Natural history of Helicobacter pylori VacA toxin in human gastric epithelium in vivo: vacuoles and beyond.

Uptake, intracellular trafficking and pathologic effects of VacA toxin from Helicobacter pylori have been widely investigated in vitro. However, no systematic analysis investigated VacA intracellular distribution and fate in H. pylori-infected human gastric epithelium in vivo, using ultrastructural immunocytochemistry that combines precise toxin localization with analysis of the overall cell ultrastructure and intercompartimental/interorganellar relationships. By immunogold procedure, in this study we investigated gastric biopsies taken from dyspeptic patients to characterize the overall toxin's journey inside human gastric epithelial cells in vivo. Endocytic pits were found to take up VacA at sites of bacterial adhesion, leading to a population of peripheral endosomes, which in deeper (juxtanuclear) cytoplasm enlarged and fused each other to form large VacA-containing vacuoles (VCVs). These directly opened into endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cisternae, which in turn enveloped mitochondria and contacted the Golgi apparatus. In all such organelles we found toxin molecules, often coupled with structural damage. These findings suggest direct toxin transfer from VCVs to other target organelles such as ER/Golgi and mitochondria. VacA-induced cytotoxic changes were associated with the appearance of auto(phago)lysosomes containing VacA, polyubiquitinated proteins, p62/SQSTM1 protein, cathepsin D, damaged mitochondria and bacterial remnants, thus leading to persistent cell accumulation of degradative products.

Lipopolysaccharide structure impacts the entry kinetics of bacterial outer membrane vesicles into host cells.

Outer membrane vesicles are nano-sized microvesicles shed from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and play important roles in immune priming and disease pathogenesis. However, our current mechanistic understanding of vesicle-host cell interactions is limited by a lack of methods to study the rapid kinetics of vesicle entry and cargo delivery to host cells. Here, we describe a highly sensitive method to study the kinetics of vesicle entry into host cells in real-time using a genetically encoded, vesicle-targeted probe. We found that the route of vesicular uptake, and thus entry kinetics and efficiency, are shaped by bacterial cell wall composition. The presence of lipopolysaccharide O antigen enables vesicles to bypass clathrin-mediated endocytosis, which enhances both their entry rate and efficiency into host cells. Collectively, our findings highlight the composition of the bacterial cell wall as a major determinant of secretion-independent delivery of virulence factors during Gram-negative infections.

M. tuberculosis-Initiated Human Mannose Receptor Signaling Regulates Macrophage Recognition and Vesicle Trafficking by FcRγ-Chain, Grb2, and SHP-1.

Despite its prominent role as a C-type lectin (CTL) pattern recognition receptor, mannose receptor (MR, CD206)-specific signaling molecules and pathways are unknown. The MR is highly expressed on human macrophages, regulating endocytosis, phagocytosis, and immune responses and mediating Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) phagocytosis by human macrophages, thereby limiting phagosome-lysosome (P-L) fusion. We identified human MR-associated proteins using phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated MR cytoplasmic tail peptides. We found that MR binds FcRγ-chain, which is required for MR plasma membrane localization and M.tb cell association. Additionally, we discovered that MR-mediated M.tb association triggers immediate MR tyrosine residue phosphorylation and Grb2 recruitment, activating the Rac/Pak/Cdc-42 signaling cascade important for M.tb uptake. MR activation subsequently recruits SHP-1 to the M.tb-containing phagosome, where its activity limits PI(3)P generation at the phagosome and M.tb P-L fusion and promotes M.tb growth. In sum, we identify human MR signaling pathways that temporally regulate phagocytosis and P-L fusion during M.tb infection.

Direct targeting of membrane fusion by SNARE mimicry: Convergent evolution of Legionella effectors.

Legionella pneumophila, the Gram-negative pathogen causing Legionnaires' disease, infects host cells by hijacking endocytic pathways and forming a Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) in which the bacteria replicate. To promote LCV expansion and prevent lysosomal targeting, effector proteins are translocated into the host cell where they alter membrane traffic. Here we show that three of these effectors [LegC2 (Legionella eukaryotic-like gene C2)/YlfB (yeast lethal factor B), LegC3, and LegC7/YlfA] functionally mimic glutamine (Q)-SNARE proteins. In infected cells, the three proteins selectively form complexes with the endosomal arginine (R)-SNARE vesicle-associated membrane protein 4 (VAMP4). When reconstituted in proteoliposomes, these proteins avidly fuse with liposomes containing VAMP4, resulting in a stable complex with properties resembling canonical SNARE complexes. Intriguingly, however, the LegC/SNARE hybrid complex cannot be disassembled by N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor. We conclude that LegCs use SNARE mimicry to divert VAMP4-containing vesicles for fusion with the LCV, thus promoting its expansion. In addition, the LegC/VAMP4 complex avoids the host's disassembly machinery, thus effectively trapping VAMP4 in an inactive state.

Mycobacterial escape from macrophage phagosomes to the cytoplasm represents an alternate adaptation mechanism.

Survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) within the host macrophage is mediated through pathogen-dependent inhibition of phagosome-lysosome fusion, which enables bacteria to persist within the immature phagosomal compartment. By employing ultrastructural examination of different field isolates supported by biochemical analysis, we found that some of the Mtb strains were in fact poorly adapted for subsistence within endocytic vesicles of infected macrophages. Instead, through a mechanism involving activation of host cytosolic phospholipase A2, these bacteria rapidly escaped from phagosomes, and established residence in the cytoplasm of the host cell. Interestingly, by facilitating an enhanced suppression of host cellular autophagy, this translocation served as an alternate virulence acquisition mechanism. Thus, our studies reveal plasticity in the adaptation strategies employed by Mtb, for survival in the host macrophage.

A Novel Fluorescent Labeling Method Enables Monitoring of Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Developing Microsporidia.

The microsporidium, Anncaliia algerae (Brachiola algerae), is a eukaryotic obligate intracellular parasite first isolated from mosquitoes and is an important opportunistic human pathogen that can cause morbidity and mortality among immune-compromised individuals including patients with AIDS and those undergoing chemotherapy. There is little known about the Microsporidia-host cell interface in living host cells, due to current approaches being limited by the lack of fluorescent reporters for detecting the parasite lifecycle. Here, we have developed and applied novel vital fluorescent parasite labeling methodologies in conjunction with fluorescent protein-tagged reporters to track simultaneously the dynamics of both parasite and host cell specific components, including the secretory and endocytic trafficking pathways, during the entire infection time period. We have found dramatic changes in the dynamics of host secretory trafficking organelles during the course of infection. The Golgi compartment is gradually disassembled and regenerated into mini-Golgi structures in parallel with cellular microtubule depolymerization. Importantly, we find that Microsporidia progeny are associated with these de novo formed mini-Golgi structures. These host structures appear to create a membrane bound niche environment for parasite development. Our studies presented here provide novel imaging tools and methodologies that will facilitate in understanding the biology of microsporidial parasites in the living host.

Trafficking of Estrella lausannensis in human macrophages.

Estrella lausannensis is a new member of the Chlamydiales order. Like other Chlamydia-related bacteria, it is able to replicate in amoebae and in fish cell lines. A preliminary study investigating the pathogenic potential of Chlamydia-related bacteria found a correlation between antibody response to E. lausannensis and pneumonia in children. To further investigate the pathogenic potential of E. lausannensis, we determined its ability to grow in human macrophages and its intracellular trafficking. The replication in macrophages resulted in viable E. lausannensis; however, it caused a significant cytopathic effect. The intracellular trafficking of E. lausannensis was analyzed by determining the interaction of the Estrella-containing inclusions with various endocytic markers as well as host organelles. The E. lausannensis inclusion escaped the endocytic pathway rapidly avoiding maturation into phagolysosomes by preventing both EEA-1 and LAMP-1 accumulation. Compared to Waddlia chondrophila, another Chlamydia-related bacteria, the recruitment of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum was minimal for E. lausannensis inclusions. Estrella lausannensis appears to use a distinct source of nutrients and energy compared to other members of the Chlamydiales order. In conclusion, we hypothesize that E. lausannensis has a restricted growth in human macrophages, due to its reduced capacity to control programmed cell death.

Delivery of siRNAs to cancer cells via bacteria.

RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a promising approach for efficient silencing of a particular gene for cancer gene therapy. However, the main obstacle for the development of RNAi-based therapeutic approaches is the delivery of the RNAi effector molecules to target cells. One promising strategy to surmount this challenge is the application of nonpathogenic bacteria as a delivery vector to target cells. In this chapter, the design of invasive Escherichia coli is described. The strain carries a plasmid encoding short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), a protein (invasin) necessary for endocytotic absorption of the bacteria by target cells, and listeriolysin O required for the lysis of endocytotic vesicles within the target cells.

Extracellular vesicles modulate host-microbe responses by altering TLR2 activity and phagocytosis.

Oral delivery of Gram positive bacteria, often derived from the genera Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, can modulate immune function. Although the exact mechanisms remain unclear, immunomodulatory effects may be elicited through the direct interaction of these bacteria with the intestinal epithelium or resident dendritic cell (DC) populations. We analyzed the immune activation properties of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium species and made the surprising observation that cellular responses in vitro were differentially influenced by the presence of serum, specifically the extracellular vesicle (EV) fraction. In contrast to the tested Lactobacilli species, tested Bifidobacterium species induce TLR2/6 activity which is inhibited by the presence of EVs. Using specific TLR ligands, EVs were found to enhance cellular TLR2/1 and TLR4 responses while TLR2/6 responses were suppressed. No effect could be observed on cellular TLR5 responses. We determined that EVs play a role in bacterial aggregation, suggesting that EVs interact with bacterial surfaces. EVs were found to slightly enhance DC phagocytosis of Bifidobacterium breve whereas phagocytosis of Lactobacillus rhamnosus was virtually absent upon serum EV depletion. DC uptake of a non-microbial substance (dextran) was not affected by the different serum fractions suggesting that EVs do not interfere with DC phagocytic capacity but rather modify the DC-microbe interaction. Depending on the microbe, combined effects of EVs on TLR activity and phagocytosis result in a differential proinflammatory DC cytokine release. Overall, these data suggest that EVs play a yet unrecognized role in host-microbe responses, not by interfering in recipient cellular responses but via attachment to, or scavenging of, microbe-associated molecular patterns. EVs can be found in any tissue or bodily fluid, therefore insights into EV-microbe interactions are important in understanding the mechanism of action of potential probiotics and gut immune homeostasis.

A Tenebrio molitor GPI-anchored alkaline phosphatase is involved in binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Aa to brush border membrane vesicles.

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins recognizes their target cells in part by the binding to glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI) anchored proteins such as aminopeptidase-N (APN) or alkaline phosphatases (ALP). Treatment of Tenebrio molitor brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) with phospholipase C that cleaves out GPI-anchored proteins from the membranes, showed that GPI-anchored proteins are involved in binding of Cry3Aa toxin to BBMV. A 68 kDa GPI-anchored ALP was shown to bind Cry3Aa by toxin overlay assays. The 68 kDa GPI-anchored ALP was preferentially expressed in early instar larvae in comparison to late instar larvae. Our work shows for the first time that GPI-anchored ALP is important for Cry3Aa binding to T. molitor BBMV suggesting that the mode of action of Cry toxins is conserved in different insect orders.

Fluid resuscitation with hemoglobin vesicles prevents Escherichia coli growth via complement activation in a hemorrhagic shock rat model.

Hemoglobin vesicles (HbVs) could serve as a substitute for red blood cells (RBCs) in resuscitation from massive hemorrhage. A massive transfusion of RBCs can increase the risk of infection, which is not caused by contaminating micro-organisms in the transfused RBCs but by a breakdown of the host defense system. We previously found that complement activity was increased after resuscitation with HbVs at a putative dose in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock. It is known that complement system plays a key role in host defense in the embryonic stage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to address whether the suppression of bacterial infections in hemorrhagic shock rats was a result of increased complement activity after massive HbV transfusion. For this purpose, Escherichia coli were incubated with plasma samples obtained from a rat model of hemorrhagic shock resuscitated by HbVs or RBCs, and bacterial growth was determined under ex vivo conditions. As a result, E. coli growth was found to be suppressed by increased complement activity, mediated by the production of IgM from spleen. However, this antibacterial activity disappeared when the E. coli were treated with complement-inactivated plasma obtained from splenoctomized rats. In addition, the resuscitation of HbVs from hemorrhagic shock increased the survival rate and viable bacterial counts in blood in cecum ligation and puncture rats, a sepsis model. In conclusion, the resuscitation of HbVs in the rat model of hemorrhagic shock suppresses bacterial growth via complement activation induced by IgM.

Outer membrane vesicle-mediated release of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) from Campylobacter jejuni.

BACKGROUND: Background: Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is one of the well-characterized virulence factors of Campylobacter jejuni, but it is unknown how CDT becomes surface-exposed or is released from the bacterium to the surrounding environment. RESULTS: Our data suggest that CDT is secreted to the bacterial culture supernatant via outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) released from the bacteria. All three subunits (the CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC proteins) were detected by immunogold labeling and electron microscopy of OMVs. Subcellular fractionation of the bacteria indicated that, apart from the majority of CDT detected in the cytoplasmic compartment, appreciable amounts (20-50%) of the cellular pool of CDT proteins were present in the periplasmic compartment. In the bacterial culture supernatant, we found that a majority of the extracellular CDT was tightly associated with the OMVs. Isolated OMVs could exert the cell distending effects typical of CDT on a human intestinal cell line, indicating that CDT is present there in a biologically active form. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that the release of outer membrane vesicles is functioning as a route of C. jejuni to deliver all the subunits of CDT toxin (CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC) to the surrounding environment, including infected host tissue.

Long-distance delivery of bacterial virulence factors by Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane vesicles.

Bacteria use a variety of secreted virulence factors to manipulate host cells, thereby causing significant morbidity and mortality. We report a mechanism for the long-distance delivery of multiple bacterial virulence factors, simultaneously and directly into the host cell cytoplasm, thus obviating the need for direct interaction of the pathogen with the host cell to cause cytotoxicity. We show that outer membrane-derived vesicles (OMV) secreted by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa deliver multiple virulence factors, including beta-lactamase, alkaline phosphatase, hemolytic phospholipase C, and Cif, directly into the host cytoplasm via fusion of OMV with lipid rafts in the host plasma membrane. These virulence factors enter the cytoplasm of the host cell via N-WASP-mediated actin trafficking, where they rapidly distribute to specific subcellular locations to affect host cell biology. We propose that secreted virulence factors are not released individually as naked proteins into the surrounding milieu where they may randomly contact the surface of the host cell, but instead bacterial derived OMV deliver multiple virulence factors simultaneously and directly into the host cell cytoplasm in a coordinated manner.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa vesicles associate with and are internalized by human lung epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the major pathogen associated with chronic and ultimately fatal lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). To investigate how P. aeruginosa-derived vesicles may contribute to lung disease, we explored their ability to associate with human lung cells. RESULTS: Purified vesicles associated with lung cells and were internalized in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Vesicles from a CF isolate exhibited a 3- to 4-fold greater association with lung cells than vesicles from the lab strain PAO1. Vesicle internalization was temperature-dependent and was inhibited by hypertonic sucrose and cyclodextrins. Surface-bound vesicles rarely colocalized with clathrin. Internalized vesicles colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) marker, TRAPalpha, as well as with ER-localized pools of cholera toxin and transferrin. CF isolates of P. aeruginosa abundantly secrete PaAP (PA2939), an aminopeptidase that associates with the surface of vesicles. Vesicles from a PaAP knockout strain exhibited a 40% decrease in cell association. Likewise, vesicles from PAO1 overexpressing PaAP displayed a significant increase in cell association. CONCLUSION: These data reveal that PaAP promotes the association of vesicles with lung cells. Taken together, these results suggest that P. aeruginosa vesicles can interact with and be internalized by lung epithelial cells and contribute to the inflammatory response during infection.

Vesicular stabilization and activity augmentation of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli haemolysin.

Haemolysin from enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC-Hly), a putative EHEC virulence factor, belongs to the RTX (repeat-in-toxin) family whose members rapidly inactivate themselves by self-aggregation. By investigating the status of EHEC-Hly secreted extracellularly, we found the toxin both in a free, soluble form and associated, with high tendency and independently of its acylation status, to outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) extruded by EHEC. We compared the interaction of both toxin forms with erythrocytes using scanning electron microscopy and binding assays. The OMV-associated toxin was substantially (80 times) more stable under physiological conditions than the free EHEC-Hly as demonstrated by prolonged haemolytic activity (half-life time 20 h versus 15 min). The haemolysis was preceded by calcium-dependent binding of OMVs carrying EHEC-Hly to erythrocytes; this binding was mediated by EHEC-Hly. We demonstrate that EHEC-Hly is a biologically active cargo in OMVs with dual roles: a cell-binding protein and a haemolysin. These paired functions produce a biologically potent form of the OMV-associated RTX toxin and augment its potential towards target cells. Our findings provide a general concept for stabilization of RTX toxins and open new insights into the biology of these important virulence factors.

Inactivation of Burkholderia pseudomallei bsaQ results in decreased invasion efficiency and delayed escape of bacteria from endocytic vesicles.

Burkholderia pseudomallei, an infectious Gram-negative bacterium, is the causative pathogen of melioidosis. In the present study, a B. pseudomallei strain with mutation in the bsaQ gene, encoding a structural component of the type III secretion system (T3SS), was constructed. This bsaQ mutation caused a marked decrease in secretion of BopE effector and BipD translocator proteins into culture supernatant. The B. pseudomallei bsaQ mutant also exhibited decreased efficiencies of plaque formation, invasion into non-phagocytic cells and multinucleated giant cell (MNGC) development in a J774A.1 macrophage cell line. Co-localization of the bacteria and lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein-1 (LAMP-1) containing vesicles suggested that defects in MNGC formation may result from the delayed ability of this B. pseudomallei mutant to escape from the vacuoles of macrophages.

The expression of alpha-haemolysin is required for Staphylococcus aureus phagosomal escape after internalization in CFT-1 cells.

Staphylococcus aureus colonizes the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients and treatment with antibiotics usually results in recurrent and relapsing infections. We have shown that S. aureus can invade and replicate within a cystic fibrosis epithelial cell line (CFT-1), and that these internalized bacteria subsequently escape from the endocytic vesicle. The accessory gene regulator, agr, in S. aureus has been shown to control the expression of a large number of secreted toxins involved in virulence. Here we show that an agr mutant of S. aureus strain RN6390 was unable to escape from the endocytic vesicle after invasion of the CFT-1 cells using markers of vesicular trafficking (LAMP-1 and 2, LysoTracker and Vacuolar-ATPase). Trafficking analysis of live S. aureus which did not express alpha-haemolysin, a specific agr regulated toxin, revealed a defect in vesicular escape that was undistinguishable from the trafficking defect exhibited by the agr mutant. Furthermore, overexpression of alpha-haemolysin under an inducible promoter in an agr mutant of S. aureus partially restored the phagosome-escaping phenotype of an agr mutant. These results demonstrate that the expression of agr is required for vesicular escape, and that biologically active alpha-haemolysin is required for S. aureus escape from the endocytic vesicle into the cytosol of CFT-1 cells.

Interactions between food-borne pathogens and protozoa isolated from lettuce and spinach.

The survival of Salmonella enterica was recently shown to increase when the bacteria were sequestered in expelled food vacuoles (vesicles) of Tetrahymena. Because fresh produce is increasingly linked to outbreaks of enteric illness, the present investigation aimed to determine the prevalence of protozoa on spinach and lettuce and to examine their interactions with S. enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes. Glaucoma sp., Colpoda steinii, and Acanthamoeba palestinensis were cultured from store-bought spinach and lettuce and used in our study. A strain of Tetrahymena pyriformis previously isolated from spinach and a soil-borne Tetrahymena sp. were also used. Washed protozoa were allowed to graze on green fluorescent protein- or red fluorescent protein-labeled enteric pathogens. Significant differences in interactions among the various protist-enteric pathogen combinations were observed. Vesicles were produced by Glaucoma with all of the bacterial strains, although L. monocytogenes resulted in the smallest number per ciliate. Vesicle production was observed also during grazing of Tetrahymena on E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica but not during grazing on L. monocytogenes, in vitro and on leaves. All vesicles contained intact fluorescing bacteria. In contrast, C. steinii and the amoeba did not produce vesicles from any of the enteric pathogens, nor were pathogens trapped within their cysts. Studies of the fate of E. coli O157:H7 in expelled vesicles revealed that by 4 h after addition of spinach extract, the bacteria multiplied and escaped the vesicles. The presence of protozoa on leafy vegetables and their sequestration of enteric bacteria in vesicles indicate that they may play an important role in the ecology of human pathogens on produce.

Regulation of vacuolar pH and its modulation by some microbial species.

To survive within the host, pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Helicobacter pylori need to evade the immune response and find a protected niche where they are not exposed to microbicidal effectors. The pH of the microenvironment surrounding the pathogen plays a critical role in dictating the organism's fate. Specifically, the acidic pH of the endocytic organelles and phagosomes not only can affect bacterial growth directly but also promotes a variety of host microbicidal responses. The development of mechanisms to avoid or resist the acidic environment generated by host cells is therefore crucial to the survival of many pathogens. Here we review the processes that underlie the generation of organellar acidification and discuss strategies employed by pathogens to circumvent it, using M. tuberculosis and H. pylori as examples.

Long-term survival of Legionella pneumophila associated with Acanthamoeba castellanii vesicles.

Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is ubiquitously found in aquatic environments, associated with free living amoebae. Trophozoite forms of the genus Acanthamoeba have been shown to support the intracellular growth of Legionella while it has been proposed that cyst forms are related to survival in harsh environments. This underlines that amoebae are of primary importance in Legionella spreading. In this study, we followed the survival of L. pneumophila Lens over 6 months in a poor medium, with or without Acanthamoeba castellanii. The results demonstrated that L. pneumophila Lens could survive for at least 6 months in association with A. castellanii and that cultivable bacteria are to be found within expelled vesicles rather than within cysts. Our findings suggest that vesicles might be further studied in order to elucidate their production and their role in the environmental spreading of Legionella.