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Read CB, Ali AN, Stephenson DJ, Macknight HP, Maus KD, Cockburn CL, Kim M, Xie X, Carlyon JA, Chalfant CE. Ceramide-1-phosphate is a regulator of Golgi structure and is co-opted by the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum. mBio 2024; 15:e0029924. [PMID: 38415594 PMCID: PMC11005342 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00299-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Many intracellular pathogens structurally disrupt the Golgi apparatus as an evolutionarily conserved promicrobial strategy. Yet, the host factors and signaling processes involved are often poorly understood, particularly for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis. We found that A. phagocytophilum elevated cellular levels of the bioactive sphingolipid, ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), to promote Golgi fragmentation that enables bacterial proliferation, conversion from its non-infectious to infectious form, and productive infection. A. phagocytophilum poorly infected mice deficient in ceramide kinase, the Golgi-localized enzyme responsible for C1P biosynthesis. C1P regulated Golgi morphology via activation of a PKCα/Cdc42/JNK signaling axis that culminates in phosphorylation of Golgi structural proteins, GRASP55 and GRASP65. siRNA-mediated depletion of Cdc42 blocked A. phagocytophilum from altering Golgi morphology, which impaired anterograde trafficking of trans-Golgi vesicles into and maturation of the pathogen-occupied vacuole. Cells overexpressing phosphorylation-resistant versions of GRASP55 and GRASP65 presented with suppressed C1P- and A. phagocytophilum-induced Golgi fragmentation and poorly supported infection by the bacterium. By studying A. phagocytophilum, we identify C1P as a regulator of Golgi structure and a host factor that is relevant to disease progression associated with Golgi fragmentation.IMPORTANCECeramide-1-phosphate (C1P), a bioactive sphingolipid that regulates diverse processes vital to mammalian physiology, is linked to disease states such as cancer, inflammation, and wound healing. By studying the obligate intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, we discovered that C1P is a major regulator of Golgi morphology. A. phagocytophilum elevated C1P levels to induce signaling events that promote Golgi fragmentation and increase vesicular traffic into the pathogen-occupied vacuole that the bacterium parasitizes. As several intracellular microbial pathogens destabilize the Golgi to drive their infection cycles and changes in Golgi morphology is also linked to cancer and neurodegenerative disorder progression, this study identifies C1P as a potential broad-spectrum therapeutic target for infectious and non-infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis B. Read
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Anika N. Ali
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Daniel J. Stephenson
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - H. Patrick Macknight
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Kenneth D. Maus
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Chelsea L. Cockburn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Minjung Kim
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Xiujie Xie
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jason A. Carlyon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Charles E. Chalfant
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Program in Cancer Biology, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Research Service, Richmond Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Eskeland S, Bø-Granquist EG, Stuen S, Lybeck K, Wilhelmsson P, Lindgren PE, Makvandi-Nejad S. Temporal patterns of gene expression in response to inoculation with a virulent Anaplasma phagocytophilum strain in sheep. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20399. [PMID: 37989861 PMCID: PMC10663591 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47801-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize the gene expression of host immune- and cellular responses to a Norwegian virulent strain of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the cause of tick-borne fever in sheep. Ten sheep were intravenously inoculated with a live virulent strain of A. phagocytophilum. Clinical-, observational-, hematological data as well as bacterial load, flow cytometric cell count data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and host's gene expression post infection was analysed. The transcriptomic data were assessed for pre-set time points over the course of 22 days following the inoculation. Briefly, all inoculated sheep responded with clinical signs of infection 3 days post inoculation and onwards with maximum bacterial load observed on day 6, consistent with tick-borne fever. On days, 3-8, the innate immune responses and effector processes such as IFN1 signaling pathways and cytokine mediated signaling pathways were observed. Several pathways associated with the adaptive immune responses, namely T-cell activation, humoral immune responses, B-cell activation, and T- and B-cell differentiation dominated on the days of 8, 10 and 14. Flow-cytometric analysis of the PBMCs showed a reduction in CD4+CD25+ cells on day 10 and 14 post-inoculation and a skewed CD4:CD8 ratio indicating a reduced activation and proliferation of CD4-T-cells. The genes of important co-stimulatory molecules such as CD28 and CD40LG, important in T- and B-cell activation and proliferation, did not significantly change or experienced downregulation throughout the study. The absence of upregulation of several co-stimulatory molecules might be one possible explanation for the low activation and proliferation of CD4-T-cells during A. phagocytophilum infection, indicating a suboptimal CD4-T-cell response. The upregulation of T-BET, EOMES and IFN-γ on days 8-14 post inoculation, indicates a favoured CD4 Th1- and CD8-response. The dynamics and interaction between CD4+CD25+ and co-stimulatory molecules such as CD28, CD80, CD40 and CD40LG during infection with A. phagocytophilum in sheep needs further investigation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sveinung Eskeland
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Elizabeth Stephansens Vei 15, 1433, Ås, Norway.
| | - Erik G Bø-Granquist
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Elizabeth Stephansens Vei 15, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Kyrkjevegen 332/334, 4325, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Kari Lybeck
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Elizabeth Stephansens Vei 1, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Laboratory for Borrelia and Other Tick-Borne Bacteria, Region Jönköping County, 553 05, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
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Transmission Cycle of Tick-Borne Infections and Co-Infections, Animal Models and Diseases. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111309. [PMID: 36365060 PMCID: PMC9696261 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens such as species of Borrelia, Babesia, Anaplasma, Rickettsia, and Ehrlichia are widespread in the United States and Europe among wildlife, in passerines as well as in domestic and farm animals. Transmission of these pathogens occurs by infected ticks during their blood meal, carnivorism, and through animal bites in wildlife, whereas humans can become infected either by an infected tick bite, through blood transfusion and in some cases, congenitally. The reservoir hosts play an important role in maintaining pathogens in nature and facilitate transmission of individual pathogens or of multiple pathogens simultaneously to humans through ticks. Tick-borne co-infections were first reported in the 1980s in white-footed mice, the most prominent reservoir host for causative organisms in the United States, and they are becoming a major concern for public health now. Various animal infection models have been used extensively to better understand pathogenesis of tick-borne pathogens and to reveal the interaction among pathogens co-existing in the same host. In this review, we focus on the prevalence of these pathogens in different reservoir hosts, animal models used to investigate their pathogenesis and host responses they trigger to understand diseases in humans. We also documented the prevalence of these pathogens as correlating with the infected ticks’ surveillance studies. The association of tick-borne co-infections with other topics such as pathogens virulence factors, host immune responses as they relate to diseases severity, identification of vaccine candidates, and disease economic impact are also briefly addressed here.
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Naimi WA, Gumpf JJ, Cockburn CL, Camus S, Chalfant CE, Li PL, Carlyon JA. Functional inhibition or genetic deletion of acid sphingomyelinase bacteriostatically inhibits Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in vivo. Pathog Dis 2021; 79:ftaa072. [PMID: 33220685 PMCID: PMC7787905 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects neutrophils to cause granulocytic anaplasmosis. It poorly infects mice deficient in acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), a lysosomal enzyme critical for cholesterol efflux, and wild-type mice treated with desipramine that functionally inhibits ASM. Whether inhibition or genetic deletion of ASM is bacteriostatic or bactericidal for A. phagocytophilum and desipramine's ability to lower pathogen burden requires a competent immune system were unknown. Anaplasma phagocytophilum-infected severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (SCID) mice were administered desipramine or PBS, followed by the transfer of blood to naïve wild-type mice. Next, infected wild-type mice were given desipramine or PBS followed by transfer of blood to naïve SCID mice. Finally, wild-type or ASM-deficient mice were infected and blood transferred to naïve SCID mice. The percentage of infected neutrophils was significantly reduced in all desipramine-treated or ASM-deficient mice and in all recipients of blood from these mice. Infection was markedly lower in ASM-deficient and desipramine-treated wild-type mice versus desipramine-treated SCID mice. Yet, infection was never ablated. Thus, ASM activity contributes to optimal A. phagocytophilum infection in vivo, pharmacologic inhibition or genetic deletion of ASM impairs infection in a bacteriostatic and reversible manner and A. phagocytophilum is capable of co-opting ASM-independent lipid sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waheeda A Naimi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23398 USA
| | - Jacob J Gumpf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23398 USA
| | - Chelsea L Cockburn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23398 USA
| | - Sarah Camus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298 USA
| | - Charles E Chalfant
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL,33620 USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- The Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Research Service, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Pin-Lan Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298 USA
| | - Jason A Carlyon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23398 USA
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Fisher JR, Chroust ZD, Onyoni F, Soong L. Pattern Recognition Receptors in Innate Immunity to Obligate Intracellular Bacteria. ZOONOSES (BURLINGTON, MASS.) 2021; 1:10. [PMID: 35282331 PMCID: PMC8909792 DOI: 10.15212/zoonoses-2021-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are crucial for sensing pathogenic microorganisms, launching innate responses, and shaping pathogen-specific adaptive immunity during infection. Rickettsia spp., Orientia tsutsugamushi, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Coxiella burnetii are obligate intracellular bacteria, which can only replicate within host cells and must evade immune detection to successfully propagate. These five bacterial species are zoonotic pathogens of clinical or agricultural importance, yet, uncovering how immune recognition occurs has remained challenging. Recent evidence from in-vitro studies and animal models has offered new insights into the types and kinetics of PRR activation during infection with Rickettsia spp., A. phagocytophilum, E. chaffeensis, and C. burnetii, respectively. However, much less is known in these regards for O. tsutsugamushi infection, until the recent discovery for the role of the C-type lectin receptor Mincle during lethal infection in mice and in primary macrophage cultures. This review gives a brief summary for clinical and epidemiologic features of these five bacterial infections, focuses on fundamental biologic facets of infection, and recent advances in host recognition. In addition, we discuss knowledge gaps for innate recognition of these bacteria in the context of disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Fisher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Zachary D. Chroust
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Florence Onyoni
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Corresponding author: Lynn Soong, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd. MRB 3.142, Galveston, Texas 77555-1070,
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Paris DH, Kelly DJ, Fuerst PA, Day NPJ, Richards AL. A Brief History of the Major Rickettsioses in the Asia-Australia-Pacific Region: A Capstone Review for the Special Issue of TMID. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:tropicalmed5040165. [PMID: 33121158 PMCID: PMC7709643 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5040165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The rickettsioses of the "Far East" or Asia-Australia-Pacific region include but are not limited to endemic typhus, scrub typhus, and more recently, tick typhus or spotted fever. These diseases embody the diversity of rickettsial disease worldwide and allow us to interconnect the various contributions to this special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. The impact of rickettsial diseases-particularly of scrub typhus-was substantial during the wars and "police actions" of the last 80 years. However, the post-World War II arrival of effective antibiotics reduced their impact, when recognized and adequately treated (chloramphenicol and tetracyclines). Presently, however, scrub typhus appears to be emerging and spreading into regions not previously reported. Better diagnostics, or higher population mobility, change in antimicrobial policies, even global warming, have been proposed as possible culprits of this phenomenon. Further, sporadic reports of possible antibiotic resistance have received the attention of clinicians and epidemiologists, raising interest in developing and testing novel diagnostics to facilitate medical diagnosis. We present a brief history of rickettsial diseases, their relative importance within the region, focusing on the so-called "tsutsugamushi triangle", the past and present impact of these diseases within the region, and indicate how historically, these often-confused diseases were ingeniously distinguished from each another. Moreover, we will discuss the importance of DNA-sequencing efforts for Orientia tsutsugamushi, obtained from patient blood, vector chiggers, and rodent reservoirs, particularly for the dominant 56-kD type-specific antigen gene (tsa56), and whole-genome sequences, which are increasing our knowledge of the diversity of this unique agent. We explore and discuss the potential of sequencing and other effective tools to geographically trace rickettsial disease agents, and develop control strategies to better mitigate the rickettsioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H. Paris
- Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-61-284-8111
| | - Daryl J. Kelly
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.J.K.); (P.A.F.)
| | - Paul A. Fuerst
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.J.K.); (P.A.F.)
| | - Nicholas P. J. Day
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Programme, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithee Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Center for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Allen L. Richards
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
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Immunization against Anaplasma phagocytophilum Adhesin Binding Domains Confers Protection against Infection in the Mouse Model. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00106-20. [PMID: 32661123 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00106-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, a debilitating infection that can be fatal in the immunocompromised. It also afflicts animals, including dogs, horses, and sheep. No granulocytic anaplasmosis vaccine exists. Because A. phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium, inhibiting microbe-host cell interactions that facilitate invasion can disrupt infection. The binding domains of A. phagocytophilum adhesins A. phagocytophilum invasion protein A (AipA), A. phagocytophilum surface protein (Asp14), and outer membrane protein A (OmpA) are essential for optimal bacterial entry into host cells, but their relevance to infection in vivo is undefined. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with a cocktail of keyhole limpet hemocyanin-conjugated peptides corresponding to the AipA, Asp14, and OmpA binding domains in alum followed by challenge with A. phagocytophilum The bacterial peripheral blood burden was pronouncedly reduced in immunized mice compared to controls. Examination of pre- and postchallenge sera from these mice revealed that immunization elicited antibodies against AipA and Asp14 peptides but not OmpA peptide. Nonetheless, pooled sera from pre- and postchallenge groups, but not from control groups, inhibited A. phagocytophilum infection of HL-60 cells. Adhesin domain immunization also elicited interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-producing CD8-positive (CD8+) T cells. A follow-up study confirmed that immunization against only the AipA or Asp14 binding domain was sufficient to reduce the bacterial peripheral blood load in mice following challenge and elicit antibodies that inhibit A. phagocytophilum cellular infection in vitro These data demonstrate that AipA and Asp14 are critical for A. phagocytophilum to productively infect mice, and immunization against their binding domains elicits a protective immune response.
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Green RS, Naimi WA, Oliver LD, O'Bier N, Cho J, Conrad DH, Martin RK, Marconi RT, Carlyon JA. Binding of Host Cell Surface Protein Disulfide Isomerase by Anaplasma phagocytophilum Asp14 Enables Pathogen Infection. mBio 2020; 11:e03141-19. [PMID: 31992623 PMCID: PMC6989111 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03141-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse intracellular pathogens rely on eukaryotic cell surface disulfide reductases to invade host cells. Pharmacologic inhibition of these enzymes is cytotoxic, making it impractical for treatment. Identifying and mechanistically dissecting microbial proteins that co-opt surface reductases could reveal novel targets for disrupting this common infection strategy. Anaplasma phagocytophilum invades neutrophils by an incompletely defined mechanism to cause the potentially fatal disease granulocytic anaplasmosis. The bacterium's adhesin, Asp14, contributes to invasion by virtue of its C terminus engaging an unknown receptor. Yeast-two hybrid analysis identified protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) as an Asp14 binding partner. Coimmunoprecipitation confirmed the interaction and validated it to be Asp14 C terminus dependent. PDI knockdown and antibody-mediated inhibition of PDI reductase activity impaired A. phagocytophilum infection of but not binding to host cells. Infection during PDI inhibition was rescued when the bacterial but not host cell surface disulfide bonds were chemically reduced with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine-HCl (TCEP). TCEP also restored bacterial infectivity in the presence of an Asp14 C terminus blocking antibody that otherwise inhibits infection. A. phagocytophilum failed to productively infect myeloid-specific-PDI conditional-knockout mice, marking the first demonstration of in vivo microbial dependency on PDI for infection. Mutational analyses identified the Asp14 C-terminal residues that are critical for binding PDI. Thus, Asp14 binds and brings PDI proximal to A. phagocytophilum surface disulfide bonds that it reduces, which enables cellular and in vivo infection.IMPORTANCEAnaplasma phagocytophilum infects neutrophils to cause granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging potentially fatal disease and the second-most common tick-borne illness in the United States. Treatment options are limited, and no vaccine exists. Due to the bacterium's obligatory intracellular lifestyle, A. phagocytophilum survival and pathogenesis are predicated on its ability to enter host cells. Understanding its invasion mechanism will yield new targets for preventing bacterial entry and, hence, disease. We report a novel entry pathway in which the A. phagocytophilum outer membrane protein Asp14 binds host cell surface protein disulfide isomerase via specific C-terminal residues to promote reduction of bacterial surface disulfide bonds, which is critical for cellular invasion and productive infection in vivo Targeting the Asp14 C terminus could be used to prevent/treat granulocytic anaplasmosis. Our findings have broad implications, as a thematically similar approach could be applied to block infection by other intracellular microbes that exploit cell surface reductases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Green
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Waheeda A Naimi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Lee D Oliver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Nathaniel O'Bier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jaehyung Cho
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Daniel H Conrad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Rebecca K Martin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Richard T Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jason A Carlyon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Paulsen KM, Granquist EG, Okstad W, Vikse R, Stiasny K, Andreassen ÅK, Stuen S. Experimental infection of lambs with tick-borne encephalitis virus and co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226836. [PMID: 31856227 PMCID: PMC6922421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic pathogen which may cause tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in humans and animals. More than 10,000 cases of TBE are reported annually in Europe and Asia. However, the knowledge on TBE in animals is limited. Co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and louping ill virus (LIV), a close relative to TBEV, in sheep has been found to cause more severe disease than single LIV or A. phagocytophilum infection. The aim of this study was to investigate TBEV infection and co-infection of TBEV and A. phagocytophilum in lambs. A total of 30 lambs, aged five to six months, were used. The experiment was divided into two. In part one, pre- and post-infection of TBEV and A. phagocytophilum was investigated (group 1 to 4), while in part two, co-infection of TBEV and A. phagocytophilum was investigated (group 5 and 6). Blood samples were drawn, and rectal temperature was measured daily. Lambs inoculated with TBEV displayed no clinical symptoms, but had a short or non-detectable viremia by reverse transcription real-time PCR. All lambs inoculated with TBEV developed neutralizing TBEV antibodies. Our study is in accordance with previous studies, and indicates that TBEV rarely causes symptomatic disease in ruminants. All lambs inoculated with A. phagocytophilum developed fever and clinical symptoms of tick-borne fever, and A. phagocytophilum was present in the blood samples of all infected lambs, shown by qPCR. Significantly higher mean TBEV titer was detected in the group co-infected with TBEV and A. phagocytophilum, compared to the groups pre- or post-infected with A. phagocytophilum. These results indicate that co-infection with TBEV and A. phagocytophilum in sheep stimulates an increased TBEV antibody response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine M. Paulsen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Erik G. Granquist
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Wenche Okstad
- Section of Small Ruminant Research and Herd Health, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Rose Vikse
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Åshild K. Andreassen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Section of Small Ruminant Research and Herd Health, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
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Chen R, Kou Z, Xu L, Cao J, Liu Z, Wen X, Wang Z, Wen H. Analysis of epidemiological characteristics of four natural-focal diseases in Shandong Province, China in 2009-2017: A descriptive analysis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221677. [PMID: 31454372 PMCID: PMC6711524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Natural-focal diseases are serious diseases that endanger human health. They threaten about 100 million people in Shandong Province, and cause illness in thousands of people each year. However, information on the epidemiological characteristics of natural-focal diseases in Shandong Province has been limited. The purpose of the study was to describe and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of natural-focal diseases in Shandong Province, 2009–2017. Methods We describe the incidence and distribution of four natural-focal diseases in Shandong Province using surveillance data from 2009–2017. Results From 2009–2017, 11123 cases of four natural-focal diseases including 257 deaths were reported in Shandong Province, China. The four natural-focal diseases were severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), typhus, and scrub typhus. The high-risk groups of the four diseases were farmers and the elderly. The incidence rate of scrub typhus was significantly higher in females. However, this difference was not seen in the other three diseases. The four diseases were mainly clustered in the middle-southern part of Shandong Province and the Shandong Peninsula. The annual incidence of SFTS and scrub typhus increased, typhus was relatively stable, and HGA declined. However, the range of SFTS expanded, while HGA shrunk, and typhus and scrub typhus were unchanged. The epidemic period of SFTS and HGA was from May to October, typhus was from October to November, and scrub typhus was from September to November. The fatality rates of SFTS, typhus, scrub typhus, and HGA were 9.19%, 0%, 0.01%, and 2.24%, respectively. Conclusions Our study described and analyzed the prevalence of natural-focal diseases in Shandong Province, and confirmed that age was closely related to the SFTS fatality rate. This study may help to improve the understanding of the prevalence of natural-focal diseases in Shandong Province in recent years and to better develop accurate prevention and control strategies for natural-focal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Key laboratory for the prevention and control of infectious diseases (key laboratory of China’s “13th Five-Year”, Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zengqiang Kou
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Liuchen Xu
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ziwei Liu
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Key laboratory for the prevention and control of infectious diseases (key laboratory of China’s “13th Five-Year”, Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiaojing Wen
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Key laboratory for the prevention and control of infectious diseases (key laboratory of China’s “13th Five-Year”, Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhiyu Wang
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Key laboratory for the prevention and control of infectious diseases (key laboratory of China’s “13th Five-Year”, Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hongling Wen
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Key laboratory for the prevention and control of infectious diseases (key laboratory of China’s “13th Five-Year”, Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- * E-mail:
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Cockburn CL, Green RS, Damle SR, Martin RK, Ghahrai NN, Colonne PM, Fullerton MS, Conrad DH, Chalfant CE, Voth DE, Rucks EA, Gilk SD, Carlyon JA. Functional inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase disrupts infection by intracellular bacterial pathogens. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:e201800292. [PMID: 30902833 PMCID: PMC6431796 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular bacteria that live in host cell-derived vacuoles are significant causes of human disease. Parasitism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is essential for many vacuole-adapted bacteria. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) influences LDL cholesterol egress from the lysosome. Using functional inhibitors of ASM (FIASMAs), we show that ASM activity is key for infection cycles of vacuole-adapted bacteria that target cholesterol trafficking-Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Vacuole maturation, replication, and infectious progeny generation by A. phagocytophilum, which exclusively hijacks LDL cholesterol, are halted and C. burnetii, for which lysosomal cholesterol accumulation is bactericidal, is killed by FIASMAs. Infection cycles of Chlamydiae, which hijack LDL cholesterol and other lipid sources, are suppressed but less so than A. phagocytophilum or C. burnetii A. phagocytophilum fails to productively infect ASM-/- or FIASMA-treated mice. These findings establish the importance of ASM for infection by intracellular bacteria and identify FIASMAs as potential host-directed therapies for diseases caused by pathogens that manipulate LDL cholesterol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea L Cockburn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Ryan S Green
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sheela R Damle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rebecca K Martin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Naomi N Ghahrai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Punsiri M Colonne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Marissa S Fullerton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Daniel H Conrad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Charles E Chalfant
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Daniel E Voth
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Rucks
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Stacey D Gilk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jason A Carlyon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
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Naimi WA, Green RS, Cockburn CL, Carlyon JA. Correction: Naimi, W.A., et al. Differential Susceptibility of Male versus Female Laboratory Mice to Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2018, 3, 78. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019; 4:tropicalmed4010051. [PMID: 30909613 PMCID: PMC6473915 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed4010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Waheeda A Naimi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| | - Ryan S Green
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| | - Chelsea L Cockburn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| | - Jason A Carlyon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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