Characterization of an OrtT-like toxin of Salmonella enterica serovar Houten.

The Escherichia coli GhoT/GhoS system is a type V toxin-antitoxin system in which the antitoxin GhoS cleaves the GhoT mRNA, controlling its translation. GhoT is a small hydrophobic protein that damages bacterial membranes. OrtT is a GhoT-like toxin, but it apparently lacks a corresponding antitoxin and serves a different physiologic role. Using a profile hidden Markov model approach, a Salmonella enterica serovar Houten genome was screened to obtain homologs of GhoT/OrtT. We only found one protein (referred to here as OrtT-Sal) that shared more sequence identity with OrtT than GhoT. The chromosomal region around the coding sequence of OrtT-Sal suggests that it is an orphan toxin and can be under RpoH activation. To study OrtT-Sal, we chemically synthesized and expressed in E. coli the whole toxin and its N- and C-terminal regions (OrtT-Sal1-29 and OrtT-Sal29-57, respectively). Our findings have shown that the overproduction of the polypeptides resulted in severe growth inhibition and cell lysis. Using circular dichroism, we found that OrtT-Sal, OrtT-Sal1-29, and OrtT-Sal29-57 form an alpha-helical structure in the presence of SDS micelles or TFE. Finally, using carboxyfluorescein-loaded lipid vesicles, we determined that the polypeptides damage lipid membrane directly.

Characterization of the two conformations adopted by the T3SS inner-membrane protein PrgK.

The pathogenic bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium utilizes two type III secretion systems (T3SS) to inject effector proteins into target cells upon infection. The T3SS secretion apparatus (the injectisome) is a large macromolecular assembly composed of over twenty proteins, many in highly oligomeric states. A sub-structure of the injectisome, termed the basal body, spans both membranes and the periplasmic space of the bacterium. It is primarily composed of three integral membranes proteins, InvG, PrgH, and PrgK, that form ring structures through which components are secreted. In particular, PrgK possesses a periplasmic region consisting of two globular domains joined by a linker polypeptide. We showed previously that in isolation, this region adopts two distinct conformations, of with only one is observed in the assembled basal body complex. Here, using NMR spectroscopy, we further characterize these two conformations. In particular, we demonstrate that the interaction of the linker region with the first globular domain, as found in the intact basal body, is dependent upon the cis conformation of the Leu77-Pro78 peptide. Furthermore, this interaction is pH-dependent due to coupling with hydrogen bond formation between Tyr75 and His42 in its neutral Nδ1 H tautomeric form. This pH-dependent interaction may play a role in the regulation of the secretion apparatus disassembly in the context of bacterial infection.

Structure-function analyses of the bacterial zinc metalloprotease effector protein GtgA uncover key residues required for deactivating NF-κB.

The closely related type III secretion system zinc metalloprotease effector proteins GtgA, GogA, and PipA are translocated into host cells during Salmonella infection. They then cleave nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) transcription factor subunits, dampening activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and thereby suppressing host immune responses. We demonstrate here that GtgA, GogA, and PipA cleave a subset of NF-κB subunits, including p65, RelB, and cRel but not NF-κB1 and NF-κB2, whereas the functionally similar type III secretion system effector NleC of enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli cleaved all five NF-κB subunits. Mutational analysis of NF-κB subunits revealed that a single nonconserved residue in NF-κB1 and NF-κB2 that corresponds to the P1' residue Arg-41 in p65 prevents cleavage of these subunits by GtgA, GogA, and PipA, explaining the observed substrate specificity of these enzymes. Crystal structures of GtgA in its apo-form and in complex with the p65 N-terminal domain explained the importance of the P1' residue. Furthermore, the pattern of interactions suggested that GtgA recognizes NF-κB subunits by mimicking the shape and negative charge of the DNA phosphate backbone. Moreover, structure-based mutational analysis of GtgA uncovered amino acids that are required for the interaction of GtgA with p65, as well as those that are required for full activity of GtgA in suppressing NF-κB activation. This study therefore provides detailed and critical insight into the mechanism of substrate recognition by this family of proteins important for bacterial virulence.

A model for the influences of soluble and insoluble solids, and treated volume on the ultraviolet-C resistance of heat-stressed Salmonella enterica in simulated fruit juices.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of intrinsic juice characteristics namely insoluble solids (IS, 0-3 %w/v), and soluble solids (SS, 0-70 °Brix), and extrinsic process parameter treated volume (250-1000 mL) on the UV-C inactivation rates of heat-stressed Salmonella enterica in simulated fruit juices (SFJs). A Rotatable Central Composite Design of Experiment (CCRD) was used to determine combinations of the test variables, while Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to characterize and quantify the influences of the test variables on microbial inactivation. The heat-stressed cells exhibited log-linear UV-C inactivation behavior (R2 0.952 to 0.999) in all CCRD combinations with DUV-C values ranging from 10.0 to 80.2 mJ/cm2. The DUV-C values obtained from the CCRD significantly fitted into a quadratic model (P < 0.0001). RSM results showed that individual linear (IS, SS, volume), individual quadratic (IS2 and volume2), and factor interactions (IS × volume and SS × volume) were found to significantly influence UV-C inactivation. Validation of the model in SFJs with combinations not included in the CCRD showed that the predictions were within acceptable error margins.

Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Evaluation of a Zinc Gluconate-Based Chemical Sterilant Using In Vitro and In Silico Approaches.

Sclerosing agents as zinc gluconate-based chemical sterilants (Infertile®) are used for chemical castration. This solution is injected into the animal testis, but there are not enough evidences of its safety profiles for the receivers. The present work aimed to establish the pharmacokinetics and toxicological activity of Infertile, using in vitro and in silico approaches. The evaluation at the endpoint showed effects in a dose-dependent manner. Since necrosis is potentially carcinogenic, the possible cell death mechanism could be apoptosis. Our data suggested that Infertile at 60 mM presented risk for animal health. Even though Infertile is a licensed product by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, it presented a high mutagenic potential. We suggest that the optimal dose must be less than 6 mM, once, at this concentration, no mutagenicity or genotoxicity was observed.

Spectroscopic Studies of the EutT Adenosyltransferase from Salmonella enterica: Evidence of a Tetrahedrally Coordinated Divalent Transition Metal Cofactor with Cysteine Ligation.

The EutT enzyme from Salmonella enterica, a member of the family of ATP:cobalt(I) corrinoid adenosyltransferase (ACAT) enzymes, requires a divalent transition metal ion for catalysis, with Fe(II) yielding the highest activity. EutT contains a unique cysteine-rich HX11CCX2C(83) motif (where H and the last C occupy the 67th and 83rd positions, respectively, in the amino acid sequence) not found in other ACATs and employs an unprecedented mechanism for the formation of adenosylcobalamin. Recent kinetic and spectroscopic studies of this enzyme revealed that residues in the HX11CCX2C(83) motif are required for the tight binding of the divalent metal ion and are critical for the formation of a four-coordinate (4c) cob(II)alamin [Co(II)Cbl] intermediate in the catalytic cycle. However, it remained unknown which, if any, of the residues in the HX11CCX2C(83) motif bind the divalent metal ion. To address this issue, we have characterized Co(II)-substituted wild-type EutT (EutTWT/Co) by using electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies. Our results indicate that the reduced catalytic activity of EutTWT/Co relative to that of the Fe(II)-containing enzyme arises from the incomplete incorporation of Co(II) ions and, thus, a decrease in the relative population of 4c Co(II)Cbl. Our MCD data for EutTWT/Co also reveal that the Co(II) ions reside in a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment with direct cysteine sulfur ligation. Additional spectroscopic studies of EutT/Co variants possessing a single alanine substitution of either His67, His75, Cys79, Cys80, or Cys83 indicate that Cys80 coordinates to the Co(II) ion, while the additional residues are important for maintaining the structural integrity and/or high affinity of the metal binding site.

Structure of AadA from Salmonella enterica: a monomeric aminoglycoside (3'')(9) adenyltransferase.

Aminoglycoside resistance is commonly conferred by enzymatic modification of drugs by aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes such as aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferases (ANTs). Here, the first crystal structure of an ANT(3'')(9) adenyltransferase, AadA from Salmonella enterica, is presented. AadA catalyses the magnesium-dependent transfer of adenosine monophosphate from ATP to the two chemically dissimilar drugs streptomycin and spectinomycin. The structure was solved using selenium SAD phasing and refined to 2.5 Å resolution. AadA consists of a nucleotidyltransferase domain and an α-helical bundle domain. AadA crystallizes as a monomer and is a monomer in solution as confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering, in contrast to structurally similar homodimeric adenylating enzymes such as kanamycin nucleotidyltransferase. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments show that ATP binding has to occur before binding of the aminoglycoside substrate, and structure analysis suggests that ATP binding repositions the two domains for aminoglycoside binding in the interdomain cleft. Candidate residues for ligand binding and catalysis were subjected to site-directed mutagenesis. In vivo resistance and in vitro binding assays support the role of Glu87 as the catalytic base in adenylation, while Arg192 and Lys205 are shown to be critical for ATP binding.

Hybrid flagellin as a T cell independent vaccine scaffold.

BACKGROUND: To extend the potency of vaccines against infectious diseases, vaccines should be able to exploit multiple arms of the immune system. One component of the immune system that is under-used in vaccine design is the subset of B cells known to be capable of responding to repetitive antigenic epitopes and differentiate into plasma cells even in the absence of T cell help (T-independent, TI). RESULTS: To target vaccine responses from T-independent B cells, we reengineered a bacterial Flagellin (FliC) by replacing its exposed D3 domain with a viral envelope protein from Dengue virus (DENV2). The resulting hybrid FliC protein (hFliC) was able to form stable filaments decorated with conformationally intact DENV2 envelope domains. These filaments were not only capable of inducing a T cell-dependent (TD) humoral antibody response, but also significant IgM and IgG3 antibody response in a helper T cell repertoire-restricted transgenic mouse model. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide proof-of-principle demonstration that a reengineered hybrid FliC could be used as a platform for polymeric subunit vaccines, enhancing T cell-dependent and possibly inducing T-independent antibody responses from B-1 B cells as well.

Over-activation of TLR5 signaling by high-dose flagellin induces liver injury in mice.

Flagellin is a potent activator of a broad range of cell types that are involved in innate and adaptive immunity. Therefore, it is a good adjuvant candidate for vaccines, and it might function as a biological protectant against both major acute radiation syndrome during cancer radiotherapy and a mitigator of radiation emergencies. However, accumulating evidence has implicated flagellin in the occurrence of some inflammatory diseases, such as acute lung inflammation, cardiovascular collapse and inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether only flagellin-TLR5 signaling activation plays a role in the pathophysiology of liver or whether some other flagellin activity also contributes to liver injury either via bacterial infections or during clinical applications. Recombinant flagellin proteins with or without TLR5-stimulating activity were used to evaluate the role of flagellin-TLR5 signaling in liver injury in wild-type and TLR5 KO mice. Gross lesions and large areas of hepatocellular necrosis were observed in liver tissue 12 h after the intraperitoneal administration of 100 or 200 µg flagellin (FliC) in a dose- and time-dependent manner in wild-type mice, but not in TLR5 KO mice. Deletion of the N-terminal or TLR5 binding domain of flagellin inhibited flagellin-induced inflammatory responses and the subsequent acute liver function abnormality and damage. These data confirmed that flagellin is an essential determinant of liver injury and demonstrated that the over-activation of TLR5 signaling by high-dose flagellin caused acute inflammatory responses, neutrophil accumulation and oxidative stress in the liver, which contributes to the progression and severity of flagellin-induced liver injury.

[Mutagenesis of cysteine residues in dptC from Salmonella enteric serovar Cerro 87 and its effects on DNA phosphorothioate modification].

OBJECTIVE: DNA phosphorothioate modification (DNA sulfur modification, a non-bridging oxygen swapped with a sulfur) exists in diverse bacteria. Salmonella enterica serovar Cerro 87 is one of the bacteria that harbor the DNA sulfur modification. The modification is carried out by the products of a four-membered gene cluster, dptBCDE. Transformation of Escherichia coli DH10B with the dptBCDE gene cluster endows the strain with DNA sulfur modification capability. Deletion of dptC abolished the modification. Here, we studied the function of dptC in DNA sulfur modification. METHODS: Six cysteine residues in dptC were mutated individually within the dptBCDE gene cluster. Mutants were then tested for DNA sulfur modification. RESULTS: Among the 6 cysteine mutations (C39, C146, C262, C273, C280, and C283), 5 abolished DNA modification except for C39, suggesting that C146, C262, C273, C280, and C283 are essential for DNA sulfur modification. Sequence alignment shows that these five cysteine residues are conserved among different strains. CONCLUSION: Mutation at anyone of C146, C262, C273, C280 and C283 of dptC abolished DNA modification. Our results shed light on further study of DNA sulfur modification biochemical pathway.

Structural insight into the giant Ca²âº-binding adhesin SiiE: implications for the adhesion of Salmonella enterica to polarized epithelial cells.

SiiE from Salmonella enterica is a giant 5,559-residue-long nonfimbrial adhesin that is secreted by a type 1 secretion system (T1SS) and initiates bacterial adhesion to polarized host cells. Structural insight has been gained into the 53 bacterial Ig-like (BIg) domains of SiiE, which account for 94% of the entire SiiE sequence. The crystal structure of a fragment comprising BIg domains 50 to 52 of SiiE reveals the BIg domain architecture and highlights two types of SiiE-specific Ca²âº-binding sites. Sequence homology considerations suggest that full-length SiiE interacts with more than 100 Ca²âº ions. Molecular dynamics simulations and single-molecule imaging indicate that Ca²âº binding confers SiiE with a rigid 200 nm rod-like habitus that is required to reach out beyond the Salmonella lipopolysaccharide layer and to promote adhesion to host cells. The crystal structure suggests plausible routes for the establishment of the initial contact between Salmonella and host cells.

Characterization of osmotically induced filaments of Salmonella enterica.

Salmonella enterica forms aseptate filaments with multiple nucleoids when cultured in hyperosmotic conditions. These osmotic-induced filaments are viable and form single colonies on agar plates even though they contain multiple genomes and have the potential to divide into multiple daughter cells. Introducing filaments that are formed during osmotic stress into culture conditions without additional humectants results in the formation of septa and their division into individual cells, which could present challenges to retrospective analyses of infectious dose and risk assessments. We sought to characterize the underlying mechanisms of osmotic-induced filament formation. The concentration of proteins and chromosomal DNA in filaments and control cells was similar when standardized by biomass. Furthermore, penicillin-binding proteins in the membrane of salmonellae were active in vitro. The activity of penicillin-binding protein 2 was greater in filaments than in control cells, suggesting that it may have a role in osmotic-induced filament formation. Filaments contained more ATP than did control cells in standardized cell suspensions, though the levels of two F(0)F(1)-ATP synthase subunits were reduced. Furthermore, filaments could septate and divide within 8 h in 0.2 × Luria-Bertani broth at 23°C, while nonfilamentous control cells did not replicate. Based upon the ability of filaments to septate and divide in this diluted broth, a method was developed to enumerate by plate count the number of individual, viable cells within a population of filaments. This method could aid in retrospective analyses of infectious dose of filamented salmonellae.

Analyzing cellular internalization of nanoparticles and bacteria by multi-spectral imaging flow cytometry.

Nanoparticulate systems have emerged as valuable tools in vaccine delivery through their ability to efficiently deliver cargo, including proteins, to antigen presenting cells. Internalization of nanoparticles (NP) by antigen presenting cells is a critical step in generating an effective immune response to the encapsulated antigen. To determine how changes in nanoparticle formulation impact function, we sought to develop a high throughput, quantitative experimental protocol that was compatible with detecting internalized nanoparticles as well as bacteria. To date, two independent techniques, microscopy and flow cytometry, have been the methods used to study the phagocytosis of nanoparticles. The high throughput nature of flow cytometry generates robust statistical data. However, due to low resolution, it fails to accurately quantify internalized versus cell bound nanoparticles. Microscopy generates images with high spatial resolution; however, it is time consuming and involves small sample sizes. Multi-spectral imaging flow cytometry (MIFC) is a new technology that incorporates aspects of both microscopy and flow cytometry that performs multi-color spectral fluorescence and bright field imaging simultaneously through a laminar core. This capability provides an accurate analysis of fluorescent signal intensities and spatial relationships between different structures and cellular features at high speed. Herein, we describe a method utilizing MIFC to characterize the cell populations that have internalized polyanhydride nanoparticles or Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We also describe the preparation of nanoparticle suspensions, cell labeling, acquisition on an ImageStream(X) system and analysis of the data using the IDEAS application. We also demonstrate the application of a technique that can be used to differentiate the internalization pathways for nanoparticles and bacteria by using cytochalasin-D as an inhibitor of actin-mediated phagocytosis.

Microelectrode array biosensor for studying carbohydrate-mediated interactions.

Carbohydrate-mediated host-pathogen interactions are essential to bacterial and viral pathogenesis, and represent an attractive target for the development of antiadhesives to prevent infection. We present a versatile microelectrode array-based platform to investigate carbohydrate-mediated protein and bacterial binding, with the objective of developing a generalizable method for screening inhibitors of host-microbe interactions. Microelectrode arrays are well suited for interrogating biological binding events, including proteins and whole-cells, and are amenable to electrochemical derivitization, facilitating rapid deposition of biomolecules. In this study, we achieve microelectrode functionalization with carbohydrates via controlled polymerization of pyrrole to individual microelectrodes, followed by physisorption of neoglycoconjugates to the polypyrrole-coated electrodes. Bioactivity of the immobilized carbohydrates was confirmed with carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins) detected by both fluorescent and electrochemical means. The platform's ability to analyze whole-cell binding was demonstrated using strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, and the dose-dependent inhibition of S. enterica by a soluble carbohydrate antiadhesive.

The N-terminal region of the medium subunit (PduD) packages adenosylcobalamin-dependent diol dehydratase (PduCDE) into the Pdu microcompartment.

Salmonella enterica produces a proteinaceous microcompartment for B(12)-dependent 1,2-propanediol utilization (Pdu MCP). The Pdu MCP consists of catabolic enzymes encased within a protein shell, and its function is to sequester propionaldehyde, a toxic intermediate of 1,2-propanediol degradation. We report here that a short N-terminal region of the medium subunit (PduD) is required for packaging the coenzyme B(12)-dependent diol dehydratase (PduCDE) into the lumen of the Pdu MCP. Analysis of soluble cell extracts and purified MCPs by Western blotting showed that the PduD subunit mediated packaging of itself and other subunits of diol dehydratase (PduC and PduE) into the Pdu MCP. Deletion of 35 amino acids from the N terminus of PduD significantly impaired the packaging of PduCDE with minimal effects on its enzyme activity. Western blotting showed that fusing the 18 N-terminal amino acids of PduD to green fluorescent protein or glutathione S-transferase resulted in the association of these fusion proteins with the MCP. Immunoprecipitation tests indicated that the fusion proteins were encapsulated inside the MCP shell.

Rapid screening of epidemiologically important Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovars by whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Currently, 2,610 different Salmonella serovars have been described according to the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme. They are routinely differentiated by serotyping, which is based on the antigenic variability at lipopolysaccharide moieties (O antigens), flagellar proteins (H1 and H2 antigens), and capsular polysaccharides (Vi antigens). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry for rapid screening and identification of epidemiologically important Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovars based on specific sets of serovar-identifying biomarker ions. By analyzing 913 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains representing 89 different serovars using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, several potentially serovar-identifying biomarker ions were selected. Based on a combination of genus-, species-, subspecies-, and serovar-identifying biomarker ions, a decision tree classification algorithm was derived for the rapid identification of the five most frequently isolated Salmonella enterica serovars, Enteritidis, Typhimurium/4,[5],12:i:-, Virchow, Infantis, and Hadar. Additionally, sets of potentially serovar-identifying biomarker ions were detected for other epidemiologically interesting serovars, such as Choleraesuis, Heidelberg, and Gallinarum. Furthermore, by using a bioinformatic approach, sequence variations corresponding to single or multiple amino acid exchanges in several biomarker proteins were tentatively assigned. The inclusivity and exclusivity of the specific sets of serovar-identifying biomarker ions for the top 5 serovars were almost 100%. This study shows that whole-cell MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry can be a rapid method for prescreening S. enterica subsp. enterica isolates to identify epidemiologically important serovars and to reduce sample numbers that have to be subsequently analyzed using conventional serotyping by slide agglutination techniques.

Bacterial gold sensing and resistance.

Gold ions are mobilized and disseminated through the environment and enter into the cells by non-specific intake. To avoid deleterious effect that occurs even at very low concentrations, bacteria such as Salmonella enterica and Cupriavidus metallidurans use Au-specific MerR-type transcriptional regulators to detect the presence of these toxic ions, and control the expression of specific resistance factors. In contrast to the related copper sensor CueR, the Au-selective metalloregulatory proteins are able to distinguish Au(I) from Cu(I) or Ag(I). This is achieved by finely tuning a single dithiolate metal coordination with conserved cysteine residues at the metal binding site of the proteins to lower the affinity for Cu(I) in comparison to the Cu-sensors, while maintaining or even increasing the affinity for Au(I). In Salmonella, GolS not only privileges the binding of Au(I) over Cu(I) or Ag(I), but also distinguishes its target recognition sites in its regulated promoters minimizing cross-activation of CueR-controlled operators. In this sense, the presence of a selective Au sensory devise would allow species harbouring resident Cu-homeostasis systems to eliminate the toxic ion without affecting Cu acquisition in Au rich environments.

Construcción de mutantes de salmonella enterica por inactivación de los genes invG/invE y ssaJ/ssaK de las islas de patogenicidad 1 y 2 / Construction of mutants of salmonella enterica for inactivation of invG/invE y ssaJ/ssaK genes of pathogenicity islands 1 and 2

Para la comprensión de las bases genéticas de los mecanismos de patogenicidad de Salmonella se han descrito diversas metodologías para manipular el ADN genómico y generar mutantes con características particulares. En este estudio se reporta la construcción de mutantes a partir de varios serotipos de S. enterica, por sustitución e inactivación de los genes invG/invE en SPI-1 y de los genes ssaJ/ssaK en SPI-2 mediante la técnica de recombinasa Red del fago λ descrita por Datsenko y Wanner (2000). Los genes delecionados en las SPI-1 y SPI-2 codifican para las proteínas que participan en la formación de los sistemas de secreción tipo III, responsables de la invasión y supervivencia intracelular de S. enterica en las células hospedadoras. Los resultados de este trabajo permitirán realizar estudios futuros in vivo para evaluar la posible atenuación de la virulencia de las cepas mutantes, así como aportar nuevos conocimientos sobre los mecanismos genéticos involucrados en la fisiopatogenia de las enfermedades producidas por los serovares estudiados. Además, esta técnica se recomienda para generar de manera eficiente mutantes de diferentes serotipos de S. enterica con la finalidad de estudiar los genes cromosómicos y sus productos.

To understand the genetic basis of Salmonella pathogenicity mechanisms, various methods have been described to manipulate and generate mutant genomic DNA with specific characteristics. In this study we report the construction of mutants from several serotypes of S. enterica, substitution and inactivation of genes invG/invE in SPI-1 gene and ssaJ/ssaK in SPI-2 by the technique of phage λ Red recombinase, as described by Datsenko and Wanner (2000). The gene deletion in SPI-1 and SPI-2 encodes proteins involved in the formation of type III secretion systems responsible for the invasion and intracellular survival of S. enterica in the host cells. The results of this work will allow in vivo studies to evaluate the possible attenuation of virulence of the mutant strains, as well as to provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diseases caused by these bacteria. Moreover, this technique is recommended to efficiently generate mutants of different serotypes of S. enterica in order to study the chromosomal genes and their products.

Effect of the O-antigen length of lipopolysaccharide on the functions of Type III secretion systems in Salmonella enterica.

The virulence of Salmonella enterica critically depends on the functions of two type III secretion systems (T3SS), with the Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1)-encoded T3SS required for host cell invasion and the SPI2-T3SS enabling Salmonella to proliferate within host cells. A further T3SS is required for the assembly of the flagella. Most serovars of Salmonella also possess a lipopolysaccharide with a complex O-antigen (OAg) structure. The number of OAg units attached to the core polysaccharide varies between 16 and more than 100 repeats, with a trimodal distribution. This work investigated the correlation of the OAg length with the functions of the SPI1-T3SS and the SPI2-T3SS. We observed that the number of repeats of OAg units had no effect on bacterial motility. The interaction of Salmonella with epithelial cells was altered if the OAg structure was changed by mutations in regulators of OAg. Strains defective in synthesis of very long or long and very long OAg species showed increased translocation of a SPI1-T3SS effector protein and increased invasion. Invasion of a strain entirely lacking OAg was increased, but this mutant strain also showed increased adhesion. In contrast, translocation of a SPI2-T3SS effector protein and intracellular replication were not affected by modification of the OAg length. Mutant strains lacking the entire OAg or long and very long OAg were highly susceptible to complement killing. These observations indicate that the architecture of the outer membrane of Salmonella is balanced to permit sufficient T3SS function but also to confer optimal protection against antimicrobial defense mechanisms.

Cytolocalization of the PhoP response regulator in Salmonella enterica: modulation by extracellular Mg2+ and by the SCV environment.

The PhoP/PhoQ two-component system plays an essential role regulating numerous virulence phenotypes in Salmonella enterica. Previous work showed that PhoQ, the sensor protein, switches between the kinase- and the phosphatase-dominant state in response to environmental Mg2+ availability. This switch defines the PhoP phosphorylation status and, as a result, the transcriptional activity of this regulator. In this work, using the FlAsH labelling technique, we examine PhoP cytolocalization in response to extracellular Mg2+ limitation in vitro and to the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) environment in macrophage cells. We demonstrate that in these PhoP/PhoQ-inducing environments PhoP displays preferential localization to one cell pole, while being homogeneously distributed in the bacterial cytoplasm in repressing conditions. Polar localization is lost in the absence of PhoQ or when a non-phosphorylatable PhoP(D52A) mutant is expressed. However, when PhoP transcriptional activation is achieved in a Mg2+- and PhoQ-independent manner, PhoP regains asymmetric polar localization. In addition, we show that, in the analysed conditions, PhoQ cellular distribution does not parallel PhoP location pattern. These findings reveal that PhoP cellular location is dynamic and conditioned by its environmentally defined transcriptional status, showing a new insight in the PhoP/PhoQ system mechanism.