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Zhang G, Hu H, Yin Y, Tian M, Bu Z, Ding C, Yu S. Brucella Manipulates Host Cell Ferroptosis to Facilitate Its Intracellular Replication and Egress in RAW264.7 Macrophages. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:577. [PMID: 38790682 PMCID: PMC11118192 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Brucella virulence relies on its successful intracellular life cycle. Modulating host cell death is a strategy for Brucella to survive and replicate intracellularly. Ferroptosis is a novel regulated cell death characterized by iron-triggered excessive lipid peroxidation, which has been proven to be associated with pathogenic bacteria infection. Thus, we attempted to explore if smooth-type Brucella infection triggers host cell ferroptosis and what role it plays in Brucella infection. We assessed the effects of Brucella infection on the lactate dehydrogenase release and lipid peroxidation levels of RAW264.7 macrophages; subsequently, we determined the effect of Brucella infection on the expressions of ferroptosis defense pathways. Furthermore, we determined the role of host cell ferroptosis in the intracellular replication and egress of Brucella. The results demonstrated that Brucella M5 could induce ferroptosis of macrophages by inhibiting the GPX4-GSH axis at the late stage of infection but mitigated ferroptosis by up-regulating the GCH1-BH4 axis at the early infection stage. Moreover, elevating host cell ferroptosis decreased Brucella intracellular survival and suppressing host cell ferroptosis increased Brucella intracellular replication and egress. Collectively, Brucella may manipulate host cell ferroptosis to facilitate its intracellular replication and egress, extending our knowledge about the underlying mechanism of how Brucella completes its intracellular life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangdong Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin 150069, China;
| | - Hai Hu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
| | - Yi Yin
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
| | - Mingxing Tian
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
| | - Zhigao Bu
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin 150069, China;
| | - Chan Ding
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Shengqing Yu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China; (G.Z.); (H.H.); (Y.Y.); (M.T.)
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2
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Xu H, Lu J, Huang F, Zhang Q, Liu S, Chen Z, Li S. A genome-wide CRISPR screen identified host genes essential for intracellular Brucella survival. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0338323. [PMID: 38376367 PMCID: PMC10986529 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03383-23] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Brucella is a zoonotic intracellular bacterium that poses threats to human health and economic security. Intracellular infection is a hallmark of the agent Brucella and a primary cause of distress, through which the bacterium regulates the host intracellular environment to promote its own colonization and replication, evading host immunity and pharmaceutical killing. Current studies of Brucella intracellular processes are typically premised on bacterial phenotype such as intracellular bacterial survival, followed by biochemical or molecular biological approaches to reveal detailed mechanisms. While such processes can deepen the understanding of Brucella-host interaction, the insights into host alterations in infection would be easily restricted to known pathways. In the current study, we applied CRISPR Cas9 screen to identify host genes that are most affected by Brucella infection on cell viability at the genomic level. As a result of CRISPR screening, we firstly identified that knockout of the negatively selected genes GOLGA6L6, DEFB103B, OR4F29, and ERCC6 attenuate the viability of both the host cells and intracellular Brucella, suggesting these genes to be potential therapeutic targets for Brucella control. In particular, knockout of DEFB103B diminished Brucella intracellular survival by altering host cell autophagy. Conversely, knockout of positive screening genes promoted intracellular proliferation of Brucella. In summary, we screened host genes at the genomic level throughout Brucella infection, identified host genes that are previously not recognized to be involved in Brucella infection, and provided targets for intracellular infection control.IMPORTANCEBrucella is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects common mammals causing arthritis, myalgia, neuritis, orchitis, or miscarriage and is difficult to cure with antibiotics due to its intracellular parasitism. Therefore, unraveling the mechanism of Brucella-host interactions will help controlling Brucella infections. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing technology that directs knockout of individual target genes by guided RNA, from which genome-wide gene-knockout cell libraries can be constructed. Upon infection with Brucella, the cell library would show differences in viability as a result of the knockout and specific genes could be revealed by genomic DNA sequencing. As a result, genes affecting cell viability during Brucella infection were identified. Further testing of gene function may reveal the mechanisms of Brucella-host interactions, thereby contributing to clinical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Department of Cell Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Lu
- Department of Cell Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Cell Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Department of Cell Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Department of Cell Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zeliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Shanhu Li
- Department of Cell Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
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Marchesini MI, Spera JM, Comerci DJ. The 'ins and outs' of Brucella intracellular journey. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102427. [PMID: 38309247 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Members of the genus Brucella are the causative agents of brucellosis, a worldwide zoonosis affecting wild and domestic animals and humans. These facultative intracellular pathogens cause long-lasting chronic infections by evolving sophisticated strategies to counteract, evade, or subvert host bactericidal mechanisms in order to establish a secure replicative niche necessary for their survival. In this review, we present recent findings on selected Brucella effectors to illustrate how this pathogen modulates host cell signaling pathways to gain control of the vacuole, promote the formation of a safe intracellular replication niche, alter host cell metabolism to its advantage, and exploit various cellular pathways to ensure egress from the infected cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- María I Marchesini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan M Spera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego J Comerci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Grupo Pecuario, Centro Atómico Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Zavattieri L, Muñoz González F, Ferrero MC, Baldi PC. Immune Responses Potentially Involved in the Gestational Complications of Brucella Infection. Pathogens 2023; 12:1450. [PMID: 38133333 PMCID: PMC10747693 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121450] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection by Brucella species in pregnant animals and humans is associated with an increased risk of abortion, preterm birth, and transmission of the infection to the offspring. The pathogen has a marked tropism for the placenta and the pregnant uterus and has the ability to invade and replicate within cells of the maternal-fetal unit, including trophoblasts and decidual cells. Placentitis is a common finding in infected pregnant animals. Several proinflammatory factors have been found to be increased in both the placenta of Brucella-infected animals and in trophoblasts or decidual cells infected in vitro. As normal pregnancies require an anti-inflammatory placental environment during most of the gestational period, Brucella-induced placentitis is thought to be associated with the obstetric complications of brucellosis. A few studies suggest that the blockade of proinflammatory factors may prevent abortion in these cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Zavattieri
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina; (L.Z.); (F.M.G.); (M.C.F.)
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
| | - Florencia Muñoz González
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina; (L.Z.); (F.M.G.); (M.C.F.)
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
| | - Mariana C. Ferrero
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina; (L.Z.); (F.M.G.); (M.C.F.)
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
| | - Pablo C. Baldi
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina; (L.Z.); (F.M.G.); (M.C.F.)
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
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Verbeke J, De Bolle X, Arnould T. When mitophagy dictates the outcome of cellular infection: the case of Brucella abortus. Autophagy 2023; 19:3022-3023. [PMID: 37589593 PMCID: PMC10549184 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2246354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are at the basis of various cellular functions ranging from metabolism and redox homeostasis to inflammation and cell death regulation. Mitochondria therefore constitute an attractive target for invading pathogens to fulfil their infectious cycle. This involves the modulation to their advantage of mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics, including the controlled degradation of mitochondria through mitophagy. Mitophagy might for instance be beneficial for bacterial survival as it can clear bactericidal mitochondrial ROS produced by damaged organelle fragments from the intracellular niche. In the case of the bacterial pathogen Brucella abortus, mitophagy induction has another role in the intracellular lifecycle of the bacteria. Indeed, in our study, we showed that B. abortus triggers an iron-dependent BNIP3L-mediated mitophagy response required for proper bacterial egress and infection of neighboring cells. These results highlight the diversity of mitophagy processes that might be crucial for several stages of cellular infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Verbeke
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC) – Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur, Namur, Wallonia, Belgium
| | - Xavier De Bolle
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM) – Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur, Namur, Wallonia, Belgium
| | - Thierry Arnould
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC) – Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur, Namur, Wallonia, Belgium
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Maurice NM, Sadikot RT. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Bacterial Infections. Pathogens 2023; 12:1005. [PMID: 37623965 PMCID: PMC10458073 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are critical in numerous cellular processes, including energy generation. Bacterial pathogens target host cell mitochondria through various mechanisms to disturb the host response and improve bacterial survival. We review recent advances in the understanding of how bacteria cause mitochondrial dysfunction through perturbations in mitochondrial cell-death pathways, energy production, mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial quality control, DNA repair, and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response. We also briefly highlight possible therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring the host mitochondrial function as a novel strategy to enhance the host response to bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M. Maurice
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
| | - Ruxana T. Sadikot
- VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Lyu B, Li J, Niemeyer B, Anderson DM, Beerntsen B, Song Q. Integrative analysis highlights molecular and immune responses of tick Amblyomma americanum to Escherichia coli challenge. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1236785. [PMID: 37583446 PMCID: PMC10424933 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1236785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites that can transmit various pathogens capable of causing life-threatening illnesses in people and animals, making them a severe public health threat. Understanding how ticks respond to bacterial infection is crucial for deciphering their immune defense mechanisms and identifying potential targets for controlling tick-borne diseases. In this study, an in-depth transcriptome analysis was used to investigate the molecular and immune responses of Amblyomma americanum to infection caused by the microinjection of Escherichia coli. With an abundance of differentially expressed genes discovered at different times, the analysis demonstrated significant changes in gene expression profiles in response to E. coli challenge. Notably, we found alterations in crucial immune markers, including the antimicrobial peptides defensin and microplusin, suggesting they may play an essential role in the innate immune response. Furthermore, KEGG analysis showed that following E. coli exposure, a number of key enzymes, including lysosomal alpha-glucosidase, fibroblast growth factor, legumain, apoptotic protease-activating factor, etc., were altered, impacting the activity of the lysosome, mitogen-activated protein kinase, antigen processing and presentation, bacterial invasion, apoptosis, and the Toll and immune deficiency pathways. In addition to the transcriptome analysis, we constructed protein interaction networks to elucidate the molecular interactions underlying the tick's response to E. coli challenge. Hub genes were identified, and their functional enrichment provided insights into the regulation of cytoskeleton rearrangement, apoptotic processes, and kinase activity that may occur in infected cells. Collectively, the findings shed light on the potential immune responses in A. americanum that control E. coli infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lyu
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jingjing Li
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Brigid Niemeyer
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Deborah M. Anderson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Brenda Beerntsen
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Verbeke J, Fayt Y, Martin L, Yilmaz O, Sedzicki J, Reboul A, Jadot M, Renard P, Dehio C, Renard H, Letesson J, De Bolle X, Arnould T. Host cell egress of Brucella abortus requires BNIP3L-mediated mitophagy. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112817. [PMID: 37232029 PMCID: PMC10350838 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The facultative intracellular pathogen Brucella abortus interacts with several organelles of the host cell to reach its replicative niche inside the endoplasmic reticulum. However, little is known about the interplay between the intracellular bacteria and the host cell mitochondria. Here, we showed that B. abortus triggers substantive mitochondrial network fragmentation, accompanied by mitophagy and the formation of mitochondrial Brucella-containing vacuoles during the late steps of cellular infection. Brucella-induced expression of the mitophagy receptor BNIP3L is essential for these events and relies on the iron-dependent stabilisation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α. Functionally, BNIP3L-mediated mitophagy appears to be advantageous for bacterial exit from the host cell as BNIP3L depletion drastically reduces the number of reinfection events. Altogether, these findings highlight the intricate link between Brucella trafficking and the mitochondria during host cell infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Verbeke
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Youri Fayt
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Lisa Martin
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Oya Yilmaz
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | | | - Angéline Reboul
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Michel Jadot
- Research Unit in Molecular Physiology (URPhyM)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Patricia Renard
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | | | - Henri‐François Renard
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Jean‐Jacques Letesson
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Xavier De Bolle
- Research Unit in Microorganisms Biology (URBM)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
| | - Thierry Arnould
- Research Unit in Cell Biology (URBC)—Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS)University of NamurNamurBelgium
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