Mmm-derived lipid-associated membrane proteins activate IL-1ß production through the NF-κB pathway via TLR2, MyD88, and IRAK4.

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp.mycoides (Mmm) is a pathogen that causes pneumonia, otitis media, and arthritis in young calves. Its pathogenesis is attributed in part to excessive immune responses. Mmm-derived lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) are potent inducers of the host innate immune system; however, interactions between Mmm-derived LAMPs as pathogenic agents, toll-like receptors (TLRs), and the signaling pathways responsible for activating inflammation and nuclear factor (NF)-κB have not been fully elucidated. Here, we analyzed the expression kinetics of interleukin (IL)-1ß in Mmm-derived LAMP-stimulated embryonic bovine lung (EBL) cells and found that Mmm-derived LAMPs induced IL-1ß expression. Subcellular localization analysis revealed the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit after EBL cells were stimulated with Mmm-derived LAMPs. Furthermore, a specific inhibitor assay demonstrated that NF-κB is required for Mmm-derived LAMP-induced IL-1ß expression. Additionally, overexpression of TLR2, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), and IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) increased IL-1ß expression during LAMP stimulation, and TLR2-neutralizing antibodies reduced IL-1ß expression in EBL cells during LAMP stimulation. Furthermore, LAMPs inhibited IL-1ß expression following transfection with dominant-negative MyD88 and IRAK4 variants. These results suggested that Mmm-derived LAMPs activate IL-1ß production through the NF-κB pathway via TLR2, MyD88, and IRAK4.

Proteomic characterization of pleural effusion, a specific host niche of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides from cattle with contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP).

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm) is the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a severe pleuropneumonia in cattle. The abnormal accumulation of pleural fluid, called pleural effusion (PE), is one of the characteristics of this disease. We performed a proteomic analysis of seven PE samples from experimentally infected cattle and characterized their composition with respect to bovine and Mmm proteins. We detected a total of 963 different bovine proteins. Further analysis indicated a strong enrichment of proteins involved in antigen processing, platelet activation and degranulation and apoptosis and an increased abundance of acute phase proteins.With regard to the pathogen, up to 108 viable mycoplasma cells per ml were detected in the PE supernatant. The proteomic analysis revealed 350 mycoplasma proteins, including proteins involved in virulence-associated processes like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and capsule synthesis. The bovine proteins detected will aid to characterize the inflammasome during an acute pleuropneumonia in cattle and the identified mycoplasma proteins will serve as baseline data to be compared with in vitro studies to improve our understanding of pathogenicity mechanisms. Based on our results, we named the pleural effusion an "in vivo niche" of Mmm during the acute phase of CBPP. Biological significance: This is the first study on bovine pleural effusions derived from an infectious disease and the first approach to characterize the proteome of Mycoplasma mycoides in vivo. This study revealed a high number of viable Mmm cells in the pleural effusion. The bovine pleural effusion proteome during Mmm infection is qualitatively similar to plasma, but differs with respect to high abundance of acute phase proteins. On the other hand,Mmm in its natural host produces proteins involved in capsule synthesis, H2O2 production and induction of inflammatory response, supporting previous knowledge on mechanisms underlying the survival and virulence of this pathogen while inside the natural host. This knowledge forms a profound basis for testing the identified protein candidates for diagnostics or vaccines.

A lateral flow protein microarray for rapid determination of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia status in bovine serum.

Novel analytical methods for a next generation of diagnostic devices combine attributes from sensitive, accurate, fast, simple and multiplexed analysis methods. Here, we describe a possible contribution to these by the application of a lateral flow microarray where a panel of recombinant protein antigens was used to differentiate bovine serum samples in the context of the lung disease contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Lateral flow arrays were produced by attaching nitrocellulose onto microscopic slides and spotting of the recombinant proteins onto the membranes. The developed assay included evaluations of substrate matrix and detection reagents to allow for short assay times and convenient read-out options, and to yield a total assay time from sample application to data acquisition of less than ten minutes. It was found that healthy and disease-affected animals could be discriminated (AUC=97%), and we suggest that the use of an antigen panel in combination with the lateral flow device offers an emerging analytical tool towards a simplified but accurate on-site diagnosis.