Structural and functional studies indicate that Shigella VirA is not a protease and does not directly destabilize microtubules

Microtubules provide force to promote membrane uncoating in vacuolar escape for a cyto-invasive bacterial pathogen

Intracellular bacterial pathogens gain entry to mammalian cells inside a vacuole derived from the host membrane. Some of them escape the bacteria-containing vacuole (BCV) and colonize the cytosol. Bacteria replicating within BCVs coopt the microtubule network to position it within infected cells, whereas the role of microtubules for cyto-invasive pathogens remains obscure. Here, we show that the microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein-1 and specific activating adaptors are hijacked by the enterobacterium Shigella flexneri. These host proteins were found on infection-associated macropinosomes (IAMs) formed during Shigella internalization. We identified Rab8 and Rab13 as mediators of dynein recruitment and discovered that the Shigella effector protein IpaH7.8 promotes Rab13 retention on moving BCV membrane remnants, thereby facilitating membrane uncoating of the Shigella-containing vacuole. Moreover, the efficient unpeeling of BCV remnants contributes to a successful intercellular spread. Taken together, our work demonstrates how a bacterial pathogen subverts the intracellular transport machinery to secure a cytosolic niche.

Invasion of HeLa Cells by Shigella Species Clinical Isolates Recovered from Pediatric Diarrhea

Shigella is considered a major public health concern, especially for children younger than 5 years of age in developing countries. The pathogenicity of Shigella is a complex process that involves the interplay of multiple genes located on a large, unstable virulence plasmid as well as chromosomal pathogenicity islands. Since various factors (including virulence and antibiotic resistance genes) are associated with the severity and duration of shigellosis, in this article, we aim to evaluate whether the invasion of HeLa cells is affected by Shigella spp. isolates with different characteristics (including serogroups, virulence gene profiles, and antibiotic resistance patterns) recovered from pediatric patients in Tehran, Iran. Cell invasion ability of 10 Shigella isolates with different serogroups (Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei), gene profiling (virA, sen, ipgD, ipaD, ipaC, ipaB, and ipaH), and antibiotic resistance phenotyping (ampicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefixime, cefotaxime, minocycline, and levofloxacin) were measured by plaque-forming assay in HeLa cell lines. The results show that all the selected Shigella spp. isolates recovered from pediatric patients were able to invade HeLa cells, but the total number and average size of plaques were different between the isolates. The higher invasion ability of S. flexneri isolates in HeLa cells compared to S. sonnei isolates was attributed to the presence of particular virulence genes; however, the role of each of these virulence factors remains to be determined.

A Comprehensive Computational Investigation into the Conserved Virulent Proteins of Shigella species Unveils Potential Small-Interfering RNA Candidates as a New Therapeutic Strategy against Shigellosis

Shigella species account for the second-leading cause of deaths due to diarrheal diseases among children of less than 5 years of age. The emergence of multi-drug-resistant Shigella isolates and the lack of availability of Shigella vaccines have led to the pertinence in the efforts made for the development of new therapeutic strategies against shigellosis. Consequently, designing small-interfering RNA (siRNA) candidates against such infectious agents represents a novel approach to propose new therapeutic candidates to curb the rampant rise of anti-microbial resistance in such pathogens. In this study, we analyzed 264 conserved sequences from 15 different conserved virulence genes of Shigella sp., through extensive rational validation using a plethora of first-generation and second-generation computational algorithms for siRNA designing. Fifty-eight siRNA candidates were obtained by using the first-generation algorithms, out of which only 38 siRNA candidates complied with the second-generation rules of siRNA designing. Further computational validation showed that 16 siRNA candidates were found to have a substantial functional efficiency, out of which 11 siRNA candidates were found to be non-immunogenic. Finally, three siRNA candidates exhibited a sterically feasible three-dimensional structure as exhibited by parameters of nucleic acid geometry such as: the probability of wrong sugar puckers, bad backbone confirmations, bad bonds, and bad angles being within the accepted threshold for stable tertiary structure. Although the findings of our study require further wet-lab validation and optimization for therapeutic use in the treatment of shigellosis, the computationally validated siRNA candidates are expected to suppress the expression of the virulence genes, namely: IpgD (siRNA 9) and OspB (siRNA 15 and siRNA 17) and thus act as a prospective tool in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. However, the findings of our study require further wet-lab validation and optimization for regular therapeutic use for treatment of shigellosis.

α-Helices in the Type III Secretion Effectors: A Prevalent Feature with Versatile Roles

Type III Secretion Systems (T3SSs) are multicomponent nanomachines located at the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. Their main function is to transport bacterial proteins either extracellularly or directly into the eukaryotic host cell cytoplasm. Type III Secretion effectors (T3SEs), latest to be secreted T3S substrates, are destined to act at the eukaryotic host cell cytoplasm and occasionally at the nucleus, hijacking cellular processes through mimicking eukaryotic proteins. A broad range of functions is attributed to T3SEs, ranging from the manipulation of the host cell's metabolism for the benefit of the bacterium to bypassing the host's defense mechanisms. To perform this broad range of manipulations, T3SEs have evolved numerous novel folds that are compatible with some basic requirements: they should be able to easily unfold, pass through the narrow T3SS channel, and refold to an active form when on the other side. In this review, the various folds of T3SEs are presented with the emphasis placed on the functional and structural importance of α-helices and helical domains.

Shigella Pathogenesis: New Insights through Advanced Methodologies

Shigella is a genus of Gram-negative enteropathogens that have long been, and continue to be, an important public health concern worldwide. Over the past several decades, Shigella spp. have also served as model pathogens in the study of bacterial pathogenesis, and Shigella flexneri has become one of the best-studied pathogens on a molecular, cellular, and tissue level. In the arms race between Shigella and the host immune system, Shigella has developed highly sophisticated mechanisms to subvert host cell processes in order to promote infection, escape immune detection, and prevent bacterial clearance. Here, we give an overview of Shigella pathogenesis while highlighting innovative techniques and methods whose application has significantly advanced our understanding of Shigella pathogenesis in recent years.

Pathways of host cell exit by intracellular pathogens

Host cell exit is a critical step in the life-cycle of intracellular pathogens, intimately linked to barrier penetration, tissue dissemination, inflammation, and pathogen transmission. Like cell invasion and intracellular survival, host cell exit represents a well-regulated program that has evolved during host-pathogen co-evolution and that relies on the dynamic and intricate interplay between multiple host and microbial factors. Three distinct pathways of host cell exit have been identified that are employed by three different taxa of intracellular pathogens, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, namely (i) the initiation of programmed cell death, (ii) the active breaching of host cellderived membranes, and (iii) the induced membrane-dependent exit without host cell lysis. Strikingly, an increasing number of studies show that the majority of intracellular pathogens utilize more than one of these strategies, dependent on life-cycle stage, environmental factors and/or host cell type. This review summarizes the diverse exit strategies of intracellular-living bacterial, fungal and protozoan pathogens and discusses the convergently evolved commonalities as well as system-specific variations thereof. Key microbial molecules involved in host cell exit are highlighted and discussed as potential targets for future interventional approaches.

A Structural View of Xenophagy, a Battle between Host and Microbes

The cytoplasm in mammalian cells is a battlefield between the host and invading microbes. Both the living organisms have evolved unique strategies for their survival. The host utilizes a specialized autophagy system, xenophagy, for the clearance of invading pathogens, whereas bacteria secrete proteins to defend and escape from the host xenophagy. Several molecules have been identified and their structural investigation has enabled the comprehension of these mechanisms at the molecular level. In this review, we focus on one example of host autophagy and the other of bacterial defense: the autophagy receptor, NDP52, in conjunction with the sugar receptor, galectin-8, plays a critical role in targeting the autophagy machinery against Salmonella; and the cysteine protease, RavZ secreted by Legionella pneumophila cleaves the LC3-PE on the phagophore membrane. The structure-function relationships of these two examples and the directions of future research will be discussed.

How Do the Virulence Factors of Shigella Work Together to Cause Disease?

Shigella is the major cause of bacillary dysentery world-wide. It is divided into four species, named S. flexneri, S. sonnei, S. dysenteriae, and S. boydii, which are distinct genomically and in their ability to cause disease. Shigellosis, the clinical presentation of Shigella infection, is characterized by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Shigella's ability to cause disease has been attributed to virulence factors, which are encoded on chromosomal pathogenicity islands and the virulence plasmid. However, information on these virulence factors is not often brought together to create a detailed picture of infection, and how this translates into shigellosis symptoms. Firstly, Shigella secretes virulence factors that induce severe inflammation and mediate enterotoxic effects on the colon, producing the classic watery diarrhea seen early in infection. Secondly, Shigella injects virulence effectors into epithelial cells via its Type III Secretion System to subvert the host cell structure and function. This allows invasion of epithelial cells, establishing a replicative niche, and causes erratic destruction of the colonic epithelium. Thirdly, Shigella produces effectors to down-regulate inflammation and the innate immune response. This promotes infection and limits the adaptive immune response, causing the host to remain partially susceptible to re-infection. Combinations of these virulence factors may contribute to the different symptoms and infection capabilities of the diverse Shigella species, in addition to distinct transmission patterns. Further investigation of the dominant species causing disease, using whole-genome sequencing and genotyping, will allow comparison and identification of crucial virulence factors and may contribute to the production of a pan-Shigella vaccine.

Manipulation of host membranes by the bacterial pathogens Listeria, Francisella, Shigella and Yersinia

Bacterial pathogens display an impressive arsenal of molecular mechanisms that allow survival in diverse host niches. Subversion of plasma membrane and cytoskeletal functions are common themes associated to infection by both extracellular and intracellular pathogens. Moreover, intracellular pathogens modify the structure/stability of their membrane-bound compartments and escape degradation from phagocytic or autophagic pathways. Here, we review the manipulation of host membranes by Listeria monocytogenes, Francisella tularensis, Shigella flexneri and Yersinia spp. These four bacterial model pathogens exemplify generalized strategies as well as specific features observed during bacterial infection processes.

Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli modulates an ARF6:Rab35 signaling axis to prevent recycling endosome maturation during infection

Enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC/EHEC) manipulate a plethora of host cell processes to establish infection of the gut mucosa. This manipulation is achieved via the injection of bacterial effector proteins into host cells using a Type III secretion system. We have previously reported that the conserved EHEC and EPEC effector EspG disrupts recycling endosome function, reducing cell surface levels of host receptors through accumulation of recycling cargo within the host cell. Here we report that EspG interacts specifically with the small GTPases ARF6 and Rab35 during infection. These interactions target EspG to endosomes and prevent Rab35-mediated recycling of cargo to the host cell surface. Furthermore, we show that EspG has no effect on Rab35-mediated uncoating of newly formed endosomes, and instead leads to the formation of enlarged EspG/TfR/Rab11 positive, EEA1/Clathrin negative stalled recycling structures. Thus, this paper provides a molecular framework to explain how EspG disrupts recycling whilst also reporting the first known simultaneous targeting of ARF6 and Rab35 by a bacterial pathogen.

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EHEC delivers effector proteins into host cells to establish infection in the gut

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The effector EspG interacts with GTP-ARF6 confining EspG to recycling endosomes

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During infection EspG interacts preferentially with Rab35, not Rab1

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Spatial restriction of bacterial effectors during infection determines their function

Enteropathogenic E. coli effectors EspG1/G2 disrupt microtubules, contribute to tight junction perturbation and inhibit restoration

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) uses a type 3 secretion system to transfer effector proteins into the host intestinal epithelial cell. Several effector molecules contribute to tight junction disruption including EspG1 and its homologue EspG2 via a mechanism thought to involve microtubule destruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of EspG-mediated microtubule disruption to TJ perturbation. We demonstrate that wild type EPEC infection disassembles microtubules and induces the progressive movement of occludin away from the membrane and into the cytosol. Deletion of espG1/G2 attenuates both of these phenotypes. In addition, EPEC infection impedes barrier recovery from calcium switch, suggesting that inhibition of TJ restoration, not merely disruption, prolongs barrier loss. TJs recover more rapidly following infection with ΔespG1/G2 than with wild type EPEC, demonstrating that EspG1/G2 perpetuate barrier loss. Although EspG regulates ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and p21-activated kinase (PAK), these activities are not necessary for microtubule destruction or perturbation of TJ structure and function. These data strongly support a role for EspG1/G2 and its associated effects on microtubules in delaying the recovery of damaged tight junctions caused by EPEC infection.

Biochemical and structural insights into microtubule perturbation by CopN from Chlamydia pneumoniae

Although the actin network is commonly hijacked by pathogens, there are few reports of parasites targeting microtubules. The proposed member of the LcrE protein family from some Chlamydia species (e.g. pCopN from C. pneumoniae) binds tubulin and inhibits microtubule assembly in vitro. From the pCopN structure and its similarity with that of MxiC from Shigella, we definitively confirm CopN as the Chlamydia homolog of the LcrE family of bacterial proteins involved in the regulation of type III secretion. We have also investigated the molecular basis for the pCopN effect on microtubules. We show that pCopN delays microtubule nucleation and acts as a pure tubulin-sequestering protein at steady state. It targets the β subunit interface involved in the tubulin longitudinal self-association in a way that inhibits nucleotide exchange. pCopN contains three repetitions of a helical motif flanked by disordered N- and C-terminal extensions. We have identified the pCopN minimal tubulin-binding region within the second and third repeats. Together with the intriguing observation that C. trachomatis CopN does not bind tubulin, our data support the notion that, in addition to the shared function of type III secretion regulation, these proteins have evolved different functions in the host cytosol. Our results provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the C. pneumoniae CopN-specific inhibition of microtubule assembly.

Selective protection of an ARF1-GTP signaling axis by a bacterial scaffold induces bidirectional trafficking arrest

Bidirectional vesicular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi is mediated largely by ARF and Rab GTPases, which orchestrate vesicle fission and fusion, respectively. How their activities are coordinated in order to define the successive steps of the secretory pathway and preserve traffic directionality is not well understood in part due to the scarcity of molecular tools that simultaneously target ARF and Rab signaling. Here, we take advantage of the unique scaffolding properties of E. coli secreted protein G (EspG) to describe the critical role of ARF1/Rab1 spatiotemporal coordination in vesicular transport at the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment. Structural modeling and cellular studies show that EspG induces bidirectional traffic arrest by tethering vesicles through select ARF1-GTP/effector complexes and local inactivation of Rab1. The mechanistic insights presented here establish the effectiveness of a small bacterial catalytic scaffold for studying complex processes and reveal an alternative mechanism of immune regulation by an important human pathogen.

Actin cytoskeleton manipulation by effector proteins secreted by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes

The actin cytoskeleton is a dynamic structure necessary for cell and tissue organization, including the maintenance of epithelial barriers. Disruption of the epithelial barrier coincides with alterations of the actin cytoskeleton in several disease states. These disruptions primarily affect the paracellular space, which is normally regulated by tight junctions. Thereby, the actin cytoskeleton is a common and recurring target of bacterial virulence factors. In order to manipulate the actin cytoskeleton, bacteria secrete and inject toxins and effectors to hijack the host cell machinery, which interferes with host-cell pathways and with a number of actin binding proteins. An interesting model to study actin manipulation by bacterial effectors is Escherichia coli since due to its genome plasticity it has acquired diverse genetic mobile elements, which allow having different E. coli varieties in one bacterial species. These E. coli pathotypes, including intracellular and extracellular bacteria, interact with epithelial cells, and their interactions depend on a specific combination of virulence factors. In this paper we focus on E. coli effectors that mimic host cell proteins to manipulate the actin cytoskeleton. The study of bacterial effector-cytoskeleton interaction will contribute not only to the comprehension of the molecular causes of infectious diseases but also to increase our knowledge of cell biology.

Modulation of host microtubule dynamics by pathogenic bacteria

The eukaryotic cytoskeleton is a vulnerable target of many microbial pathogens during the course of infection. Rearrangements of host cytoskeleton benefit microbes in various stages of their infection cycle such as invasion, motility, and persistence. Bacterial pathogens deliver a number of effector proteins into host cells for modulating the dynamics of actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Alteration of the actin cytoskeleton is generally achieved by bacterial effectors that target the small GTPases of the host. Modulation of microtubule dynamics involves direct interaction of effector proteins with the subunits of microtubules or recruiting cellular proteins that affect microtubule dynamics. This review will discuss effector proteins from animal and human bacterial pathogens that either destabilize or stabilize host micro-tubules to advance the infectious process. A compilation of these research findings will provide an overview of known and unknown strategies used by various bacterial effectors to modulate the host microtubule dynamics. The present review will undoubtedly help direct future research to determine the mechanisms of action of many bacterial effector proteins and contribute to understanding the survival strategies of diverse adherent and invasive bacterial pathogens.

Structurally distinct bacterial TBC-like GAPs link Arf GTPase to Rab1 inactivation to counteract host defenses

Rab GTPases are frequent targets of vacuole-living bacterial pathogens for appropriate trafficking of the vacuole. Here we discover that bacterial effectors including VirA from nonvacuole Shigella flexneri and EspG from extracellular Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) harbor TBC-like dual-finger motifs and exhibits potent RabGAP activities. Specific inactivation of Rab1 by VirA/EspG disrupts ER-to-Golgi trafficking. S. flexneri intracellular persistence requires VirA TBC-like GAP activity that mediates bacterial escape from autophagy-mediated host defense. Rab1 inactivation by EspG severely blocks host secretory pathway, resulting in inhibited interleukin-8 secretion from infected cells. Crystal structures of VirA/EspG-Rab1-GDP-aluminum fluoride complexes highlight TBC-like catalytic role for the arginine and glutamine finger residues and reveal a 3D architecture distinct from that of the TBC domain. Structure of Arf6-EspG-Rab1 ternary complex illustrates a pathogenic signaling complex that rewires host Arf signaling to Rab1 inactivation. Structural distinctions of VirA/EspG further predict a possible extensive presence of TBC-like RabGAP effectors in counteracting various host defenses.

The Chlamydia effector chlamydial outer protein N (CopN) sequesters tubulin and prevents microtubule assembly

Chlamydia species are obligate intracellular pathogens that utilize a type three secretion system to manipulate host cell processes. Genetic manipulations are currently not possible in Chlamydia, necessitating study of effector proteins in heterologous expression systems and severely complicating efforts to relate molecular strategies used by Chlamydia to the biochemical activities of effector proteins. CopN is a chlamydial type three secretion effector that is essential for virulence. Heterologous expression of CopN in cells results in loss of microtubule spindles and metaphase plate formation and causes mitotic arrest. CopN is a multidomain protein with similarity to type three secretion system "plug" proteins from other organisms but has functionally diverged such that it also functions as an effector protein. We show that CopN binds directly to αβ-tubulin but not to microtubules (MTs). Furthermore, CopN inhibits tubulin polymerization by sequestering free αβ-tubulin, similar to one of the mechanisms utilized by stathmin. Although CopN and stathmin share no detectable sequence identity, both influence MT formation by sequestration of αβ-tubulin. CopN displaces stathmin from preformed stathmin-tubulin complexes, indicating that the proteins bind overlapping sites on tubulin. CopN is the first bacterial effector shown to disrupt MT formation directly. This recognition affords a mechanistic understanding of a strategy Chlamydia species use to manipulate the host cell cycle.

EspG of enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic E. coli binds the Golgi matrix protein GM130 and disrupts the Golgi structure and function

The enteric pathogens enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and Shigella flexneri all translocate at least one effector protein of the EspG protein family into host cells via a type III secretion system (T3SS). The EspG family comprises EspG, EspG2 and VirA. From a Y2H screen, we identified the Golgi matrix protein GM130 as a potential binding partner of EspG. We confirmed EspG:GM130 protein interaction by affinity co-purification. In co-immunoprecipitation experiments EspG was co-precipitated with GM130 while both GM130 and tubulins were co-precipitated with EspG. When expressed ectopically in HeLa cells, the EspG protein family all localized to the Golgi and induced fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus. All EspG family proteins were also able to disrupt protein secretion to a greater extent than the T3SS effector NleA/EspI, which has previously been shown to localize to the Golgi and interact with SEC24 to disrupt COPII vesicle formation. We hypothesize that EspG:GM130 interaction disrupts protein secretion either through direct disruption of GM130 function or through recruitment of other EspG interacting proteins to the Golgi.

Functional domains and motifs of bacterial type III effector proteins and their roles in infection

A key feature of the virulence of many bacterial pathogens is the ability to deliver effector proteins into eukaryotic cells via a dedicated type three secretion system (T3SS). Many bacterial pathogens, including species of Chlamydia, Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Shigella, Salmonella, Escherichia and Yersinia, depend on the T3SS to cause disease. T3SS effectors constitute a large and diverse group of virulence proteins that mimic eukaryotic proteins in structure and function. A salient feature of bacterial effectors is their modular architecture, comprising domains or motifs that confer an array of subversive functions within the eukaryotic cell. These domains/motifs therefore represent a fascinating repertoire of molecular determinants with important roles during infection. This review provides a snapshot of our current understanding of bacterial effector domains and motifs where a defined role in infection has been demonstrated.

Structural and functional studies indicate that the EPEC effector, EspG, directly binds p21-activated kinase

Bacterial pathogens secrete effectors into their hosts that subvert host defenses and redirect host processes. EspG is a type three secretion effector with a disputed function that is found in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Here we show that EspG is structurally similar to VirA, a Shigella virulence factor; EspG has a large, conserved pocket on its surface; EspG binds directly to the amino-terminal inhibitory domain of human p21-activated kinase (PAK); and mutations to conserved residues in the surface pocket disrupt the interaction with PAK.

The assembly of a GTPase-kinase signalling complex by a bacterial catalytic scaffold

The fidelity and specificity of information flow within a cell is controlled by scaffolding proteins that assemble and link enzymes into signalling circuits. These circuits can be inhibited by bacterial effector proteins that post-translationally modify individual pathway components. However, there is emerging evidence that pathogens directly organize higher-order signalling networks through enzyme scaffolding, and the identity of the effectors and their mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Here we identify the enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 type III effector EspG as a regulator of endomembrane trafficking using a functional screen, and report ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) GTPases and p21-activated kinases (PAKs) as its relevant host substrates. The 2.5 Å crystal structure of EspG in complex with ARF6 shows how EspG blocks GTPase-activating-protein-assisted GTP hydrolysis, revealing a potent mechanism of GTPase signalling inhibition at organelle membranes. In addition, the 2.8 Å crystal structure of EspG in complex with the autoinhibitory Iα3-helix of PAK2 defines a previously unknown catalytic site in EspG and provides an allosteric mechanism of kinase activation by a bacterial effector. Unexpectedly, ARF and PAKs are organized on adjacent surfaces of EspG, indicating its role as a 'catalytic scaffold' that effectively reprograms cellular events through the functional assembly of GTPase-kinase signalling complex.

EseG, an effector of the type III secretion system of Edwardsiella tarda, triggers microtubule destabilization

Edwardsiella tarda is a Gram-negative enteric pathogen that causes hemorrhagic septicemia in fish and both gastrointestinal and extraintestinal infections in humans. A type III secretion system (T3SS) was recently shown to contribute to pathogenesis, since deletions of various T3SS genes increased the 50% lethal dose (LD(50)) by about 1 log unit in the blue gourami infection model. In this study, we report EseG as the first identified effector protein of T3SS. EseG shares partial homology with two Salmonella T3SS effectors (SseG and SseF) over a conserved domain (amino acid residues 142 to 192). The secretion of EseG is dependent on a functional T3SS and, in particular, requires the chaperone EscB. Experiments using TEM-1 β-lactamase as a fluorescence-based reporter showed that EseG was translocated into HeLa cells at 35°C. Fractionation of infected HeLa cells demonstrated that EseG was localized to the host membrane fraction after translocation. EseG is able to disassemble microtubule structures when overexpressed in mammalian cells. This phenotype may require a conserved motif of EseG (EseG(142-192)), since truncated versions of EseG devoid of this motif lose their ability to cause microtubule destabilization. By demonstrating the function of EseG, our study contributes to the understanding of E. tarda pathogenesis. Moreover, the approach established in this study to identify type III effectors can be used to identify and characterize more type III and possible type VI effectors in Edwardsiella.

Tracking the dynamic interplay between bacterial and host factors during pathogen-induced vacuole rupture in real time

Escape into the host cell cytosol following invasion of mammalian cells is a common strategy used by invasive pathogens. This requires membrane rupture of the vesicular or vacuolar compartment formed around the bacteria after uptake into the host cell. The mechanism of pathogen-induced disassembly of the vacuolar membrane is poorly understood. We established a novel, robust and sensitive fluorescence microscopy method that tracks the precise time point of vacuole rupture upon uptake of Gram-negative bacteria. This revealed that the enteroinvasive pathogen Shigella flexneri escapes rapidly, in less than 10 min, from the vacuole. Our method demonstrated the recruitment of host factors, such as RhoA, to the bacterial entry site and their continued presence at the point of vacuole rupture. We found a novel host marker for ruptured vacuoles, galectin-3, which appears instantly in the proximity of bacteria after escape into the cytosol. Furthermore, we show that the Salmonella effector proteins, SifA and PipB2, stabilize the vacuole membrane inhibiting bacterial escape from the vacuole. Our novel approach to track vacuole rupture is ideally suited for high-content and high-throughput approaches to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms of membrane rupture during invasion by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Shigella type III secretion effectors: how, where, when, for what purposes?

Bacteria of Shigella spp., the causative agents of shigellosis in humans, possess a repertoire of approximately 25-30 effectors injected into host cells by a type III secretion apparatus (T3SA). The T3SA activity is activated upon contact of bacteria with cells and controls expression of some effectors. Recent structural and functional studies suggest that two different sets of effectors are involved in inducing actin cytoskeleton reorganization to promote entry of bacteria into epithelial cells and in modulating cell signaling pathways to dampen innate immune responses induced upon infection, respectively. Schematically, effectors involved in entry are produced independently of the T3SA activity, whereas effectors involved in controlling the cell responses are produced upon activation of the T3SA.

Novel fold of VirA, a type III secretion system effector protein from Shigella flexneri

VirA, a secreted effector protein from Shigella sp., has been shown to be necessary for its virulence. It was also reported that VirA might be related to papain-like cysteine proteases and cleave alpha-tubulin, thus facilitating intracellular spreading. We have now determined the crystal structure of VirA at 3.0 A resolution. The shape of the molecule resembles the letter "V," with the residues in the N-terminal third of the 45-kDa molecule (some of which are disordered) forming one clearly identifiable domain, and the remainder of the molecule completing the V-like structure. The fold of VirA is unique and does not resemble that of any known protein, including papain, although its N-terminal domain is topologically similar to cysteine protease inhibitors such as stefin B. Analysis of the sequence conservation between VirA and its Escherichia coli homologs EspG and EspG2 did not result in identification of any putative protease-like active site, leaving open a possibility that the biological function of VirA in Shigella virulence may not involve direct proteolytic activity.