Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of non-muscle myosin heavy chain-IIA restricts Listeria monocytogenes cellular infection.

Bacterial pathogens often interfere with host tyrosine phosphorylation cascades to control host responses and cause infection. Given the role of tyrosine phosphorylation events in different human infections and our previous results showing the activation of the tyrosine kinase Src upon incubation of cells with Listeria monocytogenes, we searched for novel host proteins undergoing tyrosine phosphorylation upon L. monocytogenes infection. We identify the heavy chain of the non-muscle myosin IIA (NMHC-IIA) as being phosphorylated in a specific tyrosine residue in response to L. monocytogenes infection. We characterize this novel post-translational modification event and show that, upon L. monocytogenes infection, Src phosphorylates NMHC-IIA in a previously uncharacterized tyrosine residue (Tyr-158) located in its motor domain near the ATP-binding site. In addition, we found that other intracellular and extracellular bacterial pathogens trigger NMHC-IIA tyrosine phosphorylation. We demonstrate that NMHC-IIA limits intracellular levels of L. monocytogenes, and this is dependent on the phosphorylation of Tyr-158. Our data suggest a novel mechanism of regulation of NMHC-IIA activity relying on the phosphorylation of Tyr-158 by Src.

The ability of an attaching and effacing pathogen to trigger localized actin assembly contributes to virulence by promoting mucosal attachment.

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) colonizes the intestine and causes bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure by producing Shiga toxin. Upon binding intestinal cells, EHEC triggers a change in host cell shape, generating actin 'pedestals' beneath bound bacteria. To investigate the importance of pedestal formation to disease, we infected genetically engineered mice incapable of supporting pedestal formation by an EHEC-like mouse pathogen, or wild type mice with a mutant of that pathogen incapable of generating pedestals. We found that pedestal formation promotes attachment of bacteria to the intestinal mucosa and vastly increases the severity of Shiga toxin-mediated disease.

Recognition of tandem PxxP motifs as a unique Src homology 3-binding mode triggers pathogen-driven actin assembly.

Src homology 3 (SH3) domains are globular protein interaction modules that regulate cell behavior. The classic SH3 ligand-binding site accommodates a hydrophobic PxxP motif and a positively charged specificity-determining residue. We have determined the NMR structure of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase substrate (IRTKS) SH3 domain in complex with a repeat from Escherichia coli-secreted protein F-like protein encoded on prophage U (EspF(U)), a translocated effector of enterohemorrhagic E. coli that commandeers the mammalian actin assembly machinery. EspF(U)-IRTKS interaction is among the highest affinity natural SH3 ligands. Our complex structure reveals a unique type of SH3 interaction based on recognition of tandem PxxP motifs in the ligand. Strikingly, the specificity pocket of IRTKS SH3 has evolved to accommodate a polyproline type II helical peptide analogously to docking of the canonical PxxP by the conserved IRTKS SH3 proline-binding pockets. This cooperative binding explains the high-affinity SH3 interaction and is required for EspF(U)-IRTKS interaction in mammalian cells as well as the formation of localized actin "pedestals" beneath bound bacteria. Importantly, tandem PxxP motifs are also found in mammalian ligands and have been shown to contribute to IRTKS SH3 recognition similarly.

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli requires N-WASP for efficient type III translocation but not for EspFU-mediated actin pedestal formation.

Upon infection of mammalian cells, enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 utilizes a type III secretion system to translocate the effectors Tir and EspF(U) (aka TccP) that trigger the formation of F-actin-rich 'pedestals' beneath bound bacteria. EspF(U) is localized to the plasma membrane by Tir and binds the nucleation-promoting factor N-WASP, which in turn activates the Arp2/3 actin assembly complex. Although N-WASP has been shown to be required for EHEC pedestal formation, the precise steps in the process that it influences have not been determined. We found that N-WASP and actin assembly promote EHEC-mediated translocation of Tir and EspF(U) into mammalian host cells. When we utilized the related pathogen enteropathogenic E. coli to enhance type III translocation of EHEC Tir and EspF(U), we found surprisingly that actin pedestals were generated on N-WASP-deficient cells. Similar to pedestal formation on wild type cells, Tir and EspF(U) were the only bacterial effectors required for pedestal formation, and the EspF(U) sequences required to interact with N-WASP were found to also be essential to stimulate this alternate actin assembly pathway. In the absence of N-WASP, the Arp2/3 complex was both recruited to sites of bacterial attachment and required for actin assembly. Our results indicate that actin assembly facilitates type III translocation, and reveal that EspF(U), presumably by recruiting an alternate host factor that can signal to the Arp2/3 complex, exhibits remarkable versatility in its strategies for stimulating actin polymerization.

Insulin receptor tyrosine kinase substrate links the E. coli O157:H7 actin assembly effectors Tir and EspF(U) during pedestal formation.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 translocates 2 effectors to trigger localized actin assembly in mammalian cells, resulting in filamentous actin "pedestals." One effector, the translocated intimin receptor (Tir), is localized in the plasma membrane and clustered upon binding the bacterial outer membrane protein intimin. The second, the proline-rich effector EspF(U) (aka TccP) activates the actin nucleation-promoting factor WASP/N-WASP, and is recruited to sites of bacterial attachment by a mechanism dependent on an Asn-Pro-Tyr (NPY(458)) sequence in the Tir C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Tir, EspF(U), and N-WASP form a complex, but neither EspF(U) nor N-WASP bind Tir directly, suggesting involvement of another protein in complex formation. Screening of the mammalian SH3 proteome for the ability to bind EspF(U) identified the SH3 domain of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase substrate (IRTKS), a factor known to regulate the cytoskeleton. Derivatives of WASP, EspF(U), and the IRTKS SH3 domain were capable of forming a ternary complex in vitro, and replacement of the C terminus of Tir with the IRTKS SH3 domain resulted in a fusion protein competent for actin assembly in vivo. A second domain of IRTKS, the IRSp53/MIM homology domain (IMD), bound to Tir in a manner dependent on the C-terminal NPY(458) sequence, thereby recruiting IRTKS to sites of bacterial attachment. Ectopic expression of either the IRTKS SH3 domain or the IMD, or genetic depletion of IRTKS, blocked pedestal formation. Thus, enterohemorrhagic E. coli translocates 2 effectors that bind to distinct domains of a common host factor to promote the formation of a complex that triggers robust actin assembly at the plasma membrane.

A therapeutic Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain vaccine induces neutralising IgG1 antibodies that protect against experimental periodontitis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis infected mice with an established P. gingivalis-specific inflammatory immune response were protected from developing alveolar bone resorption by therapeutic vaccination with a chimera (KAS2-A1) immunogen targeting the major virulence factors of the bacterium, the gingipain proteinases. Protection was characterised by an antigen-specific IgG1 isotype antibody and Th2 cell response. Adoptive transfer of KAS2-A1-specific IgG1 or IgG2 expressing B cells confirmed that IgG1-mediated protection. Furthermore, parenteral or intraoral administration of KAS2-A1-specific polyclonal antibodies protected against the development of P. gingivalis-induced bone resorption. The KAS2-A1-specific antibodies neutralised the gingipains by inhibiting: proteolytic activity, binding to host cells/proteins and co-aggregation with other periodontal bacteria. Combining key gingipain sequences into a chimera vaccine produced an effective therapeutic intervention that protected against P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis.

Prospects for treatment of Porphyromonas gingivalis-mediated disease - immune-based therapy.

Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth associated with a polymicrobial biofilm (subgingival plaque) accreted to the tooth which results in destruction of the tooth's supporting tissues. A characteristic feature of the disease-associated plaque is the emergence of proteolytic species. One of these species, Porphyromonas gingivalis has recently been described as a keystone pathogen as it dysregulates the host immune response to favour the polymicrobial biofilm disrupting homeostasis to cause dysbiosis and disease. The level of P. gingivalis in subgingival plaque above threshold levels (~10% of total bacterial cell load) has been demonstrated to predict imminent clinical attachment loss (disease progression) in humans. Porphyromonas gingivalis is found as microcolonies in the superficial layers of subgingival plaque adjacent to the periodontal pocket epithelium which helps explain the strong association with underlying tissue inflammation and disease at relatively low proportions (10%) of the total bacterial cell load of the plaque. The mouse periodontitis model has been used to show that inflammation is essential to allow establishment of P. gingivalis at the levels in plaque (10% or greater of total bacterial cell load) necessary to produce dysbiosis and disease. The extracellular proteinases "gingipains" (RgpA/B and Kgp) of P. gingivalis have been implicated as major virulence factors that are critical for dysbiosis and disease. This has resulted in the strategy of targeting the gingipains by vaccination. We have produced a recombinant immunogen which induces an immune response in mice that neutralises the proteolytic and host/bacterial binding functions of the gingipains. Using this immunogen as a therapeutic vaccine in mice already infected with P. gingivalis, we have shown that inflammation and alveolar bone loss can be substantially reduced. The protection was characterised by a predominant Th2 cytokine and antibody (IgG1) response and shown to be mediated by the gingipain neutralising antibodies using adoptive transfer and systemic/topical passive antibody experiments. Vaccination may be a useful adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of P. gingivalis-mediated chronic periodontitis.

Structural basis for complex formation between human IRSp53 and the translocated intimin receptor Tir of enterohemorrhagic E. coli.

Actin assembly beneath enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) attached to its host cell is triggered by the intracellular interaction of its translocated effector proteins Tir and EspF(U) with human IRSp53 family proteins and N-WASP. Here, we report the structure of the N-terminal I-BAR domain of IRSp53 in complex with a Tir-derived peptide, in which the homodimeric I-BAR domain binds two Tir molecules aligned in parallel. This arrangement provides a protein scaffold linking the bacterium to the host cell's actin polymerization machinery. The structure uncovers a specific peptide-binding site on the I-BAR surface, conserved between IRSp53 and IRTKS. The Tir Asn-Pro-Tyr (NPY) motif, essential for pedestal formation, is specifically recognized by this binding site. The site was confirmed by mutagenesis and in vivo-binding assays. It is possible that IRSp53 utilizes the NPY-binding site for additional interactions with as yet unknown partners within the host cell.

Probing the importance of selected phylum-specific amino acids in sigma A of Bacteroides fragilis, a primary sigma factor naturally devoid of an N-terminal acidic region 1.1.

The sigmaA factor of Bacteroides fragilis is the prototype of a novel subgroup of primary sigma factors that are essential for growth and ensure the initiation of transcription of the housekeeping genes. This subgroup is confined to the phyla Bacteroidetes and Chlorobi. Its members carry a specific amino acid signature and are notably characterized by a short, basic N-terminal segment instead of the typical acidic region 1.1. Using in vitro mutagenesis, we investigated the importance of this basic segment and of several residues of the signature for the function of sigmaA. We have shown that the conserved residues Phe-61 and Lys-265, located in the core binding and DNA binding subregions 2.1 and 4.2, respectively, are critical for full function of the B. fragilis holoenzyme. With respect to the unusual subregion composition of sigmaA, we have shown that truncation of the basic N-terminal segment, or reversion of its charge, strongly affects the overall transcriptional activity of B. fragilis RNA polymerase in vitro. Our results indicate that the presence of the intact basic segment is required for the formation of RNA polymerase (RNAP)-promoter open complexes, the correct architecture of the transcription bubble, and efficient promoter clearance.

An unusual primary sigma factor in the Bacteroidetes phylum.

The presence of housekeeping gene promoters with a unique consensus sequence in Bacteroides fragilis, previously described by Bayley et al. (2000, FEMS Microbiol Lett 193: 149-154), suggested the existence of a particular primary sigma factor. The single rpoD-like gene observed in the B. fragilis genome, and similarly in those of other members of the Bacteroidetes phylum, was found to be essential. It encodes a protein, sigma(ABfr), of only 32.7 kDa that is produced with equal abundance during all phases of growth and was concluded to be the primary sigma factor. sigma(ABfr) and its orthologues in the Bacteroidetes are unusual primary sigma factors in that they lack region 1.1, have a unique signature made up of 29 strictly identical amino acids and are the only RpoD factors that cluster with the RpoS factors. Although binding to the Escherichia coli core RNA polymerase, sigma(ABfr) does not support transcription initiation from any promoter when it is part of the heterologous holoenzyme, while in the reconstituted homologous holoenzyme it does so only from typical B. fragilis, including rrs, promoters but not from the lacUV5 or RNA I promoters.