Para avaliar a fagocitose de células da série monócitos-macrófagos de cabras naturalmente infectadas pelo vírus da artrite encefalite caprina a vírus (VAEC), 30 cabras da raça Saanen foram utilizadas e alocadas em dois grupos distintos, sendo um grupo formado por 15 animais soropositivos à imunodifusão em gel de ágar para detecção de anticorpos séricos antivírus da AEC e o outro formado por 15 animais soronegativos ao teste. Células mononucleares de sangue periférico foram isoladas por gradiente de concentração e plaqueadas em placas de poliestireno para isolamento de células da série monócito-macrófago. Após adesão das mesmas, adicionou-se a bactéria Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis como desafio antigênico. Dois tipos de fagocitose foram observados em relação ao número de bactérias internalizadas nos vacúolos citoplasmáticos dos macrófagos, isto é, verificou-se a presença de células fagocitando em média 12 bactérias e outro grupo fagocitando um número incontável de bactérias. Dessa forma, classificou-se a fagocitose em fagocitose + (até 12 bactérias) e fagocitose ++ (mais de 12 bactérias). Em relação à fagocitose total (fagocitose + e fagocitose ++) não foram verificadas diferenças estatística significativas entre os grupos experimentais (p < 0,41). Todavia, ao discriminar a fagocitose conforme a quantificação de bactérias fagocitadas, encontrou-se diferença estatística entre os grupos, sendo que o grupo positivo apresentou maior porcentagem de fagocitose ++ (p < 0,001). O grupo negativo apresentou maior porcentagem de fagocitose + (p < 0,012). Correlação positiva entre monócitos fagocitando e fagocitose ++ foi observada no grupo de animais soropositivos (p < 0,006), porém, não foi observada nenhuma correlação no grupo negativo (p < 0,49). Esses resultados demonstram uma possível alteração na intensidade da fagocitose de macrófagos de animais infectados com o VAEC, sugerindo que os animais com artrite encefalite caprina estejam mais susceptíveis à linfadenite caseosa. / To evaluate the phagocytosis from monocyte-macrophage line cells 30 naturally infected Saanen goats with caprine arthritis-encephalitis vírus (VCAE) were used, and divided uniformly in different groups according to agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) was isolated by density gradient centrifugation. The monocyte-macrophage cells were separated from PBMC by their adherence properties. Afterwards, the phagocytosis function was assessed by phagocytosis assay using Corynebacterium psudotuberculosis as a source of antigen. Therefore, two distinct types of phagocytosis were observed and were set according to the number of bacteria within the cytoplasmatic vacuoles. Thus, the phagocytosis rates were also divided in two groups, on the first was observed up to 12 bacteria in the vacuoles; on the other hand in the second group an uncountable number of bacteria were usually seen. Consequently, the phagocytosis rates were also divided in phagocytosis + (up to 12 bacteria) and phagocytosis ++ (more than 12 bacteria). The results from the phagocytosis rates show any difference, however when the phagocytosis rates were separated in the order of the number of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis phagocyted, the phagocytosis ++ from positive animals in the sera test were higher than the negative one (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, the negative group presents higher pahgocytosis + (p < 0.012). Furthermore a positive and significant correlation between phagocytosis ++ and monocyte phagocytosis (p < 0.006) were also encountered in the positive animals, however the same were not observed in the negative group (p < 0.49). In face of, the results from the present trial point out to higher susceptibility to caseous linphadenitis in goats infected with VCAE due to the alteration on the phagocytosis strength in these animals.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis est une bactérie pathogène intracellulaire facultative, divisée en deux biovars : C. pseudotuberculosis ovis, agent de la lymphadénite caséeuse (petits ruminants), et C. pseudotuberculosis equi, responsable de lymphangites ulcéreuses (chevaux), mammites (bovins) et d’œdèmes cutanés (buffles). La génomique fonctionnelle a pour but d'élucider le rôle que joue chaque gène dans l'organisme, ainsi que l'interaction de ces gènes dans un réseau biologique. Au cours de ce travail de thèse, différentes stratégies protéomiques ont été adoptées pour l’étude fonctionnelle du génome de C. pseudotuberculosis : i) l’analyse du protéome extracellulaire des souches 1002_ovis et C231_ovis a permis la caractérisation totale de 60 protéines différentes de C. pseudotuberculosis dont 18 protéines sont régulées différemment ;ii) le protéome de la souche 1002_ovis été analysé en réponse au stress nitrosant révélant 58 protéines différentiellement régulées et impliquées dans différents processus biologiques susceptibles de favoriser la survie à ce stress ; iii) les souches 1002_ovis et 258_equi ont été utilisées pour induire des infections expérimentales sur modèle souris. L’analyse de leur protéome extracellulaire avant et après passage en série sur souris a permis d’identifier 250 protéines différentiellement régulées touchant diverses fonctions. Pour conclure, ce travail a permis de générer une base de données de protéines et de valider la fonctionnalité de différents gènes jusqu’alors prédits in silico seulement et des informations importantes sur les facteu / Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogenic bacterium, subdivided into two biovars: C. pseudotuberculosis ovis, agent of caseous lymphadenitis (small ruminants), and C. pseudotuberculosis equi, which causes ulcerative lymphangitis (equines), mastitis (bovines), and oedematous skin disease (buffalos). Functional genomics aims to elucidate the role that each gene plays in organism, as well as the interactions of these genes into a biological network. In this PhD work, various proteomic approaches were used to evaluate the functional genome of C. pseudotuberculosis: i) the analysis of the exoproteome of strains 1002_ovis and C231_ovis enabled the characterization of 60 proteins of C. pseudotuberculosis of which 18 were differentially regulated; ii) the proteome of the strain 1002_ovis was analyzed after a nitrosative stress revealing 58 proteins differentially regulated when compared to the control conditionsThese 58 proteins are involved in different biological processes which may favor the survival of this pathogen under exposition to nitrosative stress; iii) the strains 1002_ovis and 258_equi were used in a murine model of experimental infection. A comparative analysis of their extracellular proteomes before and after passage in mice revealed that 250 proteins ibnvolved in various functions were differentially regulated in C. pseudotuberculosis. Altogether, this PhD work allowed the generation of a protein data base, as well as the validation of several genes previously predicted in silico, and generated information about factors that fa

Pathogenic Yersinia cause a manifold of diseases in humans ranging from mild gastroenteritis (Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica) to pneumonic and bubonic plague (Y. pestis), while all three have a common virulence strategy that relies on a well-studied type III secretion system and its effector proteins to colonize the host and evade immune responses. However, the role of other protein secretion and/or translocation systems in virulence of Yersinia species is not well known. In this thesis, we sought to investigate the contribution of twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway and its secreted substrates to the physiology and virulence of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Tat pathway uniquely exports folded proteins including virulence factors across the cytoplasmic membranes of bacteria. The proteins exported by Tat pathway contain a highly conserved twin-arginine motif in the N-terminal signal peptide. We found that the loss of Tat pathway causes a drastic change of the transcriptome of Y. pseudotuberculosis in stationary phase at environmental temperature with differential regulation of genes involved in virulence, carbon metabolism and stress responses. Phenotypic analysis revealed novel phenotypes of the Tat-deficient strain with defects in iron acquisition, acid resistance, copper oxidation and envelope integrity, which we were partly able to associate with the related Tat substrates. Moreover, increased glucose consumption and accumulation of intracellular fumarate were observed in response to inactivation of Tat pathway implicating a generic effect in cellular physiology. We evaluated the direct role of 22 in silico predicted Tat substrate mutants in the mouse infection model and found only one strain, ΔsufI, exhibited a similar degree of attenuation as Tat-deficient strain. Comparative in vivo characterization studies demonstrated a minor defect for ΔsufI in colonization of intestinal tissues compared to the Tat-deficient strain during early infection, whereas both SufI and TatC were required for dissemination from mesenteric lymph nodes and further systemic spread during late infection. This verifies that SufI has a major role in attenuation seen for the Tat deficient strain both during late infection and initial colonization. It is possible that other Tat substrates such as those involved in iron acquisition and copper resistance also has a role in establishing infection. Further phenotypic analysis indicated that SufI function is required for cell division and stress-survival. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the highest number of differentially regulated genes in response to loss of Tat and SufI were involved in metabolism and transport. Taken together, this thesis presents a thorough analysis of the involvement of Tat pathway in the overall physiology and virulence strategies of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Finally, we propose that strong effects in virulence render TatC and SufI as potential targets for development of novel antimicrobial compounds

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis appartient à la famille des Enterobacteriaceae et peut être responsable de syndromes articulaires et digestifs. Au cours de la colonisation de l’hôte, une minorité des bactéries va, en plus de l’étape de multiplication extracellulaire présenter une phase de réplication intracellulaire dans les macrophages. Une partie des Y. pseudotuberculosis va se répliquer dans les macrophages en usurpant la voie de l’autophagie, afin de créer une niche réplicative au sein des autophagosomes bloqués dans leur maturation. Le trafic membranaire associé à l’infection de Y. pseudotuberculosis reste à ce jour peu caractérisé. Dans un premier temps, nous avons observé que lors de l’infection d’une cellule épithéliale par Y. pseudotuberculosis, la vacuole bactérienne est associée avec le marqueur des autophagosomes, la protéine LC3 mais de façon surprenante cette vacuole ne présente pas deux mais une membrane unique. Par ailleurs, nous avons montré que les protéines SNARE jouent un rôle majeur au cours du trafic intracellulaire de Y. pseudotuberculosis. VAMP3 et VAMP7 sont recrutées de manière séquentielle au niveau de la vacuole de Y. pseudotuberuclosis. VAMP7 va participer au recrutement de LC3 au niveau de la vacuole bactérienne et nous proposons que VAMP3 est un des constituants du check-point permettant l’adressage de la bactérie vers des vacuoles présentant une ou de multiple membranes positives pour LC3. Par la suite, nous nous sommes intéressés à la caractérisation des protéines de la voie autophagique et des endosomes, recrutées au niveau de la vacuole bactérienne à membrane unique et positive pour LC3. Nous avons mis en évidence que les protéines impliquées dans la formation de l’autophagosome et les marqueurs des endosomes précoces sont recrutées au niveau de la vacuole contenant Y. pseudotuberculosis. Cette vacuole positive pour LC3 va en suite acquérir les marqueurs des endosomes tardifs et du lysosome mais n’est pas acidifiée. En outre, nous avons initié des travaux sur un criblage en haut contenu afin d’identifier les partenaires des protéines SNARE et leurs rôles dans le trafic intracellulaire de Y. pseudotuberuclosis. Ces travaux démontrent l’importance de l’analyse de l’ultrastructure des compartiments positifs pour LC3. Ils illustrent comment la bactérie s’adapte à son environnement pour établir sa niche réplicative. Ils présentent enfin l’importance de la régulation de l’autophagie avec la première mise en évidence d’un check-point entre deux voies de compartimentation positives pour LC3 mais morphologiquement différentes. / Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. In human, Y. pseudotuberculosis infection is responsible for enteric and, in rare cases, erythema nodosum. During host colonization, a minor part of Y. pseudotuberculosis presents an intracellular replication step. Y. pseudotuberculosis can replicate inside macrophages by hijacking the autophagy pathway. The bacteria are able to block autophagosome maturation by acidification impairment, which allows to create a replicative niche. The membrane traffic during internalization of Yersinia remains poorly characterized. First, we highlighted that in epithelial cells, Y. pseudotuberculosis replicates mainly in vacuoles positive for LC3, a hallmark of autophagy. Surprisingly, this LC3-positive-vacuole presents only single limiting membrane. Second, we showed that SNARE proteins play a role in Y. pseudotuberculosis intracellular traffic. VAMP3 and VAMP7 are sequentially recruited to Yersinia-containing vacuoles (YCVs). VAMP7 is involved in the LC3 recruitment to YCVs with single- and double-membrane. We proposed that VAMP3 is a component of the molecular checkpoint for bacterial commitment to either single- or double-membrane LC3-positive pathway. Third, we characterized the traffic of endosomal proteins recruited to LC3-positive-YCV with single membrane in epithelial cells. We showed that markers of early endosome and proteins involved in autophagosome formation, are recruited to YCVs during the early stage of infection. Then, the vacuole acquire late endosomal and lysosomal proteins but acidification is not observed. Finally, we initiated a high-content screening approach for the identification of SNARE partners.Overall this work illustrates the importance of LC3-positive compartment ultrastructure analysis. Our result demonstrate how bacterial subvert the molecular machinery of the host in order to create a replicative niche. Finally, we present the importance of autophagy regulation by highlighting for the first times the existence of a molecular checkpoint between two LC3-positive vacuoles with different morphologies

Orientador: Iracilda Zeppone Carlos / Banca: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão / Banca: Orivaldo Pereira Ramos / Banca: Fernanda de Freitas Aníbal / Banca: Alexandra Ivo de Medeiros / Resumo: A infecção por Y. pseudotuberculosis é uma causa de doenças intestinais e extraintestinais. A resolução da infecção está relacionada à ativação de células Th1, entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre a influência de outras subpopulações de linfócitos T, como Th17 e Treg, na regulação dessa infecção. Células dendríticas são capazes de orientar a resposta imune adaptativa através da produção de citocinas e apresentação de antígenos às células T, tornando essas células essenciais na ativação e diferenciação de linfócitos T. Desse modo, o presente trabalho avaliou o papel de distintas subpopulações de linfócitos T e a influência de células dendríticas no desenvolvimento da resposta imune contra a infecção por Y. pseudotuberculosis. Para tanto, foram avaliadas as subpopulações de linfócitos T CD4+, CD8+ e Foxp3+, presentes durante a infecção por Y. pseudotuberculosis e amostras bacterianas mutantes para fatores de virulência Yops, bem como a expressão de citocinas intracelulares (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α e TGF-β) por estas células. O papel de linfócitos Treg e Th17 no controle da bactéria foi analisado por meio de ensaio de depleção de células CD25+ e neutralização de IL-17. Além disso, a influência de células dendríticas na modulação da resposta imune contra Y. pseudotuberculosis foi estudada através da determinação da produção de citocinas (IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, IL-23, TNF-α e TGF-β) e co-cultivo com linfócitos T obtidos de animais imunizados com antígenos de Y. pseudotuberculosis. Os resultados mostraram redução na produção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias por células dendríticas infectadas com a amostra bacteriana portadora do plasmídeo de virulência, em ambas as linhagens de camundongos estudadas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Y. pseudotuberculosis infection is a cause of intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. Infection resolution is related to the activation of Th1 cells, however, little is known about the influence of other T cells subsets, like Th17 and Treg, in the control of this infection. Dendritic cells are capable of directing the adaptive immune response by producing cytokines and presenting antigens to T cells, making them essential to T lymphocytes activation and differentiation. Thus, this study evaluated the role of different T lymphocytes subsets and the influence of dendritic cells on the development of the immune response against Y. pseudotuberculosis infection. Here, we evaluated the T cells subsets CD4+, CD8+ and Foxp3+, present during Y. pseudotuberculosis infection and mutant samples bacterial virulence factors, and also the intracellular expression of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α and TGF-β) by these cells. The role of Th17 and Treg cells in controlling the bacteria was analyzed by tests of depleted CD25+ cells and IL-17 neutralization. Furthermore, the influence of dendritic cells in modulating the immune response against Y. pseudotuberculosis was studied by determining the cytokine production (IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, IL-23, TNF-α and TGF-β) and co-culture with lymphocytes from animals immunized with Y. pseudotuberculosis antigens. The results showed a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines production by dendritic cells infected with bacteria carrying the bacterial virulence plasmid, in both mice strains studied... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Submitted by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br) on 2015-05-25T18:39:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_AvaliacaoViesGC.pdf: 2733576 bytes, checksum: 9bd7b306d18c9262798f5c16a04c4c4a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2015-05-27T12:38:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_AvaliacaoViesGC.pdf: 2733576 bytes, checksum: 9bd7b306d18c9262798f5c16a04c4c4a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-27T12:38:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_AvaliacaoViesGC.pdf: 2733576 bytes, checksum: 9bd7b306d18c9262798f5c16a04c4c4a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03 / FAPESPA - Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas / O surgimento das plataformas de sequenciamento de nova geração (NGS) proporcionou o aumento do volume de dados produzidos, tornando possível a obtenção de genomas completos. Apesar das vantagens alcançadas com estas plataformas, são observadas regiões de elevada ou baixa cobertura, em relação à média, associadas diretamente ao conteúdo GC. Este viés GC pode afetar análises genômicas e dificultar a montagem de genomas através da abordagem de novo, além de afetar as análises baseadas em referência. Além do que, as maneiras de avaliar o viés GC deve ser adequada para dados com diferentes perfis de relação/associação entre GC e cobertura, tais como linear e quadrático. Desta forma, este trabalho propõe o uso do Coeficiente de Correlação de Pearson (r) para analisar a correlação entre conteúdo GC e Cobertura, permitindo identificar aintensidade da correlação linear e detectar associações não-lineares, além de identificar a relação entre viés GC e as plataformas de sequenciamento. Os sinais positivos e negativos de r também permitem inferir relações diretamente proporcionais e inversamente proporcionais respectivamente. Utilizou-se dados da espécie Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, conhecido por serem genomas clonais obtidas através de diferentes tecnologias de sequenciamento para identificar se há relação do viés GC com as plataformas utilizadas. / The emergence of high throughput sequencing (HTS) platforms increased the amount of data making feasible to obtaining complete genomes. Despite the advantages and the throughput produced by these platforms, the high or low genomic coverage in the regions of the genome can be related to GC content. This GC bias may affect genomic analyzes and the genomic/transcriptomic analysis based on de novo and reference approach. In addition, the ways to evaluate the GC bias should be fit to data with different profiles of the GC vs coverage relationship, such as linear and quadratic. Thus, this work proposes the use of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (r) to analyze the correlation between GC content and coverage, allowing to identify the strength of linear correlation and detect nonlinear associations, beyond identify a relationship between GC bias and sequencing platforms. The positive and negative signs of r also allow us to infer directly and inversely proportional relationships, respectively. To evaluate the bias, we used the data of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis obtained from different sequencing technologies to identify if the CG bias is related to used platforms.

Submitted by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br) on 2015-05-25T19:30:16Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_EstudoGenomicaComparativa.pdf: 2070568 bytes, checksum: 0bf9cef9795e0bbc867e1bd89a8d5a30 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2015-05-27T13:23:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_EstudoGenomicaComparativa.pdf: 2070568 bytes, checksum: 0bf9cef9795e0bbc867e1bd89a8d5a30 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-27T13:23:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 22974 bytes, checksum: 99c771d9f0b9c46790009b9874d49253 (MD5) Dissertacao_EstudoGenomicaComparativa.pdf: 2070568 bytes, checksum: 0bf9cef9795e0bbc867e1bd89a8d5a30 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis é uma bactéria Gram-positiva, intracelular facultativa, nãoesporulante, não-capsulada e sem mobilidade, contudo possui fímbria, e pode assumir formas cocóides e filamentosas (pleomórfica), além disto, apresenta crescimento ótimo à 37°C. Este patógeno apresenta dois biovares: ovis que geralmente acomete pequenos ruminantes, e causa a doença linfadenite caseosa, e biovar equi, mais comum em equinos, bovinos, camelídeos, e bubalinos causando a Linfangite ulcerativa. A infecção por esta bactéria pode levar a condenação das carcaças e redução de lã (em ovinos e caprinos), leite e carne destes animais, e consequentemente a perdas econômicas para a indústria agropecuária mundial. Atualmente, ainda não existe uma vacina eficaz para estas doenças. A fim de obter um maior entendimento biológico entre as espécies o presente trabalho tem como objetivo principal analisar, por meio da genômica comparativa a linhagem C. pseudotuberculosis 226 biotipo ovis isolada de um caprino na Califórnia com outras linhagens do biovarar ovis e equi. Na análise de sintenia entre as linhagens foi possível identificar que a linhagem 226 apresenta alta conservação da ordem gênica entre as linhagens do biótipo ovis. Através de análises filogenômicas foi possível identificar que as linhagens I19 e 267 apresentaram maior e menor proximidade filogenética com a linhagem 226. A linhagem 1/06-A foi a que apresentou maior proximidade filogenômica entre as linhagens do biovar equi, quando comparadas a linhagem 226. Foram preditas 8 ilhas de patogenicidade, estando presente na ilha 1 os genes relacionados a virulência de C. pseudotuberculosis mais bem descritos na literatura. Não houveram regiões novas relacionadas a genes de virulência entre nenhuma das linhagens. Foram identificados 248 genes ortólogos entre as linhagens I19, 267 e 226 e 282 genes ortólogos entre as linhagens 258,1/06-A e 226. Com base nesse estudo é possível inferir que as linhagens do biovar ovis possuem um repertório gênico pouco variado e que as linhagens do biovar equi apresentam uma quantidade menor de genes compartilhados com a linhagem 226, corroborando com a diversidade gênica entre os biovares. / Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a gram-positive, facultative intracellular, non-sporulating and non-encapsulated bacterium, it is non-motile although it has fimbriae, and can assume coccoid or filamentous forms (pleomorphic). Its optimum growth temperature is 37°C. This pathogen has two biovars: ovis, which usually affects small ruminants and causes caseous lymphadenitis, and biovar equi, more common in equines, bovines, camelids and bubalines, causing ulcerative lymphangitis. Its infection can lead to carcass condemnation and reduction in wool production (in ovines and caprines), milk production and meat production and, consequently, economic losses for the agricultural industry worldwide. Currently there is no effective vaccine against those illnesses. To obtain a better understanding of these species biologically, the main objective of this work is to analyze, using comparative genomics, the strain C. pseudotuberculosis 226 biovar ovis, isolated from a caprine in California, comparing it to other strains from biovars ovis and equi. The synteny analysis revealed highly conserved gene order between strain 226 and other biovar ovis strains. Phylogenomic analyses showed that the strains I19 and 267 are, respectively, the closest and the more distant phylogenetically from strain 226. Among biovar equi strains, the one with the greater phylogenomic proximity to strain 226 was strain 1/06-A. Eight pathogenicity islands were predicted, with C. pseudotuberculosis best characterized virulence genes in literature being present in island 1. No new regions related to virulence genes could be found compared to other strains. 248 orthologous genes could be found between strains I19, 267 and 226, while 282 orthologous genes could be found between strains 258, 1/06-A and 226. Based in this study it is possible to assume that strains from biovar ovis have a little varied gene repertory and strains from biovar equi have less genes shared with strain 226, reinforcing the genetic diversity between these biovars.

Type III secretion systems (T3SS) are a common feature of Gram-negative bacteria, allowing them to inject anti-host effectors into the interior of infected eukaryotic cells. By this mechanism, these virulence factors help the bacteria to modulate eukaryotic cell function in its favor and subvert host innate immunity. This promotes a less hostile environment in which infecting bacteria can colonize and cause disease. In pathogenic Yersinia, a crucial protein in this process is YopD. YopD is a T3S substrate that, together with YopB, forms a translocon pore in the host cell membrane through which the Yop effectors may gain access to the target-cell cytosol. The assembly of the translocator pore in plasma membranes is considered a fundamental feature of all T3SSs. How the pore is formed, what determines the correct size and ultimately the stoichiometry between YopD YopB, is still unknown. Portions of YopD are also observed inside HeLa cells. Moreover, YopD functions together with its T3S chaperone, LcrH, to control Yops synthesis in the bacterial cytoplasm. The multifunctional YopD may influence all these processes by compartmentalizing activities into discrete modular domains along the protein length. Therefore, understanding how particular domains and/or residues within these regions coordinate multiple functions of the protein will provide a platform to improve our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind translocation through T3SSs. Comprehensive site-directed mutagenesis of the YopD C-terminal amphipathic α-helix domain, pinpointed hydrophobic residues as important for YopD function. Some YopD variants were defective in self-assembly and in the ability to interact with the needle tip protein, LcrV, which were required to facilitate bacterial T3S activity. A similar mutagenesis approach was used to understand the role of the two predicted coiled-coils located at the N-terminal and C-terminal region of YopD. The predicted N-terminal element that occurs solely in the Yersinia YopD translocator family is essential for optimal T3SS and full disease progression. The predicted YopD C-terminal coiled-coil shapes a functional translocon inserted into host cell membranes. This translocon was seen to be a dynamic structure facilitating at least two roles during effectors delivery into cells; one to guarantee translocon pore insertion into target cell membranes and the other to promote targeted activity of internalized effector toxins. In Yersinia expression of yop genes and secretion of the corresponding polypeptides is tightly regulated at a transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. If T3S chaperones of the translocator class are known to influence transcriptional output of T3SS genes in other bacteria, we show that in Yersinia the class II T3S chaperone LcrH has no such effect on the LcrF transcriptional activator activity. We also demonstrate that there are possibly additional yop-regulatory roles for the LcrH chaperone besides forming a stable complex with YopD to impose post-transcriptional silencing on Yops synthesis. This mechanism that relies upon an active T3SS, might act independently of both YopD and the regulatory element LcrQ. In conclusion, this work has sought to delineate the encrypted functions of the YopD translocator that contribute to Yersinia T3SS-dependent pathogenesis. Contributions of the YopD cognate chaperone LcrH in yop regulatory control are also presented.

The enteropathogenic bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis binds to β1 integrins on a host cell via its surface protein invasin. This event stimulates signal transduction to the actin cytoskeleton of the eukaryotic cell, which allows the cell to engulf the bacterium that is attached to its surface. However, the pathogen Y. pseudotuberculosis can evade such phagocytosis by injecting virulence effectors that interfere with the antipathogenic machinery of the host cells. One of these virulence effectors is the tyrosine phosphatase YopH. Through its enzymatic activity, YopH blocks phagocytosis by affecting the signalling that is associated with cytoskeletal rearrangements. Cas is a substrate of YopH in both professional and non-professional phagocytes. We showed that YopH binds to the central substrate domain of Cas and that this interaction is required for YopH to target focal adhesion structures in host cells. We also demonstrated that YopH binds another substrate, FAK, through Cas. Moreover, we suggested that targeting of Cas is necessary for the cytotoxic effects mediated by YopH. The protein Fyb is specific to immune cells, and it has been identified as a substrate of YopH in macrophages. We discovered that both the N-terminal substrate-binding domain and the C-terminal catalytic region of YopH bind Fyb in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner. Moreover, we observed that both the substrate-binding domain and the phosphatase activity of YopH are essential for the effects of this protein on macrophages, which include dephosphorylation of Fyb, blocking of phagocytosis, and cytotoxicity. The role of Fyb in macrophages is largely unknown, although there is evidence that this protein is involved in integrin-linked actin organization. We identified a novel interaction partner of Fyb, mAbp1, which is a protein that binds to F-actin. Studies in vitro indicated that mAbp1 binds to the N terminus of Fyb via a C-terminal SH3 domain. We also found that both Fyb and mAbp1 co-localize with F-actin at the leading edges of macrophages. Further studies suggested that mAbp1 influences the spreading of macrophages and the antiphagocytosis mediated by pathogenic Yersinia. These results support a role for Fyb in signalling that affects F-actin dynamics, and they also provide additional insight into the mechanisms involved. Fyb has been shown to form a complex with SKAP-HOM, another substrate of YopH in macrophages. Our data implied that the level of SKAP-HOM protein depends on the presence of Fyb, but the function of the Fyb/SKAP-HOM complex in macrophages has not been determined. However, since Fyb is the only known haematopoietic-specific substrate of YopH, it is possible that Fyb is involved in other antimicrobial functions.

Like many Gram-negative bacteria, the food-borne pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis harbours different regulatory mechanisms to maintain an intact bacterial envelope especially during exposure to extracytoplasmic stress (ECS). The CpxA-CpxR two component regulatory system is one such ECS-responsive regulatory mechanism. Activation of CpxA-CpxR two-component regulatory system (TCRS) accumulates phosphorylated CpxR (CpxR~P), which not only up-regulates various factors that are designed to maintain envelope integrity, but also down-regulates key determinants of bacterial virulence. Y. pseudotuberculosis establishes close host cell contact in part through the expression of the invasin adhesin. Invasin expression is positively regulated by the transcriptional regulator RovA, which in turn is negatively regulated in response to nutrient stress by a second transcriptional regulator RovM. In Y. pseudotuberculosis, loss of CpxA phosphatase activity accumulates CpxR~P, and this represses both rovA and inv transcription directly, or indirectly via activation of rovM transcription. It is now of interest to understand the molecular mechanism behind how CpxR~P regulates gene transcription both positively and negatively. A type III secretion system (T3SS) is a highly conserved multi-protein secretion system used by many Gram-negative bacteria to secrete protein cargo that counteracts the effects of a host cell emitted anti-bacterial activity. A typical set of proteins that make-up a functional T3SS includes structural proteins, translocators, effectors and regulatory proteins. Accumulation of CpxR~P was shown to repress the plasmid encoded Ysc-Yop T3SS of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Although yet to be confirmed experimentally, promoter-CpxR~P binding studies indicate multiple modes of regulatory control that for example, could influence levels of the plasmid-encoded Ysc-Yop system transcriptional activator, LcrF, and the chromosomal encoded negative regulators YmoA and YtxR.  Regulatory processes of TCRS involve transient molecular interactions between different proteins and also protein with DNA. Protein-protein interaction studies using the BACTH assay showed that it can be useful in analysing the molecular interactions involving the N-terminal domain of CpxR, while the λcI homodimerization assay can be useful in analysing molecular interactions involving the C-terminal domain of CpxR. Therefore, in combination with other biochemical and physiological tests, these hybrid-based assays can be useful in dissecting molecular contacts that can be helpful in exploring the mechanism behind CpxR~P mediated transcriptional regulation. In conclusion, this work uncovered direct involvement of CpxR~P in down-regulating virulence in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. It also utilised genetic mutation and explored different protein-protein interaction assays to begin to investigate the mechanism behind the positive and negative regulation of gene expression mediated through active CpxR~P.