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Osman IO, Caputo A, Pinault L, Mege JL, Levasseur A, Devaux CA. Identification and Characterization of an HtrA Sheddase Produced by Coxiella burnetii. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10904. [PMID: 37446087 PMCID: PMC10342153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310904] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Having previously shown that soluble E-cadherin (sE-cad) is found in sera of Q fever patients and that infection of BeWo cells by C. burnetii leads to modulation of the E-cad/β-cat pathway, our purpose was to identify which sheddase(s) might catalyze the cleavage of E-cad. Here, we searched for a direct mechanism of cleavage initiated by the bacterium itself, assuming the possible synthesis of a sheddase encoded in the genome of C. burnetii or an indirect mechanism based on the activation of a human sheddase. Using a straightforward bioinformatics approach to scan the complete genomes of four laboratory strains of C. burnetii, we demonstrate that C. burnetii encodes a 451 amino acid sheddase (CbHtrA) belonging to the HtrA family that is differently expressed according to the bacterial virulence. An artificial CbHtrA gene (CoxbHtrA) was expressed, and the CoxbHtrA recombinant protein was found to have sheddase activity. We also found evidence that the C. burnetii infection triggers an over-induction of the human HuHtrA gene expression. Finally, we demonstrate that cleavage of E-cad by CoxbHtrA on macrophages-THP-1 cells leads to an M2 polarization of the target cells and the induction of their secretion of IL-10, which "disarms" the target cells and improves C. burnetii replication. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the genome of C. burnetii encodes a functional HtrA sheddase and establishes a link between the HtrA sheddase-induced cleavage of E-cad, the M2 polarization of the target cells and their secretion of IL-10, and the intracellular replication of C. burnetii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikram Omar Osman
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI) Laboratory, Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)–Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (I.O.O.)
| | - Aurelia Caputo
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI) Laboratory, Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)–Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (I.O.O.)
| | - Lucile Pinault
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI) Laboratory, Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)–Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (I.O.O.)
| | - Jean-Louis Mege
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI) Laboratory, Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)–Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (I.O.O.)
- Laboratory of Immunology, Assitance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Anthony Levasseur
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI) Laboratory, Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)–Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (I.O.O.)
| | - Christian A. Devaux
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI) Laboratory, Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)–Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (I.O.O.)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 13009 Marseille, France
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Linz B, Sharafutdinov I, Tegtmeyer N, Backert S. Evolution and Role of Proteases in Campylobacter jejuni Lifestyle and Pathogenesis. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020323. [PMID: 36830692 PMCID: PMC9953165 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the main human food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni causes campylobacteriosis that accounts for a substantial percentage of gastrointestinal infections. The disease usually manifests as diarrhea that lasts for up to two weeks. C. jejuni possesses an array of peptidases and proteases that are critical for its lifestyle and pathogenesis. These include serine proteases Cj1365c, Cj0511 and HtrA; AAA+ group proteases ClpP, Lon and FtsH; and zinc-dependent protease PqqE, proline aminopeptidase PepP, oligopeptidase PepF and peptidase C26. Here, we review the numerous critical roles of these peptide bond-dissolving enzymes in cellular processes of C. jejuni that include protein quality control; protein transport across the inner and outer membranes into the periplasm, cell surface or extracellular space; acquisition of amino acids and biofilm formation and dispersal. In addition, we highlight their role as virulence factors that inflict intestinal tissue damage by promoting cell invasion and mediating cleavage of crucial host cell factors such as epithelial cell junction proteins. Furthermore, we reconstruct the evolution of these proteases in 34 species of the Campylobacter genus. Finally, we discuss to what extent C. jejuni proteases have initiated the search for inhibitor compounds as prospective novel anti-bacterial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo Linz
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)-9131-8528988
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3
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Mkaouar H, Mariaule V, Rhimi S, Hernandez J, Kriaa A, Jablaoui A, Akermi N, Maguin E, Lesner A, Korkmaz B, Rhimi M. Gut Serpinome: Emerging Evidence in IBD. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116088. [PMID: 34200095 PMCID: PMC8201313 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are incurable disorders whose prevalence and global socioeconomic impact are increasing. While the role of host genetics and immunity is well documented, that of gut microbiota dysbiosis is increasingly being studied. However, the molecular basis of the dialogue between the gut microbiota and the host remains poorly understood. Increased activity of serine proteases is demonstrated in IBD patients and may contribute to the onset and the maintenance of the disease. The intestinal proteolytic balance is the result of an equilibrium between the proteases and their corresponding inhibitors. Interestingly, the serine protease inhibitors (serpins) encoded by the host are well reported; in contrast, those from the gut microbiota remain poorly studied. In this review, we provide a concise analysis of the roles of serine protease in IBD physiopathology and we focus on the serpins from the gut microbiota (gut serpinome) and their relevance as a promising therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héla Mkaouar
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
| | - Vincent Mariaule
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
| | - Soufien Rhimi
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
| | - Juan Hernandez
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Nantes-Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine and Food Sciences (Oniris), University of Nantes, 101 Route de Gachet, 44300 Nantes, France;
| | - Aicha Kriaa
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
| | - Amin Jablaoui
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
| | - Nizar Akermi
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
| | - Emmanuelle Maguin
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
| | - Adam Lesner
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Uniwersytet Gdanski, Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63, PL80-308 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Brice Korkmaz
- INSERM UMR-1100, “Research Center for Respiratory Diseases” and University of Tours, 37032 Tours, France;
| | - Moez Rhimi
- Microbiota Interaction with Human and Animal Team (MIHA), Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (H.M.); (V.M.); (S.R.); (A.K.); (A.J.); (N.A.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli can be frequently isolated from poultry and poultry-derived products, and in combination these two species cause a large portion of human bacterial gastroenteritis cases. While birds are typically colonized by these Campylobacter species without clinical symptoms, in humans they cause (foodborne) infections at high frequencies, estimated to cost billions of dollars worldwide every year. The clinical outcome of Campylobacter infections comprises malaise, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms may continue for up to two weeks and are generally self-limiting, though occasionally the disease can be more severe or result in post-infection sequelae. The virulence properties of these pathogens have been best-characterized for C. jejuni, and their actions are reviewed here. Various virulence-associated bacterial determinants include the flagellum, numerous flagellar secreted factors, protein adhesins, cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), lipooligosaccharide (LOS), serine protease HtrA and others. These factors are involved in several pathogenicity-linked properties that can be divided into bacterial chemotaxis, motility, attachment, invasion, survival, cellular transmigration and spread to deeper tissue. All of these steps require intimate interactions between bacteria and host cells (including immune cells), enabled by the collection of bacterial and host factors that have already been identified. The assortment of pathogenicity-associated factors now recognized for C. jejuni, their function and the proposed host cell factors that are involved in crucial steps leading to disease are discussed in detail.
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Ali MQ, Kohler TP, Burchhardt G, Wüst A, Henck N, Bolsmann R, Voß F, Hammerschmidt S. Extracellular Pneumococcal Serine Proteases Affect Nasopharyngeal Colonization. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:613467. [PMID: 33659218 PMCID: PMC7917122 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.613467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae has evolved versatile strategies to colonize the nasopharynx of humans. Colonization is facilitated by direct interactions with host cell receptors or via binding to components of the extracellular matrix. In addition, pneumococci hijack host-derived extracellular proteases such as the serine protease plasmin(ogen) for ECM and mucus degradation as well as colonization. S. pneumoniae expresses strain-dependent up to four serine proteases. In this study, we assessed the role of secreted or cell-bound serine proteases HtrA, PrtA, SFP, and CbpG, in adherence assays and in a mouse colonization model. We hypothesized that the redundancy of serine proteases compensates for the deficiency of a single enzyme. Therefore, double and triple mutants were generated in serotype 19F strain EF3030 and serotype 4 strain TIGR4. Strain EF3030 produces only three serine proteases and lacks the SFP encoding gene. In adherence studies using Detroit-562 epithelial cells, we demonstrated that both TIGR4Δcps and 19F mutants without serine proteases or expressing only CbpG, HtrA, or PrtA have a reduced ability to adhere to Detroit-562 cells. Consistent with these results, we show that the mutants of strain 19F, which preferentially colonizes mice, abrogate nasopharyngeal colonization in CD-1 mice after intranasal infection. The bacterial load in the nasopharynx was monitored for 14 days. Importantly, mutants showed significantly lower bacterial numbers in the nasopharynx two days after infection. Similarly, we detected a significantly reduced pneumococcal colonization on days 3, 7, and 14 post-inoculations. To assess the impact of pneumococcal serine proteases on acute infection, we infected mice intranasally with bioluminescent and invasive TIGR4 or isogenic triple mutants expressing only CbpG, HtrA, PrtA, or SFP. We imaged the acute lung infection in real-time and determined the survival of the mice. The TIGR4lux mutant expressing only PrtA showed a significant attenuation and was less virulent in the acute pneumonia model. In conclusion, our results showed that pneumococcal serine proteases contributed significantly to pneumococcal colonization but played only a minor role in pneumonia and invasive diseases. Because colonization is a prerequisite for invasive diseases and transmission, these enzymes could be promising candidates for the development of antimicrobials to reduce pneumococcal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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In Silico Structural and Functional Characterization of HtrA Proteins of Leptospira spp.: Possible Implications in Pathogenesis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:tropicalmed5040179. [PMID: 33260771 PMCID: PMC7709667 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5040179] [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: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by the pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The identification of conserved outer membrane proteins among pathogenic strains is a major research target in elucidating mechanisms of pathogenicity. Surface-exposed proteins are most probably the ones involved in the interaction of leptospires with the environment. Some spirochetes use outer membrane proteases as a way to penetrate host tissues. HtrA is a family of proteins found in various cell types, from prokaryotes to primates. They are a set of proteases usually composed of a serine protease and PDZ domains, and they are generally transported to the periplasm. Here, we identified four genes—annotated as HtrA, LIC11111, LIC20143, LIC20144 and LIC11037—and another one annotated as a serine protease, LIC11112. It is believed that the last forms a functional heterodimer with LIC11111, since they are organized in one operon. Our analyses showed that these proteins are highly conserved among pathogenic strains. LIC11112, LIC20143, and LIC11037 have the serine protease domain with the conserved catalytic triad His-Asp-Ser. This is the first bioinformatics analysis of HtrA proteins from Leptospira that suggests their proteolytic activity potential. Experimental studies are warranted to elucidate this possibility.
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Zarzecka U, Grinzato A, Kandiah E, Cysewski D, Berto P, Skorko-Glonek J, Zanotti G, Backert S. Functional analysis and cryo-electron microscopy of Campylobacterjejuni serine protease HtrA. Gut Microbes 2020; 12:1-16. [PMID: 32960677 PMCID: PMC7524362 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2020.1810532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a predominant zoonotic pathogen causing gastroenteritis and other diseases in humans. An important bacterial virulence factor is the secreted serine protease HtrA (HtrA Cj ), which targets tight and adherens junctional proteins in the gut epithelium. Here we have investigated the function and structure of HtrA Cj using biochemical assays and cryo-electron microscopy. Mass spectrometry analysis identified differences and similarities in the cleavage site specificity for HtrA Cj by comparison to the HtrA counterparts from Helicobacter pylori and Escherichia coli. We defined the architecture of HtrA Cj at 5.8 Å resolution as a dodecamer, built of four trimers. The contacts between the trimers are quite loose, a fact that explains the flexibility and mobility of the dodecameric assembly. This flexibility has also been studied through molecular dynamics simulation, which revealed opening of the dodecamer to expose the proteolytically active site of the protease. Moreover, we examined the rearrangements at the level of oligomerization in the presence or absence of substrate using size exclusion chromatography, which revealed hexamers, dodecamers and larger oligomeric forms, as well as remarkable stability of higher oligomeric forms (> 12-mers) compared to previously tested homologs from other bacteria. Extremely dynamic decay of the higher oligomeric forms into lower forms was observed after full cleavage of the substrate by the proteolytically active variant of HtrA Cj . Together, this is the first report on the in-depth functional and structural analysis of HtrA Cj , which may allow the construction of therapeutically relevant HtrA Cj inhibitors in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Zarzecka
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany,Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | | | - Dominik Cysewski
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paola Berto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Joanna Skorko-Glonek
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Giuseppe Zanotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy,Giuseppe Zanotti Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany,CONTACT Steffen Backert Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Azimi T, Nasser A, Shariati A, Shiadeh SMJ, Safari H, Alizade-Sani M, Taghipour A, Dehghan A. The Possible Role of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Bacteria in Initiation and Exacerbation of Celiac Disease; A Comprehensive Review. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:452-466. [PMID: 31858910 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666191219160729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Celiac Disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy, generally of the proximal intestine, that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals triggered by the ingestion of gluten. The incidence and frequency of CD are increasing, and it is predicted that CD affects approximately 1% of the people worldwide. The common clinical manifestations of CD are divided in two sections, including classic and non-classic symptoms that can be created in childhood and adulthood. The relationship between pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria with CD is complex and multidirectional. In previous published studies, results demonstrated the triggering impact of bacteria, viruses, and parasites on initiation and development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Different studies revealed the inducing effect of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria on CD. However, increasing evidence proposes that some of these microorganisms can also play several positive roles in CD process. Although information of the pathogenesis of the CD is quickly expanding, the possible role of bacteria needs further examination. In conclusion, with respect to the possible correlation between different bacteria in CD, the current review-based study aims to discuss the possible relationship between CD and pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and to show various and significant aspects of mechanisms involved in the CD process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taher Azimi
- Pediatric Infections Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Nasser
- Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran.,Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran
| | - Aref Shariati
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyedeh M J Shiadeh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Safari
- Health Promotion Research Center, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Alizade-Sani
- Students Research Committee, Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Dehghan
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Neddermann M, Backert S. Quantification of serine protease HtrA molecules secreted by the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Gut Pathog 2019; 11:14. [PMID: 31044013 PMCID: PMC6460743 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-019-0295-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Campylobacter jejuni is a major food-borne pathogen and a worldwide health threat. Utilizing different virulence factors, C. jejuni invades the host's intestinal epithelial cell layer. One important factor in this process is the serine protease HtrA, which is secreted into the extracellular space, and helps the bacteria to transmigrate across the gut epithelium by cleaving various cell-cell adhesion proteins. The aim of the present study is to quantify the amount of HtrA molecules secreted per bacterial cell in liquid culture and during infection. RESULTS HtrA protein purification and quantitative Western blotting were used to determine the number of HtrA molecules secreted by two C. jejuni model strains, 11168 and 81-176, in liquid culture during an 8-h time course. On average, the two strains yielded similar HtrA secretion rates, with strain 11168 secreting 4314 ± 949 molecules and 81-176 secreting 5483 ± 1246 per bacterium after 2 h. After 8 h, both strains showed a decrease in the average amount of HtrA secreted per bacterial cell over time. Secretion of HtrA by strain 11168 reduced to about 1772 ± 520 molecules and only 2151 ± 562 HtrA molecules were secreted by strain 81-176 at this time point. During infection of gut epithelial cells, the secretion of HtrA is slightly higher with a similar secretion pattern over time compared to culturing in vitro. CONCLUSION We determined the number of HtrA molecules secreted by single C. jejuni cells over time. The results suggest that HtrA secretion is regulated in a time-dependent fashion, leading to increasing accumulative HtrA concentrations in the extracellular medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Neddermann
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen, Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen, Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Schmidt AM, Escher U, Mousavi S, Boehm M, Backert S, Bereswill S, Heimesaat MM. Protease Activity of Campylobacter jejuni HtrA Modulates Distinct Intestinal and Systemic Immune Responses in Infected Secondary Abiotic IL-10 Deficient Mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:79. [PMID: 30984628 PMCID: PMC6449876 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though human Campylobacter jejuni infections are progressively increasing worldwide, the underlying molecular mechanisms of pathogen-host-interactions are still not fully understood. We have recently shown that the secreted serine protease HtrA plays a key role in C. jejuni cellular invasion and transepithelial migration in vitro, and is involved in the onset of intestinal pathology in murine infection models in vivo. In the present study, we investigated whether the protease activity of HtrA had an impact in C. jejuni induced acute enterocolitis. For this purpose, we perorally infected secondary abiotic IL-10-/- mice with wildtype C. jejuni strain NCTC11168 (11168WT) or isogenic bacteria carrying protease-inactive HtrA with a single point mutation at S197A in the active center (11168HtrA-S197A). Irrespective of the applied pathogenic strain, mice harbored similar C. jejuni loads in their feces and exhibited comparably severe macroscopic signs of acute enterocolitis at day 6 postinfection (p.i.). Interestingly, the 11168HtrA-S197A infected mice displayed less pronounced colonic apoptosis and immune cell responses, but enhanced epithelial proliferation as compared to the 11168WT strain infected controls. Furthermore, less distinct microscopic sequelae in 11168HtrA-S197A as compared to parental strain infected mice were accompanied by less distinct colonic secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as MCP-1, IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ in the former as compared to the latter. Strikingly, the S197A point mutation was additionally associated with less pronounced systemic pro-inflammatory immune responses as assessed in serum samples. In conclusion, HtrA is a remarkable novel virulence determinant of C. jejuni, whose protease activity is not required for intestinal colonization and establishment of disease, but aggravates campylobacteriosis by triggering apoptosis and pro-inflammatory immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Schmidt
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Escher
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Soraya Mousavi
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manja Boehm
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus M Heimesaat
- Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Boehm M, Simson D, Escher U, Schmidt AM, Bereswill S, Tegtmeyer N, Backert S, Heimesaat MM. Function of Serine Protease HtrA in the Lifecycle of the Foodborne Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2018; 8:70-77. [PMID: 30345086 PMCID: PMC6186014 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2018.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a major food-borne zoonotic pathogen, responsible for a large proportion of bacterial gastroenteritis cases, as well as Guillian-Barré and Miller-Fisher syndromes. During infection, tissue damage is mainly caused by bacteria invading epithelial cells and traversing the intestinal barrier. C. jejuni is able to enter the lamina propria and the bloodstream and may move into other organs, such as spleen, liver, or mesenteric lymph nodes. However, the involved molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. C. jejuni can transmigrate effectively across polarized intestinal epithelial cells mainly by the paracellular route using the serine protease high-temperature requirement A (HtrA). However, it appears that HtrA has a dual function, as it also acts as a chaperone, interacting with denatured or misfolded periplasmic proteins under stress conditions. Here, we review recent progress on the role of HtrA in C. jejuni pathogenesis. HtrA can be transported into the extracellular space and cleaves cell-to-cell junction factors, such as E-cadherin and probably others, disrupting the epithelial barrier and enabling paracellular transmigration of the bacteria. The secretion of HtrA is a newly discovered strategy also utilized by other pathogens. Thus, secreted HtrA proteases represent highly attractive targets for anti-bacterial treatment and may provide a suitable candidate for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manja Boehm
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniel Simson
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Escher
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Schmidt
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus M Heimesaat
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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12
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Backert S, Bernegger S, Skórko-Glonek J, Wessler S. Extracellular HtrA serine proteases: An emerging new strategy in bacterial pathogenesis. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12845. [PMID: 29582532 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The HtrA family of chaperones and serine proteases is important for regulating stress responses and controlling protein quality in the periplasm of bacteria. HtrA is also associated with infectious diseases since inactivation of htrA genes results in significantly reduced virulence properties by various bacterial pathogens. These virulence features of HtrA can be attributed to reduced fitness of the bacteria, higher susceptibility to environmental stress and/or diminished secretion of virulence factors. In some Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, HtrA itself can be exposed to the extracellular environment promoting bacterial colonisation and invasion of host tissues. Most of our knowledge on the function of exported HtrAs stems from research on Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bacillus anthracis, and Chlamydia species. Here, we discuss recent progress showing that extracellular HtrAs are able to cleave cell-to-cell junction factors including E-cadherin, occludin, and claudin-8, as well as extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin, aggrecan, and proteoglycans, disrupting the epithelial barrier and producing substantial host cell damage. We propose that the export of HtrAs is a newly discovered strategy, also applied by additional bacterial pathogens. Consequently, exported HtrA proteases represent highly attractive targets for antibacterial treatment by inhibiting their proteolytic activity or application in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sabine Bernegger
- Department of Biosciences, Division of Microbiology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Joanna Skórko-Glonek
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Silja Wessler
- Department of Biosciences, Division of Microbiology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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13
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Albrecht N, Tegtmeyer N, Sticht H, Skórko-Glonek J, Backert S. Amino-Terminal Processing of Helicobacter pylori Serine Protease HtrA: Role in Oligomerization and Activity Regulation. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:642. [PMID: 29713313 PMCID: PMC5911493 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The HtrA family of serine proteases is found in most bacteria, and plays an essential role in the virulence of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Secreted H. pylori HtrA (HtrA Hp ) cleaves various junctional proteins such as E-cadherin disrupting the epithelial barrier, which is crucial for bacterial transmigration across the polarized epithelium. Recent studies indicated the presence of two characteristic HtrA Hp forms of 55 and 52 kDa (termed p55 and p52, respectively), in worldwide strains. In addition, p55 and p52 were produced by recombinant HtrA Hp , indicating auto-cleavage. However, the cleavage sites and their functional importance are yet unclear. Here, we determined the amino-terminal ends of p55 and p52 by Edman sequencing. Two proteolytic cleavage sites were identified (H46/D47 and K50/D51). Remarkably, the cleavage site sequences are conserved in HtrA Hp from worldwide isolates, but not in other Gram-negative pathogens, suggesting a highly specific assignment in H. pylori. We analyzed the role of the amino-terminal cleavage sites on activity, secretion and function of HtrA Hp . Three-dimensional modeling suggested a trimeric structure and a role of amino-terminal processing in oligomerization and regulation of proteolytic activity of HtrA Hp . Furthermore, point and deletion mutants of these processing sites were generated in the recently reported Campylobacter jejuni ΔhtrA/htrAHp genetic complementation system and the minimal sequence requirements for processing were determined. Polarized Caco-2 epithelial cells were infected with these strains and analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy. The results indicated that HtrA Hp processing strongly affected the ability of the protease to disrupt the E-cadherin-based cell-to-cell junctions. Casein zymography confirmed that the amino-terminal region is required for maintaining the proteolytic activity of HtrA Hp . Furthermore, we demonstrated that this cleavage influences the secretion of HtrA Hp in the extracellular space as an important prerequisite for its virulence activity. Taken together, our data demonstrate that amino-terminal cleavage of HtrA Hp is conserved in this pathogen and affects oligomerization and thus, secretion and regulatory activities, suggesting an important role in the pathogenesis of H. pylori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Albrecht
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joanna Skórko-Glonek
- Department of General and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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14
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Exploiting the Gastric Epithelial Barrier: Helicobacter pylori’s Attack on Tight and Adherens Junctions. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2017; 400:195-226. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-50520-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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15
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Wessler S, Schneider G, Backert S. Bacterial serine protease HtrA as a promising new target for antimicrobial therapy? Cell Commun Signal 2017; 15:4. [PMID: 28069057 PMCID: PMC5223389 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-017-0162-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that the bacterial chaperone and serine protease high temperature requirement A (HtrA) is closely associated with the establishment and progression of several infectious diseases. HtrA activity enhances bacterial survival under stress conditions, but also has direct effects on functions of the cell adhesion protein E-cadherin and extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin and proteoglycans. Although HtrA cannot be considered as a pathogenic factor per se, it exhibits favorable characteristics making HtrA a potentially attractive drug target to combat various bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silja Wessler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Gisbert Schneider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
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16
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Abfalter CM, Schubert M, Götz C, Schmidt TP, Posselt G, Wessler S. HtrA-mediated E-cadherin cleavage is limited to DegP and DegQ homologs expressed by gram-negative pathogens. Cell Commun Signal 2016; 14:30. [PMID: 27931258 PMCID: PMC5146865 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-016-0153-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The serine proteases HtrA/DegP secreted by the human gastrointestinal pathogens Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) cleave the mammalian cell adhesion protein E-cadherin to open intercellular adhesions. A wide range of bacteria also expresses the HtrA/DegP homologs DegQ and/or DegS, which significantly differ in structure and function. Methods E-cadherin shedding was investigated in infection experiments with the Gram-negative pathogens H. pylori, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica (S. Typhimurium), Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica), and Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), which express different combinations of HtrAs. Annotated wild-type htrA/degP, degQ and degS genes were cloned and proteolytically inactive mutants were generated by a serine—to—alanine exchange in the active center. All HtrA variants were overexpressed and purified to compare their proteolytic activities in casein zymography and in vitro E-cadherin cleavage experiments. Results Infection of epithelial cells resulted in a strong E-cadherin ectodomain shedding as reflected by the loss of full length E-cadherin in whole cell lysates and formation of the soluble 90 kDa extracellular domain of E-cadherin (NTF) in the supernatants of infected cells. Importantly, comparing the caseinolytic and E-cadherin cleavage activities of HtrA/DegP, DegQ and DegS proteins revealed that DegP and DegQ homologs from H. pylori, S. Typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica, EPEC and P. mirabilis, but not activated DegS, cleaved E-cadherin as a substrate in vitro. Conclusions These data indicate that E-cadherin cleavage is confined to HtrA/DegP and DegQ proteins representing an important prevalent step in bacterial pathogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12964-016-0153-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen M Abfalter
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maria Schubert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Camilla Götz
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Thomas P Schmidt
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gernot Posselt
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Silja Wessler
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Biology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria.
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17
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Tegtmeyer N, Moodley Y, Yamaoka Y, Pernitzsch SR, Schmidt V, Traverso FR, Schmidt TP, Rad R, Yeoh KG, Bow H, Torres J, Gerhard M, Schneider G, Wessler S, Backert S. Characterisation of worldwide Helicobacter pylori strains reveals genetic conservation and essentiality of serine protease HtrA. Mol Microbiol 2015; 99:925-44. [PMID: 26568477 PMCID: PMC4832355 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
HtrA proteases and chaperones exhibit important roles in periplasmic protein quality control and stress responses. The genetic inactivation of htrA has been described for many bacterial pathogens. However, in some cases such as the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori, HtrA is secreted where it cleaves the tumour‐suppressor E‐cadherin interfering with gastric disease development, but the generation of htrA mutants is still lacking. Here, we show that the htrA gene locus is highly conserved in worldwide strains. HtrA presence was confirmed in 992 H. pylori isolates in gastric biopsy material from infected patients. Differential RNA‐sequencing (dRNA‐seq) indicated that htrA is encoded in an operon with two subsequent genes, HP1020 and HP1021. Genetic mutagenesis and complementation studies revealed that HP1020 and HP1021, but not htrA, can be mutated. In addition, we demonstrate that suppression of HtrA proteolytic activity with a newly developed inhibitor is sufficient to effectively kill H. pylori, but not other bacteria. We show that Helicobacter
htrA is an essential bifunctional gene with crucial intracellular and extracellular functions. Thus, we describe here the first microbe in which htrA is an indispensable gene, a situation unique in the bacterial kingdom. HtrA can therefore be considered a promising new target for anti‐bacterial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Yoshan Moodley
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa.,Konrad-Lorenz-Institut für Vergleichende Verhaltensforschung, Department für Integrative Biologie und Evolution, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Savoyenstr. 1a, A-1160, Wien, Austria
| | - Yoshio Yamaoka
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Dept. Medicine-Gastroenterology, Houston, TX, USA.,Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Dept. Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Yufu, Japan
| | - Sandy Ramona Pernitzsch
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2/Bau D15, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Schmidt
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Francisco Rivas Traverso
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thomas P Schmidt
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Roland Rad
- II Medical Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Khay Guan Yeoh
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ho Bow
- Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Javier Torres
- Unidad de Investigacion en Enfermedades Infecciosas, UMAE Pediatria, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Markus Gerhard
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, 81675, Germany
| | - Gisbert Schneider
- ETH Zürich, Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Silja Wessler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Billroth Str. 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Steffen Backert
- Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany
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18
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Boehm M, Lind J, Backert S, Tegtmeyer N. Campylobacter jejuni serine protease HtrA plays an important role in heat tolerance, oxygen resistance, host cell adhesion, invasion, and transmigration. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2015; 5:68-80. [PMID: 25883795 DOI: 10.1556/eujmi-d-15-00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is an important pathogen of foodborne illness. Transmigration across the intestinal epithelial barrier and invasion are considered as primary reasons for tissue damage triggered by C. jejuni. Using knockout mutants, it was shown that the serine protease HtrA may be important for stress tolerance and physiology of C. jejuni. HtrA is also secreted in the extra-cellular environment, where it can cleave junctional host cell proteins such as E-cadherin. Aim of the present study was to establish a genetic complementation system in two C. jejuni strains in order to introduce the wild-type htrA gene in trans, test known htrA phenotypes, and provide the basis to perform further mutagenesis. We confirm that reexpression of the htrA wild-type gene in ΔhtrA mutants restored the following phenotypes: 1) C. jejuni growth at high temperature (44 °C), 2) growth under high oxygen stress conditions, 3) expression of proteolytically active HtrA oligomers, 4) secretion of HtrA into the supernatant, 5) cell attachment and invasion, and 6) transmigration across polarized epithelial cells. These results establish a genetic complementation system for htrA in C. jejuni, exclude polar effects in the ΔhtrA mutants, confirm important HtrA properties, and permit the discovery and dissection of new functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manja Boehm
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Judith Lind
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen Germany
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19
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Heimesaat MM, Alutis M, Grundmann U, Fischer A, Tegtmeyer N, Böhm M, Kühl AA, Göbel UB, Backert S, Bereswill S. The role of serine protease HtrA in acute ulcerative enterocolitis and extra-intestinal immune responses during Campylobacter jejuni infection of gnotobiotic IL-10 deficient mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:77. [PMID: 24959425 PMCID: PMC4050650 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni infections have a high prevalence worldwide and represent a significant socioeconomic burden. C. jejuni can cross the intestinal epithelial barrier as visualized in biopsies derived from human patients and animal models, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms and associated immunopathology are still not well understood. We have recently shown that the secreted serine protease HtrA (high temperature requirement A) plays a key role in C. jejuni cellular invasion and transmigration across polarized epithelial cells in vitro. In the present in vivo study we investigated the role of HtrA during C. jejuni infection of mice. We used the gnotobiotic IL-10−/− mouse model to study campylobacteriosis following peroral infection with the C. jejuni wild-type (WT) strain NCTC11168 and the isogenic, non-polar NCTC11168ΔhtrA deletion mutant. Six days post infection (p.i.) with either strain mice harbored comparable intestinal C. jejuni loads, whereas ulcerative enterocolitis was less pronounced in mice infected with the ΔhtrA mutant strain. Moreover, ΔhtrA mutant infected mice displayed lower apoptotic cell numbers in the large intestinal mucosa, less colonic accumulation of neutrophils, macrophages and monocytes, lower large intestinal nitric oxide, IFN-γ, and IL-6 as well as lower TNF-α and IL-6 serum concentrations as compared to WT strain infected mice at day 6 p.i. Notably, immunopathological responses were not restricted to the intestinal tract given that liver and kidneys exhibited mild histopathological changes 6 days p.i. with either C. jejuni strain. We also found that hepatic and renal nitric oxide levels or renal TNF-α concentrations were lower in the ΔhtrA mutant as compared to WT strain infected mice. In conclusion, we show here that the C. jejuni HtrA protein plays a pivotal role in inducing host cell apoptosis and immunopathology during murine campylobacteriosis in the gut in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus M Heimesaat
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Alutis
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Ursula Grundmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - André Fischer
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manja Böhm
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anja A Kühl
- Department of Medicine I for Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease and Rheumatology/Research Center ImmunoSciences, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf B Göbel
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin Berlin, Germany
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20
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Heimesaat MM, Fischer A, Alutis M, Grundmann U, Boehm M, Tegtmeyer N, Göbel UB, Kühl AA, Bereswill S, Backert S. The impact of serine protease HtrA in apoptosis, intestinal immune responses and extra-intestinal histopathology during Campylobacter jejuni infection of infant mice. Gut Pathog 2014; 6:16. [PMID: 24883112 PMCID: PMC4040118 DOI: 10.1186/1757-4749-6-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Campylobacter jejuni has emerged as a leading cause of bacterial enterocolitis. The serine protease HtrA has been shown to be a pivotal, novel C. jejuni virulence factor involved in cell invasion and transmigration across polarised epithelial cells in vitro. However, the functional relevance of the htrA gene for the interaction of C. jejuni with the host immune system in the infant mouse infection model has not been investigated so far. Results Here we studied the role of C. jejuni htrA during infection of 3-weeks-old infant mice. Immediately after weaning, conventional wild-type mice were perorally infected with the NCTC11168∆htrA mutant (∆htrA) or the parental wild-type strain. Approximately one third of infected infant mice suffered from bloody diarrhea until day 7 post infection (p.i.), whereas colonic histopathological changes were rather moderate but comparable between the two strains. Interestingly, parental, but not ∆htrA mutant infected mice, displayed a multifold increase of apoptotic cells in the colonic mucosa at day 7 p.i., which was paralleled by higher colonic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ and the matrix-degrading enzyme matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). Furthermore, higher numbers of proliferating cells could be observed in the colon of ∆htrA infected mice as compared to the parental wild-type strain. Remarkably, as early as 7 days p.i. infant mice also exhibited inflammatory changes in extra-intestinal compartments such as liver, kidneys and lungs, which were less distinct in kidneys and lungs following ∆htrA versus parental strain infection. However, live C. jejuni bacteria could not be found in these organs, suggesting the induction of systemic effects during intestinal infection. Conclusion Upon C. jejuni ∆htrA strain infection of infant mice, intestinal and extra-intestinal pro-inflammatory immune responses were ameliorated in the infant mouse model system. Future studies will shed further light onto the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus M Heimesaat
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - André Fischer
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Alutis
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ursula Grundmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manja Boehm
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Nicole Tegtmeyer
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Ulf B Göbel
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja A Kühl
- Department of Medicine I for Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease and Rheumatology / Research Center ImmunoSciences (RCIS), Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Division of Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen, Nuremberg, Germany
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Tareen AM, Lüder CGK, Zautner AE, Groß U, Heimesaat MM, Bereswill S, Lugert R. The Campylobacter jejuni Cj0268c protein is required for adhesion and invasion in vitro. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81069. [PMID: 24303031 PMCID: PMC3841222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adherence of Campylobacter jejuni to its particular host cells is mediated by several pathogen proteins. We screened a transposon-based mutant library of C. jejuni in order to identify clones with an invasion deficient phenotype towards Caco2 cells and detected a mutant with the transposon insertion in gene cj0268c. In vitro characterization of a generated non-random mutant, the mutant complemented with an intact copy of cj0268c and parental strain NCTC 11168 confirmed the relevance of Cj0268c in the invasion process, in particular regarding adherence to host cells. Whereas Cj0268c does not impact autoagglutination or motility of C. jejuni, heterologous expression in E. coli strain DH5α enhanced the potential of the complemented E. coli strain to adhere to Caco2 cells significantly and, thus, indicates that Cj0268c does not need to interact with other C. jejuni proteins to develop its adherence-mediating phenotype. Flow cytometric measurements of E. coli expressing Cj0268c indicate a localization of the protein in the periplasmic space with no access of its C-terminus to the bacterial surface. Since a respective knockout mutant possesses clearly reduced resistance to Triton X-100 treatment, Cj0268c contributes to the stability of the bacterial cell wall. Finally, we could show that the presence of cj0268c seems to be ubiquitous in isolates of C. jejuni and does not correlate with specific clonal groups regarding pathogenicity or pathogen metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Malik Tareen
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carsten G. K. Lüder
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas E. Zautner
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Göttingen, Germany
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of Clinical Chemistry/Central Laboratory, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus M. Heimesaat
- Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Bereswill
- Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Berlin, Germany
| | - Raimond Lugert
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Backert S, Boehm M, Wessler S, Tegtmeyer N. Transmigration route of Campylobacter jejuni across polarized intestinal epithelial cells: paracellular, transcellular or both? Cell Commun Signal 2013; 11:72. [PMID: 24079544 PMCID: PMC3850506 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811x-11-72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Intact intercellular junctions and cellular matrix contacts are crucial structural components for the formation and maintenance of epithelial barrier functions in humans to control the commensal flora and protect against intruding microbes. Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens causing food-borne gastroenteritis and potentially more severe diseases such as reactive arthritis or Guillain–Barré syndrome. Crossing the intestinal epithelial barrier and host cell invasion by C. jejuni are considered to represent the primary reasons of gut tissue damage in humans and various animal model systems including monkeys, piglets, rabbits, hamsters and ferrets. C. jejuni is also able to invade underlying tissues such as the lamina propria, can enter the bloodstream, and possibly reach distinct organs such as spleen, liver or mesenteric lymph nodes. However, the molecular mechanisms as well as major bacterial and host cell factors involved in these activities are poorly understood. Various models exist by which the pathogen can trigger its own transmigration across polarized intestinal epithelial cells in vitro, the paracellular and/or transcellular mechanism. Recent studies suggest that bacterial factors such as flagellum, serine protease HtrA and lipooligosaccharide LOS may play an active role in bacterial transmigration. Here we review our knowledge on transmigration of C. jejuni as well as some other Campylobacter species, and discuss the pros and cons for the route(s) taken to travel across polarized epithelial cell monolayers. These studies provide fresh insights into the infection strategies employed by this important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Backert
- Department of Biology, Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen/Nuremberg, Staudtstr, 5, D-91058, Erlangen, Germany.
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