Salmonella enterica is a bacterial pathogen of humans that can proliferate within epithelial cells as well as professional phagocytes of the immune system. This ability requires an S. enterica specific locus termed Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI‐2). SPI‐2 encodes a type III secretion system that injects effectors encoded within the island into host cell cytosol to promote virulence. SsrAB is a two‐component regulator encoded within SPI‐2 that was assumed to activate SPI‐2 genes exclusively. Here, it is shown that SsrB in fact activates a global regulon. At least 10 genes outside SPI‐2 are SsrB regulated within epithelial and macrophage cells. Nine of these 10 SsrB‐regulated genes outside SPI‐2 reside within previously undescribed regions of the Salmonella genome. Most share no sequence homology with current database entries. However, one is remarkably homologous to human glucosyl ceramidase, an enzyme involved in the ceramide signalling pathway. The SsrB regulon is modulated by the two‐component regulatory systems PhoP/PhoQ and OmpR/EnvZ, and is upregulated in the intracellular microenvironment.

BackgroundBacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) comprise a diverse transporter family functioning in conjugation, competence, and effector molecule (DNA and/or protein) translocation. Thirteen genome sequences from Rickettsia, obligate intracellular symbionts/pathogens of a wide range of eukaryotes, have revealed a reduced T4SS relative to the Agrobacterium tumefaciens archetype (vir). However, the Rickettsia T4SS has not been functionally characterized for its role in symbiosis/virulence, and none of its substrates are known.ResultsSuperimposition of T4SS structural/functional information over previously identified Rickettsia components implicate a functional Rickettsia T4SS. virB4, virB8 and virB9 are duplicated, yet only one copy of each has the conserved features of similar genes in other T4SSs. An extraordinarily duplicated VirB6 gene encodes five hydrophobic proteins conserved only in a short region known to be involved in DNA transfer in A. tumefaciens. virB1, virB2 and virB7 are newly identified, revealing a Rickettsia T4SS lacking only virB5 relative to the vir archetype. Phylogeny estimation suggests vertical inheritance of all components, despite gene rearrangements into an archipelago of five islets. Similarities of Rickettsia VirB7/VirB9 to ComB7/ComB9 proteins of ε-proteobacteria, as well as phylogenetic affinities to the Legionella lvh T4SS, imply the Rickettsiales ancestor acquired a vir-like locus from distantly related bacteria, perhaps while residing in a protozoan host. Modern modifications of these systems likely reflect diversification with various eukaryotic host cells.ConclusionWe present the rvh (Rickettsiales vir homolog) T4SS, an evolutionary conserved transporter with an unknown role in rickettsial biology. This work lays the foundation for future laboratory characterization of this system, and also identifies the Legionella lvh T4SS as a suitable genetic model.

The enteric pathogen Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium induces apoptosis in infected macrophages. This process is rapid, specific, and depends on the type III protein secretion system encoded within Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1). Here, we demonstrate that serotype Typhimurium can activate programmed macrophage cell death independently of SPI1. SPI1 independent induction of apoptosis in infected macrophages is observed as early as 12 to 13 h postinfection, even in the absence of intracellular bacterial replication. Delayed activation of programmed macrophage cell death is not observed with serotype Typhimurium strains mutated in ompR or SPI2. Even though SPI2 mutants have a defect in intracellular proliferation, our results indicate that long-term intracellular survival and growth are not required for delayed macrophage killing per se, since Salmonella mutants that are severely defective in intracellular growth still induce delayed apoptosis. Inactivation of genes required for either rapid or delayed induction of apoptosis results in a conditional noncytotoxic phenotype, whereas simultaneous inactivation of genes required for both rapid and delayed induction of apoptosis renders serotype Typhimurium noncytotoxic under all conditions tested. Our hypothesis is that differential activation of programmed macrophage cell death by serotype Typhimurium occurs under discrete physiological conditions at distinct locations within an infected host.

A common theme in bacterial pathogenesis is the secretion of bacterial products that modify cellular functions to overcome host defenses. Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use type III secretion systems (TTSSs) to inject effector proteins into host cells. The genes encoding the structural components of the type III secretion apparatus are conserved among bacterial species and can be identified by sequence homology. In contrast, the sequences of secreted effector proteins are less conserved and are therefore difficult to identify. A strategy was developed to identify virulence factors secreted by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium into the host cell cytoplasm. We constructed a transposon, which we refer to as mini-Tn5-cycler, to generate translational fusions between Salmonella chromosomal genes and a fragment of the calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase gene derived from Bordetella pertussis (cyaA). In-frame fusions to bacterial proteins that are secreted into the eukaryotic cell cytoplasm were identified by high levels of cyclic AMP in infected cells. The assay was sufficiently sensitive that a single secreted fusion could be identified among several hundred that were not secreted. This approach identified three new effectors as well as seven that have been previously characterized. A deletion of one of the new effectors, steA (Salmonella translocated effector A), attenuated virulence. In addition, SteA localizes to the trans-Golgi network in both transfected and infected cells. This approach has identified new secreted effector proteins in Salmonella and will likely be useful for other organisms, even those in which genetic manipulation is more difficult.Pathogenic bacteria interact with host cells to create unique niches for replication and dissemination. Bacterial pathogens modify their host cells via the expression of exotoxins, proteases, and several other factors that are required for virulence. To alter the host cell, bacterial virulence factors must reach a host target.

The mammalian host has a number of innate immune mechanisms designed to limit the spread of infection, yet many bacteria, including Salmonella, can cause systemic disease. Salmonella typhimurium-infected phagocytes traverse the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium and enter the bloodstream within minutes after ingestion, thereby spreading throughout its host. Here, we provide a cellular and molecular basis for this phenomenon. We demonstrate that S. typhimurium manipulates the migratory properties of infected GI phagocytes with a type III secretion system. We show that one secreted effector, SrfH, interacts with the host protein TRIP6, a member of the zyxin family of adaptor proteins that regulate motility. SrfH promotes phagocyte motility in vitro and accelerates the systemic spread of infection away from the lumen of the intestine in the mouse. This is a previously uncharacterized mechanism by which an intracellular pathogen overcomes host defenses designed to immobilize infected cells.bacteremia ͉ secreted effector ͉ TRIP6 ͉ type 3 secretion ͉ virulence