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Mühleip JJ, Lin YP, Kraiczy P. Further Insights Into the Interaction of Human and Animal Complement Regulator Factor H With Viable Lyme Disease Spirochetes. Front Vet Sci 2019; 5:346. [PMID: 30766876 PMCID: PMC6365980 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex differ in their ability to establish infection and to survive in diverse vertebrate hosts. Association with and adaption to various hosts most likely correlates with the spirochetes' ability to acquire complement regulator factor H (FH) to overcome the host's innate immune response. Here we assessed binding of serum FH from human and various animals including bovine, cat, chicken, dog, horse, mouse, rabbit, and rat to viable B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. spielmanii, B. valaisiana, and B. lusitaniae. Spirochetes ectopically producing CspA orthologs of B. burgdorferi s.s., B. afzelii, and B. spielmanii, CspZ, ErpC, and ErpP, respectively, were also investigated. Our comparative analysis using viable bacterial cells revealed a striking heterogeneity among Lyme disease spirochetes regarding their FH-binding patterns that almost mirrors the serum susceptibility of the respective borrelial genospecies. Moreover, native CspA from B. burgdorferi s.s., B. afzelii, and B. spielmanii as well as CspZ were identified as key ligands of FH from human, horse, and rat origin while ErpP appears to bind dog and mouse FH and to a lesser extent human FH. By contrast, ErpC did not bind FH from human as well as from animal origin. These findings indicate a strong restriction of distinct borrelial proteins toward binding of polymorphic FH of various vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Jasmin Mühleip
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Department of Biomedical Science, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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2
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Stone BL, Brissette CA. Host Immune Evasion by Lyme and Relapsing Fever Borreliae: Findings to Lead Future Studies for Borrelia miyamotoi. Front Immunol 2017; 8:12. [PMID: 28154563 PMCID: PMC5243832 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00012] [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] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging pathogen, Borrelia miyamotoi, is a relapsing fever spirochete vectored by the same species of Ixodes ticks that carry the causative agents of Lyme disease in the US, Europe, and Asia. Symptoms caused by infection with B. miyamotoi are similar to a relapsing fever infection. However, B. miyamotoi has adapted to different vectors and reservoirs, which could result in unique physiology, including immune evasion mechanisms. Lyme Borrelia utilize a combination of Ixodes-produced inhibitors and native proteins [i.e., factor H-binding proteins (FHBPs)/complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins, p43, BBK32, BGA66, BGA71, CD59-like protein] to inhibit complement, while some relapsing fever spirochetes use C4b-binding protein and likely Ornithodoros-produced inhibitors. To evade the humoral response, Borrelia utilize antigenic variation of either outer surface proteins (Osps) and the Vmp-like sequences (Vls) system (Lyme borreliae) or variable membrane proteins (Vmps, relapsing fever borreliae). B. miyamotoi possesses putative FHBPs and antigenic variation of Vmps has been demonstrated. This review summarizes and compares the common mechanisms utilized by Lyme and relapsing fever spirochetes, as well as the current state of understanding immune evasion by B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandee L Stone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota , Grand Forks, ND , USA
| | - Catherine A Brissette
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota , Grand Forks, ND , USA
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3
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Kraiczy P. Hide and Seek: How Lyme Disease Spirochetes Overcome Complement Attack. Front Immunol 2016; 7:385. [PMID: 27725820 PMCID: PMC5036304 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Overcoming the first line of the innate immune system is a general hallmark of pathogenic microbes to avoid recognition and to enter the human host. In particular, spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex have developed various means to counter the immune response and to successfully survive in diverse host environments for a prolonged period of time. In regard to complement resistance, Borrelia utilize a plethora of immune evasion strategies involves capturing of host-derived complement regulators, terminating complement activation as well as shedding of cell-destroying complement complexes to manipulate and to expeditiously inhibit human complement. Owing to their mode of action, the interacting surface-exposed proteins identified among B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia spielmanii, and Borrelia bavariensis can be classified into at least two major categories, namely, molecules that directly interfere with distinct complement components including BBK32, CspA, BGA66, BGA71, and a CD59-like protein or molecules, which indirectly counteract complement activation by binding various complement regulators such as Factor H, Factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), Factor H-related proteins FHR-1, FHR-2, or C4Bp. The latter group of genetically and structurally unrelated proteins has been collectively referred to as “complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins” and consists of CspA, CspZ, ErpA, ErpC, ErpP, and the as yet unidentified protein p43. This review focuses on the current knowledge of immune evasion mechanisms exhibited by Lyme disease spirochetes and highlights the role of complement-interfering, infection-associated molecules playing an important part in these processes. Deciphering the immune evasion strategies may provide novel avenues for improved diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt , Frankfurt am Main , Germany
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Travelling between Two Worlds: Complement as a Gatekeeper for an Expanded Host Range of Lyme Disease Spirochetes. Vet Sci 2016; 3:vetsci3020012. [PMID: 29056721 PMCID: PMC5644625 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci3020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Evading innate immunity is a prerequisite for pathogenic microorganisms in order to survive in their respective hosts. Concerning Lyme disease spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato group, a broad range of diverse vertebrates serve as reservoir or even as incidental hosts, including humans. The capability to infect multiple hosts implies that spirochetes have developed sophisticated means to counter the destructive effects of complement of humans and various animals. While the means by which spirochetes overcome the hosts immune defense are far from being completely understood, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that binding of the key regulator of the alternative pathway, Factor H, plays a pivotal role for immune evasion and that Factor H is an important determinant of host specificity. This review covers (i) the contribution of complement in host-specificity and transmissibility of Lyme disease spirochetes; (ii) the involvement of borrelial-derived determinants to host specificity; (iii) the interplay of human and animal Factor H with complement-acquiring surface proteins of diverse borrelial species; and (iv) the potential role of additional animal complement proteins in the immune evasion of spirochetes.
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Borrelia burgdorferi BBK32 Inhibits the Classical Pathway by Blocking Activation of the C1 Complement Complex. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005404. [PMID: 26808924 PMCID: PMC4725857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens that traffic in blood, lymphatics, or interstitial fluids must adopt strategies to evade innate immune defenses, notably the complement system. Through recruitment of host regulators of complement to their surface, many pathogens are able to escape complement-mediated attack. The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, produces a number of surface proteins that bind to factor H related molecules, which function as the dominant negative regulator of the alternative pathway of complement. Relatively less is known about how B. burgdorferi evades the classical pathway of complement despite the observation that some sensu lato strains are sensitive to classical pathway activation. Here we report that the borrelial lipoprotein BBK32 potently and specifically inhibits the classical pathway by binding with high affinity to the initiating C1 complex of complement. In addition, B. burgdorferi cells that produce BBK32 on their surface bind to both C1 and C1r and a serum sensitive derivative of B. burgdorferi is protected from killing via the classical pathway in a BBK32-dependent manner. Subsequent biochemical and biophysical approaches localized the anti-complement activity of BBK32 to its globular C-terminal domain. Mechanistic studies reveal that BBK32 acts by entrapping C1 in its zymogen form by binding and inhibiting the C1 subcomponent, C1r, which serves as the initiating serine protease of the classical pathway. To our knowledge this is the first report of a spirochetal protein acting as a direct inhibitor of the classical pathway and is the only example of a biomolecule capable of specifically and noncovalently inhibiting C1/C1r. By identifying a unique mode of complement evasion this study greatly enhances our understanding of how pathogens subvert and potentially manipulate host innate immune systems. The human complement system is a connected network of blood proteins capable of recognizing and eliminating microbial intruders. To avoid the destructive force of complement activation, many microorganisms that enter the bloodstream express molecules that disrupt key steps of the complement cascade by interacting with specific complement components. In this study we show that the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, expresses a surface-protein termed BBK32 that targets and inhibits the first component of complement, designated C1. Upon binding to human C1, BBK32 traps this initiating protease complex of the classical pathway of complement in an inactive state, and prevents the downstream proteolytic events of the pathway. Our study defines a new mechanism by which microbes are able to escape the human innate immune system and identifies complement protease C1r as a previously unknown target of bacterial anti-complement molecules. Thus, discovery of the complement inhibitory activity of the borrelial protein BBK32 significantly advances our understanding of how disease-causing bacteria survive in immune competent hosts.
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Hammerschmidt C, Klevenhaus Y, Koenigs A, Hallström T, Fingerle V, Skerka C, Pos KM, Zipfel PF, Wallich R, Kraiczy P. BGA66 and BGA71 facilitate complement resistance of Borrelia bavariensis by inhibiting assembly of the membrane attack complex. Mol Microbiol 2015; 99:407-24. [PMID: 26434356 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia (B.) bavariensis exhibits a marked tropism for nervous tissues and frequently causes neurological manifestations in humans. The molecular mechanism by which B. bavariensis overcomes innate immunity, in particular, complement remains elusive. In contrast to other serum-resistant spirochetes, none of the B. bavariensis isolates investigated bound complement regulators of the alternative (AP) and classical pathway (CP) or proteolytically inactivated complement components. Focusing on outer surface proteins BGA66 and BGA71, we demonstrated that both molecules either inhibit AP, CP and terminal pathway (TP) activation, or block activation of the CP and TP respectively. Both molecules bind complement components C7, C8 and C9, and thereby prevent assembly of the terminal complement complex. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by the introduction of the BGA66 and BGA71 encoding genes into a serum-sensitive B. garinii strain. Transformed spirochetes producing either BGA66 or BGA71 overcome complement-mediated killing, thus indicating that both proteins independently facilitate serum resistance of B. bavariensis. The generation of C-terminally truncated proteins as well as a chimeric BGA71 protein lead to the localization of the complement-interacting binding site within the N-terminus. Collectively, our data reveal a novel immune evasion strategy of B. bavariensis that is directed against the activation of the TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hammerschmidt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Yvonne Klevenhaus
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Arno Koenigs
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Teresia Hallström
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Christine Skerka
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
| | - Klaas Martinus Pos
- Institute of Biochemistry, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Peter F Zipfel
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany.,Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Reinhard Wallich
- Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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The relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi resists complement-mediated killing by human serum. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:898-901. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Sandholm K, Henningsson AJ, Säve S, Bergström S, Forsberg P, Jonsson N, Ernerudh J, Ekdahl KN. Early cytokine release in response to live Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Spirochetes is largely complement independent. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108013. [PMID: 25265036 PMCID: PMC4180076 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Here we investigated the role of complement activation in phagocytosis and the release of cytokines and chemokines in response to two clinical isolates: Borrelia afzelii K78, which is resistant to complement-mediated lysis, and Borrelia garinii LU59, which is complement-sensitive. Methods Borrelia spirochetes were incubated in hirudin plasma, or hirudin-anticoagulated whole blood. Complement activation was measured as the generation of C3a and sC5b-9. Binding of the complement components C3, factor H, C4, and C4BP to the bacterial surfaces was analyzed. The importance of complement activation on phagocytosis, and on the release of cytokines and chemokines, was investigated using inhibitors acting at different levels of the complement cascade. Results 1) Borrelia garinii LU59 induced significantly higher complement activation than did Borrelia afzelii K78. 2) Borrelia afzelii K78 recruited higher amounts of factor H resulting in significantly lower C3 binding. 3) Both Borrelia strains were efficiently phagocytized by granulocytes and monocytes, with substantial inhibition by complement blockade at the levels of C3 and C5. 4) The release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, CCL20, and CXCL8, together with the anti-inflammatory IL-10, were increased the most (by>10-fold after exposure to Borrelia). 5) Both strains induced a similar release of cytokines and chemokines, which in contrast to the phagocytosis, was almost totally unaffected by complement blockade. Conclusions Our results show that complement activation plays an important role in the process of phagocytosis but not in the subsequent cytokine release in response to live Borrelia spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Sandholm
- Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Anna J. Henningsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ryhov County Hospital, Jönköping, Sweden
- Department of Infection Medicine, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Susanne Säve
- Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Sven Bergström
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Department of Infection Medicine, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Nina Jonsson
- Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Rudbeck Laboratory C5, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kristina N. Ekdahl
- Linnaeus University Centre for Biomaterials Chemistry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Rudbeck Laboratory C5, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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Miller DP, McDowell JV, Bell JK, Goetting-Minesky MP, Fenno JC, Marconi RT. Analysis of the complement sensitivity of oral treponemes and the potential influence of FH binding, FH cleavage and dentilisin activity on the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Mol Oral Microbiol 2014; 29:194-207. [PMID: 24815960 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Treponema denticola, a periopathogen, evades complement-mediated killing by binding the negative complement regulatory protein factor H (FH) to its surface via the FhbB protein. Paradoxically, bound FH is cleaved by T. denticola's dentilisin protease, a process hypothesized to trigger localized dysregulation of complement activation in periodontal pockets. The ability of other oral treponemes to evade complement-mediated killing and bind and cleave FH has not been assessed. In this report, we demonstrate that representative isolates of Treponema socranskii, Treponema medium, Treponema pectinovorum and Treponema maltophilum are also serum resistant, whereas Treponema vincentii and Treponema amylovorum are serum sensitive. Although T. denticola's ability to evade complement-mediated killing is strictly dependent on FH binding, other serum-resistant treponemal species lack FhbB and do not bind FH, indicating an FH-independent mechanism of complement evasion. To assess the influence of FhbB sequence variation on FH binding and cleavage by T. denticola, fhbB sequences were determined for 30 isolates. Three distinct phyletic types were identified. All T. denticola strains bound FH and were serum resistant, but differences in binding kinetics, dentilisin activity and FH cleavage ability were observed. Based on these analyses, we hypothesize that the composition of the T. denticola population is a determining factor that influences the progression and severity of periodontal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- D P Miller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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