IL-1α signaling initiates the inflammatory response to virulent Legionella pneumophila in vivo

Bacterial ubiquitin ligases hijack the host deubiquitinase OTUB1 to inhibit MTORC1 signaling and promote autophagy

Many bacterial pathogens have evolved effective strategies to interfere with the ubiquitination network to evade clearance by the innate immune system. Here, we report that OTUB1, one of the most abundant deubiquitinases (DUBs) in mammalian cells, is subjected to both canonical and noncanonical ubiquitination during Legionella pneumophila infection. The effectors SidC and SdcA catalyze OTUB1 ubiquitination at multiple lysine residues, resulting in its association with a Legionella-containing vacuole. Lysine ubiquitination by SidC and SdcA promotes interactions between OTUB1 and DEPTOR, an inhibitor of the MTORC1 pathway, thus suppressing MTORC1 signaling. The inhibition of MTORC1 leads to suppression of host protein synthesis and promotion of host macroautophagy/autophagy during L. pneumophila infection. In addition, members of the SidE family effectors (SidEs) induce phosphoribosyl (PR)-linked ubiquitination of OTUB1 at Ser16 and Ser18 and block its DUB activity. The levels of the lysine and serine ubiquitination of OTUB1 are further regulated by effectors that function to antagonize the activities of SidC, SdcA and SidEs, including Lem27, DupA, DupB, SidJ and SdjA. Our study reveals an effectors-mediated complicated mechanism in regulating the activity of a host DUB.Abbreviations: BafA1: bafilomycin A1; BMDMs: bone marrow-derived macrophages; DUB: deubiquitinase; Dot/Icm: defective for organelle trafficking/intracellular multiplication; DEPTOR: DEP domain containing MTOR interacting protein; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; L. pneumophila: Legionella pneumophila; LCV: Legionella-containing vacuole; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MOI: multiplicity of infection; MTORC1: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1; OTUB1: OTU deubiquitinase, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 1; PR-Ub: phosphoribosyl (PR)-linked ubiquitin; PTM: posttranslational modification; SDS-PAGE: sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; SidEs: SidE family effectors; Ub: ubiquitin.

Exposure to bacterial PAMPs before RSV infection exacerbates innate inflammation and disease via IL-1α and TNF-α

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe lower respiratory tract infections. Understanding why some individuals get more serious disease may help with diagnosis and treatment. One possible risk factor underlying severe disease is bacterial exposure before RSV infection. Bacterial exposure has been associated with increased respiratory viral-induced disease severity but the mechanism remains unknown. Respiratory bacterial infections or exposure to their pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) trigger innate immune inflammation, characterised by neutrophil and inflammatory monocyte recruitment and the production of inflammatory cytokines. We hypothesise that these changes to the lung environment alter the immune response and disease severity during subsequent RSV infection. To test this, we intranasally exposed mice to LPS, LTA or Acinetobacter baumannii (an airway bacterial pathogen) before RSV infection and observed an early induction of disease, measured by weight loss, at days 1-3 after infection. Neutrophils or inflammatory monocytes were not responsible for driving this exacerbated weight loss. Instead, exacerbated disease was associated with increased IL-1α and TNF-α, which orchestrated the recruitment of innate immune cells into the lung. This study shows that exposure to bacterial PAMPs prior to RSV infection increases the expression of IL-1α and TNF-α, which dysregulate the immune response resulting in exacerbated disease.

A TNF-IL-1 circuit controls Yersinia within intestinal pyogranulomas

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine that mediates antimicrobial defense and granuloma formation in response to infection by numerous pathogens. We previously reported that Yersinia pseudotuberculosis colonizes the intestinal mucosa and induces the recruitment of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes into organized immune structures termed pyogranulomas (PG) that control Yersinia infection. Inflammatory monocytes are essential for the control and clearance of Yersinia within intestinal PG, but how monocytes mediate Yersinia restriction is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that TNF signaling in monocytes is required for bacterial containment following enteric Yersinia infection. We further show that monocyte-intrinsic TNFR1 signaling drives the production of monocyte-derived interleukin-1 (IL-1), which signals through IL-1 receptors on non-hematopoietic cells to enable PG-mediated control of intestinal Yersinia infection. Altogether, our work reveals a monocyte-intrinsic TNF-IL-1 collaborative inflammatory circuit that restricts intestinal Yersinia infection.

A TNF-IL-1 circuit controls Yersinia within intestinal granulomas

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine that mediates antimicrobial defense and granuloma formation in response to infection by numerous pathogens. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis colonizes the intestinal mucosa and induces recruitment of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes into organized immune structures termed pyogranulomas that control the bacterial infection. Inflammatory monocytes are essential for control and clearance of Yersinia within intestinal pyogranulomas, but how monocytes mediate Yersinia restriction is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that TNF signaling in monocytes is required for bacterial containment following enteric Yersinia infection. We further show that monocyte-intrinsic TNFR1 signaling drives production of monocyte-derived interleukin-1 (IL-1), which signals through IL-1 receptor on non-hematopoietic cells to enable pyogranuloma-mediated control of Yersinia infection. Altogether, our work reveals a monocyte-intrinsic TNF-IL-1 collaborative circuit as a crucial driver of intestinal granuloma function, and defines the cellular target of TNF signaling that restricts intestinal Yersinia infection.

Crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of the effector protein SidI of Legionella pneumophila reveals a glucosyl transferase domain

The Gram-negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila is an accidental human pathogen that can cause a life-threatening respiratory infection called Legionellosis. In the course of infection, L. pneumophila injects more than 300 effector proteins into the host cell. The effector proteins modify the intracellular environment in order to create a stable compartment for proliferation within the host cell. The effector protein SidI has been shown to potently inhibit host translation upon translocation. SidI is able to interact with the translation elongation factor eEF1A, which has been hypothesized to be a target of SidI. A postulated glycosyltransferase domain in the C-terminal half may be responsible for the toxic effect of SidI. Here, we present the crystal structure of an N-terminal fragment of SidI containing residues 37-573. The structure is divided into three subdomains, two of which display a novel fold. The third subdomain shows close structural homology to GT-B fold glycosyltransferases. Based on structural analysis we predict that the two previously identified residues R453 and E482 assume roles in the catalytic activity of SidI. Furthermore, we show that the N-terminal fragment of SidI is able to directly interact with a postulated target, the translation elongation factor eEF1A.

Cigarette smoke depletes alveolar macrophages and delays clearance of Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is the main etiological agent of Legionnaires' disease, a severe bacterial pneumonia. L. pneumophila is initially engulfed by alveolar macrophages (AMs) and subvert normal cellular functions to establish a replicative vacuole. Cigarette smokers are particularly susceptible to developing Legionnaires' disease and other pulmonary infections; however, little is known about the cellular mechanisms underlying this susceptibility. To investigate this, we used a mouse model of acute cigarette smoke exposure to examine the immune response to cigarette smoke and subsequent L. pneumophila infection. Contrary to previous reports, we show that cigarette smoke exposure alone causes a significant depletion of AMs using enzymatic digestion to extract cells, or via imaging intact lung lobes by light-sheet microscopy. Furthermore, treatment of mice deficient in specific types of cell death with smoke suggests that NLRP3-driven pyroptosis is a contributor to smoke-induced death of AMs. After infection, smoke-exposed mice displayed increased pulmonary L. pneumophila loads and developed more severe disease compared with air-exposed controls. We tested if depletion of AMs was related to this phenotype by directly depleting them with clodronate liposomes and found that this also resulted in increased L. pneumophila loads. In summary, our results showed that cigarette smoke depleted AMs from the lung and that this likely contributed to more severe Legionnaires' disease. Furthermore, the role of AMs in L. pneumophila infection is more nuanced than simply providing a replicative niche, and our studies suggest they play a major role in bacterial clearance.

Bacterial effector kinases and strategies to identify their target host substrates

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are critical in regulating protein function by altering chemical characteristics of proteins. Phosphorylation is an integral PTM, catalyzed by kinases and reversibly removed by phosphatases, that modulates many cellular processes in response to stimuli in all living organisms. Consequently, bacterial pathogens have evolved to secrete effectors capable of manipulating host phosphorylation pathways as a common infection strategy. Given the importance of protein phosphorylation in infection, recent advances in sequence and structural homology search have significantly expanded the discovery of a multitude of bacterial effectors with kinase activity in pathogenic bacteria. Although challenges exist due to complexity of phosphorylation networks in host cells and transient interactions between kinases and substrates, approaches are continuously being developed and applied to identify bacterial effector kinases and their host substrates. In this review, we illustrate the importance of exploiting phosphorylation in host cells by bacterial pathogens via the action of effector kinases and how these effector kinases contribute to virulence through the manipulation of diverse host signaling pathways. We also highlight recent developments in the identification of bacterial effector kinases and a variety of techniques to characterize kinase-substrate interactions in host cells. Identification of host substrates provides new insights for regulation of host signaling during microbial infection and may serve as foundation for developing interventions to treat infection by blocking the activity of secreted effector kinases.

5′ Untranslated mRNA Regions Allow Bypass of Host Cell Translation Inhibition by Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila grows within membrane-bound vacuoles in alveolar macrophages during human disease. Pathogen manipulation of the host cell is driven by bacterial proteins translocated through a type IV secretion system (T4SS).

Differential Roles for IL-1α and IL-1β in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Corneal Infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important cause of dermal, pulmonary, and ocular disease. Our studies have focused on P. aeruginosa infections of the cornea (keratitis) as a major cause of blinding microbial infections. The infection leads to an influx of innate immune cells, with neutrophils making up to 90% of recruited cells during early stages. We previously reported that the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α and IL-1β were elevated during infection. Compared with wild-type (WT), infected Il1b-/- mice developed more severe corneal disease that is associated with impaired bacterial killing as a result of defective neutrophil recruitment. We also reported that neutrophils are an important source of IL-1α and IL-1β, which peaked at 24 h postinfection. To examine the role of IL-1α compared with IL-1β in P. aeruginosa keratitis, we inoculated corneas of C57BL/6 (WT), Il1a-/-, Il1b-/-, and Il1a-/-Il1b-/- (double-knockout) mice with 5 × 104 ExoS-expressing P. aeruginosa. Il1b-/- and double-knockout mice have significantly higher bacterial burden that was consistent with delayed neutrophil and monocyte recruitment to the corneas. Surprisingly, Il1a-/- mice had the opposite phenotype with enhanced bacteria clearance compared with WT mice. Although there were no significant differences in neutrophil recruitment, Il1a-/- neutrophils displayed a more proinflammatory transcriptomic profile compared to WT with elevations in C1q expression that likely caused the phenotypic differences observed. To our knowledge, our findings identify a novel, non-redundant role for IL-1α in impairing bacterial clearance.

The Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm type IV secretion system and its effectors

To prevail in the interaction with eukaryotic hosts, many bacterial pathogens use protein secretion systems to release virulence factors at the host–pathogen interface and/or deliver them directly into host cells. An outstanding example of the complexity and sophistication of secretion systems and the diversity of their protein substrates, effectors, is the Defective in organelle trafficking/Intracellular multiplication (Dot/Icm) Type IVB secretion system (T4BSS) of Legionella pneumophila and related species. Legionella species are facultative intracellular pathogens of environmental protozoa and opportunistic human respiratory pathogens. The Dot/Icm T4BSS translocates an exceptionally large number of effectors, more than 300 per L. pneumophila strain, and is essential for evasion of phagolysosomal degradation and exploitation of protozoa and human macrophages as replicative niches. Recent technological advancements in the imaging of large protein complexes have provided new insight into the architecture of the T4BSS and allowed us to propose models for the transport mechanism. At the same time, significant progress has been made in assigning functions to about a third of L. pneumophila effectors, discovering unprecedented new enzymatic activities and concepts of host subversion. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of the workings of the Dot/Icm T4BSS machinery and provide an overview of the activities and functions of the to-date characterized effectors in the interaction of L. pneumophila with host cells.

Nonredundancy of IL-1α and IL-1β is defined by distinct regulation of tissues orchestrating resistance versus tolerance to infection

Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and IL-1β are inflammatory cytokines with important roles in health and disease. They trigger the same receptor and elicit comparable cellular responses but, for poorly understood reasons, are not redundant in vivo. Here, we decoupled IL-1α and IL-1β functions that drive protective responses against invasive infection with group A Streptococcus. IL-1β was essential for pathogen clearance, hence resistance to infection, by inducing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor at the infection site and establishing emergency granulopoiesis. In contrast, IL-1α governed reprogramming of liver metabolic pathways associated with tolerance to infection. The IL-1α-dominated hepatic regulation corresponded to high IL-1α levels in the liver during infection. Conversely, IL-1β was critical for the regulation of the spleen transcriptome, which correlated with ample IL-1β expression in this tissue. The results identify distinct and organ-specific roles of IL-1α versus IL-1β and implicate spatial restriction of their expression and bioavailability during infection as the underlying mechanism.

Neutrophil-Mediated Lung Injury Both via TLR2-Dependent Production of IL-1α and IL-12 p40, and TLR2-Independent CARDS Toxin after Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Mice

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) residing extracellularly in the respiratory tract is the primary cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia in humans. However, the detailed pathological mechanism of Mp infection, especially inflammation in the lung, remains unclear. This study examined the role of the neutrophils in the inflammation of Mp-induced pneumonia in mice and the mechanism of neutrophil infiltration into the lungs in the Mp-induced pneumonia. We observed massive infiltration of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung injury after the Mp challenge. The neutrophils were shown to contribute to lung injury in Mp pneumonia but were not involved in eliminating Mp, suggesting that neutrophils are detrimental to the host in Mp pneumonia. Mp also induced the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the BALF in a toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-dependent manner. Particularly, both interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-12 p40 played a crucial role in neutrophil infiltration into the BALF in a coordinated manner. Both IL-1α and IL-12 p40 were released from the alveolar macrophages depending on the TLR2 and reactive oxygen species. In addition, the community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin from Mp were found to induce neutrophil infiltration into BALF in a TLR2-independent and IL-1α-dependent manner. Collectively, the TLR2-dependent production of both IL-1α and IL-12 p40, and CARDS toxin have been elucidated to play an important role in neutrophil infiltration into the lungs subsequently leading to the lung injury upon Mp infection in mice. These data will aid in the development of therapeutics and vaccines for Mp pneumonia.

IMPORTANCE Although Mp-induced pneumonia is usually a self-limiting disease, refractory life-threatening pneumonia is often induced. In addition, the development of alternative therapeutic strategies for Mp is expected because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant Mp. However, the lack of knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of Mp-induced pneumonia, especially inflammation upon the Mp infection, makes it tedious to design novel therapeutics and vaccines. For example, although neutrophil infiltration is widely recognized as one of the characteristics of Mp-induced pneumonia, the precise role of neutrophils in the aggravation of Mp pneumonia remains unclear. This study showed that the infiltration of neutrophils in the lungs is detrimental to the host in Mp-induced pneumonia in mice. Furthermore, the TLR2-dependent IL-1α and IL-12 p40 production, and CARDS toxin play important roles in neutrophil infiltration into the lung, following lung injury. Our findings apply to the rational design of novel therapeutics and vaccines against Mp.

Non-canonical activation of the ER stress sensor ATF6 by Legionella pneumophila effectors

Legionella pneumophila secretes toxins into the host cell that induce the non-canonical processing and activation of the ER stress sensor and transcription factor ATF6 via a mechanism that is distinct from the canonical pathway activated by unfolded protein buildup.

The intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila (L.p.) secretes ∼330 effector proteins into the host cell to sculpt an ER-derived replicative niche. We previously reported five L.p. effectors that inhibit IRE1, a key sensor of the homeostatic unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. In this study, we discovered a subset of L.p. toxins that selectively activate the UPR sensor ATF6, resulting in its cleavage, nuclear translocation, and target gene transcription. In a deviation from the conventional model, this L.p.–dependent activation of ATF6 does not require its transport to the Golgi or its cleavage by the S1P/S2P proteases. We believe that our findings highlight the unique regulatory control that L.p. exerts upon the three UPR sensors and expand the repertoire of bacterial proteins that selectively perturb host homeostatic pathways.

Members of the Legionella pneumophila Sde family target tyrosine residues for phosphoribosyl-linked ubiquitination

Legionella pneumophila establishes a replication vacuole by translocating hundreds of protein effectors through a type IV secretion system (T4SS). Among these translocated effectors are members of the Sde family, which catalyze phosphoribosyl-linked ubiquitination (pR-Ub) of host targets. Previous work has posited that Sde proteins solely target serine (Ser) residues within acceptor protein substrates. We show here that SdeC-mediated pR-Ub modification results from a stepwise reaction that also modifies tyrosine (Tyr) residues. Unexpectedly, the presence of an HA tag on Ub resulted in poly-pR-ubiquitination, consistent with the HA tag acting as an acceptor target. Interrogation of phosphoribosyl-linked HA-Ub revealed that Tyr4 was the preferred targeted residue, based on LC-MS/MS analysis of the crosslinked product. Further analysis using synthetic HA variants revealed promiscuous modification of Tyr, as crosslinking was prevented only by constructing a triple mutant in which all three Tyr within the HA sequence were substituted with Phe. Although previous work has indicated that Ser is the sole acceptor residue, we found no evidence of Ser preference over Tyr using Tyr → Ser replacement mutants. This work demonstrates that pR-ubiquitination by the Sde family is not limited to Ser-modification as previously proposed, and broadens the potential sites targeted by this family.

During infection, Legionella pneumophila translocates hundreds of effectors into host cells. Among these, the Sde family effector SdeC catalyzes atypical ubiquitination of host targets at tyrosine, not only serine, residues.

IL-6 deficiency promotes colitis by recruiting Ly6Chi monocytes into inflamed colon tissues in a CCL2-CCR2-dependent manner

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is elevated in inflammatory bowel disease. However, the role of IL-6 deficiency in colitis is not well-defined. Some IL-6 and IL-6 receptor antagonists are associated with severe gastrointestinal immune adverse effects, but the mechanisms of the effects are not clear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of IL-6 in ulcerative colitis in Il6^-/- mice. Results indicated that physiological deficiency of IL-6 promoted the development of colitis. Moreover, IL-6 deficiency significantly increased the mRNA levels of monocytes chemokine Ccl2 and its receptor Ccr2 in colon tissues. Similarly, the percentage of Ly6C^high monocytes and neutrophils were increased in the colon of Il6^-/- mice. Intestinal crypts more strongly increased the migration of Il6^-/- macrophages than wild-type ones. Moreover, Il6^-/- macrophages promoted the migration of neutrophils. Most importantly, RS102895, an antagonist of CCR2, diminished chemotaxis of macrophages and inhibited colitis in Il6^-/- mice. Collectively, these results indicate that Il6^-/- macrophages migrate to inflamed colon tissues and recruit neutrophils, thereby promoting the effect of Il6^-/- on colitis. This study expands our understanding on the effect of IL-6 deficiency in colitis and the development of gastrointestinal immune adverse effects.

Pathogenicity and Virulence of Legionella: Intracellular replication and host response

Bacteria of the genus Legionella are natural pathogens of amoebae that can cause a severe pneumonia in humans called Legionnaires’ Disease. Human disease results from inhalation of Legionella-contaminated aerosols and subsequent bacterial replication within alveolar macrophages. Legionella pathogenicity in humans has resulted from extensive co-evolution with diverse genera of amoebae. To replicate intracellularly, Legionella generates a replication-permissive compartment called the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) through the concerted action of hundreds of Dot/Icm-translocated effector proteins. In this review, we present a collective overview of Legionella pathogenicity including infection mechanisms, secretion systems, and translocated effector function. We also discuss innate and adaptive immune responses to L. pneumophila, the implications of Legionella genome diversity and future avenues for the field.

The revisited role of interleukin-1 alpha and beta in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders and in comorbidities

The interleukin (IL) 1 family of cytokines is noteworthy to have pleiotropic functions in inflammation and acquired immunity. Over the last decades, several progresses have been made in understanding the function and regulation of the prototypical inflammatory cytokine (IL-1) in human diseases. IL-1α and IL-1β deregulated signaling causes devastating diseases manifested by severe acute or chronic inflammation. In this review, we examine and compare the key aspects of IL-1α and IL-1β biology and regulation and discuss their importance in the initiation and maintenance of inflammation that underlie the pathology of many human diseases. We also report the current and ongoing inhibitors of IL-1 signaling, targeting IL-1α, IL-1β, their receptor or other molecular compounds as effective strategies to prevent or treat the onset and progression of various inflammatory disorders.

The metaeffector MesI regulates the activity of the Legionella effector SidI through direct protein-protein interactions

To create an intracellular niche permissive for its replication, Legionella pneumophila uses hundreds of effectors to target a wide variety of host proteins and manipulate specific host processes such as immune response, and vesicle trafficking. To avoid unwanted disruption of host physiology, this pathogen also imposes precise control of its virulence by the use of effectors called metaeffectors to regulate the activity of other effectors. A number of effector/metaeffector pairs with distinct regulatory mechanisms have been characterized, including abrogation of protein modifications, direct modification of the effector and direct binding to the catalytic pocket of the cognate effector. Recently, MesI (Lpg2505) was found to be a metaeffector of SidI, an effector involved in inhibiting host protein translation. Here we demonstrate that MesI functions by inhibiting the activity of SidI via direct protein-protein interactions. We show that this interaction occurs within L. pneumophila and thus interferes with the translocation of SidI into host cells. We also solved the structure of MesI, which suggests that this protein does not have an active site similar to any known enzymes. Analysis of deletion mutants allowed the identification of regions within SidI and MesI that are important for their interactions.

Mechanisms of Effector-Mediated Immunity Revealed by the Accidental Human Pathogen Legionella pneumophila

Many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens employ translocated virulence factors, termed effector proteins, to facilitate their parasitism of host cells and evade host anti-microbial defenses. However, eukaryotes have evolved to detect effector-mediated virulence strategies through a phenomenon termed effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Although ETI was discovered in plants, a growing body of literature demonstrates that metazoans also utilize effector-mediated immunity to detect and clear bacterial pathogens. This mini review is focused on mechanisms of effector-mediated immune responses by the accidental human pathogen Legionella pneumophila. We highlight recent advancements in the field and discuss the future prospects of harnessing effectors for the development of novel therapeutics, a critical need due to the prevalence and rapid spread of antibiotic resistance.

Legionella-Infected Macrophages Engage the Alveolar Epithelium to Metabolically Reprogram Myeloid Cells and Promote Antibacterial Inflammation

Alveolar macrophages are among the first immune cells that respond to inhaled pathogens. However, numerous pathogens block macrophage-intrinsic immune responses, making it unclear how robust antimicrobial responses are generated. The intracellular bacterium Legionella pneumophila inhibits host translation, thereby impairing cytokine production by infected macrophages. Nevertheless, Legionella-infected macrophages induce an interleukin-1 (IL-1)-dependent inflammatory cytokine response by recruited monocytes and other cells that controls infection. How IL-1 directs these cells to produce inflammatory cytokines is unknown. Here, we show that collaboration with the alveolar epithelium is critical for controlling infection. IL-1 induces the alveolar epithelium to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Intriguingly, GM-CSF signaling amplifies inflammatory cytokine production in recruited monocytes by enhancing Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced glycolysis. Our findings reveal that alveolar macrophages engage alveolar epithelial signals to metabolically reprogram monocytes for antibacterial inflammation.

Lung and gut microbiota are altered by hyperoxia and contribute to oxygen-induced lung injury in mice

Inhaled oxygen, although commonly administered to patients with respiratory disease, causes severe lung injury in animals and is associated with poor clinical outcomes in humans. The relationship between hyperoxia, lung and gut microbiota, and lung injury is unknown. Here, we show that hyperoxia conferred a selective relative growth advantage on oxygen-tolerant respiratory microbial species (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) as demonstrated by an observational study of critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation and experiments using neonatal and adult mouse models. During exposure of mice to hyperoxia, both lung and gut bacterial communities were altered, and these communities contributed to oxygen-induced lung injury. Disruption of lung and gut microbiota preceded lung injury, and variation in microbial communities correlated with variation in lung inflammation. Germ-free mice were protected from oxygen-induced lung injury, and systemic antibiotic treatment selectively modulated the severity of oxygen-induced lung injury in conventionally housed animals. These results suggest that inhaled oxygen may alter lung and gut microbial communities and that these communities could contribute to lung injury.

The NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in infection and pathology

In this review we give an overview of the NAIP/NLRC4 activation mechanism as well as the described roles of this inflammasome, with a focus on in vivo infection and pathology. After ligand recognition by NAIP sensor proteins the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome forms through oligomerization with the NLRC4 adaptor to activate Caspase-1. The activating ligands are intracellular bacterial flagellin or type-3 secretion system components, delivered by pathogens. In vivo experiments indicate a role in macrophages during lung, spleen and liver infection and systemic sepsis like conditions, as well as in intestinal epithelial cells. Upon NAIP/NLRC4 activation in the intestine, epithelial cell extrusion is triggered in addition to the canonical inflammasome outcomes of cytokine cleavage and pyroptosis. Human patients with auto-activating mutations in NLRC4 present with an autoinflammatory syndrome including enterocolitis. Although one of the better understood inflammasomes in terms of mechanism, tissue specific functions of NAIP/NLRC4 are only beginning to be understood.

From Gene to Protein-How Bacterial Virulence Factors Manipulate Host Gene Expression During Infection

Bacteria evolved many strategies to survive and persist within host cells. Secretion of bacterial effectors enables bacteria not only to enter the host cell but also to manipulate host gene expression to circumvent clearance by the host immune response. Some effectors were also shown to evade the nucleus to manipulate epigenetic processes as well as transcription and mRNA procession and are therefore classified as nucleomodulins. Others were shown to interfere downstream with gene expression at the level of mRNA stability, favoring either mRNA stabilization or mRNA degradation, translation or protein stability, including mechanisms of protein activation and degradation. Finally, manipulation of innate immune signaling and nutrient supply creates a replicative niche that enables bacterial intracellular persistence and survival. In this review, we want to highlight the divergent strategies applied by intracellular bacteria to evade host immune responses through subversion of host gene expression via bacterial effectors. Since these virulence proteins mimic host cell enzymes or own novel enzymatic functions, characterizing their properties could help to understand the complex interactions between host and pathogen during infections. Additionally, these insights could propose potential targets for medical therapy.

Legionnaires' Disease Mortality in Guinea Pigs Involves the p45 Mobile Genomic Element

Background

Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia that occurs as sporadic epidemics. Not all strains display the same propensity to cause disease in humans. Because Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for >85% of infections, the majority of studies have examined this serogroup, but there are 3 commonly used laboratory strains: L pneumophila serogroup 1 Philadelphia (Phil-1)-derived strains JR32 and Lp01 and 130b-derived strain AA100.

Methods

We evaluated the ability of Phil-1, JR32, Lp01, and AA100 to cause disease in guinea pigs.

Results

We found that, although Phil-1, JR32, and AA100 cause an acute pneumonia and death by 4 days postinfection (100%), strain Lp01 does not cause mortality (0%). We also noted that Lp01 lacks a mobile element, designated p45, whose presence correlates with virulence. Transfer of p45 into Lp01 results in recovery of the ability of this strain to cause mortality, leads to more pronounced disease, and correlates with increased interferon-γ levels in the lungs and spleens before death.

Conclusions

These observations suggest a mechanism of Legionnaires’ disease pathogenesis due to the presence of type IVA secretion systems that cause higher mortality due to overinduction of a proinflammatory response in the host.

Crystal structure of the metaeffector MesI (Lpg2505) from Legionella pneumophila

Persistence and replication of the gram-negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila in the human host cell depend on so-called effector proteins that target diverse cellular functions and modulate them in favor of the pathogen. We solved the crystal structure of the L. pneumophila effector protein MesI de novo to a resolution of 2.2 Å. The 34 kDa polypeptide chain folds into two distinct α-helical domains. The larger C-terminal domain shows similarity to tetratricopeptide repeat proteins. Using size-exclusion chromatography, we confirmed that MesI binds tightly to full-length SidI and that deletion of either the N- or the C-terminus weakens the interaction. Based on the three-dimensional structure of MesI we suggest a possible binding mode for SidI and identified two homologs of MesI within the proteome of L. pneumophila that do not bind to SidI, but may act as specific inhibitors of other yet to be identified effectors.

Targeting Eukaryotic mRNA Translation by Legionella pneumophila

Legionella is a gram-negative microorganism and an infectious agent of pneumonia in humans. It is an intracellular pathogen and multiplies in different eukaryotic cells like amoebae, ciliated protozoa, macrophages, monocytes, and lung epithelial cells. Proliferation of L. pneumophila in eukaryotic cells depends on its type 4 secretion system, which delivers an arsenal of bacterial effector proteins to cytoplasm of its host. Once within the cytoplasm, effectors modify a broad range of host activities, including mRNA translation. Translation is inhibited by Legionella through the action of several effector proteins including Lgt1, Lgt2, Lgt3, SidI, LegK4, SidL, and RavX. Lgt1-3 and SidI target elongation factors: Lgt1-3 mono-glucosylate elongation factor eEF1A, while SidI binds eEF1A, and eEF1Bγ. Effector LegK4 inhibits protein synthesis by phosphorylating Hsp70 proteins, while SidL and RavX have no defined targets in protein synthesis machinery thus far. In addition to direct inhibition of protein synthesis, SidI also affects the stress response, whereas Lgt1-3 – unfolded protein response and cell-cycle progression of host cells. Whether manipulation of these processes is linked to canonical or non-canonical function(s) of targeted elongation factors remains unknown.

The Legionella pneumophila Metaeffector Lpg2505 (MesI) Regulates SidI-Mediated Translation Inhibition and Novel Glycosyl Hydrolase Activity

Legionella pneumophila, the etiological agent of Legionnaires' disease, employs an arsenal of hundreds of Dot/Icm-translocated effector proteins to facilitate replication within eukaryotic phagocytes. Several effectors, called metaeffectors, function to regulate the activity of other Dot/Icm-translocated effectors during infection. The metaeffector Lpg2505 is essential for L. pneumophila intracellular replication only when its cognate effector, SidI, is present. SidI is a cytotoxic effector that interacts with the host translation factor eEF1A and potently inhibits eukaryotic protein translation by an unknown mechanism. Here, we evaluated the impact of Lpg2505 on SidI-mediated phenotypes and investigated the mechanism of SidI function. We determined that Lpg2505 binds with nanomolar affinity to SidI and suppresses SidI-mediated inhibition of protein translation. SidI binding to eEF1A and Lpg2505 is not mutually exclusive, and the proteins bind distinct regions of SidI. We also discovered that SidI possesses GDP-dependent glycosyl hydrolase activity and that this activity is regulated by Lpg2505. We have therefore renamed Lpg2505 MesI (metaeffector of SidI). This work reveals novel enzymatic activity for SidI and provides insight into how intracellular replication of L. pneumophila is regulated by a metaeffector.

ZBP1 governs the inflammasome-independent IL-1α and neutrophil inflammation that play a dual role in anti-influenza virus immunity

Influenza A virus (IAV) triggers the infected lung to produce IL-1 and recruit neutrophils. Unlike IL-1β, however, little is known about IL-1α in terms of its mechanism of induction, action and physiological relevance to the host immunity against IAV infection. In particular, whether Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1), a key molecule for IAV-induced cell death, is involved in the IL-1α induction, neutrophil infiltration and the physiological outcome has not been elucidated. Here, we show in a murine model that the IAV-induced IL-1α is mediated solely by ZBP1, in an NLRP3-inflammasome-independent manner, and is required for the optimal IL-1β production followed by the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). During IAV infection, ZBP1 displays a dual role in anti-IAV immune responses mediated by neutrophils, resulting in either protective or pathological outcomes in vivo. Thus, ZBP1-mediated IL-1α production is the key initial step of IAV-infected NETs, regulating the duality of the consequent lung inflammation.

Characterization of the Dynamic Behavior of Neutrophils Following Influenza Vaccination

Neutrophils are amongst the first cells to respond to inflammation and infection. Although they play a key role in limiting the dissemination of pathogens, the study of their dynamic behavior in immune organs remains elusive. In this work, we characterized in vivo the dynamic behavior of neutrophils in the mouse popliteal lymph node (PLN) after influenza vaccination with UV-inactivated virus. To achieve this, we used an image-based systems biology approach to detect the motility patterns of neutrophils and to associate them to distinct actions. We described a prominent and rapid recruitment of neutrophils to the PLN following vaccination, which was dependent on the secretion of the chemokine CXCL1 and the alarmin molecule IL-1α. In addition, we observed that the initial recruitment occurred mainly via high endothelial venules located in the paracortical and interfollicular regions of the PLN. The analysis of the spatial-temporal patterns of neutrophil migration demonstrated that, in the initial stage, the majority of neutrophils displayed a patrolling behavior, followed by the formation of swarms in the subcapsular sinus of the PLN, which were associated with macrophages in this compartment. Finally, we observed using multiple imaging techniques, that neutrophils phagocytize and transport influenza virus particles. These processes might have important implications in the capacity of these cells to present viral antigens.

Cytokine Milieu in Infectious Disease: A Sword or a Boon?

Cytokines have a myriad role in an infectious disease, whether being pathogenic, bacterial, or viral. All proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine biological function are dependent on its concentration, followed by combination with the other cytokines and the stage of the disease. Plasticity in switching off from one phenotype to the other of these regulatory mediators in congruence with the traditional concept of inhibitory and stimulatory effects on immune system is dealt with. This review highlights the dual functionality of some of these cytokines and cytokine-based immunotherapy.

The Lung Microbiota of Healthy Mice Are Highly Variable, Cluster by Environment, and Reflect Variation in Baseline Lung Innate Immunity

RATIONALE

The "gut-lung axis" is commonly invoked to explain the microbiome's influence on lung inflammation. Yet the lungs harbor their own microbiome, which is altered in respiratory disease. The relative influence of gut and lung bacteria on lung inflammation is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether baseline lung immune tone reflects local (lung-lung) or remote (gut-lung) microbe-host interactions.

METHODS

We compared lung, tongue, and cecal bacteria in 40 healthy, genetically identical, 10-week-old mice, using 16S ribosomal RNA gene quantification and sequencing. We measured inflammatory cytokines, using a multiplex assay of homogenized lung tissue. We compared lung bacteria in healthy mice treated with varied durations of systemic antibiotics.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Lung bacterial communities are highly variable among mice, cluster strongly by cage, shipment, and vendor, and are altered by antibiotics in a microbiologically predictable manner. Baseline lung concentrations of two key inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α and IL-4) are correlated with the diversity and community composition of lung bacterial communities. Lung concentrations of these inflammatory cytokines correlate more strongly with variation in lung bacterial communities than with that of the gut or mouth.

CONCLUSIONS

In the lungs of healthy mice, baseline innate immune tone more strongly reflects local (lung-lung) microbe-host interactions than remote (gut-lung) microbe-host interactions. Our results independently confirm the existence and immunologic significance of the murine lung microbiome, even in health. Variation in lung microbiota is likely an important, underappreciated source of experimental and clinical variability. The lung microbiome is an unexplored therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory lung disease.

Caspase-11-dependent IL-1α release boosts Th17 immunity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

The granulomatous lesion resulting from infection with the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is characterized by a compact aggregate of mature cells, surrounded by a fibroblast- and collagen-rich content. Granuloma formation requires signaling elicited by inflammatory molecules such as members of the interleukin-1 family. Two members of this family have been thoroughly studied, namely IL-1α and IL-1β. In this study, we addressed the mechanisms underlying IL-1α secretion and its functional role on the host resistance to fungal infection. We found that, the expression of caspase-11 triggered by P. brasiliensis infection of macrophages depends on IFN-β production, because its inhibition reduced procaspase-11 levels. Curiously, caspase-11 deficiency did not impair IL-1β production, however caspase-11 was required for a rapid pore-mediated cell lysis. The plasma membrane rupture facilitated the release of IL-1α, which was necessary to induce NO production and restrict fungal replication. Furthermore, P. brasiliensis-infected macrophages required IL-1α to produce optimal levels of IL-6, a major component of Th17 lymphocyte differentiation. Indeed, IL-1α deficiency accounted for a significant reduction of Th17 lymphocytes in lungs of infected mice, correlating with diminished neutrophil infiltration in the lungs. Strikingly, we identified that IL-1α directly reprograms the transcriptional profile of Th17-committed lymphocytes, increasing cellular proliferation, as for boosting IL-17 production by these cells. Beyond neutrophil chemotaxis in vivo, IL-17 also amplified IL-1α production by infected macrophages in vitro, endorsing a critical amplification loop of the inflammatory response. Therefore, our data suggest that the IFN-β/caspase-11/IL-1α pathway shapes a protective antifungal Th17 immunity, revealing a molecular mechanism underlying the cross-talk between innate and adaptive immunity.

Viewing Legionella pneumophila Pathogenesis through an Immunological Lens

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of the severe pneumonia Legionnaires' disease. L. pneumophila is ubiquitously found in freshwater environments, where it replicates within free-living protozoa. Aerosolization of contaminated water supplies allows the bacteria to be inhaled into the human lung, where L. pneumophila can be phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages and replicate intracellularly. The Dot/Icm type IV secretion system (T4SS) is one of the key virulence factors required for intracellular bacterial replication and subsequent disease. The Dot/Icm apparatus translocates more than 300 effector proteins into the host cell cytosol. These effectors interfere with a variety of cellular processes, thus enabling the bacterium to evade phagosome-lysosome fusion and establish an endoplasmic reticulum-derived Legionella-containing vacuole, which facilitates bacterial replication. In turn, the immune system has evolved numerous strategies to recognize intracellular bacteria such as L. pneumophila, leading to potent inflammatory responses that aid in eliminating infection. This review aims to provide an overview of L. pneumophila pathogenesis in the context of the host immune response.

Human Pleural Fluid Elicits Pyruvate and Phenylalanine Metabolism in Acinetobacter baumannii to Enhance Cytotoxicity and Immune Evasion

Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) is one of the most treacherous pathogens among those causing hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). A. baumannii possesses an adaptable physiology, seen not only in its antibiotic resistance and virulence phenotypes but also in its metabolic versatility. In this study, we observed that A. baumannii undergoes global transcriptional changes in response to human pleural fluid (PF), a key host-derived environmental signal. Differential gene expression analyses combined with experimental approaches revealed changes in A. baumannii metabolism, affecting cytotoxicity, persistence, bacterial killing, and chemotaxis. Over 1,220 genes representing 55% of the differentially expressed transcriptomic data corresponded to metabolic processes, including the upregulation of glutamate, short chain fatty acid, and styrene metabolism. We observed an upregulation by 1.83- and 2.61-fold of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex subunits E3 and E2, respectively. We also found that pyruvate (PYR), in conjunction with PF, triggers an A. baumannii pathogenic behavior that adversely impacts human epithelial cell viability. Interestingly, PF also amplified A. baumannii cytotoxicity against murine macrophages, suggesting an immune evasion strategy implemented by A. baumannii. Moreover, we uncovered opposing metabolic strategies dependent on the degree of pathogenicity of the strains, where less pathogenic strains demonstrated greater utilization of PYR to promote persister formation in the presence of PF. Additionally, our transcriptomic analysis and growth studies of A. baumannii suggest the existence of an alternative phenylalanine (PA) catabolic route independent of the phenylacetic acid pathway, which converts PA to phenylpyruvate (PP) and shuttles intermediates into styrene metabolism. This alternative route promoted a neutrophil-evasive state, as PF-induced degradation of PP significantly reduced overall human neutrophil chemotaxis in ex vivo chemotactic assays. Taken together, these data highlight A. baumannii pathoadaptabililty in response to host signals and provide further insight into the role of bacterial metabolism in virulence traits, antibiotic persistence strategies, and host innate immune evasion.

Targeting apoptosis pathways in infections

The programmed cell death pathway of apoptosis is essential for mammalian development and immunity as it eliminates unwanted and dangerous cells. As part of the cellular immune response, apoptosis removes the replicative niche of intracellular pathogens and enables the resolution of infections. To subvert apoptosis, pathogens have evolved a diverse range of mechanisms. In some circumstances, however, pathogens express effector molecules that induce apoptotic cell death. In this review, we focus on selected host-pathogen interactions that affect apoptotic pathways. We discuss how pathogens control the fate of host cells and how this determines the outcome of infections. Finally, small molecule inhibitors that activate apoptosis in cancer cells can also induce apoptotic cell death of infected cells. This suggests that targeting host death factors to kill infected cells is a potential therapeutic option to treat infectious diseases.

A Legionella pneumophila Kinase Phosphorylates the Hsp70 Chaperone Family to Inhibit Eukaryotic Protein Synthesis

Legionella pneumophila (L.p.), the microbe responsible for Legionnaires' disease, secretes ∼300 bacterial proteins into the host cell cytosol. A subset of these proteins affects a wide range of post-translational modifications (PTMs) to disrupt host cellular pathways. L.p. has 5 conserved eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr effector kinases, LegK1-4 and LegK7, which are translocated during infection. Using a chemical genetic screen, we identified the Hsp70 chaperone family as a direct host target of LegK4. Phosphorylation of Hsp70s at T495 in the substrate-binding domain disrupted Hsp70's ATPase activity and greatly inhibited its protein folding capacity. Phosphorylation of cytosolic Hsp70 by LegK4 resulted in global translation inhibition and an increase in the amount of Hsp70 on highly translating polysomes. LegK4's ability to inhibit host translation via a single PTM uncovers a role for Hsp70 in protein synthesis and directly links it to the cellular translational machinery.

Overlapping Roles for Interleukin-36 Cytokines in Protective Host Defense against Murine Legionella pneumophila Pneumonia

Legionella pneumophila causes life-threatening pneumonia culminating in acute lung injury. Innate and adaptive cytokines play an important role in host defense against L. pneumophila infection. Interleukin-36 (IL-36) cytokines are recently described members of the larger IL-1 cytokine family known to exert potent inflammatory effects. In this study, we elucidated the role for IL-36 cytokines in experimental pneumonia caused by L. pneumophila Intratracheal (i.t.) administration of L. pneumophila induced the upregulation of both IL-36α and IL-36γ mRNA and protein production in the lung. Compared to the findings for L. pneumophila-infected wild-type (WT) mice, the i.t. administration of L. pneumophila to IL-36 receptor-deficient (IL-36R^-/-) mice resulted in increased mortality, a delay in lung bacterial clearance, increased L. pneumophila dissemination to extrapulmonary organs, and impaired glucose homeostasis. Impaired lung bacterial clearance in IL-36R^-/- mice was associated with a significantly reduced accumulation of inflammatory cells and the decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Ex vivo, reduced expression of costimulatory molecules and impaired M1 polarization were observed in alveolar macrophages isolated from infected IL-36R^-/- mice compared to macrophages from WT mice. While L. pneumophila-induced mortality in IL-36α- or IL-36γ-deficient mice was not different from that in WT animals, antibody-mediated neutralization of IL-36γ in IL-36α^-/- mice resulted in mortality similar to that observed in IL-36R^-/- mice, indicating redundant and overlapping roles for these cytokines in experimental murine L. pneumophila pneumonia.

Alveolar Macrophages Provide an Early Mycobacterium tuberculosis Niche and Initiate Dissemination

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is initiated in the distal airways, but the bacteria ultimately disseminate to the lung interstitium. Although various cell types, including alveolar macrophages (AM), neutrophils, and permissive monocytes, are known to be infected with Mtb, the initially infected cells as well as those that mediate dissemination from the alveoli to the lung interstitium are unknown. In this study, using a murine infection model, we reveal that early, productive Mtb infection occurs almost exclusively within airway-resident AM. Thereafter Mtb-infected, but not uninfected, AM localize to the lung interstitium through mechanisms requiring an intact Mtb ESX-1 secretion system. Relocalization of infected AM precedes Mtb uptake by recruited monocyte-derived macrophages and neutrophils. This dissemination process is driven by non-hematopoietic host MyD88/interleukin-1 receptor inflammasome signaling. Thus, interleukin-1-mediated crosstalk between Mtb-infected AM and non-hematopoietic cells promotes pulmonary Mtb infection by enabling infected cells to disseminate from the alveoli to the lung interstitium.

Positive and Negative Regulation of the Master Metabolic Regulator mTORC1 by Two Families of Legionella pneumophila Effectors

All pathogens must acquire nutrients from their hosts. The intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila, the etiological agent of Legionnaires' disease, requires host amino acids for growth within cells. The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is an evolutionarily conserved master regulator of host amino acid metabolism. Here, we identify two families of translocated L. pneumophila effector proteins that exhibit opposing effects on mTORC1 activity. The Legionella glucosyltransferase (Lgt) effector family activates mTORC1, through inhibition of host translation, whereas the SidE/SdeABC (SidE) effector family acts as mTORC1 inhibitors. We demonstrate that a common activity of both effector families is to inhibit host translation. We propose that the Lgt and SidE families of effectors work in concert to liberate host amino acids for consumption by L. pneumophila.

Constitutive Interferon Maintains GBP Expression Required for Release of Bacterial Components Upstream of Pyroptosis and Anti-DNA Responses

Legionella pneumophila elicits caspase-11-driven macrophage pyroptosis through guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) encoded on chromosome 3. It has been proposed that microbe-driven IFN upregulates GBPs to facilitate pathogen vacuole rupture and bacteriolysis preceding caspase-11 activation. We show here that macrophage death occurred independently of microbial-induced IFN signaling and that GBPs are dispensable for pathogen vacuole rupture. Instead, the host-intrinsic IFN status sustained sufficient GBP expression levels to drive caspase-1 and caspase-11 activation in response to cytosol-exposed bacteria. In addition, endogenous GBP levels were sufficient for the release of DNA from cytosol-exposed bacteria, preceding the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS/STING) pathway for Ifnb induction. Mice deficient for chromosome 3 GBPs were unable to mount a rapid IL-1/chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) response during Legionella-induced pneumonia, with defective bacterial clearance. Our results show that rapid GBP activity is controlled by host-intrinsic cytokine signaling and that GBP activities precede immune amplification responses, including IFN induction, inflammasome activation, and cell death.

Targeting of RNA Polymerase II by a nuclear Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm effector SnpL

The intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila influences numerous eukaryotic cellular processes through the Dot/Icm-dependent translocation of more than 300 effector proteins into the host cell. Although many translocated effectors localise to the Legionella replicative vacuole, other effectors can affect remote intracellular sites. Following infection, a subset of effector proteins localises to the nucleus where they subvert host cell transcriptional responses to infection. Here, we identified Lpw27461 (Lpp2587), Lpg2519 as a new nuclear-localised effector that we have termed SnpL. Upon ectopic expression or during L. pneumophila infection, SnpL showed strong nuclear localisation by immunofluorescence microscopy but was excluded from nucleoli. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we determined the host-binding partner of SnpL as the eukaryotic transcription elongation factor, Suppressor of Ty5 (SUPT5H)/Spt5. SUPT5H is an evolutionarily conserved component of the DRB sensitivity-inducing factor complex that regulates RNA Polymerase II dependent mRNA processing and transcription elongation. Protein interaction studies showed that SnpL bound to the central Kyprides, Ouzounis, Woese motif region of SUPT5H. Ectopic expression of SnpL led to massive upregulation of host gene expression and macrophage cell death. The activity of SnpL further highlights the ability of L. pneumophila to control fundamental eukaryotic processes such as transcription that, in the case of SnpL, leads to global upregulation of host gene expression.

Interleukin 1α (IL-1α) Promotes Pathogenic Immature Myeloid Cells and IL-1β Favors Protective Mature Myeloid Cells During Acute Lung Infection

Bacterial pneumonia is a common risk factor for acute lung injury and sepsis-mediated death, but the mechanisms underlying the overt inflammation and accompanying pathology are unclear. Infiltration of immature myeloid cells and necrotizing inflammation mediate severe pathology and death during pulmonary infection with Francisella tularensis. However, eliciting mature myeloid cells provides protection. Yet, the host factors responsible for this pathologic immature myeloid cell response are unknown. Here, we report that while the influx of both mature and immature myeloid cells is strictly MyD88 dependent, the interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor mediates an important dual function via its ligands IL-1α and IL-1β. Although IL-1β favors the appearance of bacteria-clearing mature myeloid cells, IL-1α contributes to lung infiltration by ineffective and pathologic immature myeloid cells. Finally, IL-1α and IL-1β are not the sole factors involved, but myeloid cell responses during acute pneumonia were largely unaffected by lung levels of interleukin 10, interleukin 17, CXCL1, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

A tumor-myeloid cell axis, mediated via the cytokines IL-1α and TSLP, promotes the progression of breast cancer

Tumors actively manipulate the immune response through the production of factors that attract immune cells and subsequently alter their ability to recognize and effectively remove the tumor. While this immune evasion mechanism is an important aspect of tumor survival, the factors that serve as primary growth factors for the tumor are less understood. Here, we demonstrated a novel mechanism by which breast cancer cells manipulate tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells to maintain their survival. Tumor-derived interleukin 1α (IL-1α), acting on infiltrating myeloid cells, induced the expression of a critical tumor survival factor, the cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). TSLP promoted the survival of the tumor cells through induction of Bcl-2 expression. TSLP signaling was also required for metastasis to the lung. These studies define a novel IL-1α–TSLP-mediated crosstalk between tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells and tumor cells in the control of metastatic breast cancer.

Partners in crime: neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages in inflammation and disease

Neutrophils are becoming recognized as highly versatile and sophisticated cells that display de novo synthetic capacity and potentially prolonged lifespan. Emerging concepts such as neutrophil heterogeneity and plasticity have revealed that, under pathological conditions, neutrophils may differentiate into discrete subsets defined by distinct phenotypic and functional characteristics. Indeed, these newly described neutrophil subsets will undoubtedly add to the already complex interactions between neutrophils and other immune cell types for an effective immune response. The interactions between neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages enable the host to efficiently defend against and eliminate foreign pathogens. However, it is also becoming increasingly clear that these interactions can be detrimental to the host if not tightly regulated. In this review, we will explore the functional cooperation of neutrophil and monocytes/macrophages in homeostasis, during acute inflammation and in various disease settings. We will discuss this in the context of cardiovascular disease in the form of atherosclerosis, an autoimmune disease mainly occurring in the kidneys, as well as the unique intestinal immune response of the gut that does not conform to the norms of the typical immune system.

Prime and Boost Vaccination Elicit a Distinct Innate Myeloid Cell Immune Response

Understanding the innate immune response to vaccination is critical in vaccine design. Here, we studied blood innate myeloid cells after first and second immunization of cynomolgus macaques with the modified vaccinia virus Ankara. The inflammation at the injection site was moderate and resolved faster after the boost. The blood concentration of inflammation markers increased after both injections but was lower after the boost. The numbers of neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells were transiently affected by vaccination, but without any major difference between prime and boost. However, phenotyping deeper those cells with mass cytometry unveiled their high phenotypic diversity with subsets responding differently after each injection, some enriched only after the primary injection and others only after the boost. Actually, the composition in subphenotype already differed just before the boost as compared to just before the prime. Multivariate analysis identified the key features that contributed to these differences. Cell subpopulations best characterizing the post-boost response were more activated, with a stronger expression of markers involved in phagocytosis, antigen presentation, costimulation, chemotaxis, and inflammation. This study revisits innate immunity by demonstrating that, like adaptive immunity, innate myeloid responses differ after one or two immunizations.

Contribution of IL-1RI Signaling to Protection against Cryptococcus neoformans 52D in a Mouse Model of Infection

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) are pro-inflammatory cytokines that are induced after Cryptococcus neoformans infection and activate the interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI). To establish the role of IL-1RI signaling in protection against cryptococcal infection, we analyzed wild-type (WT) and IL-1RI-deficient (IL-1RI^−/−) mice on the BALB/c background. IL-1RI^−/− mice had significantly reduced survival compared to WT mice after intratracheal challenge with C. neoformans 52D. Microbiological analysis showed a significant increase in the lung and brain fungal burden of IL-1RI^−/− compared to WT mice beginning at weeks 1 and 4 postinfection, respectively. Histopathology showed that IL-1RI^−/− mice exhibit greater airway epithelial mucus secretion and prominent eosinophilic crystals that were absent in WT mice. Susceptibility of IL-1RI^−/− mice was associated with significant induction of a Th2-biased immune response characterized by pulmonary eosinophilia, M2 macrophage polarization, and recruitment of CD4⁺ IL-13⁺ T cells. Expression of pro-inflammatory [IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1)], Th1-associated (IFNγ), and Th17-associated (IL-17A) cytokines was significantly reduced in IL-1RI^−/− lungs compared to WT. WT mice also had higher expression of KC/CXCL1 and sustained neutrophil recruitment to the lung; however, antibody-mediated depletion of these cells showed that they were dispensable for lung fungal clearance. In conclusion, our data indicate that IL-1RI signaling is required to activate a complex series of innate and adaptive immune responses that collectively enhance host defense and survival after C. neoformans 52D infection in BALB/c mice.

The Toolbox for Uncovering the Functions of Legionella Dot/Icm Type IVb Secretion System Effectors: Current State and Future Directions

The defective in organelle trafficking/intracellular multiplication (Dot/Icm) Type IVb secretion system (T4SS) is the essential virulence factor for the intracellular life style and pathogenicity of Legionella species. Screens demonstrated that an individual L. pneumophila strain can use the Dot/Icm T4SS to translocate an unprecedented number of more than 300 proteins into host cells, where these, so called Icm/Dot-translocated substrates (IDTS) or effectors, manipulate host cell functions to the benefit of the bacteria. Bioinformatic analysis of the pan-genus genome predicts at least 608 orthologous groups of putative effectors. Deciphering the function of these effectors is key to understanding Legionella pathogenesis; however, the analysis is challenging. Substantial functional redundancy renders classical, phenotypic screening of single gene deletion mutants mostly ineffective. Here, I review experimental approaches that were successfully used to identify, validate and functionally characterize T4SS effectors and highlight new methods, which promise to facilitate unlocking the secrets of Legionella's extraordinary weapons arsenal.