No description available.

Manganese and iron homeostasis play an important role in oxidative stress protection in a variety of organisms. However, the transport and role of these metals in the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis were not well understood. Analysis of the genome of P. gingivalis W83 revealed the presence of two genes encoding homologs of ferrous iron transport protein, FeoB1 and FeoB2. The goal of this study was to determine the role of these two putative transporters in metal transport, their contributions to resistance to oxygen radicals and intracellular survival as well as the regulation and genetic organization of these two loci. Isogenic mutant strains deficient in FeoB1 and FeoB2, respectively, were generated and used in this study. The transport ability for manganese and iron was assessed and compared in feoB1, feoB2 mutant and wild type strains using 55Fe2+ and 54Mn2+. We demonstrated that feoB2 encodes a major manganese transporter, while FeoB1 functions as a major ferrous iron transporter. The roles of P. gingivalis FeoB1 and FeoB2 in oxidative stress defense and intracellular survival in host cells were determined using an oxidative stress survival assay and an in vitro infection assay, respectively. The feoB2 mutant exhibited reduced survival after exposure to H2O2 and to atmospheric oxygen and inside the host cells compared to the wild-type strain and its revertant, while the feoB1 mutant survived as well as the wild type strain under oxidative stress and possessed better capability to adhere to and survive in the host cells. Our results demonstrate that FeoB2 is required for protection of the bacterium from oxidative stress and for intracellular survival of P. gingivalis in host cells. However, FeoB1 is dispensable for both processes. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that expression of feoB2 in P. gingivalis is induced by oxidative stress. However, expression of feoB1 increased 2-fold upon exposure to lower growth temperature. Both observed inductions were specific and not detected under other stress conditions. We have also showed in this study that feoB2 is the second gene transcribed in an operon that is composed of a total of five genes and feoB1 is only co-transcribed with one downstream gene encoding a hypothetical protein. Notably, we also identified tandem repeats with potential to form stable stem-loop RNA secondary structure within the feoB2 and feoB1 transcripts.To our knowledge, this study has demonstrated the first connection among metal homeostasis, oxidative stress resistance and response to host cells in the periodontal pathogen, P. gingivalis.

Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic bacterium that must exist in diverse environments ranging from arthropod vectors to mammalian hosts. To better understand how genes are regulated in these different environments, a transcriptional response- regulator gene (genome locus FTL0552) was deleted in F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS). The FTL0552 deletion mutant exhibited slightly reduced rates of extracellular growth but was unable to replicate or survive in mouse macrophages and was avirulent in the mouse model using either BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice. Mice infected with the FTL0552 mutant produced reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines, exhibited reduced histopathology and cleared the bacteria quicker than mice infected with LVS. Mice that survived infection with the FTL0552 mutant were afforded partial protection when challenged with a lethal dose of the virulent Schu S4 strain (4 of 10 survivors, day 21 post infection) when compared to naïve mice (0 of 10 survivors by day 7 post infection). Microarray experiments indicate that 148 genes are regulated in the FTL0552 mutant. Most of the genes are down regulated, indicating that FTL0552 controls transcription of genes in a positive manner. The list of down regulated genes includes genes located within the Francisella Pathogenicity Island (FPI) that are essential for intracellular survival and virulence of Francisella tularensis. Furthermore, a mutant in FTL0552 or the comparable locus in Schu S4 (FTT1557c) may be an alternative candidate vaccine for tularemia.

No description available.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative bacterium that serves as a bridging organism in polymicrobial biofilms within the oral cavity. Although the bacterium is abundant in healthy gingival tissue, recent studies have found that F. nucleatum is associated with a wide-spectrum of human diseases which include periodontal disease, preterm birth, endocarditis, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Previous studies of F. nucleatum virulence have uncovered two surface adhesins, Fap2 and FadA, that interact with the surface of human cells; however, the study of new virulence factors was previously limited as there was no gene deletion system available to functionally analyze F. nucleatum proteins. Interestingly, F. nucleatum has a diverse landscape of structurally unique surface adhesins called Type 5c secreted trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs), which are a family of proteins that are historically known for their contributions to bacterial pathogenesis. This dissertation encompasses the use of recombinant protein expression systems and newly developed gene deletion technology to provide a foundational understanding of the contribution of Type 5c secreted proteins in F. nucleatum pathogenesis. Our results show that the presence of TAAs on the surface of F. nucleatum contribute to the bacterium's ability to bind and invade human cells, establishing the need to characterize other F. nucleatum surface proteins. Additionally, our studies analyzed the proinflammatory landscape induced by F. nucleatum through the identification of specific cytokines that are being secreted during in vitro infections of human cells. Cytokine signaling is a critical aspect of the host cell immune response as it promotes the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection for efficient clearance of bacterial pathogens. While it has been well established that F. nucleatum modulates the secretion of IL-8, our studies identified that the bacterium also promotes the secretion of CXCL1, which is an important signaling protein that promotes tumor metastases. Overall, the work provided in this dissertation has delivered the initial characterization of TAAs in F. nucleatum virulence, a framework for future studies of Type 5c secreted proteins in Fusobacterium pathogenesis, and the role of Fap2 and FadA in promoting pro-inflammatory and pro-metastatic signaling from colorectal cancer cells. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative bacterium that serves as a bridging organism in polymicrobial biofilms within the oral cavity. Although the bacterium is abundant in healthy gingival tissue, recent studies have found that F. nucleatum is associated with a wide-spectrum of human diseases which include periodontal disease, preterm birth, endocarditis, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Previous studies of F. nucleatum virulence have uncovered two surface adhesins, Fap2 and FadA, that interact with the surface of human cells; however, the study of new virulence factors was previously limited as there was no gene deletion system available to functionally analyze F. nucleatum proteins. Interestingly, F. nucleatum has a diverse landscape of structurally unique surface adhesins called Type 5c secreted trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs), which are a family of proteins that are historically known for their contributions to bacterial pathogenesis. This dissertation encompasses the use of recombinant protein expression systems and newly developed gene deletion technology to provide a foundational understanding of the contribution of Type 5c secreted proteins in F. nucleatum pathogenesis. Our results show that the presence of TAAs on the surface of F. nucleatum contribute to the bacterium’s ability to bind and invade human cells, establishing the need to characterize other F. nucleatum surface proteins. Additionally, our studies analyzed the proinflammatory landscape induced by F. nucleatum through the identification of specific cytokines that are being secreted during in vitro infections of human cells. Cytokine signaling is a critical aspect of the host cell immune response as it promotes the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection for efficient clearance of bacterial pathogens. While it has been well established that F. nucleatum modulates the secretion of IL-8, our studies identified that the bacterium also promotes the secretion of CXCL1, which is an important signaling protein that promotes tumor metastases. Overall, the work provided in this dissertation has delivered the initial characterization of TAAs in F. nucleatum virulence, a framework for future studies of Type 5c secreted proteins in Fusobacterium pathogenesis, and the role of Fap2 and FadA in promoting pro-inflammatory and pro-metastatic signaling from colorectal cancer cells

L’adhésine impliquée dans l’adhérence diffuse (AIDA-I) est une adhésine bactérienne présente chez certaines souches d’Escherichia coli qui, associée aux toxines Stx2e ou STb, contribue à l’apparition de la maladie de l’œdème ou de la diarrhée post-sevrage chez les porcelets. AIDA-I est un autotransporteur qui confère des capacités d’autoaggrégation, de formation de biofilms et d’adhésion. L’objectif principal du projet de recherche consistait en la recherche de récepteur(s) potentiel(s) d’AIDA-I. Les bactéries pathogènes adhèrent aux cellules-cibles soit en liant directement des molécules à la surface cellulaire ou en utilisant des molécules intermédiaires qui permettent de diminuer la distance séparant la bactérie de la cellule-cible. Puisque le sérum est un fluide qui contient de nombreuses molécules, celui-ci a été utilisé comme matériel de départ pour l’isolement de récepteur(s) potentiels. Nous avons isolé un récepteur potentiel à partir du sérum porcin : l’apolipoprotéine A-I. L’interaction entre l’apolipoprotéine A-I et AIDA-I a été confirmée par ELISA et microscopie à fluorescence. La capacité à envahir les cellules épithéliales offre aux pathogènes la possibilité d’établir une niche intracellulaire qui les protègent contre les attaques du milieu extérieur. La présente étude a démontré que la présence d’AIDA-I en tant que seul facteur de virulence chez une souche de laboratoire permet de conférer la capacité d’envahir les cellules sans promouvoir la survie intracellulaire. L’étude de la souche sauvage 2787, exprimant AIDA-I en association avec d’autres facteurs de virulence, a démontré une différence significative pour les phénotypes d’invasion et de survie intracellulaire face à la souche de laboratoire exprimant AIDA-I. / The adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA-I) is a bacterial adhesin associated with some Escherichia coli strains that might, when associated with toxin Stx2e or STb, contribute to the development of edema disease or post-weaning diarrhea in piglets. AIDA-I is an autotransporter that mediates various phenotypes such as adhesion, autoaggregation and biofilm formation. The main aim of our project was to find potential receptor(s) for AIDA-I. Pathogens can either bind cell directly by targeting exposed cell surface molecules or use an intermediate molecule as a bridge to lessen the space separating them from their target cell. Serum is known to contain a wide range of molecules so it has been used as raw material for the isolation of a putative receptor for AIDA-I. We isolated a putative receptor for AIDA-I: the apolipoprotein A-I. The interaction between the apolipoprotein A-I and AIDA-I was confirmed by ELISA and fluorescent microscopy. The capacity to invade epithelial cell enables pathogens to create an intracellular niche that protects them against attacks from the extracellular environment. The present report has shown that the presence of AIDA-I as the sole virulence factor in a laboratory strain, enable bacteria to invade cultured cells but does not promote intracellular survival. Studies conducted on wild-type strain 2787, which express AIDA-I in association with other virulence factors, has shown a significant difference in invasion and intracellular survival phenotypes compared to the laboratory strain expressing AIDA-I.

L’invasion des ostéoblastes par Staphylococcus aureus (SA) est considérée comme responsable, au moins partiellement, de l’évolution chronique ou récurrente des infections osseuses (IO). Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que des différences d’interactions SA-ostéoblastes pouvaient être associées aux différences de présentation clinique des IO. Nous avons d’abord développé un modèle ex vivo d’infection intracellulaire d’ostéoblastes humains permettant de quantifier l’adhésion, l’invasion, la survie intracellulaire de SA et les dommages subis par les cellules infectées. Grâce ce modèle, nous avons montré que les SA communautaires résistants à la méticilline (CA-MRSA), un groupe polyphylétique de souches hypervirulentes associées à des formes aiguës et sévères d’IO, induisent une cytotoxicité supérieure à celle des MRSA hospitaliers (HA-MRSA) associés à des IO plus souvent chroniques. A l’aide de mutants isogéniques, nous avons pu démontrer que cette cytotoxicité était indépendante de la toxine de Panton-Valentine et l’alphahémolysine mais associée à la surexpression des phenol-soluble modulins (PSM) par les CA-MRSA. Ces résultats ont permis d’identifier un nouveau mécanisme de virulence des CA-MRSA basé sur l’invasion des ostéoblastes et l’activité intracellulaire des PSM. Parallèlement, nous avons montré que certains antibiotiques modifient le niveau de transcription et d’expression des protéines staphylococciques impliquées dans l’invasion des ostéoblastes, sans que nous ne puissions montrer une modification de la capacité d’invasion de S. aureus dans ce même modèle ex vivo. Nos travaux ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives dans la compréhension et la prise en charge des IO due à SA / Osteoblast invasion by Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is currently considered a putative explanatory mechanism for the chronic or recurrent nature of osteomyelitis. We raised the hypothesis that inter-strain differences in the interactions between S. aureus and osteoblasts at the cellular level could correlate with differences in the clinical presentation of osteomyelitis. We first developed an ex vivo model of intracellular bacterial challenge of human osteoblasts to quantify SA adhesion, invasion and intracellular survival as well as SA-induced damage to infected cells. By means of this model, we have demonstrated that community-acquired methicillinresistant SA (CA-MRSA) strains, which belong to a polyphyletic group endowed with high virulence and are associated with severe and acute forms of osteomyelitis, induce more cytotoxicity in osteoblasts as compared to hospital MRSA strains, which in turn are more frequently involved in chronic forms of osteomyelitis. Using isogenic CA-MRSA mutants, we determined that SA-induced osteoblast damage was independent of the production of Panton-Valentin leukocidin and alpha-toxin, but was associated with the overexpression of phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) by CAMRSA. These findings elucidate a novel virulence strategy of CA-MRSA based on the invasion and PSM-related killing of osteoblasts. In parallel to this research, we demonstrated that several antibiotics alter the transcription and expression levels of SA adhesins involved in osteoblast invasion. However, antibiotics did not induce changes in SA invasiveness in our ex vivo infection model. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of SA osteomyelitis

L’adhésine impliquée dans l’adhérence diffuse (AIDA-I) est une adhésine bactérienne présente chez certaines souches d’Escherichia coli qui, associée aux toxines Stx2e ou STb, contribue à l’apparition de la maladie de l’œdème ou de la diarrhée post-sevrage chez les porcelets. AIDA-I est un autotransporteur qui confère des capacités d’autoaggrégation, de formation de biofilms et d’adhésion. L’objectif principal du projet de recherche consistait en la recherche de récepteur(s) potentiel(s) d’AIDA-I. Les bactéries pathogènes adhèrent aux cellules-cibles soit en liant directement des molécules à la surface cellulaire ou en utilisant des molécules intermédiaires qui permettent de diminuer la distance séparant la bactérie de la cellule-cible. Puisque le sérum est un fluide qui contient de nombreuses molécules, celui-ci a été utilisé comme matériel de départ pour l’isolement de récepteur(s) potentiels. Nous avons isolé un récepteur potentiel à partir du sérum porcin : l’apolipoprotéine A-I. L’interaction entre l’apolipoprotéine A-I et AIDA-I a été confirmée par ELISA et microscopie à fluorescence. La capacité à envahir les cellules épithéliales offre aux pathogènes la possibilité d’établir une niche intracellulaire qui les protègent contre les attaques du milieu extérieur. La présente étude a démontré que la présence d’AIDA-I en tant que seul facteur de virulence chez une souche de laboratoire permet de conférer la capacité d’envahir les cellules sans promouvoir la survie intracellulaire. L’étude de la souche sauvage 2787, exprimant AIDA-I en association avec d’autres facteurs de virulence, a démontré une différence significative pour les phénotypes d’invasion et de survie intracellulaire face à la souche de laboratoire exprimant AIDA-I. / The adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA-I) is a bacterial adhesin associated with some Escherichia coli strains that might, when associated with toxin Stx2e or STb, contribute to the development of edema disease or post-weaning diarrhea in piglets. AIDA-I is an autotransporter that mediates various phenotypes such as adhesion, autoaggregation and biofilm formation. The main aim of our project was to find potential receptor(s) for AIDA-I. Pathogens can either bind cell directly by targeting exposed cell surface molecules or use an intermediate molecule as a bridge to lessen the space separating them from their target cell. Serum is known to contain a wide range of molecules so it has been used as raw material for the isolation of a putative receptor for AIDA-I. We isolated a putative receptor for AIDA-I: the apolipoprotein A-I. The interaction between the apolipoprotein A-I and AIDA-I was confirmed by ELISA and fluorescent microscopy. The capacity to invade epithelial cell enables pathogens to create an intracellular niche that protects them against attacks from the extracellular environment. The present report has shown that the presence of AIDA-I as the sole virulence factor in a laboratory strain, enable bacteria to invade cultured cells but does not promote intracellular survival. Studies conducted on wild-type strain 2787, which express AIDA-I in association with other virulence factors, has shown a significant difference in invasion and intracellular survival phenotypes compared to the laboratory strain expressing AIDA-I.

The Gram-negative aerobic coccobacillus Bordetella pertussis is one of the few exclusively human pathogens and the main causative agent of the respiratory infectious disease called pertussis, or whooping cough. Despite global vaccination programs, pertussis remains an important public-health burden and still accounts for over 100,000 infant deaths and over a dozen of millions of whooping cough cases every year. Substantial effort is devoted to studies on the mechanisms of action of virulence factors of B. pertussis, but the biology of interactions of B. pertussis with its human host remains largely underexplored. Evolution, genetics and adaptation of B. pertussis to the complex environment of human nasopharynx and the mechanisms enabling B. pertussis to overcome host innate and adaptive mucosal immune defenses, remain poorly understood. In such situations, unbiased exploratory omics approaches represent valuable tools for uncovering of unknown aspects of host-pathogen interactions and open the path to detailed analysis of virulence-underlying processes by mechanistic studies. In this thesis, I am presenting the results of three omics projects on B. pertussis biology that involved high-throughput proteomics. In the inital phosphoprotemics project, we analyzed the kinase signaling pathways hijacked...

Le genre bactérien Salmonella regroupe plus de 2500 sérovars, mais peu sont responsables de pathologies humaines. Salmonella enterica sérovar Typhi (S. Typhi) est reconnu pour son importance médicale à travers le globe. S. Typhi cause la fièvre typhoïde chez l’Homme, une maladie infectieuse létale caractérisée par la dissémination systémique de la bactérie vers des organes du système réticulo-endothélial. La fièvre typhoïde représente un fardeau pour la santé mondiale, notamment auprès des pays en développement où les conditions sanitaires sont désuètes. La situation se complique davantage par l’apparition de souches résistantes aux antibiotiques. De plus, les deux vaccins licenciés sont d’efficacité modérée, présentent certaines contraintes techniques et ne sont pas appropriés pour les jeunes enfants et nourrissons. La phase systémique de l’infection par Salmonella repose sur sa survie dans les macrophages du système immunitaire. Dans ce compartiment intracellulaire, la bactérie module les défenses antimicrobiennes grâce à de multiples facteurs de virulence encodés dans son génome. Les mécanismes moléculaires sollicités sont complexes et finement régulés. Malgré les progrès scientifiques réalisés précédemment, plusieurs incompréhensions persistent au sujet de l’adaptation de ce pathogène dans les macrophages de l’hôte. Pour mieux concevoir les déterminants génétiques de S. Typhi impliqués dans l’interaction avec ces cellules, une stratégie de sélection négative a été appliquée afin de vérifier systématiquement l’effet direct des gènes pendant l’infection. En premier temps, une librairie de mutants par transposon chez S. Typhi a été créée pour l’infection de macrophages humains en culture. Après 24 heures d’infection, la présence des mutants fut évaluée simultanément par analyse sur des biopuces de Salmonella. Au total, 130 gènes ont été sélectionnés pour leur contribution potentielle auprès des macrophages infectés. Ces gènes comptaient des composantes d’enveloppe bactérienne, des éléments fimbriaires, des portions du flagelle, des régulateurs, des facteurs de pathogenèse et plusieurs protéines sans fonction connue. En deuxième temps, cette collection de gènes a dirigé la création de 28 mutants de délétion définie chez S. Typhi. Les capacités d’entrée et de réplication intracellulaire de ces mutants au sein des macrophages humains ont été caractérisées. D’abord, les macrophages ont été co-infectés avec les mutants en présence de la souche sauvage, pour vérifier la compétitivité de chacun d’eux envers cette dernière. Ensuite, les mutants ont été inoculés individuellement chez les macrophages et leur infectivité fut mesurée comparativement à celle de la souche sauvage. Sommairement, 26 mutants ont présenté des défauts lorsqu’en compétition, tandis que 14 mutants se sont montrés défectueux lorsque testés seuls. Par ailleurs, 12 mutants ont exposé une déficience lors de l’infection mixte et individuelle, incluant les mutants acrA, exbDB, flhCD, fliC, gppA, mlc, pgtE, typA, waaQGP, STY1867-68, STY2346 et SPI-4. Notamment, 35 nouveaux phénotypes défectueux d’entrée ou de survie intracellulaire chez Salmonella ont été révélés par cette étude. Les données générées ici offrent plusieurs nouvelles pistes pour élucider comment S. Typhi manipule sa niche intracellulaire, menant à l’infection systémique. Les gènes décrits représentent des cibles potentielles pour atténuer la bactérie chez l’humain et pourraient contribuer au développement de meilleures souches vaccinales pour immuniser contre la fièvre typhoïde. / The bacterial genus Salmonella holds over 2500 serovars, but few are responsible for human pathologies. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) is recognized across the globe for its medical importance. S. Typhi causes typhoid fever in humans, a lethal infectious disease characterized by systemic dissemination of the bacteria to organs of the reticulo-endothelial system. Typhoid fever represents a burden for public health, notably in developing countries where sanitary conditions are obsolete. The situation is further complicated by the appearance of strains resistant to antibiotics. Moreover, both of the licensed vaccines are of moderate efficiency, present certain technical constraints and are not appropriate for young children and newborns. The systemic phase of infection by Salmonella relies on its survival within macrophages of the immune system. In this intracellular compartment, the bacterium modulates antimicrobial defenses thanks to multiple virulence factors encoded within its genome. Molecular mechanisms taking place are complex and finely regulated. Despite scientific advances made previously, many misunderstandings persist concerning the adaptation of this pathogen within host macrophages. To better conceive the genetic determinants of S. Typhi involved in interaction with these cells, a negative selection strategy was applied to systematically verify the direct effect of genes during infection. Firstly, a library of transposon insertion mutants in S. Typhi was created for infection of cultured human macrophages. After 24 hours of infection, the presence of mutants was evaluated simultaneously by analysis on Salmonella microarrays. In total, 130 genes were selected for their potential contribution within infected macrophages. These genes included bacterial envelope components, fimbrial elements, portions of the flagellum, regulators, pathogenesis factors, and many proteins of unknown function. Secondly, this collection of genes led to the creation of 28 defined deletion mutants in S. Typhi. The ability of entry and intracellular replication of these mutants within human macrophages were characterized. To start, macrophages were coinfected with mutants in the presence of the wild-type strain, in order to verify the competitiveness of each of them against the latter. Then, mutants were inoculated individually into macrophages and their infectiveness was measured in comparison with the wild-type strain. In summary, 26 mutants presented defects when in competition, whereas 14 mutants were shown defective when tested alone. Furthermore, 12 mutants exposed a deficiency during mixed and individual infection experiments, including mutants acrA, exbDB, flhCD, fliC, gppA, mlc, pgtE, typA, waaQGP, STY1867-68, STY2346, and SPI-4. In particular, 35 new defective phenotypes of Salmonella entry or intracellular survival were revealed in this study. Data generated here provides significant novel insight for elucidating how S. Typhi manipulates its intracellular niche, leading to systemic infection. Genes described represent potential targets for attenuating the bacteria in the human host and could contribute to the development of better vaccine strains to immunize against typhoid fever.