SseD of Salmonella as purified recombinant proteins. Interestingly, cytotoxicity was only observed in THP-1 cells and macrophages, whereas epithelial cells remained unaffected. Cell fractionation and immune fluorescence experiments showed that rEspB enters cells autonomously, which suggests that EspB might qualify as a novel cell-penetrating effector protein (CPE). Using specific organelle tracers and inhibitors of signaling pathways we found that rEspB destroys the mitochondrial membrane potential - an indication of programmed cell death induction in THP-1 cells. Here we show that EspB not only constitutes an essential part of the T3SS-nanomachine and contributes to the arsenal of injected effector proteins but, furthermore, that secreted (recombinant) EspB autonomously enters host cells and selectively induces cell death in immune cells.
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17
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Gaytán MO, Monjarás Feria J, Soto E, Espinosa N, Benítez JM, Georgellis D, González-Pedrajo B. Novel insights into the mechanism of SepL-mediated control of effector secretion in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Microbiologyopen 2017; 7:e00571. [PMID: 29277965 PMCID: PMC6011996 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type three secretion systems (T3SSs) are virulence determinants employed by several pathogenic bacteria as molecular syringes to inject effector proteins into host cells. Diarrhea‐producing enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) uses a T3SS to colonize the intestinal tract. T3S is a highly coordinated process that ensures hierarchical delivery of three classes of substrates: early (inner rod and needle subunits), middle (translocators), and late (effectors). Translocation of effectors is triggered upon host‐cell contact in response to different environmental cues, such as calcium levels. The T3S substrate specificity switch from middle to late substrates in EPEC is regulated by the SepL and SepD proteins, which interact with each other and form a trimeric complex with the chaperone CesL. In this study, we investigated the link between calcium concentration and secretion regulation by the gatekeeper SepL. We found that calcium depletion promotes late substrate secretion in a translocon‐independent manner. Furthermore, the stability, formation, and subcellular localization of the SepL/SepD/CesL regulatory complex were not affected by the absence of calcium. In addition, we demonstrate that SepL interacts in a calcium‐independent manner with the major export gate component EscV, which in turn interacts with both middle and late secretion substrates, providing a docking site for T3S. These results suggest that EscV serves as a binding platform for both the SepL regulatory protein and secreted substrates during the ordered assembly of the T3SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meztlli O Gaytán
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Julia Monjarás Feria
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Soto
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Norma Espinosa
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Julia M Benítez
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Dimitris Georgellis
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Bertha González-Pedrajo
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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18
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Lodato PB, Thuraisamy T, Richards J, Belasco JG. Effect of RNase E deficiency on translocon protein synthesis in an RNase E-inducible strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2017; 364:3871349. [PMID: 28854682 PMCID: PMC5827626 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a food-borne pathogen that assembles a type III secretion system (T3SS) on its surface. The last portion of the T3SS, called the 'translocon', is composed of a filament and a pore complex that is inserted into the membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. The genes encoding the translocon (espADB) are part of the LEE4 operon. Their expression is regulated by a complex post-transcriptional mechanism that involves the processing of LEE4 mRNA by the essential endoribonuclease RNase E. Here, we report the construction of an EHEC strain (TEA028-rne) in which RNase E can be induced by adding IPTG to the culture medium. EHEC cells deficient in RNase E displayed an abnormal morphology and slower growth, in agreement with published observations in E. coli K-12. Under those conditions, EspA and EspB were produced at higher concentrations, and protein secretion still occurred. These results indicate that RNase E negatively regulates translocon protein synthesis and demonstrate the utility of E. coli strain TEA028-rne as a tool for investigating the influence of this ribonuclease on EHEC gene expression in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia B. Lodato
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8006, USA
| | - Thujitha Thuraisamy
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8006, USA
| | - Jamie Richards
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute and the Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016-6402, USA
| | - Joel G. Belasco
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute and the Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016-6402, USA
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19
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Abstract
The type three secretion system (T3SS) is critical for the virulence of diverse bacterial pathogens. Pathogens use the T3SS to deliver effector proteins into host cells and manipulate host signaling pathways. The prevailing mechanism is that effectors translocate from inside the T3SS directly into the host cell. Recent studies reveal an alternative mechanism of effector translocation, in which an effector protein located outside the bacterial cell relies on the T3SS for delivery into host cells. Tejeda-Dominguez et al. (F. Tejeda-Dominguez, J. Huerta-Cantillo, L. Chavez-Dueñas, and F. Navarro-Garcia, mBio 8:e00184-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00184-17) demonstrate that the EspC effector of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is translocated by binding to the outside of the T3SS and subsequently gains access to the host cell cytoplasm through the T3SS pore embedded within the host cell membrane. This work reveals a novel mechanism of translocation that is likely relevant for a variety of other pathogens that use the T3SS as part of their virulence arsenal.
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20
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A Novel Mechanism for Protein Delivery by the Type 3 Secretion System for Extracellularly Secreted Proteins. mBio 2017; 8:mBio.00184-17. [PMID: 28351918 PMCID: PMC5371411 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00184-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The type 3 secretion system (T3SS) is essential for bacterial virulence through delivering effector proteins directly into the host cytosol. Here, we identified an alternative delivery mechanism of virulence factors mediated by the T3SS, which consists of the association of extracellularly secreted proteins from bacteria with the T3SS to gain access to the host cytosol. Both EspC, a protein secreted as an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) autotransporter, and YopH, a protein detected on the surface of Yersinia, require a functional T3SS for host cell internalization; here we provide biophysical and molecular evidence to support the concept of the EspC translocation mechanism, which requires (i) an interaction between EspA and an EspC middle segment, (ii) an EspC translocation motif (21 residues that are shared with the YopH translocation motif), (iii) increases in the association and dissociation rates of EspC mediated by EspA interacting with EspD, and (iv) an interaction of EspC with the EspD/EspB translocon pore. Interestingly, this novel mechanism does not exclude the injection model (i.e., EspF) operating through the T3SS conduit; therefore, T3SS can be functioning as an internal conduit or as an external railway, which can be used to reach the translocator pore, and this mechanism appears to be conserved among different T3SS-dependent pathogens. The type 3 secretion system is essential for injection of virulence factors, which are delivered directly into the cytosol of the host cells for usurping and subverting host processes. Recent studies have shown that these effectors proteins indeed travel inside an “injectisome” conduit through a single step of translocation by connecting the bacterium and host cell cytoplasms. However, all findings are not compatible with this model. For example, both YopH, a protein detected on the surface of Yersinia, and EspC, an autotransporter protein secreted by enteropathogenic E. coli, require a functional T3SS for host cell translocation. Both proteins have an intermediate extracellular step before their T3SS-dependent translocation. Here, we show an alternative delivery mechanism for these extracellularly secreted virulence factors that are then incorporated into the T3SS to enter the cells; this novel mechanism coexists with but diverges from the canonical injection model that involves the passage of the protein inside the injectisome.
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21
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Bartra SS, Plano GV. Measurement of Effector Protein Translocation Using Phosphorylatable Epitope Tags and Phospho-Specific Antibodies. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1531:111-119. [PMID: 27837486 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6649-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Numerous bacterial pathogens employ specialized protein secretion machineries to directly inject anti-host proteins, termed effector proteins, into eukaryotic cells. Effector proteins carrying small phosphorylatable tags can be used to detect and quantify effector protein injection. Here, we describe the use of the ELK- and GSK-tags to detect the translocation of the Y. pestis YopE effector protein into RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells using immunoblot analysis with phospho-specific antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Schesser Bartra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave., Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Gregory V Plano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave., Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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22
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Gaytán MO, Martínez-Santos VI, Soto E, González-Pedrajo B. Type Three Secretion System in Attaching and Effacing Pathogens. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:129. [PMID: 27818950 PMCID: PMC5073101 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and enterohemorrhagic E. coli are diarrheagenic bacterial human pathogens that cause severe gastroenteritis. These enteric pathotypes, together with the mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium, belong to the family of attaching and effacing pathogens that form a distinctive histological lesion in the intestinal epithelium. The virulence of these bacteria depends on a type III secretion system (T3SS), which mediates the translocation of effector proteins from the bacterial cytosol into the infected cells. The core architecture of the T3SS consists of a multi-ring basal body embedded in the bacterial membranes, a periplasmic inner rod, a transmembrane export apparatus in the inner membrane, and cytosolic components including an ATPase complex and the C-ring. In addition, two distinct hollow appendages are assembled on the extracellular face of the basal body creating a channel for protein secretion: an approximately 23 nm needle, and a filament that extends up to 600 nm. This filamentous structure allows these pathogens to get through the host cells mucus barrier. Upon contact with the target cell, a translocation pore is assembled in the host membrane through which the effector proteins are injected. Assembly of the T3SS is strictly regulated to ensure proper timing of substrate secretion. The different type III substrates coexist in the bacterial cytoplasm, and their hierarchical secretion is determined by specialized chaperones in coordination with two molecular switches and the so-called sorting platform. In this review, we present recent advances in the understanding of the T3SS in attaching and effacing pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meztlli O Gaytán
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Verónica I Martínez-Santos
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Soto
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Bertha González-Pedrajo
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Li D, Chen Z, Cheng H, Zheng JX, Pan WG, Yang WZ, Yu ZJ, Deng QW. Inhibition of Adhesion of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to HEp-2 Cells by Binding of a Novel Peptide to EspB Protein. Curr Microbiol 2016; 73:361-365. [PMID: 27246497 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-016-1070-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major cause of infantile diarrhea in developing countries. The translocator EspB is a key virulence factor in the process of the attaching and effacing effect of EPEC and plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of the bacteria. In this study, we aimed to select the peptides binding to EspB protein by phage display library and further investigate whether these peptides can decrease the extent of invasion and virulence of EPEC on host cells by targeting to EspB protein. The expression and purification of EspB protein from E. coli was demonstrated by Western blotting. The Ph.D. 12-mer peptide phage display library was used to screen the candidate peptides binding specifically to EspB protein. Furthermore, the affinity of these candidate peptides bound to EspB was identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, we investigated whether these screened peptides could decrease the adherence ratio of EPEC to HEp-2 cells with increasing concentration. Successful purification of EspB protein from pET21b-EspB-transformed E. coli was identified by Western blotting. Then, the candidate peptides including phages 6, 7, 8, and 12 were screened by the Ph.D. 12-mer peptide phage display library and ELISA test demonstrated that their affinity binding to EspB protein was high compared with the control. Functional analysis indicated that synthetic peptide-6 (YFPYSHTSPRQP) significantly decreased the adherence ratio of EPEC to HEp-2 cells with increasing concentration (P < 0.01). Peptide-6 (100 µg/mL) could lead to a 40 % decrease in the adherence ratio of EPEC to HEp-2 cells compared with control (P < 0.01). However, the other three peptides at different concentrations showed only a slight ability to block the adherence of EPEC to host cells. Our data provided a potential strategy to inhibit the adhesion of EPEC to epithelial cells by a candidate peptide targeted toward EspB protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duoyun Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China
| | - Hang Cheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China
| | - Jin-Xin Zheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China
| | - Wei-Guang Pan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China
| | - Wei-Zhi Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China
| | - Zhi-Jian Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China.
| | - Qi-Wen Deng
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Shenzhen Key Lab for Endogenous Infection, The Affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, No 89 Taoyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518052, China.
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The Locus of Enterocyte Effacement and Associated Virulence Factors of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Microbiol Spectr 2016; 2:EHEC-0007-2013. [PMID: 26104209 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ehec-0007-2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A subset of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains, termed enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), is defined in part by the ability to produce attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on intestinal epithelia. Such lesions are characterized by intimate bacterial attachment to the apical surface of enterocytes, cytoskeletal rearrangements beneath adherent bacteria, and destruction of proximal microvilli. A/E lesion formation requires the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), which encodes a Type III secretion system that injects bacterial proteins into host cells. The translocated proteins, termed effectors, subvert a plethora of cellular pathways to the benefit of the pathogen, for example, by recruiting cytoskeletal proteins, disrupting epithelial barrier integrity, and interfering with the induction of inflammation, phagocytosis, and apoptosis. The LEE and selected effectors play pivotal roles in intestinal persistence and virulence of EHEC, and it is becoming clear that effectors may act in redundant, synergistic, and antagonistic ways during infection. Vaccines that target the function of the Type III secretion system limit colonization of reservoir hosts by EHEC and may thus aid control of zoonotic infections. Here we review the features and functions of the LEE-encoded Type III secretion system and associated effectors of E. coli O157:H7 and other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains.
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25
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Portaliou AG, Tsolis KC, Loos MS, Zorzini V, Economou A. Type III Secretion: Building and Operating a Remarkable Nanomachine. Trends Biochem Sci 2016; 41:175-189. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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26
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Chatterjee A, Caballero-Franco C, Bakker D, Totten S, Jardim A. Pore-forming Activity of the Escherichia coli Type III Secretion System Protein EspD. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:25579-94. [PMID: 26324713 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.648204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli is a causative agent of gastrointestinal and diarrheal diseases. Pathogenesis associated with enterohemorrhagic E. coli involves direct delivery of virulence factors from the bacteria into epithelial cell cytosol via a syringe-like organelle known as the type III secretion system. The type III secretion system protein EspD is a critical factor required for formation of a translocation pore on the host cell membrane. Here, we show that recombinant EspD spontaneously integrates into large unilamellar vesicle (LUV) lipid bilayers; however, pore formation required incorporation of anionic phospholipids such as phosphatidylserine and an acidic pH. Leakage assays performed with fluorescent dextrans confirmed that EspD formed a structure with an inner diameter of ∼2.5 nm. Protease mapping indicated that the two transmembrane helical hairpin of EspD penetrated the lipid layer positioning the N- and C-terminal domains on the extralumenal surface of LUVs. Finally, a combination of glutaraldehyde cross-linking and rate zonal centrifugation suggested that EspD in LUV membranes forms an ∼280-320-kDa oligomeric structure consisting of ∼6-7 subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Chatterjee
- From the Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Celia Caballero-Franco
- From the Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Dannika Bakker
- From the Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Stephanie Totten
- From the Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Armando Jardim
- From the Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
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Guignot J, Segura A, Tran Van Nhieu G. The Serine Protease EspC from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Regulates Pore Formation and Cytotoxicity Mediated by the Type III Secretion System. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005013. [PMID: 26132339 PMCID: PMC4488501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Type III secretion systems (T3SSs) are specialized macromolecular machines critical for bacterial virulence, and allowing the injection of bacterial effectors into host cells. The T3SS-dependent injection process requires the prior insertion of a protein complex, the translocon, into host cell membranes consisting of two-T3SS hydrophobic proteins, associated with pore-forming activity. In all described T3SS to date, a hydrophilic protein connects one hydrophobic component to the T3SS needle, presumably insuring the continuum between the hollow needle and the translocon. In the case of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), the hydrophilic component EspA polymerizes into a filament connecting the T3SS needle to the translocon composed of the EspB and EspD hydrophobic proteins. Here, we identify EspA and EspD as targets of EspC, a serine protease autotransporter of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATE). We found that in vitro, EspC preferentially targets EspA associated with EspD, but was less efficient at proteolyzing EspA alone. Consistently, we found that EspC did not regulate EspA filaments at the surface of primed bacteria that was devoid of EspD, but controlled the levels of EspD and EspA secreted in vitro or upon cell contact. While still proficient for T3SS-mediated injection of bacterial effectors and cytoskeletal reorganization, an espC mutant showed increased levels of cell-associated EspA and EspD, as well as increased pore formation activity associated with cytotoxicity. EspP from enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) also targeted translocator components and its activity was interchangeable with that of EspC, suggesting a common and important function of these SPATEs. These findings reveal a novel regulatory mechanism of T3SS-mediated pore formation and cytotoxicity control during EPEC/EHEC infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Guignot
- Equipe Communication Intercellulaire et Infections Microbiennes, Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie (CIRB), Collège de France, Paris, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1050, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7241, Paris, France
- MEMOLIFE Laboratory of Excellence and Paris Science Lettre, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Segura
- Equipe Communication Intercellulaire et Infections Microbiennes, Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie (CIRB), Collège de France, Paris, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1050, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7241, Paris, France
- MEMOLIFE Laboratory of Excellence and Paris Science Lettre, Paris, France
| | - Guy Tran Van Nhieu
- Equipe Communication Intercellulaire et Infections Microbiennes, Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie (CIRB), Collège de France, Paris, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1050, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7241, Paris, France
- MEMOLIFE Laboratory of Excellence and Paris Science Lettre, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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Solomon R, Zhang W, McCrann G, Bliska JB, Viboud GI. Random mutagenesis identifies a C-terminal region of YopD important for Yersinia type III secretion function. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120471. [PMID: 25807250 PMCID: PMC4433470 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A common virulence mechanism among bacterial pathogens is the use of specialized secretion systems that deliver virulence proteins through a translocation channel inserted in the host cell membrane. During Yersinia infection, the host recognizes the type III secretion system mounting a pro-inflammatory response. However, soon after they are translocated, the effectors efficiently counteract that response. In this study we sought to identify YopD residues responsible for type III secretion system function. Through random mutagenesis, we identified eight Y. pseudotuberculosis yopD mutants with single amino acid changes affecting various type III secretion functions. Three severely defective mutants had substitutions in residues encompassing a 35 amino acid region (residues 168-203) located between the transmembrane domain and the C-terminal putative coiled-coil region of YopD. These mutations did not affect regulation of the low calcium response or YopB-YopD interaction but markedly inhibited MAPK and NFκB. [corrected] activation. When some of these mutations were introduced into the native yopD gene, defects in effector translocation and pore formation were also observed. We conclude that this newly identified region is important for YopD translocon function. The role of this domain in vivo remains elusive, as amino acid substitutions in that region did not significantly affect virulence of Y. pseudotuberculosis in orogastrically-infected mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Solomon
- Clinical Laboratory Science, School of Health, Technology and Management, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Weibing Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory Science, School of Health, Technology and Management, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Grace McCrann
- Clinical Laboratory Science, School of Health, Technology and Management, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - James B. Bliska
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Gloria I. Viboud
- Clinical Laboratory Science, School of Health, Technology and Management, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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29
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SepD/SepL-dependent secretion signals of the type III secretion system translocator proteins in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 2015; 197:1263-75. [PMID: 25645555 DOI: 10.1128/jb.02401-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The type III protein secretion system (T3SS) encoded by the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) is essential for the pathogenesis of attaching/effacing bacterial pathogens, including enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and Citrobacter rodentium. These pathogens use the T3SS to sequentially secrete three categories of proteins: the T3SS needle and inner rod protein components; the EspA, EspB, and EspD translocators; and many LEE- and non-LEE-encoded effectors. SepD and SepL are essential for translocator secretion, and mutations in either lead to hypersecretion of effectors. However, how SepD and SepL control translocator secretion and secretion hierarchy between translocators and effectors is poorly understood. In this report, we show that the secreted T3SS components, the translocators, and both LEE- and non-LEE-encoded effectors all carry N-terminal type III secretion and translocation signals. These signals all behave like those of the effectors and are sufficient for mediating type III secretion and translocation by wild-type EPEC and hypersecretion by the sepD and sepL mutants. Our results extended previous observations and suggest that the secretion hierarchy of the different substrates is determined by a signal other than the N-terminal secretion signal. We identified a domain located immediately downstream of the N-terminal secretion signal in the translocator EspB that is required for SepD/SepL-dependent secretion. We further demonstrated that this EspB domain confers SepD/SepL- and CesAB-dependent secretion on the secretion signal of effector EspZ. Our results thus suggest that SepD and SepL control and regulate secretion hierarchy between translocators and effectors by recognizing translocator-specific export signals. IMPORTANCE Many bacterial pathogens use a syringe-like protein secretion apparatus, termed the type III protein secretion system (T3SS), to secrete and inject numerous proteins directly into the host cells to cause disease. The secreted proteins perform different functions at various stages during infection and are classified into three substrate categories (T3SS components, translocators, and effectors). They all contain secretion signals at their N termini, but how their secretion hierarchy is determined is poorly understood. Here, we show that the N-terminal secretion signals from different substrate categories all behave the same and do not confer substrate specificity. We further characterize the secretion signals of the translocators and identify a translocator-specific signal, demonstrating that substrate-specific secretion signals are required in regulating T3SS substrate hierarchy.
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The Escherichia coli phosphotyrosine proteome relates to core pathways and virulence. PLoS Pathog 2013. [PMID: 23785281 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003403.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While phosphotyrosine modification is an established regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes, it is less well characterized in bacteria due to low prevalence. To gain insight into the extent and biological importance of tyrosine phosphorylation in Escherichia coli, we used immunoaffinity-based phosphotyrosine peptide enrichment combined with high resolution mass spectrometry analysis to comprehensively identify tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and accurately map phosphotyrosine sites. We identified a total of 512 unique phosphotyrosine sites on 342 proteins in E. coli K12 and the human pathogen enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7, representing the largest phosphotyrosine proteome reported to date in bacteria. This large number of tyrosine phosphorylation sites allowed us to define five phosphotyrosine site motifs. Tyrosine phosphorylated proteins belong to various functional classes such as metabolism, gene expression and virulence. We demonstrate for the first time that proteins of a type III secretion system (T3SS), required for the attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion phenotype characteristic for intestinal colonization by certain EHEC strains, are tyrosine phosphorylated by bacterial kinases. Yet, A/E lesion and metabolic phenotypes were unaffected by the mutation of the two currently known tyrosine kinases, Etk and Wzc. Substantial residual tyrosine phosphorylation present in an etk wzc double mutant strongly indicated the presence of hitherto unknown tyrosine kinases in E. coli. We assess the functional importance of tyrosine phosphorylation and demonstrate that the phosphorylated tyrosine residue of the regulator SspA positively affects expression and secretion of T3SS proteins and formation of A/E lesions. Altogether, our study reveals that tyrosine phosphorylation in bacteria is more prevalent than previously recognized, and suggests the involvement of phosphotyrosine-mediated signaling in a broad range of cellular functions and virulence.
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31
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Hansen AM, Chaerkady R, Sharma J, Díaz-Mejía JJ, Tyagi N, Renuse S, Jacob HKC, Pinto SM, Sahasrabuddhe NA, Kim MS, Delanghe B, Srinivasan N, Emili A, Kaper JB, Pandey A. The Escherichia coli phosphotyrosine proteome relates to core pathways and virulence. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003403. [PMID: 23785281 PMCID: PMC3681748 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
While phosphotyrosine modification is an established regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes, it is less well characterized in bacteria due to low prevalence. To gain insight into the extent and biological importance of tyrosine phosphorylation in Escherichia coli, we used immunoaffinity-based phosphotyrosine peptide enrichment combined with high resolution mass spectrometry analysis to comprehensively identify tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and accurately map phosphotyrosine sites. We identified a total of 512 unique phosphotyrosine sites on 342 proteins in E. coli K12 and the human pathogen enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7, representing the largest phosphotyrosine proteome reported to date in bacteria. This large number of tyrosine phosphorylation sites allowed us to define five phosphotyrosine site motifs. Tyrosine phosphorylated proteins belong to various functional classes such as metabolism, gene expression and virulence. We demonstrate for the first time that proteins of a type III secretion system (T3SS), required for the attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion phenotype characteristic for intestinal colonization by certain EHEC strains, are tyrosine phosphorylated by bacterial kinases. Yet, A/E lesion and metabolic phenotypes were unaffected by the mutation of the two currently known tyrosine kinases, Etk and Wzc. Substantial residual tyrosine phosphorylation present in an etk wzc double mutant strongly indicated the presence of hitherto unknown tyrosine kinases in E. coli. We assess the functional importance of tyrosine phosphorylation and demonstrate that the phosphorylated tyrosine residue of the regulator SspA positively affects expression and secretion of T3SS proteins and formation of A/E lesions. Altogether, our study reveals that tyrosine phosphorylation in bacteria is more prevalent than previously recognized, and suggests the involvement of phosphotyrosine-mediated signaling in a broad range of cellular functions and virulence. While phosphotyrosine modification is established in eukaryote cell signaling, it is less characterized in bacteria. Despite that deletion of bacterial tyrosine kinases is known to affect various cellular functions and virulence of bacterial pathogens, few phosphotyrosine proteins are currently known. To gain insight into the extent and biological function of tyrosine phosphorylation in E. coli, we carried out an in-depth phosphotyrosine protein profiling using a mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach. Our study on E. coli K12 and the human pathogen enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7, which is a common cause of food-borne outbreaks of diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome, reveal that tyrosine phosphorylation is far more prevalent than previously recognized. Target proteins are involved in a broad range of cellular functions and virulence. Proteins of the type III secretion system (T3SS), required for the attaching and effacing lesion phenotype characteristic for intestinal colonization by EHEC, are tyrosine phosphorylated. The expression of these T3SS proteins and A/E lesion formation is affected by a tyrosine phosphorylated residue on the regulator SspA. Also, our data indicates the presence of hitherto unknown E. coli tyrosine kinases. Overall, tyrosine phosphorylation seems to be involved in controlling cellular core processes and virulence of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Hansen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Raghothama Chaerkady
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jyoti Sharma
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - J. Javier Díaz-Mejía
- Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, Terrence Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Nidhi Tyagi
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Santosh Renuse
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Harrys K. C. Jacob
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sneha M. Pinto
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - Nandini A. Sahasrabuddhe
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - Min-Sik Kim
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | | | - Andrew Emili
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada
| | - James B. Kaper
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JBK); (AP)
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JBK); (AP)
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32
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Lodato PB, Hsieh PK, Belasco JG, Kaper JB. The ribosome binding site of a mini-ORF protects a T3SS mRNA from degradation by RNase E. Mol Microbiol 2012; 86:1167-82. [PMID: 23043360 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli harbours a pathogenicity island encoding a type 3 secretion system used to translocate effector proteins into the cytosol of intestinal epithelial cells and subvert their function. The structural proteins of the translocon are encoded in a major espADB mRNA processed from a precursor. The translocon mRNA should be highly susceptible to RNase E cleavage because of its AU-rich leader region and monophosphorylated 5'-terminus, yet it manages to avoid rapid degradation. Here, we report that the espADB leader region contains a strong Shine-Dalgarno element (SD2) and a translatable mini-ORF of six codons. Disruption of SD2 so as to weaken ribosome binding significantly reduces the concentration and stability of esp mRNA, whereas codon substitutions that impair translation of the mini-ORF have no such effect. These findings suggest that occupancy of SD2 by ribosomes, but not mini-ORF translation, helps to protect espADB mRNA from degradation, likely by hindering RNase E access to the AU-rich leader region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia B Lodato
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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33
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Protein export according to schedule: architecture, assembly, and regulation of type III secretion systems from plant- and animal-pathogenic bacteria. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2012; 76:262-310. [PMID: 22688814 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.05017-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Flagellar and translocation-associated type III secretion (T3S) systems are present in most gram-negative plant- and animal-pathogenic bacteria and are often essential for bacterial motility or pathogenicity. The architectures of the complex membrane-spanning secretion apparatuses of both systems are similar, but they are associated with different extracellular appendages, including the flagellar hook and filament or the needle/pilus structures of translocation-associated T3S systems. The needle/pilus is connected to a bacterial translocon that is inserted into the host plasma membrane and mediates the transkingdom transport of bacterial effector proteins into eukaryotic cells. During the last 3 to 5 years, significant progress has been made in the characterization of membrane-associated core components and extracellular structures of T3S systems. Furthermore, transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators that control T3S gene expression and substrate specificity have been described. Given the architecture of the T3S system, it is assumed that extracellular components of the secretion apparatus are secreted prior to effector proteins, suggesting that there is a hierarchy in T3S. The aim of this review is to summarize our current knowledge of T3S system components and associated control proteins from both plant- and animal-pathogenic bacteria.
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Aguilera L, Ferreira E, Giménez R, Fernández FJ, Taulés M, Aguilar J, Vega MC, Badia J, Baldomà L. Secretion of the housekeeping protein glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by the LEE-encoded type III secretion system in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2012; 44:955-62. [PMID: 22433988 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2012.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2011] [Revised: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/02/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a multifunctional housekeeping protein secreted by pathogens and involved in adhesion and/or virulence. Previously we reported that enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) and enteropathogenic (EPEC) Escherichia coli secrete GAPDH into the culture medium. This bacterial protein binds human plasminogen and fibrinogen and remains associated with Caco-2 cells upon infection. In these pathogens, GAPDH secretion is not linked to outer membrane vesicles and depends on growth conditions, although the secretion mechanism is still unknown. EPEC is an attaching and effacing pathogen able to secrete and translocate multiple effector proteins into infected cells through a type III secretion system (T3SS). The secretion process is often dependent on a bacterial chaperone. The chaperone CesT displays broad substrate specificity and plays a central role in the recruitment of multiple type III effectors to the T3SS apparatus. Here we provide genetic evidences on GAPDH secretion through T3SS by EPEC grown in DMEM. Secretion of GAPDH is increased in ΔsepD mutants and abolished in mutants defective in the type III ATPase EscN. Complementation with escN gene restores GAPDH secretion. In addition, we prove by means of pull down experiments, overlay immunoblotting and biolayer interferometry a novel interaction between GAPDH and the chaperone CesT. This interaction, which is strong and slow dissociating, may stabilize a population of GAPDH molecules in a secretion competent-state and target them to the type III secretion apparatus. This is the first description of CesT interaction with a housekeeping protein and its export through T3SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Aguilera
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biología Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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35
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Dasanayake D, Richaud M, Cyr N, Caballero-Franco C, Pittroff S, Finn RM, Ausió J, Luo W, Donnenberg MS, Jardim A. The N-terminal amphipathic region of the Escherichia coli type III secretion system protein EspD is required for membrane insertion and function. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:734-50. [PMID: 21651628 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07727.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli is a causative agent of gastrointestinal and diarrheal diseases. These pathogenic E. coli express a syringe-like protein machine, known as the type III secretion system (T3SS), used for the injection of virulence factors into the cytosol of the host epithelial cell. Breaching the epithelial plasma membrane requires formation of a translocation pore that contains the secreted protein EspD. Here we demonstrate that the N-terminal segment of EspD, encompassing residues 1-171, contains two amphipathic domains spanning residues 24-41 and 66-83, with the latter of these helices being critical for EspD function. Fluorescence and circular dichroism analysis revealed that, in solution, His₆-EspD₁₋₁₇₁ adopts a native disordered structure; however, on binding anionic small unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylserine, His₆-EspD₁₋₁₇₁ undergoes a pH depended conformational change that increases the α-helix content of this protein approximately sevenfold. This change coincides with insertion of the region circumscribing Trp₄₇ into the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer. On the HeLa cell plasma membrane, His₆-EspD₁₋₁₇₁ forms a homodimer that is postulated to promote EspD-EspD oligomerization and pore formation. Complementation of ΔespD null mutant bacteria with an espDΔ66-83 gene showed that this protein was secreted but non-functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayal Dasanayake
- Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X3V9, Canada
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