scholarly journals The Dot/Icm-translocated effector LegC4 potentiates cytokine-mediated restriction of Legionella within accidental hosts.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshegofatso Ngwaga ◽  
Alex J Hydock ◽  
Sandhya Ganesan ◽  
Stephanie Rochelle Shames

Legionella pneumophila is ubiquitous in freshwater environments where it replicates within unicellular protozoa. However, L. pneumophila is also an accidental human pathogen that can cause Legionnaires’ Disease in immunocompromised individuals by uncontrolled replication within alveolar macrophages. To replicate within eukaryotic phagocytes, L. pneumophila utilizes a Dot/Icm type IV secretion system to translocate a large arsenal of over 300 effector proteins directly into host cells. In mammals, translocated effectors contribute to innate immune restriction of L. pneumophila. We found previously that the effector LegC4 is important for L. pneumophila replication within a natural host protist but is deleterious to replication in a mouse model of Legionnaires’ Disease. In the present study, we used cultured mouse primary macrophages to investigate how LegC4 attenuates L. pneumophila replication. We found that LegC4 enhanced restriction of L. pneumophila replication within macrophages activated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interferon (IFN)-γ. Specifically, TNF-mediated signaling was required for LegC4-mediated attenuation of L. pneumophila replication within macrophages. In addition, expression of legC4 was sufficient to restrict L. longbeachae replication within TNF- or IFN-γ-activated macrophages. Thus, this study demonstrates that LegC4 contributes to L. pneumophila clearance from healthy hosts by potentiating cytokine-mediated host defense mechanisms.

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshegofatso Ngwaga ◽  
Alex J. Hydock ◽  
Sandhya Ganesan ◽  
Stephanie R. Shames

ABSTRACTLegionella pneumophilais ubiquitous in freshwater environments, where it replicates within unicellular protozoa. However,L. pneumophilais also an accidental human pathogen that can cause Legionnaires’ disease in immunocompromised individuals by uncontrolled replication within alveolar macrophages. To replicate within eukaryotic phagocytes,L. pneumophilautilizes a Dot/Icm type IV secretion system to translocate a large arsenal of over 300 effector proteins directly into host cells. In mammals, translocated effectors contribute to innate immune restriction ofL. pneumophila. We found previously that the effector LegC4 is important forL. pneumophilareplication within a natural host protist but is deleterious to replication in a mouse model of Legionnaires’ disease. In the present study, we used cultured mouse primary macrophages to investigate how LegC4 attenuatesL. pneumophilareplication. We found that LegC4 enhanced restriction ofL. pneumophilareplication within macrophages activated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interferon gamma (IFN-γ). In addition, expression oflegC4was sufficient to restrictLegionella longbeachaereplication within TNF- or IFN-γ-activated macrophages. Thus, this study demonstrates that LegC4 contributes toL. pneumophilaclearance from healthy hosts by potentiating cytokine-mediated host defense mechanisms.IMPORTANCELegionellaspp. are natural pathogens of protozoa and accidental pathogens of humans. Innate immunity in healthy individuals effectively controlsLegionellainfection due in part to rapid and robust production of proinflammatory cytokines resulting from detection of Dot/Icm-translocated substrates, including effectors. Here, we demonstrate that the effector LegC4 enhances proinflammatory host restriction ofLegionellaby macrophages. These data suggest that LegC4 may augment proinflammatory signaling or antimicrobial activity of macrophages, a function that has not previously been observed for another bacterial effector. Further insight into LegC4 function will likely reveal novel mechanisms to enhance immunity against pathogens.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luying Liu ◽  
Craig R. Roy

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ Disease and is capable replicating inside phagocytic cells such as mammalian macrophages. The Dot/Icm type IV secretion system is a L. pneumophila virulence factor that is essential for successful intracellular replication. During infection, L. pneumophila builds a replication permissive vacuole by recruiting multiple host molecules and hijacking host cellular signaling pathways, a process mediated by the coordinated functions of multiple Dot/Icm effector proteins. RavY is a predicted Dot/Icm effector protein found to be important for optimal L. pneumophila replication inside host cells. Here, we demonstrate that RavY is a Dot/Icm-translocated effector protein that is dispensable for axenic replication of L. pneumophila , but critical for optimal intracellular replication of the bacteria. RavY is not required for avoidance of endosomal maturation, nor does RavY contribute to the recruitment of host molecules found on replication-permissive vacuoles, such as ubiquitin, RAB1a, and RTN4. Vacuoles containing L. pneumophila ravY mutants promote intracellular survival but limit replication. The replication defect of the L. pneumophila ravY mutant was complemented when the mutant was in the same vacuole as wild type L. pneumophila . Thus, RavY is an effector that is essential for promoting intracellular replication of L. pneumophila once the specialized vacuole has been established.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
KwangCheol C. Jeong ◽  
Jacob Gyore ◽  
Lin Teng ◽  
Debnath Ghosal ◽  
Grant J. Jensen ◽  
...  

SummaryLegionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, survives and replicates inside amoebae and macrophages by injecting a large number of protein effectors into the host cells’ cytoplasm via the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4BSS). Previously, we showed that the Dot/Icm T4BSS is localized to both poles of the bacterium and that polar secretion is necessary for the proper targeting of theLegionellacontaining vacuole (LCV). Here we show that polar targeting of the Dot/Icm core-transmembrane subcomplex (DotC, DotD, DotF, DotG and DotH) is mediated by two Dot/Icm proteins, DotU and IcmF, which are able to localize to the poles ofL. pneumophilaby themselves. Interestingly, DotU and IcmF are homologs of the T6SS components TssL and TssM, which are part of the T6SS membrane complex (MC). We propose thatLegionellaco-opted these T6SS components to a novel function that mediates subcellular localization and assembly of this T4SS. Finally, in depth examination of the biogenesis pathway revealed that polar targeting and assembly of theLegionellaT4BSS apparatus is mediated by an innovative “outside-inside” mechanism.


2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 4325-4336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan M. Copenhaver ◽  
Cierra N. Casson ◽  
Hieu T. Nguyen ◽  
Thomas C. Fung ◽  
Matthew M. Duda ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTLegionella pneumophila, an intracellular pathogen responsible for the severe pneumonia Legionnaires' disease, uses itsdot/icm-encoded type IV secretion system (T4SS) to translocate effector proteins that promote its survival and replication into the host cell cytosol. However, by introducing bacterial products into the host cytosol,L. pneumophilaalso activates cytosolic immunosurveillance pathways, thereby triggering robust proinflammatory responses that mediate the control of infection. Thus, the pulmonary cell types thatL. pneumophilainfects not only may act as an intracellular niche that facilitates its pathogenesis but also may contribute to the immune response againstL. pneumophila. The identity of these host cells remains poorly understood. Here, we developed a strain ofL. pneumophilaproducing a fusion protein consisting of β-lactamase fused to the T4SS-translocated effector RalF, which allowed us to track cells injected by the T4SS. Our data reveal that alveolar macrophages and neutrophils both are the primary recipients of T4SS-translocated effectors and harbor viableL. pneumophiladuring pulmonary infection of mice. Moreover, both alveolar macrophages and neutrophils from infected mice produced tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1α in response to T4SS-sufficient, but not T4SS-deficient,L. pneumophila. Collectively, our data suggest that alveolar macrophages and neutrophils are both an intracellular reservoir forL. pneumophilaand a source of proinflammatory cytokines that contribute to the host immune response againstL. pneumophiladuring pulmonary infection.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca R. Noll ◽  
Colleen M. Pike ◽  
Stephanie S. Lehman ◽  
Chad Williamson ◽  
Ramona Neunuebel

Autophagy is a fundamental eukaryotic process that mediates clearance of unwanted molecules and facilitates nutrient release. The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila establishes an intracellular niche within phagocytes by manipulating host cellular processes, such as autophagy. Effector proteins translocated by L. pneumophila's Dot/Icm type IV secretion system have been shown to suppress autophagy. However evidence suggests that overall inhibition of autophagy may be detrimental to the bacterium. As autophagy contributes to cellular homeostasis and nutrient acquisition, L. pneumophila may translocate effectors that promote autophagy for these benefits. Here, we show that effector protein Lpg2411 binds phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate lipids and preferentially binds autophagosomes. Translocated Lpg2411 accumulates late during infection and co-localizes with the autophagy receptor p62 and ubiquitin. Furthermore, autophagy is inhibited to a greater extent in host cells infected with a mutant strain lacking Lpg2411 compared to those infected with wild-type L. pneumophila, indicating that Lpg2411 stimulates autophagy to support the bacterium's intracellular lifestyle.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C583-C583
Author(s):  
Kathy Wong ◽  
Yinglu Zhang ◽  
Guennadi Kozlov ◽  
Kalle Gehring

Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative bacterium that causes Legionnaires' disease. It uses a Dot/Icm type IV secretion system to inject effector proteins into the host cell to manipulate host processes. Currently, about 300 Icm/Dot dependent effectors of L.pneumophila have been identified. Lpg1496 is an effector protein, which contains a conserved domain from the SidE family. To date, the middle domain and the conserved SidE domain have been crystallized and the structure solved at a resolution of 1.15Å and 2.3Å, respectively. A structural homology search using the middle domain suggested a similarity to phosphoribosylaminoimidazolesuccinocarboxamide (SAICAR) synthase, an ATPase involved in purine nucleotide synthesis. We performed 1H–15N HSQC NMR titrations to show that this domain binds ATP, ADP and AMP, with the highest binding affinity for ADP. A structural homology search using the SidE domain showed a similarity to cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases. To further elucidate the function of lpg1496, other fragments have been cloned, expressed, and subjected to crystallization trials. Currently, we have successfully crystallized the N-terminal domain, with crystals diffracting to <2.0Å. Obtaining the crystal structure of lpg1496 and revealing its function will not only lead to a better understanding of the virulence of L. pneumophila, but also contribute to the development of novel therapeutic treatments of Legionnaires' disease.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa L Durie ◽  
Michael J Sheedlo ◽  
Jeong Min Chung ◽  
Brenda G Byrne ◽  
Min Su ◽  
...  

Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen that causes the potentially fatal pneumonia Legionnaires’ Disease. This infection and subsequent pathology require the Dot/Icm Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) to deliver effector proteins into host cells. Compared to prototypical T4SSs, the Dot/Icm assembly is much larger, containing ~27 different components including a core complex reported to be composed of five proteins: DotC, DotD, DotF, DotG, and DotH. Using single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we report reconstructions of the core complex of the Dot/Icm T4SS that includes a symmetry mismatch between distinct structural features of the outer membrane cap (OMC) and periplasmic ring (PR). We present models of known core complex proteins, DotC, DotD, and DotH, and two structurally similar proteins within the core complex, DotK and Lpg0657. This analysis reveals the stoichiometry and contact interfaces between the key proteins of the Dot/Icm T4SS core complex and provides a framework for understanding a complex molecular machine.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa L. Durie ◽  
Michael J. Sheedlo ◽  
Jeong Min Chung ◽  
Brenda G. Byrne ◽  
Min Su ◽  
...  

AbstractLegionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen that causes the potentially fatal pneumonia Legionnaires’ Disease. This infection and subsequent pathology require the Dot/Icm Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) to deliver effector proteins into host cells. Compared to prototypical T4SSs, the Dot/Icm assembly is much larger, containing ~27 different components including a core complex reported to be composed of five proteins: DotC, DotD, DotF, DotG, and DotH. Using single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we report reconstructions of the core complex of the Dot/Icm T4SS that includes a symmetry mismatch between distinct structural features of the outer membrane cap (OMC) and periplasmic ring (PR). We present models of known core complex proteins, DotC, DotD, and DotH, and two structurally similar proteins within the core complex, DotK and Lpg0657. This analysis reveals the stoichiometry and contact interfaces between the key proteins of the Dot/Icm T4SS core complex and provides a framework for understanding a complex molecular machine.


2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten F. de Jong ◽  
Neal M. Alto

ABSTRACT The enteric attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogens enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and the invasive pathogens enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and Shigella encode type III secretion systems (T3SS) used to inject effector proteins into human host cells during infection. Among these are a group of effectors required for NF-κB-mediated host immune evasion. Recent studies have identified several effector proteins from A/E pathogens and EIEC/ Shigella that are involved in suppression of NF-κB and have uncovered their cellular and molecular functions. A novel mechanism among these effectors from both groups of pathogens is to coordinate effector function during infection. This cooperativity among effector proteins explains how bacterial pathogens are able to effectively suppress innate immune defense mechanisms in response to diverse classes of immune receptor signaling complexes (RSCs) stimulated during infection.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhila Esna Ashari ◽  
Kelly A. Brayton ◽  
Shira L. Broschat

AbstractType IV secretion systems exist in a number of bacterial pathogens and are used to secrete effector proteins directly into host cells in order to change their environment making the environment hospitable for the bacteria. In recent years, several machine learning algorithms have been developed to predict effector proteins, potentially facilitating experimental verification. However, inconsistencies exist between their results. Previously we analysed the disparate sets of predictive features used in these algorithms to determine an optimal set of 370 features for effector prediction. This work focuses on the best way to use these optimal features by designing three machine learning classifiers, comparing our results with those of others, and obtaining de novo results. We chose the pathogenLegionella pneumophilastrain Philadelphia-1, a cause of Legionnaires’ disease, because it has many validated effector proteins and others have developed machine learning prediction tools for it. While all of our models give good results indicating that our optimal features are quite robust, Model 1, which uses all 370 features with a support vector machine, has slightly better accuracy. Moreover, Model 1 predicted 760 effector proteins, more than any other study, 315 of which have been validated. Although the results of our three models agree well with those of other researchers, their models only predicted 126 and 311 candidate effectors.


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