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Scognamiglio F, Pizzolitto C, Romano M, Teti G, Zara S, Conz M, Donati I, Porrelli D, Falconi M, Marsich E. "A lactose-modified chitosan accelerates chondrogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells spheroids". Biomater Adv 2024; 160:213849. [PMID: 38599041 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Spheroids derived from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are of limited use for cartilage regeneration, as the viability of the cells progressively decreases during the period required for chondrogenic differentiation (21 days). In this work, spheroids based on hMSCs and a lactose-modified chitosan (CTL) were formed by seeding cells onto an air-dried coating of CTL. The polymer coating can inhibit cell adhesion and it is simultaneously incorporated into spheroid structure. CTL-spheroids were characterized from a morphological and biological perspective, and their properties were compared with those of spheroids obtained by seeding the cells onto a non-adherent surface (agar gel). Compared to the latter, smaller and more viable spheroids form in the presence of CTL as early as 4 days of culture. At this time point, analysis of stem cells differentiation in spheroids showed a remarkable increase in collagen type-2 (COL2A1) gene expression (~700-fold compared to day 0), whereas only a 2-fold increase was observed in the control spheroids at day 21. These results were confirmed by histological and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, which showed that in CTL-spheroids an early deposition of collagen with a banding structure already occurred at day 7. Overall, these results support the use of CTL-spheroids as a novel system for cartilage regeneration, characterized by increased cell viability and differentiation capacity within a short time-frame. This will pave the way for approaches aimed at increasing the success rate of procedures and reducing the time required for tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Scognamiglio
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - C Pizzolitto
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
| | - M Romano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 28, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - G Teti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - S Zara
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
| | - M Conz
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - I Donati
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - D Porrelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
| | - M Falconi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - E Marsich
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
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2
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Lentini G, Famà A, De Gaetano GV, Coppolino F, Mahjoub AK, Ryan L, Lien E, Espevik T, Beninati C, Teti G. Caspase-8 inhibition improves the outcome of bacterial infections in mice by promoting neutrophil activation. Cell Rep Med 2023:101098. [PMID: 37390829 PMCID: PMC10394171 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
During differentiation, neutrophils undergo a spontaneous pro-inflammatory program that is hypothesized here to be under caspase-8 control. In mice, intraperitoneal administration of the caspase-8 inhibitor z-IETD-fmk is sufficient to unleash the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil influx in the absence of cell death. These effects are due to selective inhibition of caspase-8 and require tonic interferon-β (IFN-β) production and RIPK3 but not MLKL, the essential downstream executioner of necroptotic cell death. In vitro, stimulation with z-IETD-fmk is sufficient to induce significant cytokine production in murine neutrophils but not in macrophages. Therapeutic administration of z-IETD-fmk improves clinical outcome in models of lethal bacterial peritonitis and pneumonia by augmenting cytokine release, neutrophil influx, and bacterial clearance. Moreover, the inhibitor protects mice against high-dose endotoxin shock. Collectively, our data unveil a RIPK3- and IFN-β-dependent pathway that is constitutively activated in neutrophils and can be harnessed therapeutically using caspase-8 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Famà
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Coppolino
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Liv Ryan
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Egil Lien
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Terje Espevik
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Scylla Biotech Srl, Messina, Italy
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3
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Pellegrini A, Lentini G, Famà A, Bonacorsi A, Scoffone VC, Buroni S, Trespidi G, Postiglione U, Sassera D, Manai F, Pietrocola G, Firon A, Biondo C, Teti G, Beninati C, Barbieri G. CodY Is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Required for Virulence in Group B Streptococcus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:881549. [PMID: 35572655 PMCID: PMC9096947 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.881549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a Gram-positive bacterium able to switch from a harmless commensal of healthy adults to a pathogen responsible for invasive infections in neonates. The signals and regulatory mechanisms governing this transition are still largely unknown. CodY is a highly conserved global transcriptional regulator that links nutrient availability to the regulation of major metabolic and virulence pathways in low-G+C Gram-positive bacteria. In this work, we investigated the role of CodY in BM110, a GBS strain representative of a hypervirulent lineage associated with the majority of neonatal meningitis. Deletion of codY resulted in a reduced ability of the mutant strain to cause infections in neonatal and adult animal models. The observed decreased in vivo lethality was associated with an impaired ability of the mutant to persist in the blood, spread to distant organs, and cross the blood-brain barrier. Notably, the codY null mutant showed reduced adhesion to monolayers of human epithelial cells in vitro and an increased ability to form biofilms, a phenotype associated with strains able to asymptomatically colonize the host. RNA-seq analysis showed that CodY controls about 13% of the genome of GBS, acting mainly as a repressor of genes involved in amino acid transport and metabolism and encoding surface anchored proteins, including the virulence factor Srr2. CodY activity was shown to be dependent on the availability of branched-chain amino acids, which are the universal cofactors of this regulator. These results highlight a key role for CodY in the control of GBS virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Pellegrini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Famà
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Andrea Bonacorsi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Viola Camilla Scoffone
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Buroni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Trespidi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Umberto Postiglione
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Federico Manai
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Arnaud Firon
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR 6047, Unité Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram-positif, Paris, France
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Barbieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani," University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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4
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De Gaetano GV, Coppolino F, Lentini G, Famà A, Cullotta C, Raffaele I, Motta C, Teti G, Speziale P, Pietrocola G, Beninati C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
binds collagens and C1q
via
the SSURE repeats of the PfbB adhesin. Mol Microbiol 2022; 117:1479-1492. [PMID: 35570359 PMCID: PMC9328315 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The binding of Streptococcus pneumoniae to collagen is likely an important step in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infections, but little is known of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Streptococcal surface repeats (SSURE) are highly conserved protein domains present in cell wall adhesins from different Streptococcus species. We find here that SSURE repeats of the pneumococcal adhesin plasminogen and fibronectin binding protein B (PfbB) bind to various types of collagen. Moreover, deletion of the pfbB gene resulted in a significant impairment of the ability of encapsulated or unencapsulated pneumococci to bind collagen. Notably, a PfbB SSURE domain is also bound to the complement component C1q that bears a collagen‐like domain and promotes adherence of pneumococci to host cells by acting as a bridge between bacteria and epithelial cells. Accordingly, deletion of PfbB or pre‐treatment with anti‐SSURE antibodies markedly decreased pneumococcal binding to C1q as well as C1q‐dependent adherence to epithelial and endothelial cells. Further data indicated that C1q promotes pneumococcal adherence by binding to integrin α2β1. In conclusion, our results indicate that the SSURE domains of the PfbB protein promote interactions of pneumococci with various types of collagen and with C1q. These repeats may be useful targets in strategies to control S. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesco Coppolino
- Department of BiomedicalDental and Imaging SciencesUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Germana Lentini
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Agata Famà
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Chiara Cullotta
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Ivana Raffaele
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Chiara Motta
- Department of Molecular MedicineUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | | | - Pietro Speziale
- Department of Molecular MedicineUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | | | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
- Scylla Biotech SrlMessinaItaly
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5
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Lentini G, De Gaetano GV, Famà A, Galbo R, Coppolino F, Mancuso G, Teti G, Beninati C. Neutrophils discriminate live from dead bacteria by integrating signals initiated by Fprs and TLRs. EMBO J 2022; 41:e109386. [PMID: 35112724 PMCID: PMC8886525 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms whereby neutrophils respond differentially to live and dead organisms are unknown. We show here that neutrophils produce 5- to 30-fold higher levels of the Cxcl2 chemokine in response to live bacteria, compared with killed bacteria or isolated bacterial components, despite producing similar levels of Cxcl1 or pro-inflammatory cytokines. Secretion of high levels of Cxcl2, which potently activates neutrophils by an autocrine mechanism, requires three signals. The first two signals are provided by two different sets of signal peptides released by live bacteria, which selectively activate formylated peptide receptor 1 (Fpr1) and Fpr2, respectively. Signal 3 originates from Toll-like receptor activation by microbial components present in both live and killed bacteria. Mechanistically, these signaling pathways converge at the level of the p38 MAP kinase, leading to activation of the AP-1 transcription factor and to Cxcl2 induction. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the simultaneous presence of agonists for Fpr1, Fpr2, and Toll-like receptors represents a unique signature associated with viable bacteria, which is sensed by neutrophils and induces Cxcl2-dependent autocrine cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germana Lentini
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | | | - Agata Famà
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Francesco Coppolino
- Department of BiomedicalDental, Morphological and Functional Imaging SciencesUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | | | | | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human PathologyUniversity of MessinaMessinaItaly,Scylla Biotech SrlMessinaItaly
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6
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Coppolino F, Romeo L, Pietrocola G, Lentini G, De Gaetano GV, Teti G, Galbo R, Beninati C. Lysine Residues in the MK-Rich Region Are Not Required for Binding of the PbsP Protein From Group B Streptococci to Plasminogen. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:679792. [PMID: 34568085 PMCID: PMC8455988 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.679792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Binding to plasminogen (Plg) enables bacteria to associate with and invade host tissues. The cell wall protein PbsP significantly contributes to the ability of group B streptococci, a frequent cause of invasive infection, to bind Plg. Here we sought to identify the molecular regions involved in the interactions between Plg and PbsP. The K4 Kringle domain of the Plg molecule was required for binding of Plg to whole PbsP and to a PbsP fragment encompassing a region rich in methionine and lysine (MK-rich domain). These interactions were inhibited by free L-lysine, indicating the involvement of lysine binding sites in the Plg molecule. However, mutation to alanine of all lysine residues in the MK-rich domain did not decrease its ability to bind Plg. Collectively, our data identify a novel bacterial sequence that can interact with lysine binding sites in the Plg molecule. Notably, such binding did not require the presence of lysine or other positively charged amino acids in the bacterial receptor. These data may be useful for developing alternative therapeutic strategies aimed at blocking interactions between group B streptococci and Plg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Coppolino
- Department of Biomedical, Dental and Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Letizia Romeo
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giampiero Pietrocola
- Department Molecular Medicine, Biochemistry Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Scylla Biotech Srl, Messina, Italy
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7
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Lentini G, Famà A, De Gaetano GV, Galbo R, Coppolino F, Venza M, Teti G, Beninati C. Role of Endosomal TLRs in Staphylococcus aureus Infection. J Immunol 2021; 207:1448-1455. [PMID: 34362834 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Identification of the receptors involved in innate immune recognition of Staphylococcus aureus, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans, is essential to develop alternative strategies to treat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains. In the current study, we examine the role of endosomal TLRs, which sense the presence of prokaryotic-type nucleic acids, in anti-staphylococcal host defenses using infection models involving genetically defective mice. Single deficiencies in TLR7, 9, or 13 resulted in mild or no decrease in host defenses. However, the simultaneous absence of TLR7, 9, and 13 resulted in markedly increased susceptibility to cutaneous and systemic S. aureus infection concomitantly with decreased production of proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines, neutrophil recruitment to infection sites, and reduced production of reactive oxygen species. This phenotype was significantly more severe than that of mice lacking TLR2, which senses the presence of staphylococcal lipoproteins. Notably, the combined absence of TLR7, 9, and 13 resulted in complete abrogation of IL-12 p70 and IFN-β responses to staphylococcal stimulation in macrophages. Taken together, our data highlight the presence of a highly integrated endosomal detection system, whereby TLR7, 9, and 13 cooperate in sensing the presence of staphylococcal nucleic acids. We demonstrate that the combined absence of these receptors cannot be compensated for by cell surface-associated TLRs, such as TLR2, or cytosolic receptors. These data may be useful to devise strategies aimed at stimulating innate immune receptors to treat S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Famà
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Mario Venza
- Department of Biomedical, Dental and Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; and
| | | | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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8
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De Gaetano GV, Lentini G, Galbo R, Coppolino F, Famà A, Teti G, Beninati C. Invasion and trafficking of hypervirulent group B streptococci in polarized enterocytes. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253242. [PMID: 34129624 PMCID: PMC8205152 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus or GBS) is a commensal bacterium that can frequently behave as a pathogen, particularly in the neonatal period and in the elderly. The gut is a primary site of GBS colonization and a potential port of entry during neonatal infections caused by hypervirulent clonal complex 17 (CC17) strains. Here we studied the interactions between the prototypical CC17 BM110 strain and polarized enterocytes using the Caco-2 cell line. GBS could adhere to and invade these cells through their apical or basolateral surfaces. Basolateral invasion was considerably more efficient than apical invasion and predominated under conditions resulting in weakening of cell-to-cell junctions. Bacterial internalization occurred by a mechanism involving caveolae- and lipid raft-dependent endocytosis and actin re-organization, but not clathrin-dependent endocytosis. In the first steps of Caco-2 invasion, GBS colocalized with the early endocytic marker EEA-1, to later reside in acidic vacuoles. Taken together, these data suggest that CC17 GBS selectively adheres to the lateral surface of enterocytes from which it enters through caveolar lipid rafts using a classical, actin-dependent endocytic pathway. These data may be useful to develop alternative preventive strategies aimed at blocking GBS invasion of the intestinal barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Agata Famà
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Scylla Biotech Srl, Messina, Italy
- * E-mail:
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9
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Midiri A, Mancuso G, Lentini G, Famà A, Galbo R, Zummo S, Giardina M, De Gaetano GV, Teti G, Beninati C, Biondo C. Characterization of an immunogenic cellulase secreted by Cryptococcus pathogens. Med Mycol 2021; 58:1138-1148. [PMID: 32246714 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaa012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the C. neoformans/C. gattiii species complex are an important cause of serious humans infections, including meningoencephalitis. We describe here a 45 kDa extracellular cellulase purified from culture supernatants of C. neoformans var. neoformans. The N-terminal sequence obtained from the purified protein was used to isolate a clone containing the full-length coding sequence from a C. neoformans var. neoformans (strain B-3501A) cDNA library. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that this gene is present, with variable homology, in all sequenced genomes of the C. neoformans/C. gattii species complex. The cDNA clone was used to produce a recombinant 45 kDa protein in E. coli that displayed the ability to convert carboxymethyl cellulose and was therefore designated as NG-Case (standing for Neoformans Gattii Cellulase). To explore its potential use as a vaccine candidate, the recombinant protein was used to immunize mice and was found capable of inducing T helper type 1 responses and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, but not immune protection against a highly virulent C. neoformans var grubii strain. These data may be useful to better understand the mechanisms underlying the ability C. neoformans/C. gattii to colonize plant habitats and to interact with the human host during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Midiri
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Sebastiana Zummo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Miriam Giardina
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Scylla Biotech Srl, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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10
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Lentini G, Famà A, Biondo C, Mohammadi N, Galbo R, Mancuso G, Iannello D, Zummo S, Giardina M, De Gaetano GV, Teti G, Beninati C, Midiri A. Neutrophils Enhance Their Own Influx to Sites of Bacterial Infection via Endosomal TLR-Dependent Cxcl2 Production. J Immunol 2019; 204:660-670. [PMID: 31852751 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The influx of neutrophils to infection sites is a fundamental step in host defenses against the frequent human pathogen group B Streptococcus (GBS) and other extracellular bacteria. Using a mouse model of GBS-induced peritonitis, we show in this study that the chemokines Cxcl1 and Cxcl2 play distinctive roles in enhancing the recruitment and the antibacterial activities of neutrophils in a manner that is linked to differences in the cellular sources of these mediators. Cell depletion experiments demonstrated that neutrophils make a significant contribution to the in vivo production of Cxcl2 but not Cxcl1. In vitro, neutrophils responded weakly to LPS but released high levels of Cxcl2 after stimulation with GBS or other bacteria. Neutrophil-derived Cxcl2 acted in an autocrinous manner to increase its own production and to enhance antibacterial activities, including the release of oxygen radicals. In both neutrophils and macrophages, the production of Cxcl1/2 largely required the presence of functional UNC93B1, a chaperone protein involved in signaling by endosomal TLRs. Moreover, the phenotype of UNC93B1-defective phagocytes could be recapitulated by the simultaneous absence of TLR7, 9, and 13 but not by the absence of individual TLRs. Collectively, our data show that neutrophils recognize Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by means of multiple phagosomal TLRs, resulting in de novo synthesis of Cxcl2, amplification of neutrophil recruitment, and potentiation of their antibacterial activities. These data may be useful to devise alternative therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing the recruitment and the functional activities of polymorphonuclear leukocytes during infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germana Lentini
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Famà
- Charybdis Vaccines Srl, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Nastaran Mohammadi
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; and
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Daniela Iannello
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Sebastiana Zummo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Miriam Giardina
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.,Scylla Biotech SRL, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Angelina Midiri
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
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11
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Merlo B, Teti G, Lanci A, Burk J, Mazzotti E, Falconi M, Iacono E. Comparison between adult and foetal adnexa derived equine post-natal mesenchymal stem cells. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:277. [PMID: 31375144 PMCID: PMC6679462 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about the differences among adult and foetal equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and no data exist about their comparative ultrastructural morphology. The aim of this study was to describe and compare characteristics, immune properties, and ultrastructural morphology of equine adult (bone marrow: BM, and adipose tissue: AT) and foetal adnexa derived (umbilical cord blood: UCB, and Wharton’s jelly: WJ) MSCs. Results No differences were observed in proliferation during the first 3 passages. While migration ability was similar among cells, foetal MSCs showed a higher adhesion ability, forming smaller spheroids after hanging drop culture (P < 0.05). All MSCs differentiated toward adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages, only tenogenic differentiation was less evident for WJ-MSCs. Data obtained by PCR confirmed MHC1 expression and lack of MHC2 expression in all four cell types. Foetal adnexa MSCs were positive for genes specific for anti-inflammatory and angiogenic factors (IL6, IL8, ILβ1) and WJ-MSCs were the only positive for OCT4 pluripotency gene. At immunofluorescence all cells expressed typical mesenchymal markers (α-SMA, N-cadherin), except for BM-MSCs, which did not express N-cadherin. By transmission electron microscopy, it was observed that WJ-MSCs had a higher (P < 0.05) number of microvesicles compared to adult MSCs, and UCB-MSCs showed more microvesicles than BM-MSCs (P < 0.05). AT-MSCs had a lower number of mitochondria than WJ-MSCs (P < 0.05), and mitochondrial area was higher for WJ-MSCs compared to UCB and AT-MSCs (P < 0.05). Conclusions Results demonstrate that MSCs from adult and foetal tissues have different characteristics, and foetal MSCs, particularly WJ derived ones, seem to have some charactestics that warrant further investigation into potential advantages for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Merlo
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Teti
- Department for Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A Lanci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - J Burk
- Saxon Incubator for Clinical Translation, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Equine Clinic (Surgery), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - E Mazzotti
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Falconi
- Department for Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - E Iacono
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy. .,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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12
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Beninati C, Famà A, Teti G. How BspC from Streptococcus agalactiae Interacts with Host Vimentin during Meningitis. Trends Microbiol 2019; 27:727-728. [PMID: 31324435 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae meningitis is a frequent neonatal disease associated with high mortality and permanent neurological damage. Deng et al. (PLoS Pathog., 2019) now show that interactions between the bacterial protein BspC and host cell vimentin participate in the process of invasion of the meninges by this bacterial pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Beninati
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Famà
- Charybdis Vaccines S.r.l., 98124 Messina, Italy
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13
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Mazzotti MC, Fais P, Palazzo C, Fersini F, Ruggeri A, Falconi M, Pelotti S, Teti G. Determining the time of death by morphological and immunohistochemical evaluation of collagen fibers in postmortem gingival tissues. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2019; 39:1-8. [PMID: 31078972 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The estimation of the post mortem interval (PMI) is still one of the most challenging variables to determine and the different approaches currently used in its estimation generally yield to large post mortem windows. In the present study we combined morphological and immunohistochemical analysis in order to reach a more detailed knowledge on tissue organization and degradation after death. Ultrastructural cellular changes and the extracellular matrix of gingival tissues, collected at different post mortem intervals, were observed by a Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), in combination with the immunohistochemical detection of extracellular matrix proteins (i.e. collagen type I and collagen type III) as potential post mortem biochemical markers. The final goal was to find a correlation between morphological modifications, biomarkers expression and the time of death. Samples of gingival tissues obtained from 10 cadavers at different post mortem intervals (short post mortem interval, 1-3 days; mid post mortem interval, 4-6 days; long post mortem interval, 7-9 days) were processed for light microscopy and TEM and they were also immunostained with anti-collagen type I and type III antibodies. Results showed gradual degradation of extracellular matrix in the suboral connective tissue in relation to the different time of death. Moreover PMI was related to an increase of nuclear chromatin condensation and cytoplasmic vacuolization both in epithelial and connective tissues. In conclusion, in addition to traditional forensic approaches to estimate PMI, the combined analyses of cellular morphology, ultrastructure and immunohistochemical expression of collagen proteins allow to better infer the PMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Mazzotti
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - P Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - C Palazzo
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - F Fersini
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A Ruggeri
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - M Falconi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Pelotti
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Teti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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14
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Abstract
One of the distinguishing features of the 1918 pandemic is the occurrence of massive, potentially detrimental, activation of the innate immune system in critically ill patients. Whether this reflects an intrinsic capacity of the virus to induce an exaggerated inflammatory responses or its remarkable ability to reproduce in vivo is still open to debate. Tremendous progress has recently been made in our understanding of innate immune responses to influenza infection and it is now time to translate this knowledge into therapeutic strategies, particularly in view of the possible occurrence of future outbreaks caused by virulent strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Biondo
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Germana Lentini
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Teti
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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15
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Skjesol A, Yurchenko M, Bösl K, Gravastrand C, Nilsen KE, Grøvdal LM, Agliano F, Patane F, Lentini G, Kim H, Teti G, Kumar Sharma A, Kandasamy RK, Sporsheim B, Starheim KK, Golenbock DT, Stenmark H, McCaffrey M, Espevik T, Husebye H. The TLR4 adaptor TRAM controls the phagocytosis of Gram-negative bacteria by interacting with the Rab11-family interacting protein 2. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007684. [PMID: 30883606 PMCID: PMC6438586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis is a complex process that eliminates microbes and is performed by specialised cells such as macrophages. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is expressed on the surface of macrophages and recognizes Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, TLR4 has been suggested to play a role in the phagocytosis of Gram-negative bacteria, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here we have used primary human macrophages and engineered THP-1 monocytes to show that the TLR4 sorting adapter, TRAM, is instrumental for phagocytosis of Escherichia coli as well as Staphylococcus aureus. We find that TRAM forms a complex with Rab11 family interacting protein 2 (FIP2) that is recruited to the phagocytic cups of E. coli. This promotes activation of the actin-regulatory GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. Our results show that FIP2 guided TRAM recruitment orchestrates actin remodelling and IRF3 activation, two events that are both required for phagocytosis of Gram-negative bacteria. The Gram-negative bacteria E. coli is the most common cause of severe human pathological conditions like sepsis. Sepsis is a clinical syndrome defined by pathological changes due to systemic inflammation, resulting in paralysis of adaptive T-cell immunity with IFN-β as a critical factor. TLR4 is a key sensing receptor of lipopolysaccharide on Gram-negative bacteria. Inflammatory signalling by TLR4 is initiated by the use of alternative pair of TIR-adapters, MAL-MyD88 or TRAM-TRIF. MAL-MyD88 signaling occurs mainly from the plasma membrane giving pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF, while TRAM-TRIF signaling occurs from vacuoles like endosomes and phagosomes to give type I interferons like IFN-β. It has previously been shown that TLR4 can control phagocytosis and phagosomal maturation through MAL-MyD88 in mice, however, these data have been disputed and published before the role of TRAM was defined in the induction of IFN-β. A role for TRAM or TRIF in phagocytosis has not previously been reported. Here we describe a novel mechanism where TRAM and its binding partner Rab11-FIP2 control phagocytosis of E. coli and regulate IRF3 dependent production of IFN-β. The significance of these results is that we define Rab11-FIP2 as a potential target for modulation of TLR4-dependent signalling in different pathological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Skjesol
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Mariia Yurchenko
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Korbinian Bösl
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Caroline Gravastrand
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kaja Elisabeth Nilsen
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Lene Melsæther Grøvdal
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Federica Agliano
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Patane
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Germana Lentini
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Hera Kim
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Aditya Kumar Sharma
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Richard K. Kandasamy
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørnar Sporsheim
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kristian K. Starheim
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Douglas T. Golenbock
- Program in Innate Immunity, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States of America
| | - Harald Stenmark
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department for Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo Norway
| | - Mary McCaffrey
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Terje Espevik
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- The Central Norway Regional Health Authority, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Harald Husebye
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- The Central Norway Regional Health Authority, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim, Norway
- * E-mail:
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16
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De Gaetano GV, Pietrocola G, Romeo L, Galbo R, Lentini G, Giardina M, Biondo C, Midiri A, Mancuso G, Venza M, Venza I, Firon A, Trieu-Cuot P, Teti G, Speziale P, Beninati C. The Streptococcus agalactiae cell wall-anchored protein PbsP mediates adhesion to and invasion of epithelial cells by exploiting the host vitronectin/α v integrin axis. Mol Microbiol 2018; 110:82-94. [PMID: 30030946 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Binding of microbial pathogens to host vitronectin (Vtn) is a common theme in the pathogenesis of invasive infections. In this study, we characterized the role of Vtn in the invasion of mucosal epithelial cells by Streptococcus agalactiae (i.e. group B streptococcus or GBS), a frequent human pathogen. Moreover, we identified PbsP, a previously described plasminogen-binding protein of GBS, as a dual adhesin that can also interact with human Vtn through its streptococcal surface repeat (SSURE) domains. Deletion of the pbsP gene decreases both bacterial adhesion to Vtn-coated inert surfaces and the ability of GBS to interact with epithelial cells. Bacterial adherence to and invasion of epithelial cells were either inhibited or enhanced by cell pretreatment with, respectively, anti-Vtn antibodies or Vtn, confirming the role of Vtn as a GBS ligand on host cells. Finally, antibodies directed against the integrin αv subunit inhibited Vtn-dependent cell invasion by GBS. Collectively, these results indicate that Vtn acts as a bridge between the SSURE domains of PbsP on the GBS surface and host integrins to promote bacterial invasion of epithelial cells. Therefore, inhibition of interactions between PbsP and extracellular matrix components could represent a viable strategy to prevent colonization and invasive disease by GBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Valerio De Gaetano
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giampiero Pietrocola
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Letizia Romeo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Galbo
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Germana Lentini
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Miriam Giardina
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Angelina Midiri
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mario Venza
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella Venza
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Arnaud Firon
- Institut Pasteur, Unite de Biologie des Bacteriés Pathogènes a Gram positif, CNRS ERL6002, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Trieu-Cuot
- Institut Pasteur, Unite de Biologie des Bacteriés Pathogènes a Gram positif, CNRS ERL6002, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Pietro Speziale
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Scylla Biotech Srl, Messina, Italy
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17
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Ehrnström B, Beckwith KS, Yurchenko M, Moen SH, Kojen JF, Lentini G, Teti G, Damås JK, Espevik T, Stenvik J. Toll-Like Receptor 8 Is a Major Sensor of Group B Streptococcus But Not Escherichia coli in Human Primary Monocytes and Macrophages. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1243. [PMID: 29042860 PMCID: PMC5632357 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
TLR8 is the major endosomal sensor of degraded RNA in human monocytes and macrophages. It has been implicated in the sensing of viruses and more recently also bacteria. We previously identified a TLR8-IFN regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) signaling pathway that mediates IFNβ and interleukin-12 (IL-12) induction by Staphylococcus aureus and is antagonized by TLR2. The relative importance of TLR8 for the sensing of various bacterial species is however still unclear. We here compared the role of TLR8 and IRF5 for the sensing of Group B Streptococcus (GBS), S. aureus, and Escherichia coli in human primary monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). GBS induced stronger IFNβ and TNF production as well as IRF5 nuclear translocation compared to S. aureus grown to the stationary phase, while S. aureus in exponential growth appeared similarly potent to GBS. Cytokine induction in primary human monocytes by GBS was not dependent on hemolysins, and induction of IFNβ and IL-12 as well as IRF5 activation were reduced with TLR2 ligand costimulation. Heat inactivation of GBS reduced IRF5 and NF-kB translocation, while only the viable E. coli activated IRF5. The attenuated stimulation correlated with loss of bacterial RNA integrity. The E. coli-induced IRF5 translocation was not inhibited by TLR2 costimulation, suggesting that IRF5 was activated via a TLR8-independent mechanism. Gene silencing of MDM using siRNA revealed that GBS-induced IFNβ, IL-12-p35, and TNF production was dependent on TLR8 and IRF5. In contrast, cytokine induction by E. coli was TLR8 independent but still partly dependent on IRF5. We conclude that TLR8-IRF5 signaling is more important for the sensing of GBS than for stationary grown S. aureus in human primary monocytes and MDM, likely due to reduced resistance of GBS to phagosomal degradation and to a lower production of TLR2 activating lipoproteins. TLR8 does not sense viable E. coli, while IRF5 still contributes to E. coli-induced cytokine production, possibly via a cytosolic nucleic acid sensing mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitta Ehrnström
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kai Sandvold Beckwith
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Mariia Yurchenko
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Siv Helen Moen
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - June Frengen Kojen
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Germana Lentini
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Jan Kristian Damås
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Terje Espevik
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jørgen Stenvik
- Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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18
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Abstract
The manifestations of Gram-positive sepsis and Gram-negative sepsis share some common clinical features suggesting common pathways of activation. The goal of this study was to assess whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can produce cross-tolerance to Gram-positive sepsis induced by group B streptococcus (GBS). Thromboxane (TxB2), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), and nitric oxide (NO) production by in vitro LPS- and heat killed GBS-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages were measured. Since our previous studies have demonstrated altered macrophage activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2) in tolerance, we also examined the effect of LPS and killed GBS on ERK 1/2 activation in normal and LPS tolerant macrophages. Tolerance was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of Salmonella enteritidis LPS or vehicle for two consecutive days at doses of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg body weight. Three days after the second LPS dose, rats were injected intravenously with viable GBS (5 x l09 cfu/kg) and D-galactosamine (1 g/kg). LPS tolerance significantly prolonged ( P <0.05) mean survival time to severe GBS sepsis in D-galactosamine sensitized rats from 12.9 ± 1.7 h in control rats to 44.0 ± 8.9 h in tolerant rats. Peritoneal macrophages from LPS tolerant rats exhibited suppressed LPS induced in vitro TxB2 and TNFα production ( P <0.05). Tolerance also decreased in vitro heat killed GBS-induced TNFα production, but did not significantly affect TxB2 production. NO production stimulated by LPS (10 µg/ml was not impaired in LPS tolerance; however at lower doses (0.02—1.25 µg/ml), NO production was significantly decreased ( P <0.05). NO production was augmented ( P <0.05) in response to stimulation with GBS (10 µg/ml) and unaltered at lower doses (0.02—1.25 µg/ml) in tolerant cells. LPS activated ERK 1/2 in control macrophages, but activation of ERK 1/2 was suppressed in LPS tolerance. GBS did not significantly affect ERK 1/2 activity in control or tolerant macrophages. Nevertheless, the selective mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK)/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, PD 98059 blocked ( P <0.05) both GBS- and LPS-induced TNFα and TxB2 production, but not NO production. Thus, some level of ERK 1/2 activity appears essential for GBS- and LPS-induced macrophage activation. In conclusion, LPS tolerance induces partial cross-tolerance to Gram-positive sepsis induced lethality, and alters LPS- and GBS-induced in vitro peritoneal macrophage mediator production. This suggests common pathways of cellular activation for GBS and LPS that are altered by LPS tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Guyton
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Robert Bond
- Department of Physiology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Cristina Romeo
- Department of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Rodney Southern
- Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Joel Cochran
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- Department of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - James A. Cook
- Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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19
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Mancuso G, Blandino G, Cusumano V, Alba Merendino R, Rocca P, Teti G, Cook J. Cross-tolerance between bacterial endotoxin and group B Streptococcus in neonatal rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/096805199400100206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Although endotoxin tolerance can be induced in newborns, potential cross-tolerance to group B Streptococcus (GBS), a common Gram-positive neonatal pathogen has not been investigated. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that endotoxin or recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNFα) can induce tolerance to lethal injection of heat-killed GBS in rat newborn pups and vice versa. The effect of such cross-tolerance on endogenous generation of plasma TNFα was subsequently evaluated. Rat pups (18-24 h old) were pretreated intracardially (i.c.) with either phosphate buffered saline (PBS), Salmonella enteritidis endotoxin (30 μg/kg) or rTNFα (35, 70 or 140 μg/kg). The pups were pretreated for either 4, 24, 48, 96 or 240 h prior to a lethal heat-killed GBS challenge. The susceptibility of the neonates to GBS-induced mortality was dependent on the duration of the pretreatment period. At 4 h of pretreatment with endotoxin or TNF, GBS-induced mortality was augmented relative to the PBS group. However, by 24-48 h the endotoxin and TNF pretreated neonates became more resistant to GBS-induced mortality. In a converse of the above experiment, neonates were pretreated with heat killed GBS (0.7 mg/kg) or rTNFα (70 μg/kg) and sensitivity to endotoxin was determined at 4-240 h after pretreatment. The data were qualitatively similar to endotoxin pretreatment. The 4 h GBS or TNF pretreatment rendered the neonates more susceptible to endotoxin-induced mortality. However, by 24-48 h the pretreatment groups were more resistant (P < 0.05) to endotoxin than the PBS controls. Plasma TNFα levels were increased (P < 0.05) 2 h after challenge i.c. with lethal heat-killed GBS or S. enteritidis endotoxin. In the 4 h pretreatment groups that received either GBS or endotoxin and then challenged with endotoxin or GBS, respectively, the plasma TNFα response was markedly augmented (P < 0.05). By 48 h of pretreatment, however, the plasma TNFα response in these groups to the stimuli was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) compared to the PBS pretreated groups. Therefore, plasma TNFα parallels lethality induced by GBS or endotoxin pretreatment. The ability of GBS and endotoxin to induce cross tolerance suggests that common pathophysiological pathways are involved in these syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Mancuso
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy, Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - G. Blandino
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy, Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - V. Cusumano
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy, Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - R. Alba Merendino
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy, Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - P. Rocca
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy, Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - G. Teti
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy, Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - J.A. Cook
- Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Messina, Messina, Italy, Institute of Microbiology, Medical University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Department of Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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20
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Domina M, Lanza Cariccio V, Benfatto S, Venza M, Venza I, Borgogni E, Castellino F, Midiri A, Galbo R, Romeo L, Biondo C, Masignani V, Teti G, Felici F, Beninati C. Functional characterization of a monoclonal antibody epitope using a lambda phage display-deep sequencing platform. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31458. [PMID: 27530334 PMCID: PMC4987625 DOI: 10.1038/srep31458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently described a method, named PROFILER, for the identification of antigenic regions preferentially targeted by polyclonal antibody responses after vaccination. To test the ability of the technique to provide insights into the functional properties of monoclonal antibody (mAb) epitopes, we used here a well-characterized epitope of meningococcal factor H binding protein (fHbp), which is recognized by mAb 12C1. An fHbp library, engineered on a lambda phage vector enabling surface expression of polypeptides of widely different length, was subjected to massive parallel sequencing of the phage inserts after affinity selection with the 12C1 mAb. We detected dozens of unique antibody-selected sequences, the most enriched of which (designated as FrC) could largely recapitulate the ability of fHbp to bind mAb 12C1. Computational analysis of the cumulative enrichment of single amino acids in the antibody-selected fragments identified two overrepresented stretches of residues (H248-K254 and S140-G154), whose presence was subsequently found to be required for binding of FrC to mAb 12C1. Collectively, these results suggest that the PROFILER technology can rapidly and reliably identify, in the context of complex conformational epitopes, discrete “hot spots” with a crucial role in antigen-antibody interactions, thereby providing useful clues for the functional characterization of the epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mario Venza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella Venza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Angelina Midiri
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Letizia Romeo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Teti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Charybdis Vaccines Srl, Messina, Italy
| | - Franco Felici
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Pesche, Isernia, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Scylla Biotech Srl, Messina, Italy.,Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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21
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Mohammadi N, Midiri A, Mancuso G, Patanè F, Venza M, Venza I, Passantino A, Galbo R, Teti G, Beninati C, Biondo C. Neutrophils Directly Recognize Group B Streptococci and Contribute to Interleukin-1β Production during Infection. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160249. [PMID: 27509078 PMCID: PMC4980021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β has a crucial role in host defenses against group B streptococcus (GBS), a frequent human pathogen, by recruiting neutrophils to infection sites. We examined here the cell types and mechanisms involved in IL-1β production during infection. Using a GBS-induced peritonitis model in mice, we first found that a large proportion of exudate cells contain intracellular IL-1β by immunofluorescence. Of the IL-1β positive cells, 82 and 7% were neutrophils and macrophages, respectively, suggesting that the former cell type might significantly contribute to IL-1β production. Accordingly, depletion of neutrophils with anti-Ly6G antibodies resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of IL-1β, but not of TNF-α or IL-6. We next found that neutrophils are capable of releasing mature IL-1β and TNF-α directly in response to in vitro stimulation with GBS. The production of pro-IL-1β and TNF-α in these cells required the Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptor MyD88 and the chaperone protein UNC93B1, which is involved in mobilization of a subfamily of TLRs to the endosomes. Moreover, pro-IL-1β processing and IL-1β release was triggered by GBS hemolysin and required components of the canonical inflammasome, including caspase-1, ASC and NLRP3. Collectively our findings indicate that neutrophils make a significant contribution to IL-1β production during GBS infection, thereby amplifying their own recruitment. These cells directly recognize GBS by means of endosomal TLRs and cytosolic sensors, leading to activation of the caspase-1 inflammasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Mohammadi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Angelina Midiri
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Patanè
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Mario Venza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella Venza
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Galbo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
- Charybdis Vaccines Srl, 98125, Messina, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
- Scylla Biotech Srl, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125, Messina, Italy
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22
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Buscetta M, Firon A, Pietrocola G, Biondo C, Mancuso G, Midiri A, Romeo L, Galbo R, Venza M, Venza I, Kaminski PA, Gominet M, Teti G, Speziale P, Trieu-Cuot P, Beninati C. PbsP, a cell wall-anchored protein that binds plasminogen to promote hematogenous dissemination of group B Streptococcus. Mol Microbiol 2016; 101:27-41. [PMID: 26888569 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus or GBS) is a leading cause of invasive infections in neonates whose virulence is dependent on its ability to interact with cells and host components. We here characterized a surface protein with a critical function in GBS pathophysiology. This adhesin, designated PbsP, possesses two Streptococcal Surface Repeat domains, a methionine and lysine-rich region, and a LPXTG cell wall-anchoring motif. PbsP mediates plasminogen (Plg) binding both in vitro and in vivo and we showed that cell surface-bound Plg can be activated into plasmin by tissue plasminogen activator to increase the bacterial extracellular proteolytic activity. Absence of PbsP results in a decreased bacterial transmigration across brain endothelial cells and impaired virulence in a murine model of infection. PbsP is conserved among the main GBS lineages and is a major plasminogen adhesin in non-CC17 GBS strains. Importantly, immunization of mice with recombinant PbsP confers protective immunity. Our results indicate that GBS have evolved different strategies to recruit Plg which indicates that the ability to acquire cell surface proteolytic activity is essential for the invasiveness of this bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Buscetta
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram Positif, CNRS ERL3526, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Firon
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram Positif, CNRS ERL3526, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Giampiero Pietrocola
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Angelina Midiri
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Letizia Romeo
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Galbo
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mario Venza
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella Venza
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Pierre-Alexandre Kaminski
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram Positif, CNRS ERL3526, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Myriam Gominet
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram Positif, CNRS ERL3526, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Pietro Speziale
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Patrick Trieu-Cuot
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram Positif, CNRS ERL3526, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Departments of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Scylla Biotech Srl, Messina, Italy
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23
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Cariccio VL, Domina M, Benfatto S, Venza M, Venza I, Faleri A, Bruttini M, Bartolini E, Giuliani MM, Santini L, Brunelli B, Norais N, Borgogni E, Midiri A, Galbo R, Romeo L, Biondo C, Masignani V, Teti G, Felici F, Beninati C. Phage display revisited: Epitope mapping of a monoclonal antibody directed against Neisseria meningitidis adhesin A using the PROFILER technology. MAbs 2016; 8:741-50. [PMID: 26963435 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2016.1158371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a strong need for rapid and reliable epitope mapping methods that can keep pace with the isolation of increasingly larger numbers of mAbs. We describe here the identification of a conformational epitope using Phage-based Representation OF ImmunoLigand Epitope Repertoire (PROFILER), a recently developed high-throughput method based on deep sequencing of antigen-specific lambda phage-displayed libraries. A novel bactericidal monoclonal antibody (mAb 9F11) raised against Neisseria meningitidis adhesin A (NadA), an important component of the Bexsero(®) anti-meningococcal vaccine, was used to evaluate the technique in comparison with other epitope mapping methods. The PROFILER technology readily identified NadA fragments that were capable of fully recapitulating the reactivity of the entire antigen against mAb 9F11. Further analysis of these fragments using mutagenesis and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass-spectrometry allowed us to identify the binding site of mAb 9F11 (A250-D274) and an adjoining sequence (V275-H312) that was also required for the full functional reconstitution of the epitope. These data suggest that, by virtue of its ability to detect a great variety of immunoreactive antigen fragments in phage-displayed libraries, the PROFILER technology can rapidly and reliably identify epitope-containing regions and provide, in addition, useful clues for the functional characterization of conformational mAb epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Salvatore Benfatto
- b Department of Human Pathology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Mario Venza
- c Department Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Isabella Venza
- c Department Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | | | - Marco Bruttini
- d GSK Vaccines , Siena , Italy.,e Department of Life Sciences , University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Angelina Midiri
- b Department of Human Pathology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Roberta Galbo
- b Department of Human Pathology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Letizia Romeo
- b Department of Human Pathology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- b Department of Human Pathology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Teti
- c Department Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.,f Charybdis Vaccines Srl , Messina , Italy
| | - Franco Felici
- g Department of Biosciences and Territory , University of Molise , Pesche , Isernia , Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- a Scylla Biotech Srl , Messina , Italy.,b Department of Human Pathology , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
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24
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Zaccaria R, Teti G, Mecule A, Torlone N, Valeri M, Adorno D. Liver Graft Allocation by Means of a New, Regionally Shared "Mixed" Model: The Experience in Lazio. Transplant Proc 2015; 47:2113-5. [PMID: 26361656 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.11.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since 2013, the regional network of transplantation centers "LAZIO TRANSPLANT" have adopted a new, mixed system for the allocation of liver grafts. METHODS The organs from donors aged <65 are assigned to patients with higher Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores on a common regional waiting list, whereas those from donors aged >65 are allocated to patients with higher MELD scores on a specific local waiting list (LWL) at each center, on a rotational basis. RESULTS The new mixed allocation model grants a more rational allocation of the "standard" organs to the patients with the actual worst MELD score in the entire region, avoiding the possibility that a patient in relatively better clinical condition might be transplanted before a more severely ill patient on another center's waiting list. Nonstandard organs, presenting slightly increased transplant risks, are still allocated on a rotational basis among the different transplant centers, ensuring them the possibility to select, on the basis of a global clinical risk evaluation, those patients in their LWL whose MELD score would not grant any possibility to compete for the "standard" organ allocation. CONCLUSIONS The application of the new model had no negative impact on the overall number of transplants performed or on the global list-satisfaction percentages, but has slightly improved the cumulative mortality of the patients in the waiting list, granting to the clinically worst patients a prompt graft allocation, independent of the local center belonging.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Zaccaria
- Centro Regionale Trapianti Lazio, Università "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
| | - G Teti
- Centro Regionale Trapianti Lazio, Università "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - A Mecule
- Centro Regionale Trapianti Lazio, Università "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - N Torlone
- Centro Regionale Trapianti Lazio, Università "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - M Valeri
- Centro Regionale Trapianti Lazio, Università "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - D Adorno
- Centro Regionale Trapianti Lazio, Università "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
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25
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Biagini M, Garibaldi M, Aprea S, Pezzicoli A, Doro F, Becherelli M, Taddei AR, Tani C, Tavarini S, Mora M, Teti G, D'Oro U, Nuti S, Soriani M, Margarit I, Rappuoli R, Grandi G, Norais N. The Human Pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes Releases Lipoproteins as Lipoprotein-rich Membrane Vesicles. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015; 14:2138-49. [PMID: 26018414 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m114.045880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial lipoproteins are attractive vaccine candidates because they represent a major class of cell surface-exposed proteins in many bacteria and are considered as potential pathogen-associated molecular patterns sensed by Toll-like receptors with built-in adjuvanticity. Although Gram-negative lipoproteins have been extensively characterized, little is known about Gram-positive lipoproteins. We isolated from Streptococcus pyogenes a large amount of lipoproteins organized in vesicles. These vesicles were obtained by weakening the bacterial cell wall with a sublethal concentration of penicillin. Lipid and proteomic analysis of the vesicles revealed that they were enriched in phosphatidylglycerol and almost exclusively composed of lipoproteins. In association with lipoproteins, a few hypothetical proteins, penicillin-binding proteins, and several members of the ExPortal, a membrane microdomain responsible for the maturation of secreted proteins, were identified. The typical lipidic moiety was apparently not necessary for lipoprotein insertion in the vesicle bilayer because they were also recovered from the isogenic diacylglyceryl transferase deletion mutant. The vesicles were not able to activate specific Toll-like receptor 2, indicating that lipoproteins organized in these vesicular structures do not act as pathogen-associated molecular patterns. In light of these findings, we propose to name these new structures Lipoprotein-rich Membrane Vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Biagini
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Manuela Garibaldi
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Susanna Aprea
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Alfredo Pezzicoli
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Francesco Doro
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Marco Becherelli
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Anna Rita Taddei
- §Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Chiara Tani
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Simona Tavarini
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Marirosa Mora
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- ¶Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Ginecologiche, Microbiologiche e Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Ugo D'Oro
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Sandra Nuti
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Marco Soriani
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Immaculada Margarit
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Rino Rappuoli
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Guido Grandi
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay
| | - Nathalie Norais
- From the ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (a GSK company), Via Fiorentiina 1, 53100 Siena, Itlay;
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26
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Turrini E, Ferruzzi L, Guerrini A, Gotti R, Tacchini M, Teti G, Falconi M, Hrelia P, Fimognari C. In vitro anti-angiogenic effects of Hemidesmus indicus in hypoxic and normoxic conditions. J Ethnopharmacol 2015; 162:261-269. [PMID: 25560668 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The decoction of the roots of Hemidesmus indicus is widely used in the Indian traditional medicine for many purposes and poly-herbal preparations containing Hemidesmus are often used by traditional medical practitioners for the treatment of cancer. In the context of anticancer pharmacology, anti-angiogenic therapy has become an effective strategy for inhibiting new vessel formation and contrast tumor growth. These considerations are supported by the evidence that most tumors originate in hypoxic conditions and limitation of oxygen diffusion stimulates the formation of tumor abnormal microvasculature. Aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-angiogenic potential of Hemidesmus indicus (0.31-0.93 mg/mL) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells and delineate the main molecular mechanisms involved in its anti-angiogenic activity both in normoxia and hypoxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS The decoction of Hemidesmus indicus was subjected to an extensive HPLC phytochemical characterization. Its in vitro anti-angiogenic potential was investigated in normoxia and hypoxia. Cell proliferation, apoptosis induction, and inhibition of endothelial cell migration and invasion were analyzed by flow cytometry. The endothelial tube formation assay was evaluated in matrix gel. The capillary tube branch points formed were counted using a Motic AE21 microscope and a VisiCam videocamera. The regulation of key factors of the neovascularization process such as VEGF, HIF-1α and VEGFR-2 was explored at mRNA and protein level by real time PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS Treatment with Hemidesmus resulted in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and tube formation in both normoxia and hypoxia. Hemidesmus differently regulated multiple molecular targets related to angiogenesis according to oxygen availability. In normoxia, the inhibition of VEGF was the main responsible for its anti-angiogenic effect; the angiogenesis inhibition induced in hypoxia was regulated by a more complex mechanism involving firstly HIF-1α inhibition, and then VEGF and VEGFR-2 down-regulation. Additionally, the inhibition of endothelial cell migration and invasion by Hemidesmus was more pronounced in normoxia than in hypoxia, possibly due to the physiological enhanced induction of invasion characteristic of hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that Hemidesmus might represent a promising therapeutic strategy for diseases in which the inhibition of angiogenesis could be beneficial, such as cancer. The antiangiogenic activity of Hemidesmus is based on multiple interactions with critical steps in the angiogenic cascade. VEGF expression stimulated by HIF-1α as well as endothelial cell migration and differentiation represent important targets of Hemidesmus action and might contribute to its cancer therapeutic efficacy that is presently emerging and offer a scientific basis for its use in traditional medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Turrini
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - L Ferruzzi
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - A Guerrini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - R Gotti
- Department of Pharmacy and BioTechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - M Tacchini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - G Teti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - M Falconi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - P Hrelia
- Department of Pharmacy and BioTechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - C Fimognari
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy.
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27
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Buscetta M, Papasergi S, Firon A, Pietrocola G, Biondo C, Mancuso G, Midiri A, Romeo L, Teti G, Speziale P, Trieu-Cuot P, Beninati C. FbsC, a novel fibrinogen-binding protein, promotes Streptococcus agalactiae-host cell interactions. J Biol Chem 2015; 289:21003-21015. [PMID: 24904056 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.553073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus or GBS) is a common cause of invasive infections in newborn infants and adults. The ability of GBS to bind human fibrinogen is of crucial importance in promoting colonization and invasion of host barriers. We characterized here a novel fibrinogen-binding protein of GBS, designated FbsC (Gbs0791), which is encoded by the prototype GBS strain NEM316. FbsC, which bears two bacterial immunoglobulin-like tandem repeat domains and a C-terminal cell wall-anchoring motif (LPXTG), was found to be covalently linked to the cell wall by the housekeeping sortase A. Studies using recombinant FbsC indicated that it binds fibrinogen in a dose-dependent and saturable manner, and with moderate affinity. Expression of FbsC was detected in all clinical GBS isolates, except those belonging to the hypervirulent lineage ST17. Deletion of fbsC decreases NEM316 abilities to adhere to and invade human epithelial and endothelial cells, and to form biofilm in vitro. Notably, bacterial adhesion to fibrinogen and fibrinogen binding to bacterial cells were abolished following fbsC deletion in NEM316. Moreover, the virulence of the fbsC deletion mutant and its ability to colonize the brain were impaired in murine models of infection. Finally, immunization with recombinant FbsC significantly protected mice from lethal GBS challenge. In conclusion, FbsC is a novel fibrinogen-binding protein expressed by most GBS isolates that functions as a virulence factor by promoting invasion of epithelial and endothelial barriers. In addition, the protein has significant immunoprotective activity and may be a useful component of an anti-GBS vaccine.
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Di Nisio C, Zizzari VL, Zara S, Falconi M, Teti G, Tetè G, Nori A, Zavaglia V, Cataldi A. RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathways in necrotic jaw bone from bisphosphonate-treated subjects. Eur J Histochem 2015; 59:2455. [PMID: 25820558 PMCID: PMC4378212 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2015.2455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a chronic complication affecting long-term bisphosphonate-treated subjects, recognized by non-healing exposed bone in the maxillofacial region. The pathophysiological mechanism underlying ONJ has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway and, in parallel, to evaluate angiogenic and matrix mineralization processes in jaw bone necrotic samples obtained from bisphosphonate-treated subjects with established ONJ. Necrotic bone samples and native bone samples were processed for Light and Field Emission in Lens Scanning Electron Microscope (FEISEM) analyses, for Real-Time RT-PCR to evaluate the gene expression of TNFRSF11A (RANK), TNFSF11 (RANKL), and TNFSF11B (OPG) and for immunohistochemical analyses of VEGF and BSP expression. Morphological analyses performed by Light microscope and FEISEM show empty osteocytic lacunae and alteration of lamellar organization with degradation of the mineralized bone matrix in necrotic bone samples. A significant increase in TNFRSF11A, TNFSF11, TRAF6 and NFAT2 gene expression, and a reduction of TNFSF11B gene transcription level compared is also showed in necrotic bone compared to control samples. No significant difference of VEGF expression is evidenced, while lower BSP expression in necrotic bone compared to healthy samples is found. Even if the pathogenesis of bisphosphonate-associated ONJ remains unknown, a link between oral pathogens and its development seems to exist. We suppose lipopolysaccharide produced by bacteria colonizing and infecting necrotic bone and the surrounding viable area could trigger RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway and, in this context, osteoclasts activation could be considered as a protective strategy carried out by the host bone tissue to delimitate the necrotic area and to counteract infection.
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Polonelli L, Beninati C, Teti G, Felici F, Ciociola T, Giovati L, Sperindè M, Passo CL, Pernice I, Domina M, Arigò M, Papasergi S, Mancuso G, Conti S, Magliani W. Yeast killer toxin-like candidacidal Ab6 antibodies elicited through the manipulation of the idiotypic cascade. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105727. [PMID: 25162681 PMCID: PMC4146504 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A mouse anti-anti-anti-idiotypic (Id) IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb K20, Ab4), functionally mimicking a Wyckerhamomyces anomalus (Pichia anomala) killer toxin (KT) characterized by fungicidal activity against yeasts presenting specific cell wall receptors (KTR) mainly constituted by β-1,3-glucan, was produced from animals presenting anti-KT Abs (Ab3) following immunization with a rat IgM anti-Id KT-like mAb (mAb K10, Ab2). MAb K10 was produced by immunization with a KT-neutralizing mAb (mAb KT4, Ab1) bearing the internal image of KTR. MAb K20, likewise mAb K10, proved to be fungicidal in vitro against KT-sensitive Candida albicans cells, an activity neutralized by mAb KT4, and was capable of binding to β-1,3-glucan. MAb K20 and mAb K10 competed with each other and with KT for binding to C. albicans KTR. MAb K20 was used to identify peptide mimics of KTR by the selection of phage clones from random peptide phage display libraries. Using this strategy, four peptides (TK 1-4) were selected and used as immunogen in mice in the form of either keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) conjugates or peptide-encoding minigenes. Peptide and DNA immunization could induce serum Abs characterized by candidacidal activity, which was inhibited by laminarin, a soluble β-1,3-glucan, but not by pustulan, a β-1,6-glucan. These findings show that the idiotypic cascade can not only overcome the barrier of animal species but also the nature of immunogens and the type of technology adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Polonelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Unità di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Ginecologiche, Microbiologiche e Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Ginecologiche, Microbiologiche e Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Franco Felici
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio (DiBT), Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, Pesche (IS), Italy
| | - Tecla Ciociola
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Unità di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Giovati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Unità di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Martina Sperindè
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Unità di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carla Lo Passo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Ida Pernice
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Domina
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Ginecologiche, Microbiologiche e Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Milena Arigò
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Ginecologiche, Microbiologiche e Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Papasergi
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Ginecologiche, Microbiologiche e Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Ginecologiche, Microbiologiche e Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Stefania Conti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Unità di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Walter Magliani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali, Unità di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
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Teti G, Manzoli L, Pelotti S, Mariani G, Durante S, Mattioli Belmonte M, Falconi M. Human gingival fibroblasts after exposure to 2-hydroxy-ethyl-methacrylate: Morphological evaluation. Dent Mater 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2014.08.332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Gobbi P, Turco G, Frassetto A, Fontanive L, Mazzoni A, Teti G, Falconi M, Cadenaro M, Breschi L. Morphological and chemical characterization of cross-linked dentin collagen matrix. Dent Mater 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2014.08.338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Martini D, Trirè A, Breschi L, Mazzoni A, Teti G, Falconi M, Ruggeri A. Dentin matrix protein 1 and dentin sialophosphoprotein in human sound and carious teeth: an immunohistochemical and colorimetric assay. Eur J Histochem 2013; 57:e32. [PMID: 24441185 PMCID: PMC3896034 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2013.e32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) are extracellular matrix proteins produced by odontoblasts involved in the dentin mineralization. The aim this study was to compare the distribution of DMP1 and DSPP in human sound dentin vs human sclerotic dentin. Sixteen sound and sixteen carious human molars were selected, fixed in paraformaldehyde and processed for immunohistochemical detection of DMP1 and DSPP by means of light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution field emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy (FEI-SEM). Specimens were submitted to a pre-embedding or a post-embedding immunolabeling technique using primary antibodies anti DMP1 and anti-DSPP and gold-conjugated secondary antibodies. Other samples were processed for the detection of DMP1 and DSPP levels. Dentin from these samples was mechanically fractured to powder, then a protein extraction and a protein level detection assay were performed. DMP1 and DSPP were more abundant in carious than in sound samples. Immunohistochemical analyses in sclerotic dentin disclosed a high expression of DMP1 and DSPP inside the tubules, suggesting an active biomineralization of dentin by odontoblasts. Furthermore, the detection of small amounts of these proteins inside the tubules far from the carious lesion, as shown in the present study, is consistent with the hypothesis of a preventive defense of all dentin after a noxious stimulus has undermined the tooth.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Papi
- Medico-Legal Unit, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - F. Farusi
- Medico-Legal Unit, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - G. Teti
- Obstetric Gynecology Unit, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - V. Dini
- Dermatology Division, University of Pisa, Italy
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Papasergi S, Lanza Cariccio V, Pietrocola G, Domina M, D'Aliberti D, Trunfio MG, Signorino G, Peppoloni S, Biondo C, Mancuso G, Midiri A, Rindi S, Teti G, Speziale P, Felici F, Beninati C. Immunogenic properties of Streptococcus agalactiae FbsA fragments. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75266. [PMID: 24086487 PMCID: PMC3782484 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several species of Gram-positive bacteria can avidly bind soluble and surface-associated fibrinogen (Fng), a property that is considered important in the pathogenesis of human infections. To gain insights into the mechanism by which group B Streptococcus (GBS), a frequent neonatal pathogen, interacts with Fng, we have screened two phage displayed genomic GBS libraries. All of the Fng-binding phage clones contained inserts encoding fragments of FbsA, a protein displaying multiple repeats. Since the functional role of this protein is only partially understood, representative fragments were recombinantly expressed and analyzed for Fng binding affinity and ability to induce immune protection against GBS infection. Maternal immunization with 6pGST, a fragment containing five repeats, significantly protected mouse pups against lethal GBS challenge and these protective effects could be recapitulated by administration of anti-6pGST serum from adult animals. Notably, a monoclonal antibody that was capable of neutralizing Fng binding by 6pGST, but not a non-neutralizing antibody, could significantly protect pups against lethal GBS challenge. These data suggest that FbsA-Fng interaction promotes GBS pathogenesis and that blocking such interaction is a viable strategy to prevent or treat GBS infections.
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Teti G, Salvatore V, Ruggeri A, Manzoli L, Gesi M, Orsini G, Falconi M. In vitro reparative dentin: a biochemical and morphological study. Eur J Histochem 2013; 57:e23. [PMID: 24085272 PMCID: PMC3794354 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2013.e23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Revised: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, starting from human dental pulp cells cultured in vitro, we simulated reparative dentinogenesis using a medium supplemented with different odontogenic inductors. The differentiation of dental pulp cells in odontoblast-like cells was evaluated by means of staining, and ultramorphological, biochemical and biomolecular methods. Alizarin red staining showed mineral deposition while transmission electron microscopy revealed a synthesis of extracellular matrix fibers during the differentiation process. Biochemical assays demonstrated that the differentiated phenotype expressed odontoblast markers, such as Dentin Matrix Protein 1 (DMP1) and Dentin Sialoprotein (DSP), as well as type I collagen. Quantitative data regarding the mRNA expression of DMP1, DSP and type I collagen were obtained by Real Time PCR. Immunofluorescence data demonstrated the various localizations of DSP and DMP1 during odontoblast differentiation. Based on our results, we obtained odontoblast-like cells which simulated the reparative dentin processes in order to better investigate the mechanism of odontoblast differentiation, and dentin extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization.
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Papasergi S, Galbo R, Lanza-Cariccio V, Domina M, Signorino G, Biondo C, Pernice I, Poyart C, Trieu-Cuot P, Teti G, Beninati C. Analysis of the Streptococcus agalactiae exoproteome. J Proteomics 2013; 89:154-64. [PMID: 23770297 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Revised: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The two-component regulatory system CovRS is the main regulator of virulence gene expression in Group B Streptococcus (GBS), the leading cause of invasive infections in neonates. In this study we analyzed by mass spectrometry the GBS extracellular protein complex (i.e. the exoproteome) of NEM316 wild-type (WT) strain and its isogenic covRS deletion mutant (ΔcovRS). A total of 53 proteins, 49 of which had classical secretion signals, were identified: 12 were released by both strains while 21 and 20 were released exclusively by WT and ΔcovRS strains, respectively. In addition to known surface proteins, we detected here unstudied cell-wall associated proteins and/or orthologs of putative virulence factors present in other pathogenic streptococci. While the functional role of these proteins remains to be elucidated, our data suggest that the analysis of the exoproteome of bacterial pathogens under different gene expression conditions may be a powerful tool for the rapid identification of novel virulence factors and vaccine candidates. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE We believe that this manuscript will be of interest to Journal of Proteomics readers since the paper describes the identification of several putative virulence factors and vaccine candidates of the group B streptococcus, an important pathogen, using a simple proteomics strategy involving LC-MS analysis of culture supernatants obtained from two strains with divergent gene expression patterns. This technique provided the most comprehensive inventory of extracellular proteins obtained from a single streptococcal species thus far. The approach described has the added benefit of being easily applicable to a large number of different strains, making it ideal for the identification of conserved vaccine candidates.
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Orsini G, Mattioli-Belmonte M, Orciani M, Mazzoni A, Teti G, Falconi M, Putignano A, Breschi L. Expression of Procollagen A1 Type I Induced by Two Different Dentine Bonding Systems in Human Pulp Fibroblasts. EUR J INFLAMM 2013. [DOI: 10.1177/1721727x1301100228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- G. Orsini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Stomatology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - M. Mattioli-Belmonte
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - M. Orciani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - A. Mazzoni
- Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Dental Sciences and Biomaterials, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- IGM-CNR, Unit of Bologna c/o IOR, Bologna, Italy
| | - G. Teti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotory Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - M. Falconi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotory Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A. Putignano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Stomatology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - L. Breschi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Dental Sciences and Biomaterials, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- IGM-CNR, Unit of Bologna c/o IOR, Bologna, Italy
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Falconi M, Salvatore V, Teti G, Focaroli S, Durante S, Nicolini B, Mazzotti A, Orienti I. Gelatin crosslinked with dehydroascorbic acid as a novel scaffold for tissue regeneration with simultaneous antitumor activity. Biomed Mater 2013; 8:035011. [DOI: 10.1088/1748-6041/8/3/035011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Peppoloni S, Colombari B, Beninati C, Felici F, Teti G, Speziale P, Ricci S, Ardizzoni A, Manca L, Blasi E. The Spr1875 protein confers resistance to the microglia-mediated killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Microb Pathog 2013; 59-60:42-7. [PMID: 23587464 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
By screening a whole-genome λ-display library of Streptococcus pneumoniae, we have previously identified a novel surface protein, named Spr1875, that exhibited immunogenic properties and was closely related to pneumococcal virulence. In the present study, we investigated the role of the Spr1875 antigen in the interaction of S. pneumoniae with microglia, the resident brain macrophages. By using an in vitro infection model, the BV2 microglial cell line was challenged with the S. pneumoniae strain DP1004 and its isogenic spr1875-deleted mutant (Δspr1875). Both strains were phagocytosed by microglia efficiently and to a similar extent; however, the DP1004 strain was more resistant than the Δspr1875 mutant to the intracellular killing, as assessed by antibiotic protection and phagosome maturation assays. Moreover, significant differences between the two strains were also observed in terms of susceptibility to microglia-mediated killing. Taken together, these results indicate that S. pneumoniae-microglial cell interplay is influenced by the presence of Spr1875, suggesting that this protein may play a role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Peppoloni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Unimore), 41125 Modena, Italy.
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Cadieux B, Lian T, Hu G, Wang J, Biondo C, Teti G, Liu V, Murphy MEP, Creagh AL, Kronstad JW. The Mannoprotein Cig1 supports iron acquisition from heme and virulence in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. J Infect Dis 2013; 207:1339-47. [PMID: 23322859 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron acquisition is critical for virulence of the human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. The cryptococcal transcript for the extracellular mannoprotein Cig1 is highly regulated by iron and abundant in iron-starved cells, suggesting a role in iron acquisition. Indeed, loss of Cig1 resulted in delayed growth on heme at physiological pH. Expression of CIG1 is regulated by the pH-responsive transcription factor Rim101, and loss of Rim101 also impaired growth on heme. A cig1Δ mutant was less susceptible than the wild-type strain to noniron metalloporphyrins, further indicating a role for Cig1 in heme uptake. Recombinant Cig1 exhibited the absorbance spectrum of a heme-binding protein upon heme titration, and Cig1 may therefore function as a hemophore at the cell surface. Cig1 contributed to virulence in a mouse model of cryptococcosis but only in a mutant that also lacked the high-affinity iron uptake system. Overall, Cig1-mediated heme uptake is a potential therapeutic target in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Cadieux
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Biondo C, Mancuso G, Beninati C, Iaria C, Romeo O, Cascio A, Teti G. The role of endosomal toll-like receptors in bacterial recognition. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2012; 16:1506-1512. [PMID: 23111962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections caused by extracellular Gram positive bacteria are still a major health problems. Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying immune responses to these organisms is key to develop pharmacological agents, including vaccines, to control these infections. OBJECTIVE AND PERSPECTIVES The objective of this review is to highlight the importance of nucleic acid-sensing, intracellular Toll-like receptors in innate immune recognition and in host defenses against extracellular bacteria. CONCLUSIONS Toll-like receptors 7 and 9 have a major role in inducing host-protective type I interferon responses in conventional dendritic cells in response to streptococci and other extracellular gram positive bacteria. Moreover an as yet unidentified MyD88-dependent receptor is likely responsible for proinflammatory cytokine induction in response to these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Biondo
- Elie Metchnikoff Department, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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Biondo C, Malara A, Costa A, Signorino G, Cardile F, Midiri A, Galbo R, Papasergi S, Domina M, Pugliese M, Teti G, Mancuso G, Beninati C. Recognition of fungal RNA by TLR7 has a nonredundant role in host defense against experimental candidiasis. Eur J Immunol 2012; 42:2632-43. [PMID: 22777843 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201242532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite convincing evidence for involvement of members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family in fungal recognition, little is known of the functional role of individual TLRs in antifungal defenses. We found here that TLR7 was partially required for the induction of IL-12 (IL-12p70) by Candida albicans or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Moreover, the IL-12p70 response was completely abrogated in cells from 3d mice, which are unable to mobilize TLRs to endosomal compartments, as well as in cells from mice lacking either the TLR adaptor MyD88 or the IRF1 transcription factor. Notably, purified fungal RNA recapitulated IL-12p70 induction by whole yeast. Although RNA could also induce moderate TLR7-dependent IL-23 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) secretion, TLR7 and other endosomal TLRs were redundant for IL-23 or TNF-α induction by whole fungi. Importantly, mice lacking TLR7 or IRF1 were hypersusceptible to systemic C. albicans infection. Our data suggest that IRF1 is downstream of a novel, nonredundant fungal recognition pathway that has RNA as a major target and requires phagosomal recruitment of intracellular TLRs. This pathway differs from those involved in IL-23 or TNF-α responses, which we show here to be independent from translocation of intracellular TLRs, phagocytosis, or phagosomal acidification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Biondo
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Cardaci A, Papasergi S, Midiri A, Mancuso G, Domina M, Cariccio VL, Mandanici F, Galbo R, Passo CL, Pernice I, Donato P, Ricci S, Biondo C, Teti G, Felici F, Beninati C. Protective activity of Streptococcus pneumoniae Spr1875 protein fragments identified using a phage displayed genomic library. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36588. [PMID: 22570729 PMCID: PMC3343019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is considerable interest in pneumococcal protein antigens capable of inducing serotype-independent immunoprotection and of improving, thereby, existing vaccines. We report here on the immunogenic properties of a novel surface antigen encoded by ORF spr1875 in the R6 strain genome. An antigenic fragment encoded by spr1875, designated R4, was identified using a Streptococcus pneumoniae phage displayed genomic library after selection with a human convalescent serum. Immunofluorescence analysis with anti-R4 antisera showed that Spr1875 was expressed on the surface of strains belonging to different serotypes. Moreover, the gene was present with little sequence variability in 27 different pneumococcal strains isolated worldwide. A mutant lacking Spr1875 was considerably less virulent than the wild type D39 strain in an intravenous mouse model of infection. Moreover, immunization with the R4 recombinant fragment, but not with the whole Spr1875 protein, induced significant protection against sepsis in mice. Lack of protection after immunization with the whole protein was related to the presence of immunodominant, non-protective epitopes located outside of the R4 fragment. In conclusion, our data indicate that Spr1875 has a role in pneumococcal virulence and is immunogenic. As the R4 fragment conferred immunoprotection from experimental sepsis, selected antigenic fragments of Spr1875 may be useful for the development of a pneumococcal protein-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Cardaci
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Angelina Midiri
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Domina
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberta Galbo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita M. Malpighi, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Carla Lo Passo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita M. Malpighi, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Ida Pernice
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita M. Malpighi, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Paolo Donato
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Messina, Italy
| | - Susanna Ricci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologia, Università di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Franco Felici
- Dipartimento S.T.A.T., Università del Molise, Pesche (IS), Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Costa A, Gupta R, Signorino G, Malara A, Cardile F, Biondo C, Midiri A, Galbo R, Trieu-Cuot P, Papasergi S, Teti G, Henneke P, Mancuso G, Golenbock DT, Beninati C. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by group B streptococci. J Immunol 2012; 188:1953-60. [PMID: 22250086 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a frequent agent of life-threatening sepsis and meningitis in neonates and adults with predisposing conditions. We tested the hypothesis that activation of the inflammasome, an inflammatory signaling complex, is involved in host defenses against this pathogen. We show in this study that murine bone marrow-derived conventional dendritic cells responded to GBS by secreting IL-1β and IL-18. IL-1β release required both pro-IL-1β transcription and caspase-1-dependent proteolytic cleavage of intracellular pro-IL-1β. Dendritic cells lacking the TLR adaptor MyD88, but not those lacking TLR2, were unable to produce pro-IL-1β mRNA in response to GBS. Pro-IL-1β cleavage and secretion of the mature IL-1β form depended on the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) sensor and the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain adaptor. Moreover, activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome required GBS expression of β-hemolysin, an important virulence factor. We further found that mice lacking NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, or caspase-1 were considerably more susceptible to infection than wild-type mice. Our data link the production of a major virulence factor by GBS with the activation of a highly effective anti-GBS response triggered by the NLRP3 inflammasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Costa
- Elie Metchnikoff Department, University of Messina, Messina I-98125, Italy
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Biondo C, Signorino G, Costa A, Midiri A, Gerace E, Galbo R, Bellantoni A, Malara A, Beninati C, Teti G, Mancuso G. Recognition of yeast nucleic acids triggers a host-protective type I interferon response. Eur J Immunol 2011; 41:1969-79. [DOI: 10.1002/eji.201141490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Papasergi S, Brega S, Mistou MY, Firon A, Oxaran V, Dover R, Teti G, Shai Y, Trieu-Cuot P, Dramsi S. The GBS PI-2a pilus is required for virulence in mice neonates. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18747. [PMID: 21525979 PMCID: PMC3078112 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2010] [Accepted: 03/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus) is a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in newborns. Most bacterial pathogens, including gram-positive bacteria, have long filamentous structures known as pili extending from their surface. Although pili are described as adhesive organelles, they have been also implicated in many other functions including thwarting the host immune responses. We previously characterized the pilus-encoding operon PI-2a (gbs1479-1474) in strain NEM316. This pilus is composed of three structural subunit proteins: PilA (Gbs1478), PilB (Gbs1477), and PilC (Gbs1474), and its assembly involves two class C sortases (SrtC3 and SrtC4). PilB, the bona fide pilin, is the major component whereas PilA, the pilus associated adhesin, and PilC the pilus anchor are both accessory proteins incorporated into the pilus backbone. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this study, the role of the major pilin subunit PilB was tested in systemic virulence using 6-weeks old and newborn mice. Notably, the non-piliated ΔpilB mutant was less virulent than its wild-type counterpart in the newborn mice model. Next, we investigated the possible role(s) of PilB in resistance to innate immune host defenses, i.e. resistance to macrophage killing and to antimicrobial peptides. Phagocytosis and survival of wild-type NEM316 and its isogenic ΔpilB mutant in immortalized RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were not significantly different whereas the isogenic ΔsodA mutant was more susceptible to killing. These results were confirmed using primary peritoneal macrophages. We also tested the activities of five cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP-1D, LL-37, colistin, polymyxin B, and mCRAMP) and found no significant difference between WT and ΔpilB strains whereas the isogenic dltA mutant showed increased sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These results question the previously described role of PilB pilus in resistance to the host immune defenses. Interestingly, PilB was found to be important for virulence in the neonatal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Papasergi
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram-Positif, Paris, France
- URA CNRS 2172, Paris, France
- The Elie Metchnikoff Deparment, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Sara Brega
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram-Positif, Paris, France
- URA CNRS 2172, Paris, France
| | - Michel-Yves Mistou
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram-Positif, Paris, France
- URA CNRS 2172, Paris, France
- INRA, MICALIS UMR 1319, Equipe Paroi, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Arnaud Firon
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram-Positif, Paris, France
- URA CNRS 2172, Paris, France
| | - Virginie Oxaran
- INRA, MICALIS UMR1319, Equipe Protéines de Surface Utiles, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Ron Dover
- Depatment of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Giuseppe Teti
- The Elie Metchnikoff Deparment, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Yechiel Shai
- Depatment of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Patrick Trieu-Cuot
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram-Positif, Paris, France
- URA CNRS 2172, Paris, France
| | - Shaynoor Dramsi
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Bactéries Pathogènes à Gram-Positif, Paris, France
- URA CNRS 2172, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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47
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Mandanici F, Gómez-Gascón L, Garibaldi M, Olaya-Abril A, Luque I, Tarradas C, Mancuso G, Papasergi S, Bárcena JA, Teti G, Beninati C, Rodríguez-Ortega MJ. A surface protein of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 identified by proteomics protects mice against infection. J Proteomics 2010; 73:2365-9. [PMID: 20656083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2010.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2010] [Revised: 06/15/2010] [Accepted: 07/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is a major Gram-positive swine pathogen, causing also zoonoses. We describe here the immunoprotective activity in an in vivo animal model of a serotype-2 cell wall protein, designated Sat, which was identified by a previously validated proteomics approach consisting of the protease digestion of live bacteria and the selective recovery of exposed domains, followed by LC/MS/MS analysis. Increased survival rate (80%) and decreased bacterial burden were observed in mice immunized with a recombinant Sat fragment, suggesting that this protein is a potential vaccine candidate against serotype-2 infection.
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48
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Garibaldi M, Rodríguez-Ortega MJ, Mandanici F, Cardaci A, Midiri A, Papasergi S, Gambadoro O, Cavallari V, Teti G, Beninati C. Immunoprotective activities of a Streptococcus suis pilus subunit in murine models of infection. Vaccine 2010; 28:3609-16. [PMID: 20079873 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2009] [Revised: 11/23/2009] [Accepted: 01/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pili of gram-positive bacteria are key virulence factors and their subunits are considered excellent vaccine candidates. Streptococcus suis is an emerging zoonotic agent that can cause epidemics of life-threatening infections in humans, but the functional role or immunoprotective potential of its pilus components have not been studied yet. Using a selective proteomics approach, we have identified a surface protein of serotype 2 S. suis showing features of an ancillary pilus subunit, as evidenced by bioinformatics analysis, immunoblot and immunoelectron microscopy. Immunization with recombinant fragments of this protein, designated herein as PAPI-2b, markedly protected mice from systemic S. suis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Garibaldi
- The Elie Metchnikoff Department, University of Messina, Messina I-98125, Italy
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Papasergi S, Garibaldi M, Tuscano G, Signorino G, Ricci S, Peppoloni S, Pernice I, Lo Passo C, Teti G, Felici F, Beninati C. Plasminogen- and fibronectin-binding protein B is involved in the adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:7517-24. [PMID: 20048164 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.062075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The ability of this bacterium to adhere to epithelial cells is considered as an essential early step in colonization and infection. By screening a whole genome phage display library with sera from infected patients, we previously identified three antigenic fragments matching open reading frame spr0075 of the strain R6 genome. This locus encodes for an approximately 120-kDa protein, herein referred to as plasminogen- and fibronectin-binding protein B (PfbB), which displays an LPXTG cell wall anchoring motif and six repetitive domains. In this study, by using isogenic pfbB-deleted mutants of the encapsulated D39 and of the unencapsulated DP1004 type 2 pneumococcal strains, we show that PfbB is involved in S. pneumoniae adherence to various epithelial respiratory tract cell lines. Our data suggest that PfbB directly mediates bacterial adhesion, because fluorescent beads coated with the recombinant PfbB sp17 fragment (encompassing one of the six repetitive domains and the C-terminal region) efficiently bound to epithelial cells. Mutants lacking PfbB bound to fibronectin and plasminogen considerably less efficiently than wild type bacteria, whereas sp17-coated beads specifically bound to both of these substrates. Taken together, our data suggest that, by directly interacting with fibronectin, PfbB significantly increases the ability of S. pneumoniae to adhere to human epithelial cells.
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50
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Beninati C, Garibaldi M, Lo Passo C, Mancuso G, Papasergi S, Garufi G, Pernice I, Teti G, Felici F. Immunogenic mimics of Brucella lipopolysaccharide epitopes. Peptides 2009; 30:1936-9. [PMID: 19631246 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2009.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2009] [Revised: 07/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/14/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus are responsible for brucellosis in bovine and ovine species and for Malta fever in humans. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Brucella is an important virulence factor and can elicit protective antibodies. Because of their potential importance in vaccine design and in serological diagnosis, we developed peptides mimicking the antigenic properties of distinctive antigenic determinants of Brucella LPS. These peptides were selected from several phage display random peptide libraries for their ability to bind monoclonal antibodies directed against the A- or C-type epitopes of Brucella LPS. Plasmids encoding for two of the isolated peptides induced, after DNA immunization, LPS-specific antibody responses. Although these responses were only moderate in extent, these data further suggest the feasibility of using peptide mimics of carbohydrate epitopes as immunogens, a property which may be useful in the design of novel anti-Brucella vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Beninati
- Dipartimento di Patologia e Microbiologia Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy.
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