Orientador: Beatriz Maria Machado de Medeiros / Banca: Angela Maria Victoriano de Campos Soares / Banca: Iracilda Zeppone Carlos / Resumo: A infecção por Y. pseudotuberculosis é a causa de doenças intestinais e extraintestinais. A resolução da infecção está relacionada com a ativação de células Th1. Macrófagos e células dendríticas são capazes de orientar a resposta imune adaptativa através da produção de citocinas e apresentação de antígenos às células T. Estas células metabolizam L-arginina por duas vias, utilizando as enzimas iNOS ou arginase. O metabolismo de L-arginina é um importante parâmetro para discriminar o estado de ativação destas células. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência da infecção por Y. pseudotuberculosis sobre o comportamento de macrófagos e células dendríticas de camundongos resistentes (C57BL/6) e suscetíveis (BALB/c). Macrófagos peritoneais e células dendríticas esplênicas foram obtidos em 12 horas, 1º, 3º e 5º dias pós-infecção, cultivados, e foi determinada a produção de NO, atividade da arginase, produção de citocinas e capacidade imunoestimulatória destas células. Durante a infecção, macrófagos e células dendríticas de camundongos C57BL/6 infectados produziram quantidade maiores de NO, IL-12 e TNF- , enquanto as células de camundongos BALB/c infectados apresentaram maior atividade da arginase e produção de IL-10. A infecção provocou uma diminuição na capacidade de estimulação de macrófagos e células dendríticas, com menor proliferação de células T nos camundongos BALB/c. Estes resultados sugerem que os mecanismos responsáveis pela resistência e suscetibilidade à infecção podem estar relacionados com diferenças no estado de ativação de macrófagos e células dendríticas. / Abstract: Y. pseudotuberculosis infection is the cause of intestinal or extraintestinal diseases. The resolution of infection is connected with activation of Th1 cells. Macrophages and dendritic cells are able to orient the adaptive immune response through the production of cytokines and antigen presentation to T-cells. These cells metabolize L-arginine by two pathways, using the iNOS or arginase enzymes. L-arginine metabolism is an important parameter to discriminate the activate state of these cells. The objective of this study was to verify the influence of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection on the behavior of macrophages and dendritic cells from susceptible (BALB/c) and resistant (C57BL/6) mice. Peritoneal macrophages and splenic dendritic cells were obtained on the 12 h, 1st, 3rd, 5th day post-infection, cultured, and the NO production, arginase activity, cytokines production and immunostimulatory capacity of these cells was determined. During the infection, macrophages and dendritic cells from infected C57BL/6 mice produced higher amounts of NO, IL-12 and TNF- , while the cells from infected BALB/c mice presented higher arginase activity and IL-10 production. The infection leads to a decrease in the immunostimulatory capacity of macrophages and dendritic cells, with T-cell proliferation smaller in the BALB/c mice. These results suggest that mechanisms responsible for the resistance and susceptibility to infection may be connect with differences in the activation state of macrophages and dendritic cells. / Mestre

Orientador: Beatriz Maria Machado de Medeiros / Banca: Dagmar Ruth Stach Machado / Banca: Alexandrina Sartori / Resumo: As proteínas Yops. formam uma família de proteínas secretadas por Yersinia spp que incluem efetores intracelulares (seis efetores foram identificados: YopE, YopH, YopM, YpkA/YopO, YopJ/YopP e YopT) e vários componentes do aparato de secreção-translocação que são liberado pela bactéria sob quelação de Ca2+. As .Yops. efetoras têm sido relacionadas a uma série de propriedades de virulência, incluindo resistência à fagocitose, citotoxicidade e desfosforilação de proteínas do hospedeiro. Porém, a interação das .Yops. de Yersinia com a resposta imune específica do hospedeiro não está bem esclarecida. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o papel imunomodulador das "Yops" secretadas por amostras de Yersinia pseudotuberculosis sobre a produção de anticorpos e autoanticorpos por linfócitos B. Para tanto camundongos foram infectados com uma amostra selvagem de Y. pseudotuberculosis (YpIII) e com amostras mutantes, defectivas na secreção de determinadas .Yops. efetoras (YopH, YopE, YopM, YpkA e YopJ). Foram obtidas células esplênicas destes animais, e as células secretoras de imunoglobulinas inespecíficas e específicas (anti-Yersinia e anti-.Yops.) foram quantificadas através do teste ELISPOT. A presença de anticorpos específicos anti-Yersinia e anti-.Yops. no soro dos animais infectados foi analisada através do teste ELISA. A presença de auto-anticorpos séricos foi analisada através do teste DOT-BLOT. Não se observou nenhuma diferença entre o número de células secretoras de imunoglobulinas (Igs) inespecíficas dos animais inoculados com a amostra selvagem, YpIIIpIB102 (wt), em relação aos controles. Já a amostra YpIII pIB522, embora defectiva na secreção de YopE, provocou uma redução dos linfócitos B secretores de IgG2a, IgM e IgA. A única ativação observada ocorreu para o isotipo IgG2a (aumento de 1,7 vezes)... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The "Yops" proteins form a protein family secreted by Yersinia spp that includes intracellular effectors (six effectors had been identified: YopE , YopH, YopM, YpkA/YopO, YopJ/YopP and YopT) and some components of the secretion-translocation apparatus that are released by the bacteria under Ca2+ quelation. The "Yops" effectors have been related to a series of virulence properties, including resistance to phagocytosis, citotoxicity and desfosforilation of host proteins. However, the interaction of the Yersinia "Yops" with the host specific immune response is not well defined. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory role of the "Yops" secreted by strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis on the production of antibodies and autoantibodies by splenic B lymphocytes. To this end, mice were infected with wild-type Y. pseudotuberculosis (YpIII) or with mutant strains, unable to secrete specific "Yops" (YopH, YopE, YopM, YpkA and YopJ). Spleen cells were obtained, and the cells secreting nonspecific and specific immunoglobulins (anti-Yersinia and anti-"Yops") was quantified by the ELISPOT technique. The presence of anti-Yersinia and anti- .Yops. specific antibodies in infected mice serum was investigated by ELISA and the presence of autoantibodies by DOT-BLOT assay. It was not observed neither difference between the number of nonspecific Igs-secreting cells of the animals infected with YpIIIpIB102 (wt) in relation to the controls. The strain YpIII pIB522, although defective in YopE secretion, provoked a reduction in the B lymphocytes secreting IgG2a, IgM and IgA. The unique activation observed was that of IgG2a isotype (an increase of 1.7-fold) on the 7th day post infection. The YopH- strain, YpIII pIB29, provoked an increase in the number of IgG1-, IgG2a- and IgG3- secreting cells (between 1.4 to 2.4-fold), on the 7th and 14th days post infection... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-06-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:18:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 maia_jml_me_arafcf.pdf: 491989 bytes, checksum: 76c75c0de1431ea6c8ce3ff67f4446d3 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / As proteínas Yops. formam uma família de proteínas secretadas por Yersinia spp que incluem efetores intracelulares (seis efetores foram identificados: YopE, YopH, YopM, YpkA/YopO, YopJ/YopP e YopT) e vários componentes do aparato de secreção-translocação que são liberado pela bactéria sob quelação de Ca2+. As .Yops. efetoras têm sido relacionadas a uma série de propriedades de virulência, incluindo resistência à fagocitose, citotoxicidade e desfosforilação de proteínas do hospedeiro. Porém, a interação das .Yops. de Yersinia com a resposta imune específica do hospedeiro não está bem esclarecida. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o papel imunomodulador das Yops secretadas por amostras de Yersinia pseudotuberculosis sobre a produção de anticorpos e autoanticorpos por linfócitos B. Para tanto camundongos foram infectados com uma amostra selvagem de Y. pseudotuberculosis (YpIII) e com amostras mutantes, defectivas na secreção de determinadas .Yops. efetoras (YopH, YopE, YopM, YpkA e YopJ). Foram obtidas células esplênicas destes animais, e as células secretoras de imunoglobulinas inespecíficas e específicas (anti-Yersinia e anti-.Yops.) foram quantificadas através do teste ELISPOT. A presença de anticorpos específicos anti-Yersinia e anti-.Yops. no soro dos animais infectados foi analisada através do teste ELISA. A presença de auto-anticorpos séricos foi analisada através do teste DOT-BLOT. Não se observou nenhuma diferença entre o número de células secretoras de imunoglobulinas (Igs) inespecíficas dos animais inoculados com a amostra selvagem, YpIIIpIB102 (wt), em relação aos controles. Já a amostra YpIII pIB522, embora defectiva na secreção de YopE, provocou uma redução dos linfócitos B secretores de IgG2a, IgM e IgA. A única ativação observada ocorreu para o isotipo IgG2a (aumento de 1,7 vezes)... / The Yops proteins form a protein family secreted by Yersinia spp that includes intracellular effectors (six effectors had been identified: YopE , YopH, YopM, YpkA/YopO, YopJ/YopP and YopT) and some components of the secretion-translocation apparatus that are released by the bacteria under Ca2+ quelation. The Yops effectors have been related to a series of virulence properties, including resistance to phagocytosis, citotoxicity and desfosforilation of host proteins. However, the interaction of the Yersinia Yops with the host specific immune response is not well defined. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory role of the Yops secreted by strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis on the production of antibodies and autoantibodies by splenic B lymphocytes. To this end, mice were infected with wild-type Y. pseudotuberculosis (YpIII) or with mutant strains, unable to secrete specific Yops (YopH, YopE, YopM, YpkA and YopJ). Spleen cells were obtained, and the cells secreting nonspecific and specific immunoglobulins (anti-Yersinia and anti-Yops) was quantified by the ELISPOT technique. The presence of anti-Yersinia and anti- .Yops. specific antibodies in infected mice serum was investigated by ELISA and the presence of autoantibodies by DOT-BLOT assay. It was not observed neither difference between the number of nonspecific Igs-secreting cells of the animals infected with YpIIIpIB102 (wt) in relation to the controls. The strain YpIII pIB522, although defective in YopE secretion, provoked a reduction in the B lymphocytes secreting IgG2a, IgM and IgA. The unique activation observed was that of IgG2a isotype (an increase of 1.7-fold) on the 7th day post infection. The YopH- strain, YpIII pIB29, provoked an increase in the number of IgG1-, IgG2a- and IgG3- secreting cells (between 1.4 to 2.4-fold), on the 7th and 14th days post infection... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below)

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a highly conserved secretion system among Gram negative bacteria that translocates anti-host proteins directly into the infected cells to overcome the host immune system and establish a bacterial infection. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is one of three pathogenic Yersinia spp. that use a plasmid encoded T3SS to establish an infection. This complex multi-component Ysc-Yop system is tightly regulated in time and space. The T3SS is induced upon target cell contact and by growth in the absence of calcium. There are two kinds of substrates for the secretion apparatus, the translocator proteins that make up the pore in the eukaryotic target cell membrane, and the translocated effector proteins, that presumably pass through this pore en route to the eukaryotic cell interior. The essential YopD translocator protein is involved in several important steps during effector translocation, such as pore formation, effector translocation. Moreover, in complex with its cognate chaperone LcrH, it maintains regulatory control of yop gene expression. To understand the molecular mechanism of YopD function, we made sequential in-frame deletions throughout the entire protein and identified discrete functional domains that made it possible to separate the role of YopD in translocation from its role in pore formation and regulation, really supporting translocation to be a multi-step process. Further site-directed mutagenesis of the YopD C-terminus, a region important for these functions, revealed no function for amino acids in the coiled-coil domain, while hydrophobic residues within the alpha-helical amphipathic domain are functionally significant for regulation, pore formation and translocation of effectors. Unique to the T3SSs are the chaperones which are required for efficient type III protein secretion. The translocator-class chaperone LcrH binds two translocator proteins, YopB and YopD, which is necessary for their pre-secretory stabilization and their efficient secretion. We have shown that LcrH interacts with each translocator at a unique binding-site established by the folding of its three tandem tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs). Beside the regulatory LcrH-YopD complex, LcrH complexes with YscY, a component of the Ysc-Yop T3SS, that is also essential for regulatory control. Interestingly the roles for LcrH do not end here, because it also appears to function in fine tuning the amount of effector translocation into target cells upon cell contact. Moreover, LcrH’s role in pre-secretory stability appears to be an in vitro phenomenon, since upon bacteria-host cell contact we found accumulated levels of YopB and YopD inside the bacteria in absence of a LcrH chaperone. This suggests the true function of LcrH is seen during target cell contact. In addition, these stable YopB and YopD are secreted in a Ysc-Yop independent manner in absence of a functional LcrH. We propose a role for LcrH in conferring substrate secretion pathway specificity, guiding its substrate to the cognate Ysc-Yop T3SS to secure subsequent effector translocation. Together, this work has sought to better understand the key functions of LcrH and YopD in Yersinia pathogenicity. Using an approach based heavily on recombinant DNA technology and tissue culture infections, the complex molecular cross-talk between chaperone and its substrate, and the effect this has on the Yersinia lifestyle, are now being discovered.

Integrins are a large family of membrane-spanning heterodimeric (αβ) receptors that bind to ligands on other cells or to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. These receptors mediate bidirectional signaling over the cell membrane to induce signaling cascades mediating functions as cell adhesion, spreading and migration. This signaling takes place at cell-matrix adhesions, which are sites where clustered and ligand-bound integrins connect to and mediate stabilization of the actin cytoskeleton, and induce signaling cascades. Integrins have a short cytoplasmic tail that is crucial for the bidirectional signaling, and the β1-integrin subunit exists in five splice variants only differing in the membrane-distal part of the cytoplasmic tail. This region of the almost ubiquitously expressed β1-integrin, β1A, contains two protein tyrosine motifs (NPXYs) interspaced with a threonine-rich region, while this region of the β1B splice variant is completely different and lacks known motifs. In contrast to the β1A-integrin, the β1B variant cannot mediate cell-matrix adhesion formation following binding to ECM ligands. The enteropathogenic bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis binds to β1-integrins on the host cell with invasin, and this stimulates uptake of the bacterium. However, upon binding to the host cell, pathogenic Yersinia strains inject virulence effectors that block uptake. One effector responsible for the blocking is a tyrosine phosphatase, YopH. We identified the targets for this effector in the macrophage-like cell line J774A.1, which represent a professional phagocyte and thus is the likely target cell for the antiphagocytic effect of Yersinia. Two YopH target proteins were p130Cas and ADAP, of which the latter interestingly is an adapter protein specifically expressed in hematopoietic cells. ADAP has previously been implicated to participate in Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis and in communication between T-cell receptors and integrins. We also studied the importance of the cytoplasmic tail of β1-integrin for uptake of Yersinia. The GD25 cell line, which is a fibroblast-like cell line that lacks endogenous β1-integrins, was used together with GD25 cells transfected with β1B, β1Α or cytoplasmic tail mutants of β1A. These studies revealed that β1B-integrins could bind to invasin but not mediate uptake of Yersinia, while β1A both bound to invasin and mediated uptake. The first NPXY motif (unphosphorylated) and the double-threonines of the unique part of β1A were important for the ability of integrin to mediate uptake of Yersinia. These studies lead to the interesting finding that, when these cells were allowed to spread on invasin, those that expressed β1A spread as normal fibroblasts while for β1B-integrin-expressing cells, only finger-like protrusions of filopodia were formed. This provided us with a tool to study formation of filopodia without interference of the tightly linked process of lamellipodia formation. Initially, proteins that localized to the tip complex of these filopodia were identified. These were talin, VASP and interestingly the p130Cas-Crk-DOCK180 scaffold, while FAK, paxillin and vinculin were absent. In addition, VASP, p130Cas and Crk were shown to be important for the filopodia formation in GD25β1B. Further, the role of the actin motor myosin X, which previously has been implicated in formation of filopodia, was studied in the GD25Β1B cells and it was shown that myosin X not was important for filopodia formation, but that it recruited FAK and vinculin to the tip complexes of filopodia.

In order to establish an extra-cellular infection the gram-negative bacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis uses a type III secretion system (T3SS) to translocate a set of anti-host effectors into eukaryotic cells. The toxins disrupt signalling pathways important for phagocytosis, cytokine production and cell survival. Secretion and translocation via this T3SS is strictly regulated on several levels. In this context, the function of YopE and LcrH during Yersinia infections has been analysed. YopE is an essential translocated effector that disrupts the actin cytoskeleton of infected eukaryotic cells, by inactivating small GTPases through its GTPase activating protein (GAP) activity. However, cytotoxicity can be uncoupled from in vitro GAP activity towards the RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 GTPases. Furthermore, in vivo studies of the YopE GAP activity revealed that only RhoA and Rac1 are targeted, but this is not a pre-requisite for Yersinia virulence. Hence, YopE must target one or more additional GTPases to cause disease in mice. YopE was the only Yersinia effector that blocks LDH release from infected cells. Moreover, translocated YopE could regulate the level of subsequent effector translocation by a mechanism that involved the YopE GAP function and another T3S component, YopK. Loss of translocation control elevated total T3S gene expression in the presence of eukaryotic cells. This indicated the existence of a regulatory loop for feedback control of T3S gene expression in the bacteria that originates from the interior of the eukaryotic cell after effector translocation is completed. This might represent the true virulence function of YopE. Exoenzyme S (ExoS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has a YopE-like GAP domain with similar activity towards RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42. However, ExoS is unable to complement hyper-translocation resulting from loss of YopE. This indicates a unique function for YopE in translocation control in Yersinia that might be dependent on correct intracellular localisation. It follows that the Membrane Localisation Domain in YopE was important for translocation control, but dispensable for cytotoxicity and blockage of LDH release. YopD and its cognate chaperone LcrH are negative regulatory elements of the T3S regulon and together with YopB, are involved in the effector translocation process. Randomly generated point mutants in LcrH specifically effected stability and secretion of both the YopB and YopD substrates in vitro and prevented their apparent insertion as translocon pores in the membranes of infected cells. Yet, these mutants still produced stable substrates in the presence of eukaryotic cells and most could mediate at least partial effector translocation. Thus, only minimal amounts of the YopB and YopD translocator proteins are needed for translocation and the LcrH chaperone may regulate this process from inside the bacteria.

The increasing use of antibiotics has led to a huge problem for society, as some bacteria have developed resistance towards many of the antibiotics currently available. To help find solutions to this problem we studied small molecules that inhibit bacterial virulence, the ability to cause disease. The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a conserved virulence system found in several gram-negative bacteria, including human and plants pathogens, such as Yersinia spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Chlamydia spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), and Erwinia spp. One class of virulence-blocking compounds is the salicylidene acylhydrazides. They were first identified in a screen towards the T3SS in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and have since been shown to block the T3SS in a panel of gram-negative bacteria such as Chlamydia spp. Salmonella enterica, Shigella flexneri and EPEC. We designed and synthesized a library of 58 salicylidene acylhydrazides and evaluated their activity as virulence-blocking compounds in Y. pseudotuberculosis followed by calculations of quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs). Four QSAR models were calculated, and when used in consensus they correctly classified between five out of eight compounds for Y. pseudotuberculosis as active or inactive and six out of eight compounds for C. trachomatis. Since the target and mode of action of the salicylidene acylhydrazides were unknown, we used solution and solid phase synthesis to synthesize three different affinity reagents. One of these affinity reagents was used in affinity chromatography experiments, where 19 putative target proteins from an E. coli O157 bacterial lysate were identified. We studied four of the proteins, Tpx, WrbA, FolX, and AdhE, in more detail in Y. pseudotuberculosis and E. coli O157. We believe that the salicylidene acylhydrazides act on multiple targets that together result in down-regulation of T3SS functions. A knockout of AdhE in E. coli O157 showed a similar phenotype as salicylidene acylhydrazide treated E. coli, suggesting that this protein may be particularly interesting as a drug target. Many of the antibiotics used today originate form natural sources. In contrast, most virulence-blocking compounds towards the T3SS are small synthetic organic molecules. Therefore, a prefractionated natural product library with marine and terrestrial biota samples was screened towards the T3SS in Y. pseudotuberculosis. Neohopeaphenol A was identified as a hit and shown to have micromolar activity towards Y. pseudotuberculosis and P. aeruginosa in cell-based infection models. / Det ökande användandet av antibiotika har lett till stora problem för samhället. Många bakterier har utvecklat resistens mot de antibiotika som finns tillgängliga. För att försöka hitta en möjlig lösning på detta problem, arbetar vi med en strategi där vi med hjälp av små organiska molekyler inhiberar bakteriernas virulenssystem, deras förmåga att orsaka sjukdom. Traditionella antibiotika är antingen, bakteriocida, avdödande eller bakteriostatiska, tillväxthämmande. Bakteriernas enda sätt för att överleva antibiotikabehandlingen är att utveckla resistens. Forskarvärlden tror att molekyler som inhiberar bakteriernas virulenssystem, leder till ett minskat tryck att utveckla resistens mot dessa molekyler, eftersom de inte dödar eller hämmar bakterietillväxten, utan bara avväpnar bakterierna. Typ III sekretionssystemet är ett virulenssystem som finns i många gram-negativa bakterier, t.ex., Yersinia spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Chlamydia spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp, enteropatogena Escherichia coli (EPEC) och Erwinia spp. Salicylidenacylhydraziderna är en substansklass virulensblockare som inhiberar typ III sekretionssystemet i de ovan nämnda bakterierna. I denna avhandling har vi designat och syntetiserat ett bibliotek med 58 salicylidenacylhydrazider och utvärderat deras biologiska aktivitet som virulensblockare i Y. pseudotuberculosis. Vi relaterade den biologiska aktiviteten till de kemiska egenskaperna hos salicylidenacylhydraziderna i kvantitativa strukturaktivitetssamband. Med hjälp av dessa samband kunde vi prediktera och validera aktiviteten till aktiv eller inaktiv för fem av åtta nya salicylidenacylhydrazider i Y. pseudotuberculosis och sex av åtta i C. trachomatis. Eftersom verkningsmekanismen för salicylidenacylhydraziderna var okänd, så syntetiserade vi tre olika affinitetsmolekyler med kombinerad lösnings- och fastfas-syntes. En av affinitetsmolekylerna användes sedan för att ”fiska ut” och identifiera 19 potentiella målproteiner i ett bakterielysat från E. coli. Fyra av dessa proteiner, TpX, WrbA, FolX och AdhE har vi studerat vidare i Y. pseudotuberculosis och E. coli. Utifrån resultaten tror vi att salicylidenacylhydraziderna interagerar med flera proteiner som tillsammans resulterar i en nedreglering av type III sekretionssystemen. Vår samarbetspartner, Andrew Roe och hans forskargrupp (Universitetet i Glasgow), har studerat AdhE i E. coli.  De har visat att E. coli som saknar genen för proteinet AdhE, har samma fenotyp som E. coli behandlad med salicylidenacylhydraziderna, d.v.s. ett nedreglerat T3SS, vilket gör AdhE till ett speciellt intressant målprotein. I jämförelse med många av våra nuvarande antibiotika som har ett naturligt ursprung så är de flesta studerade virulensblockare små syntetiska organiska molekyler. Därför testades en stor kollektion av naturprodukter från marina och landlevande växter och invertebrater från Sydostasien, för att hitta nya inhibitorer mot typ III sekretionssystemet i Y. pseudotuberculosis. Neohopeaphenol A som kommer från barken på Hopea hainanensis, ett träd som växer i sydostasiens regnskogar, identifierades som en ny virulensblockare. Neohopeaphenol A visade sig vara en potent virulensblockare i in vitro infektionsförsök med Y. psudotuberkulosis eller Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Forskningen i denna avhandling visar att virulensblockare kan hjälpa oss att förstå hur bakterier orsakar sjukdom. Förhoppningsvis kan det i framtiden leda till nya typer av läkemedel mot infektionssjukdomar.

Despite the large arsenal of antibiotics available on the market, treatment of bacterial infections becomes more challenging in view of the fact that microbes develop resistance against existing drugs. There is an obvious need for novel drugs acting on both old and new targets in bacteria. In this thesis we have employed a whole cell bacterial assay for screening and identification of type III secretion system (T3SS) inhibitors in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The T3SS is a common virulence mechanism utilized by several clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria including Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Chlamydiae and Escherichia coli. Several components in the T3SS have proved to be conserved and hence data generated with Y. pseudotuberculosis as model might also be valid for other bacterial species. We have screened a 9,400 commercial compound library for T3S inhibitors in Y. pseudotuberculosis using a yopE reporter gene assay. The initial ~ 30 hits were followed up in a growth inhibition assay resulting in 26 interesting compounds that were examined in more detail. Three of the most interesting compounds, salicylanilides, 2-hydroxybenzylidene-hydrazides and 2-arylsulfonamino-benzanilides, were selected for continued investigations. The inhibitor classes show different profiles regarding the effects on T3SS in Yersinia and their use as research tools and identification of the target proteins using a chemical biology approach will increase our understanding of bacterial virulence. The 2-hydroxybenzylidene-hydrazides have been extensively studied in vitro and show potential as selective T3S inhibitors in several Gram-negative pathogens besides Y. pseudotuberculosis. The data obtained suggest that this inhibitor class targets a conserved protein in the secretion apparatus. In cell-based ex vivo infection models T3SS was inhibited to the advantage of the infected eukaryotic cells. The salicylanilides and 2-arylsulfonamino-benzanilides have been further investigated by statistical molecular design (SMD) followed by synthesis and biological evaluation in the T3SS linked reporter gene assay. Multivariate QSAR models were established despite the challenges with data obtained from assays using viable bacteria. Our results indicate that this SMD QSAR strategy is powerful in development of virulence inhibitors targeting the T3SS.

Orientador: Beatriz Maria Machado de Medeiros / Banca: Beatriz Maria Machado de Medeiros / Banca: Maria Terezinha Serrão Peraçoli / Banca: Iracilda Zeppone Carlos / Banca: Cleni Mara Marzocchi Machado / Banca: Fernanda de Freitas Anibal / Resumo: Yersinia pseudotuberculosis e Y. enterocolitica são patógenos que causam desordens gastrintestinais. Estudos utilizando infecção in vitro demonstraram que Y. enterocolitica pode ter como alvo as células dendríticas (DCs), afetando várias de suas funções, incluindo sua maturação e produção de citocinas, e, conseqüentemente, contribuindo para a diminuição da ativação de células T CD4+. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o papel das células dendríticas das placas de Peyer (PP) na determinação do padrão de resposta imune, Th1 e Th2, durante a infecção por via intragástrica de camundongos suscetíveis (BALB/c) e resistentes (C57BL/6) com a amostra virulenta de Y. pseudotuberculosis (YpIII pIB1 - Yp+) ou seu par isogênico, curado do plasmídeo de virulência (YpIII - Yp-). As DCs das PP foram obtidas no 1°, 3° e 5° dia pós-infecção, quantificadas e analisadas quanto às suas subpopulações, expressões de moléculas de superfície e capacidade imunoestimulatória por citometria de fluxo, e quanto à secreção de citocinas (IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 e TNF-α) por ELISA. Os linfócitos das PP também foram obtidos no mesmo período e tiveram suas sub-populações e o padrão de citocinas intracelulares Th1/Th2 (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 e IFN-γ) analisado por citometria de fluxo. A infecção por Yp+ reduziu o número de DCs no 1° dia pós-infecção e aumentou, no período inicial, a expressão de B7.1 e B7.2 nos camundongos BALB/c. Nos camundongos C57BL/6 reduziu o número de DCs durante todo o período analisado, aumentou a expressão de B7.1 e B7.2 no período inicial e a expressão de ICAM-1. A infecção por ambas as amostras provocou redução da sub-população CD8α+ e da expressão de MHC II nas duas linhagens de animais, aumentou a sub-população CD11b+ nos animais suscetíveis e diminuiu nos animais resistentes. Os animais estudados não apresentaram... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica are pathogens that cause gastrointestinal disorders. Studies using in vitro infection demonstrated that Y. enterocolitica can have as a target dendritic cells (DCs), affecting several of its functions, including their maturation and production of cytokines, and, consequently, contributing to the diminished activation of the T CD4+ cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of dendritic cell from Peyer's patches (PP) in determining of immune response pattern, Th1 and Th2, during infection by the intragastric route in susceptible (BALB/c) and resistant (C57BL/6) mice with a virulent sample of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (YpIII pIB1 - Yp+) or its isogenic pair, cured of the virulence plasmid (YpIII - Yp-). The PP DCs were obtained on the 1st, 3rd and 5th days postinfection, quantified and analyzed as far as their subpopulations, expressions of surface molecules and immunostimulatory capacity by flow cytometry, and the cytokines secretion (IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α) by ELISA. The PP lymphocytes were also obtained in the same period, and had their subpopulations and the pattern of intracellular Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ) analysed by flow cytometry. The infection by Yp+ reduced the number of DCs on the 1st day post-infection and increased, in the initial period, the expression of B7.1 and B7.2 in BALB/c. In C57BL/6 mice reduced the number of DCs throughout the study period, increased the expression of B7.1 and B7.2 in the initial period and the expression of ICAM-1. The infection by both samples reduced CD8α+ subpopulation and expression of MHC II in both animals, increased CD11b+ sub-population in susceptible animals and reduced the same sub-population in resistant animals. The studied animals did not present important differences as far as secretion of cytokines by the DCs of PP and both... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

The Type III secretion system (T3SS) is an important virulence mechanism that allows pathogenic bacteria to translocate virulence effectors directly into the cytoplasm of eukaryotic host cells to manipulate the host cells in favor of the pathogen. Enteropathogenic Yersinia pseudotuberculosis use a T3SS to translocate effectors, Yops, that prevent phagocytosis by immune cells, and is largely dependent on it to establish and sustain an infection in the lymphoid tissues of a mammalian host. Translocation into a host cell requires specific translocator proteins, and is tightly controlled from both the bacterial and host cell cytoplasm. We aimed to investigate two of the regulatory elements, YopN and LcrV, to gain more insight into the translocation mechanism. Two separate regulatory complexes regulate expression and secretion of Yops, however, the processes are linked so that expression is induced when secretion is activated. A complex, including YopD, prevents expression of Yops, while YopN-TyeA and LcrG block secretion. LcrV is required to relieve the secretion block, by sequestering LcrG. We verified that LcrG binds to the C-terminal part of LcrV, which is consistent with what has been shown in Y. pestis. In addition to their regulatory roles, both LcrV and YopD are translocators and are assumed to interact at the bacterial surface, where LcrV promotes insertion of YopB and YopD into the host cell membrane. However, here we show that purified YopD failed to interact with LcrV, instead YopD solely interacted with a complex of LcrV-LcrG. This indicates that LcrV and YopD interact in the bacterial cytosol, which may be important for regulation of Yop expression and secretion. The established role of YopN is to block secretion prior to host cell contact. We found that deleting the central region (amino acids 76-181) had no effect on the regulatory role of YopN in expression and secretion of Yops. Interestingly, we found that, even though the YopN∆76-181 mutant secreted the translocators with similar kinetics as the wild type strain, translocation of the effector YopH, into HeLa cells, was significantly reduced. Consequently, the YopN∆76-181 mutant was unable to block phagocytosis, almost to the same level as the ∆lcrV mutant which is completely unable to translocate YopH. Our results indicate that YopN is involved in the translocation step in addition to its role in regulating secretion. Further, we show that the amino terminal of LcrV, in the context of translocation, is involved in the early intracellular targeting of YopH in order to block phagocytosis efficiently and sustain an in vivo infection. LcrV mutants that failed to efficiently target YopH intracellularly were severely attenuated also for in vivo virulence. All together, we show that LcrV and YopN are involved in more steps in the regulation of translocation, than what was known before. Our studies also highlight that early translocation is essential for Yersinia to block phagocytosis, which in the end is essential for in vivo virulence.