Contribution of the Twin-Arginine Translocation System to the Intracellular Survival of Salmonella Typhimurium in Dictyostelium discoideum

The twin-arginine translocation (Tat) system is a specialized secretion pathway required for bacteria to export fully folded proteins through the cytoplasmic membrane. This system is crucial during Salmonella infection of animal hosts. In this study, we show that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) requires the Tat system to survive and proliferate intracellularly in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. To achieve this, we developed a new infection assay to assess intracellular bacterial loads in amoeba by direct enumeration of colony forming units (CFU) at different times of infection. Using this assay we observed that a ΔtatABC mutant was internalized in higher numbers than the wild type, and was defective for intracellular survival in the amoeba at all times post infection evaluated. In addition, we assessed the effect of the ΔtatABC mutant in the social development of D. discoideum. In contrast to the wild-type strain, we observed that the mutant was unable to delay the social development of the amoeba at 2 days of co-incubation. This phenotype correlated with defects in intracellular proliferation presented by the ΔtatABC mutant in D. discoideum after 24 h of infection. All phenotypes described for the mutant were reverted by the presence of a plasmid carrying tatABC genes, indicating that abrogation of Tat system attenuates S. Typhimurium in this model organism. Overall, our results indicate that the Tat system is crucial for S. Typhimurium to survive and proliferate intracellularly in D. discoideum and for virulence in this host. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the relevance of the Tat system in the interaction of any bacterial pathogen with the social amoeba D. discoideum

Análisis comparativo de los genes involucrados en la supervivencia intracelular de Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium en macrófagos murinos y en la ameba Dictyostelium discoideum

Tesis presentada a la Universidad de Chile para optar al Grado Académico de Magíster en Bioquímica, área de especialización en Bioquímica Clínica, y Memoria para optar al Título de BioquímicoSalmonella es un patógeno intracelular capaz de generar cuadros clínicos que incluyen desde una enteritis autolimitada hasta infecciones sistémicas que pueden provocar la muerte del hospedero. Una vez dentro del organismo, la bacteria atraviesa la barrera epitelial intestinal e interactúa con células fagocíticas profesionales del sistema inmune innato, causando una respuesta inflamatoria local que culmina en la excreción del patógeno al medio ambiente. La patogenicidad de Salmonella se debe principalmente a su capacidad de sobrevivir dentro de macrófagos y células dendríticas, los cuales participan como vectores de diseminación dentro del hospedero. Los mecanismos utilizados por esta bacteria para permanecer y replicarse dentro de los macrófagos han sido ampliamente estudiados y descritos en la literatura. Sin embargo, existe escasa información referente a los mecanismos de supervivencia que emplea en otros estadíos de su ciclo de vida. Por ejemplo, en el medio ambiente Salmonella interactúa con otras células fagocíticas eucariontes capaces de alimentarse de bacterias y hongos. Entre ellas destacan las amebas, que utilizan mecanismos de endocitosis y degradación bacteriana similares a los utilizados por células del sistema inmune innato. En esta tesis, nos propusimos identificar un conjunto común de genes requeridos para la supervivencia intracelular de Salmonella Typhimurium en macrófagos murinos y en la ameba Dictyostelium discoideum. Este estudio se realizó mediante el análisis masivo de mutantes bajo selección negativa utilizando distintas genotecas de mutantes. La detección de aquellas mutantes que presentaron defectos en la supervivencia intracelular en ambas células fagocíticas se realizó mediante secuenciación masiva de DNA. En primera instancia, logramos identificar mutantes en 719 genes de S. Typhimurium bajo selección negativa en macrófagos murinos. Entre ellos, se encontraron genes codificados en islas de patogenicidad conservadas dentro Salmonella, genes relacionados con biosíntesis y transporte de aminoácidos y carbohidratos, genes relacionados con reguladores de respuesta a estímulos externos, genes involucrados en la biosíntesis y modificación del lipopolisacárido (LPS) y genes relacionados con estrés nutricional y oxidativo, entre otros. Al comparar estos datos con una base de datos de mutantes con defectos en la supervivencia intracelular en D. discoideum generada en nuestro laboratorio, logramos identificar mutantes en 213 genes de S. Typhimurium que serían necesarios para la supervivencia intracelular del patógeno en ambas células fagocíticas. Dentro de este grupo encontramos genes codificados en islas de patogenicidad conservadas del género Salmonella (SPI-1 y SPI-3), genes involucrados en la captación de hierro (iroC, iroN y feoB), genes relacionados con la respuesta a estrés por hambruna y pH ácido (spoT y adiY) y genes asociados a la biosíntesis y modificación del LPS (waaB, waaI, waaJ, waaL, waaZ, wbaC, wbaK, wbaM, wbaN, wbaD, oafA, wzzfepE y genes del operón arn), entre otros. Con el propósito de confirmar algunas de las predicciones obtenida a partir de nuestro análisis comparativo, se escogieron mutantes relacionadas con la biosíntesis y modificación del LPS y se evaluó su supervivencia intracelular en ambos modelos de infección. Nuestros resultados demostraron que las mutantes ΔwaaL, ΔwzzST y ΔarnBCADTEF presentaron defectos en la supervivencia intracelular en macrófagos murinos y D. discoideum. Por lo tanto, la presencia de un LPS completo que posea 16 a 35 unidades de AgO (L-AgO) sería necesario para la supervivencia de este patógeno en macrófagos murinos y D. discoideum. De igual forma, la modificación del LPS correspondiente a la adición de un grupo 4-aminoarabinosa al lípido A contribuiría a la supervivencia intracelular de S. Typhimurium en ambas células fagocíticas. En conjunto, los resultados de esta tesis constituyen un primer acercamiento a los mecanismos moleculares empleados por S. Typhimurium para sobrevivir en reservorios tan distintos como mamíferos y protozoos ambientalesSalmonella is an intracellular pathogen that causes a variety of illnesses ranging from self-limiting gastroenteritis to severe systemic infections that can cause the death of the host. Once inside the organism, these bacteria can cross the epithelial barrier and interact with professional phagocytic cells of the innate immune system, causing a local inflammatory response which culminates in the excretion of the pathogen to the environment. The pathogenicity of Salmonella is associated with its ability to survive in macrophages and dendritic cells, which can act as dissemination vectors inside the host. The molecular mechanisms used for these bacteria to survive and replicate in macrophages have been widely studied. However, no in-depth study has been conducted in order to understand the molecular mechanisms required for Salmonella survival in other stages of its life cycle. For instance, in the environment Salmonella interacts with other phagocytic cells that feed on bacteria and fungus. Among these, the amoebae use similar endocytic and degradation mechanisms to those described in innate immune cells. In this thesis, we aimed to identify a common group of genes required for the intracellular survival of Salmonella Typhimurium in murine macrophages and the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. To this end, we performed a high-throughput analysis of mutants under negative selection using different mutant libraries. The identification of mutants unable to survive intracellularly in both phagocytic cells was carried out by deep-sequencing. First, we identified 719 mutants of S. Typhimurium under negative selection in murine macrophages. These mutants included genes encoded in pathogenicity islands conserved in the Salmonella genus, genes involved in transport and biosynthesis of amino acids and carbohydrates, genes encoding regulators associated with response to external signals, genes linked to biosynthesis and modification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and genes associated to nutritional and oxidative stress, among other. The comparative analysis between the data of this thesis and data obtained in our laboratory that identified mutants with defects in intracellular survival in D. discoideum, allow us the identification of mutants in 213 genes of S. Typhimurium required to survive intracellularly in both phagocytic cells. Within this group, we found genes encoded in Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI-1 and SPI-3), genes involved in iron uptake (iroC, iroN and feoB), genes related with response to starvation and acid pH (spoT and adiY) and genes associated to LPS biosynthesis and modification (waaB, waaI, waaJ, waaL, waaZ, wbaC, wbaK, wbaM, wbaN, wbaD, oafA, wzzfepE and genes in the arn operon), among other. To confirm predictions from our comparative analysis, we choose mutants involved in LPS biosynthesis and evaluated their intracellular survival in both infection models. We demonstrated that mutants ΔwaaL, ΔwzzST and ΔarnBCADTEF are deficient in intracellular survival in murine macrophages and D. discoideum. Hence, a complete LPS containing 16 to 35 AgO units (L-AgO) would be necessary for survival of this pathogen in murine macrophages and D. discoideum. Similarly, a modified LPS containing 4-deoxy-aminoarabinose bound to lipid A would contribute to the intracellular survival of S. Typhimurium in both phagocytic cells. Overall, our results constitute a first step towards understanding the molecular mechanisms exploited by S. Typhimurium in order to survive in strikingly different niches such as mammalians and environmental protozoaFondecyt; Conicy

SopB- and SifA-dependent shaping of the Salmonella-containing vacuole proteome in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum

International audienceThe ability of Salmonella to survive and replicate within mammalian host cells involves the generation of a membranous compartment known as the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV). Salmonella employs a number of effector proteins that are injected into host cells for SCV formation using its type-3 secretion systems encoded in SPI-1 and SPI-2 (T3SS-1 and T3SS-2, respectively). Recently, we reported that S. Typhimurium requires T3SS-1 and T3SS-2 to survive in the model amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. Despite these findings, the involved effector proteins have not been identified yet. Therefore, we evaluated the role of two major S. Typhimurium effectors SopB and SifA during D. discoideum intracellular niche formation. First, we established that S. Typhimurium resides in a vacuolar compartment within D. discoideum. Next, we isolated SCVs from amoebae infected with wild type or the ΔsopB and ΔsifA mutant strains of S. Typhimurium, and we characterised the composition of this compartment by quantitative proteomics. This comparative analysis suggests that S. Typhimurium requires SopB and SifA to modify the SCV proteome in order to generate a suitable intracellular niche in D. discoideum. Accordingly, we observed that SopB and SifA are needed for intracellular survival of S. Typhimurium in this organism. Thus, our results provide insight into the mechanisms employed by Salmonella to survive intracellularly in phagocytic amoebae

Relevant genes linked to virulence are required for Salmonella Typhimurium to survive intracellularly in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum

The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum has proven to be a useful model for studying relevant aspects of the host-pathogen interaction. In this work, D. discoideum was used as a model to study the ability of S. Typhimurium to survive in amoebae and to evaluate the contribution of selected genes in this process. To do this, we performed infection assays using axenic cultures of D. discoideum co-cultured with wild-type S. Typhimurium and/or defined mutant strains. Our results confirmed that wild-type S. Typhimurium is able to survive intracellularly in D. discoideum. In contrast, mutants ΔaroA and ΔwaaL are defective in intracellular survival in this amoeba. Next, we included in our study a group of mutants in genes directly linked to Salmonella virulence. Of note, mutants ΔinvA, ΔssaD, ΔclpV and ΔphoPQ also showed an impaired ability to survive intracellularly in D. discoideum. This indicates that S. Typhimurium requires a functional biosynthetic pathway of aromatic compounds, a lipopolysaccharide containing a complete O-antigen, the type III secretion systems (T3SS) encoded in SPI-1 and SPI-2, the type VI secretion system (T6SS) encoded in SPI-6 and PhoP/PhoQ two-component system to survive in D. discoideum. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the requirement of O-antigen and T6SS in the survival of Salmonella within amoebae. In addition, mutants ΔinvA and ΔssaD were internalized in higher numbers than the wild-type strain during competitive infections, suggesting that S. Typhimurium requires the T3SS encoded in SPI-1 and SPI-2 to evade phagocytosis by D. discoideum. Altogether, these results indicate that S. Typhimurium exploits a common set of genes and molecular mechanisms to survive within amoeba and animal host cells. The use of D. discoideum as a model for host-pathogen interactions will allow us to discover the gene repertoire used by Salmonella to survive inside the amoeba and to study the cellular processes that are affected during infection

Evaluating different virulence traits of klebsiella pneumoniae using dictyostelium discoideum and zebrafish larvae as host models

Multiresistant and invasive hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae strains have become one of the most urgent bacterial pathogen threats. Recent analyses revealed a high genomic plasticity of this species, harboring a variety of mobile genetic elements associated with virulent strains, encoding proteins of unknown function whose possible role in pathogenesis have not been addressed. K. pneumoniae virulence has been studied mainly in animal models such as mice and pigs, however, practical, financial, ethical and methodological issues limit the use of mammal hosts. Consequently, the development of simple and cost-effective experimental approaches with alternative host models is needed. In this work we described the use of both, the social amoeba and professional phagocyte Dictyostelium discoideum and the fish Danio rerio (zebrafish) as surrogate host models to study K. pneumoniae virulence. We compared three K. pneumoniae clinical isolates evaluating their resistance to phagocytosis, intracellular survival, lethality, intestinal colonization, and innate immune cells recruitment. Optical transparency of both host models permitted studying the infective process in vivo, following the Klebsiella-host interactions through live-cell imaging. We demonstrated that K. pneumoniae RYC492, but not the multiresistant strains 700603 and BAA-1705, is virulent to both host models and elicits a strong immune response. Moreover, this strain showed a high resistance to phagocytosis by D. discoideum, an increased ability to form biofilms and a more prominent and irregular capsule. Besides, the strain 700603 showed the unique ability to replicate inside amoeba cells. Genomic comparison of the K. pneumoniae strains showed that the RYC492 strain has a higher overall content of virulence factors although no specific genes could be linked to its phagocytosis resistance, nor to the intracellular survival observed for the 700603 strain. Our results indicate that both zebrafish and D. discoideum are advantageous host models to study different traits of K. pneumoniae that are associated with virulence.FONDECYT 1140430 3140496 1171844 3170449 FONDAP 1509000

Medically indicated late preterm delivery and its impact on perinatal morbidity and mortality: a retrospective population-based cohort study

<p><b>Objective:</b> In the last few decades, attention has been focused on morbidity and mortality associated with late preterm delivery (34–36 + 6/7 weeks), accounting for 60–70% of all preterm births. This study is aimed to determine (1) the prevalence of late preterm deliveries (spontaneous and medically indicated) in our population; and (2) the rate of neonatal morbidity and mortality as well as maternal complications associated with the different phenotypes of late preterm deliveries.</p> <p><b>Study design:</b> This retrospective population-based cohort study, included 96,176 women who had 257,182 deliveries, occurred between 1988 and 2011, allocated into three groups: term (<i>n</i> = 242,286), spontaneous (<i>n</i> = 10,063), and medically indicated (<i>n</i> = 4833) late preterm deliveries.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> (1) Medically indicated late preterm deliveries were associated with increased maternal morbidity, as well as neonatal morbidity and mortality, in comparison with other study groups (<i>p</i> < .01 for all comparisons); (2) medically indicated late preterm delivery was an independent risk factor for composite neonatal morbidity (low Apgar score at 5', seizures, asphyxia, acidosis) after adjustment for confounding factors (maternal age and ethnicity and neonatal gender) and stratification according to gestational age at delivery; and (3) the proportion of medically indicated late preterm deliveries affected the neonatal mortality rate. Below 35% of all late preterm deliveries, indicated late preterm birth were associated with a reduction in neonatal mortality; however, above this threshold medically indicated late preterm deliveries were associated with an increased risk for neonatal death.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> (1) Medically indicated late preterm deliveries were independently associated with adverse composite neonatal outcome; and (2) to benefit in term of neonatal outcome from the tool of medically indicated late preterm birth, their proportion should be kept below 35% of all late preterm deliveries, while exceeding this threshold increases the risk of neonatal mortality.</p