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PubMed1997

Distinct costimulatory molecules are required for the induction of effector and memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

A successful T cell immune response has two major products: effector T cells which directly or indirectly remove the antigens, and memory T cells, which allow a faster and more efficient recall response when challenged by related antigens. An important issue is whether costimulatory molecules on the antigen-presenting cells are involved in determining whether T cells will differentiate into effector or memory cells after antigenic stimulation. To address this issue, we have produced mice with targeted mutations of either the heat-stable antigen (HSA), or both HSA and CD28. We show that CD28/B7 and HSA provide two alternative costimulatory pathways for induction of immunological memory to influenza virus. Furthermore, our results revealed that B7 is essential for the generation of effector T cells from either naive or memory T cells, while HSA is not necessary for the generation of effector T cells. Our results demonstrate that the induction of memory T cells and effector T cells can utilize distinct costimulatory molecules. These results have important implications on lineage relationship between effector and memory T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Differentiating between memory and effector CD8 T cells by altered expression of cell surface O-glycans.

Currently there are few reliable cell surface markers that can clearly discriminate effector from memory T cells. To determine if there are changes in O-glycosylation between these two cell types, we analyzed virus-specific CD8 T cells at various time points after lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection of mice. Antigen-specific CD8 T cells were identified using major histocompatibility complex class I tetramers, and glycosylation changes were monitored with a monoclonal antibody (1B11) that recognizes O-glycans on mucin-type glycoproteins. We observed a striking upregulation of a specific cell surface O-glycan epitope on virus-specific CD8 T cells during the effector phase of the primary cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. This upregulation showed a strong correlation with the acquisition of effector function and was downregulated on memory CD8 T cells. Upon reinfection, there was again increased expression of this specific O-glycan epitope on secondary CTL effectors, followed once more by decreased expression on memory cells. Thus, this study identifies a new cell surface marker to distinguish between effector and memory CD8 T cells. This marker can be used to isolate pure populations of effector CTLs and also to determine the proportion of memory CD8 T cells that are recruited into the secondary response upon reencounter with antigen. This latter information will be of value in optimizing immunization strategies for boosting CD8 T cell responses.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

CD4 effector T cell subsets in the response to influenza: heterogeneity, migration, and function.

The immune response of naive CD4 T cells to influenza virus is initiated in the draining lymph nodes and spleen, and only after effectors are generated do antigen-specific cells migrate to the lung which is the site of infection. The effector cells generated in secondary organs appear as multiple subsets which are a heterogeneous continuum of cells in terms of number of cell divisions, phenotype and function. The effector cells that migrate to the lung constitute the more differentiated of the total responding population, characterized by many cell divisions, loss of CD62L, down-regulation of CCR7, stable expression of CD44 and CD49d, and transient expression of CCR5 and CD25. These cells also secrete high levels of interferon gamma and reduced levels of interleukin 2 relative to those in the secondary lymphoid organs. The response declines rapidly in parallel with viral clearance, but a spectrum of resting cell subsets reflecting the pattern at the peak of response is retained, suggesting that heterogeneous effector populations may give rise to corresponding memory populations. These results reveal a complex response, not an all-or-none one, which results in multiple effector phenotypes and implies that effector cells and the memory cells derived from them can display a broad spectrum of functional potentials.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

IL-7 promotes the transition of CD4 effectors to persistent memory cells.

After transfer to adoptive hosts, in vitro-generated CD4 effectors can become long-lived memory cells, but the factors regulating this transition are unknown. We find that low doses of interleukin (IL) 7 enhance survival of effectors in vitro without driving their division. When in vitro-generated effectors are transferred to normal intact adoptive hosts, they survive and rapidly become small resting cells with a memory phenotype. CD4 effectors generated from wild-type versus IL-7 receptor-/- mice were transferred to adoptive hosts, including intact mice and those deficient in IL-7. In each case, the response to IL-7 was critical for good recovery of donor cells after 5-7 d. Recovery was also IL-7-dependent in Class II hosts where division was minimal. Blocking antibodies to IL-7 dramatically decreased short-term recovery of transferred effectors in vivo without affecting their division. These data indicate that IL-7 plays a critical role in promoting memory CD4 T cell generation by providing survival signals, which allow effectors to successfully become resting memory cells.

Adoptive Transfer↗

PubMed1997

Effector contributions to G beta gamma-mediated signaling as revealed by muscarinic potassium channel gating.

Receptor-mediated activation of heterotrimeric G proteins leading to dissociation of the G alpha subunit from G beta gamma is a highly conserved signaling strategy used by numerous extracellular stimuli. Although G beta gamma subunits regulate a variety of effectors, including kinases, cyclases, phospholipases, and ion channels (Clapham, D.E., and E.J. Neer. 1993. Nature (Lond.). 365:403-406), few tools exist for probing instantaneous G beta gamma-effector interactions and little is known about the kinetic contributions of effectors to the signaling process. In this study, we used the atrial muscarinic K + channel, which is activated by direct interactions with G beta gamma subunits (Logothetis, D.E., Y. Kurachi J. Galper, E.J. Neer, and D.E. Clap. 1987. Nature (Lond.). 325:321-326; Wickman, K., J. A. Iniguez-Liuhi, P.A. Davenport, R. Taussig, G.B. Krapivinsky, M.E. Linder, A.G. Gilman, and D.E. Clapham. 1994. Nature (Lond.). 366: 654-663; Huang, C.-L., P.A. Slesinger, P.J. Casey, Y.N. Jan, and L.Y. Jan. 1995. Neuron. 15:1133-1143), as a sensitive reporter of the dynamics of G beta gamma-effector interactions. Muscarinic K+ channels exhibit bursting behavior upon G protein activation, shifting between three distinct functional modes, characterized by the frequency of channel openings during individual bursts. Acetylcholine concentration (and by inference, the concentration of activated G beta gamma) controls the fraction of time spent in each mode without changing either the burst duration or channel gating within individual modes. The picture which emerges is of a G beta gamma effector with allosteric regulation and an intrinsic "off" switch which serves to limit its own activation. These two features combine to establish exquisite channel sensitivity to changes in G beta gamma concentration, and may be indicative of the factors regulating other G beta gamma-modulated effectors.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

The Hrp pilus of Pseudomonas syringae elongates from its tip and acts as a conduit for translocation of the effector protein HrpZ.

The type III secretion system (TTSS) is an essential requirement for the virulence of many Gram-negative bacteria infecting plants, animals and man. Pathogens use the TTSS to deliver effector proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm to the eukaryotic host cell, where the effectors subvert host defences. Plant pathogens have to translocate their effector proteins through the plant cell wall barrier. The best candidates for directing effector protein traffic are bacterial appendages attached to the membrane-bound components of the TTSS. We have investigated the protein secretion route in relation to the TTSS appendage, termed the Hrp pilus, of the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. By pulse expression of proteins combined with immunoelectron microscopy, we show that the Hrp pilus elongates by the addition of HrpA pilin subunits at the distal end, and that the effector protein HrpZ is secreted only from the pilus tip. Our results indicate that both HrpA and HrpZ travel through the Hrp pilus, which functions as a conduit for the long-distance translocation of effector proteins.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

PubMed1988

Morphology of interleukin-2-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear effector cells killing glioma-derived tumor cells in vitro.

This is the first morphological study of interleukin-2-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells resulting in lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity against human glioma-derived tumor cells in vitro, in which high-resolution differential interference video light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used. A subset of cells within the LAK cell population are the effector cells and have an asymmetric cellular architecture characteristic of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. Upon binding to target cells, the LAK effector cell nucleus is positioned away from the target cell, whereas the granules, Golgi apparatus, and microtubules orient toward the target cell. These LAK-glioma cell conjugates form very tight plasma membrane bonds with numerous interdigitations, and vesicles were found in the small extracellular spaces between the cells. This morphology was not observed in unstimulated PBM-glioma cell co-cultures. Glioma-derived cells react to LAK effector cells by blebbing, becoming round, and rapidly detaching from the substrate. The injured glioma-derived cells had a highly condensed cytoplasm and chromatin, lobular nucleus, and severe plasma membrane blebs, which are consistent with an apoptotic rather than an osmotic lysis mechanism of cell death. This study provides morphological evidence that supports a common cytotoxic mechanism for CTLs, NK cells, and LAK effector cells. The cytotoxic mechanism is based on the local exocytosis of vesicles by the effector cell into the small extracellular space between the effector-target cell conjugate. Granules found in CTLs, NK cells, and LAK cells contain a pore-forming protein that inserts holes in the target cell's plasma membrane through which a lethal substance(s) not yet identified is thought to enter the cell.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1981

Regulation of Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase by multiple effectors in vivo. II. Kinetic studies with a reaction system containing physiological concentrations of ligands.

In an attempt to clarify the kinetic properties of Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase [EC 4.1.1.31] in vivo and to evaluate the physiological significance of the individual effectors, saturation curves were obtained for each ligand with reaction mixtures (pH 7.3) containing "physiological concentrations" of the other ligands in various combinations. As the "physiological concentrations" of ligands, which are defined as the concentrations of ligands found in the glucose-grown cells, the following values were employed: PEP, 0.2 mM; acetyl-CoA(CoA-SAc), 0.4 mM; fructose 1,6-bisphosphate(Fru-1,6-P2), 2.0 mM; GTP, 1.0 mM; L-aspartate, 1.0 mM; L-malate, 1.0 mM (Morikawa, M., Izui, K., Taguchi, M., & Katsuki, H. (1980) J. Biochem. 87, 441--449). In the absence of any activator the enzyme activity was very low. CoASAc was the most powerful activator. The other two activators (Fru-1,6-P2 and GTP) exhibited essentially no activation alone, but produced a strong synergistic activation with CoASAc. The severe inhibition by L-aspartate or L-malate was effectively alleviated only through this synergistic action of the activators. The presence of all three activators decreased the half-saturation concentration (S0.5) of PEP from 15 mM to 0.35 mM and increased the maximal velocity attainable at infinite concentration of PEP about 15-fold. In the system containing all five effectors, which is close to the in vivo condition, the saturation curve of PEP was sigmoidal with a Hill coefficient of 1.6 and with an S0.5 value of 3.0 mM, which is about 15-fold larger than its "physiological concentration." On the basis of the rate-concentration curve for each effector obtained with the reaction mixture containing PEP and the other effectors at "physiological concentrations," it was suggested that all five effectors significantly contribute to the enzyme activity in vivo. Palmitoleate, another activator of the enzyme, showed no activation in such a reaction mixture. The sensitivity of the enzyme to the "physiological concentration" of each effector was also observed in an in situ system using permeabilized E. coli cells, where the enzyme concentration was as high as in vivo.

Carboxy-Lyases↗

PubMed2001

Functional analysis of the type III effectors AvrRpt2 and AvrRpm1 of Pseudomonas syringae with the use of a single-copy genomic integration system.

Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacteria require a type III secretion apparatus for pathogenesis, presumably to deliver Avr effector proteins directly into plant cells. To extend previous studies of Avr effectors that employed plasmids encoding Avr proteins, we developed a system that permits the integration of any gene into the Pseudomonas syringae genome in single copy. With this system, we confirmed earlier findings showing that P. syringae pv. maculicola strain PsmES4326 expressing the AvrRpt2 effector induces a resistance response in plants with the cognate R gene, RPS2. Chromosomally located avrRpt2, however, provoked a stronger resistance response than that observed with plasmid-expressed AvrRpt2 in RPS2+ plants. Additionally, chromosomal expression of AvrRpt2 conferred a fitness advantage on P. syringae grown in rps2- plants, aiding in growth within leaves and escape to leaf surfaces that was difficult to detect with plasmid-borne avrRpt2. Finally, with the use of the genomic integration system, we found that a chimeric protein composed of the N terminus of the heterologous AvrRpml effector and the C-terminal effector region of AvrRpt2 was delivered to plant cells. Because the C terminus of AvrRpt2 cannot translocate into plant cells on its own, this indicates that the N-terminal region can direct secretion and translocation during an infection, which supports the view that Avr proteins have a modular design. This work establishes a readily manipulatable system to study type III effectors in a biologically realistic context.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2002

X-ray crystallographic analyses of symmetrical allosteric effectors of hemoglobin: compounds designed to link primary and secondary binding sites.

The rational design and X-ray crystallographic analyses of two symmetrical allosteric effectors of hemoglobin (Hb) are reported. Compound design was directed by the previously solved co-crystal structure of one of the most potent allosteric effectors of Hb, 2-[4-[(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)-methyl]-phenoxy]-2-methylpropionic acid (RSR4), which revealed two distinct binding sites for this compound in the Hb central water cavity. The primary binding site has been observed for all compounds of this structural class, which stabilize deoxy Hb by engaging in inter-dimer contacts with three of the four protein subunits. Interactions at the secondary binding site of RSR4 occur primarily between the beta(1) and beta(2) subunits and serve to further constrain the deoxy state. Based on these observations, it was hypothesized that compounds with the ability to simultaneously span and link both of these sites would possess increased potency, but at a lower molar concentration than RSR4. Two symmetrical compounds were designed and synthesized based on this hypothesis. The symmetrical effector approach was taken to minimize the number of compound orientations needed to successfully bind at either of the distinct allosteric sites. X-ray crystallographic analyses of these two effectors in complex with Hb revealed that they successfully spanned the RSR4 primary and secondary binding sites. However, the designed compounds interacted with the secondary binding site in such a way that intra-dimer, as opposed to inter-dimer, interactions were generated. In agreement with these observations, in vitro evaluation of the symmetrical effectors in Hb solution indicated that neither compound possessed the potency of RSR4. A detailed analysis of symmetrical effector-Hb contacts and comparisons with the binding contacts of RSR4 are discussed.

Allosteric Regulation↗

PubMed2003

Crystallization of the effector-binding domains of BenM and CatM, LysR-type transcriptional regulators from Acinetobacter sp. ADP1.

BenM, a member of the LysR-type family of transcriptional regulators, controls genes for benzoate degradation in the Gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1. Recent studies show that BenM activates benABCDE expression synergistically in response to two effector ligands: cis,cis-muconate (CCM) and benzoate. As an initial step in investigating the structural basis of dual effector response, the effector-binding domain of BenM (BenM-EBD) was crystallized by the microbatch-under-oil technique with conditions optimized from high-throughput screens performed by the Hauptman-Woodward Institute. Data-collection quality crystals of BenM-EBD belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), diffracted to 2.3 A and had unit-cell parameters a = 65.64, b = 66.34, c = 117.46 A. The influence of effector ligands on crystal formation was also evaluated. The presence of benzoate or CCM impaired the formation of crystals. The presence of both effectors together resulted in a dramatic decrease in the production of crystals. The effector-binding domain of CatM, a homolog of BenM, was also crystallized.

Acinetobacter↗

PubMed2004

Inventory and functional analysis of the large Hrp regulon in Ralstonia solanacearum: identification of novel effector proteins translocated to plant host cells through the type III secretion system.

The ability of Ralstonia solanacearum strain GMI1000 to cause disease on a wide range of host plants (including most Solanaceae and Arabidopsis thaliana) depends on genes activated by the regulatory gene hrpB. HrpB controls the expression of the type III secretion system (TTSS) and pathogenicity effectors transiting through this pathway. In order to establish the complete repertoire of TTSS-dependent effectors belonging to the Hrp regulon and to start their functional analysis, we developed a rapid method for insertional mutagenesis, which was used to monitor the expression of 71 candidate genes and disrupt 56 of them. This analysis yielded a total of 48 novel hrpB-regulated genes. Using the Bordetella pertussis calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase reporter fusion system, we provide direct biochemical evidence that five R. solanacearum effector proteins are translocated into plant host cells through the TTSS. Among these novel TTSS effectors, RipA and RipG both belong to multigenic families, RipG defining a novel class of leucine-rich-repeats harbouring proteins. The members of these multigenic families are differentially regulated, being composed of genes expressed in either an hrpB-dependent or an hrpB-independent manner. Pathogenicity assays of the 56 mutant strains on two host plants indicate that, with two exceptions, mutations in individual effectors have no effect on virulence, a probable consequence of genetic and functional redundancy. This large repertoire of HrpB-regulated genes, which comprises > 20 probable TTSS effector genes with no counterparts in other bacterial species, represents an important step towards a full-genome understanding of R. solanacearum virulence.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1975

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity: heterogeneity of effector cells in human peripheral blood.

We have compared antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCMC) of human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in three model systems. target cells were 51Cr-labeled mouse mastocytoma cells, chicken erythrocytes (CRBC), and human erythrocytes (HRBC) coated with appropriate heterologous or isologous antisera. Effector cells were characterized on the basis of their adherence, phagocytosis, radiosensitivity, and sedimentation velocity(s) at 1 g. In predominantly mononuclear (Ficoll-Isopaque-purified) PBL preparations (MPBL) HRBC were lysed by an adherent, phagocytic population of cells that was markedly radio-resistant. Sedimentation velocity analysis further established that these effector cells were restricted to rapidly sedimenting fractions (s greater than 4.5 mm/hr). On the other hand, mastocytoma cells were lysed by a population of MPBL that was nonadherent, nonphagocytic, and relatively radiosensitive. These cells mainly restricted to slowly sedimenting fractions (s greater than 4.5 mm/hr) following 1 g velocity sedimentation. CRBC appeared to be susceptible to lysis by both types of mononuclear effector cell. In some experiments, enriched populations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were isolated. These cells were found to lyse both HRBC and CRBC very efficiently, whereas mastocytoma cells were lysed very little if at all by the same effector populations. Taken together, these results suggest that antibody-coated mastocytoma cells are lysed uniquely by effector cells in human peripheral blood with the physical properties of lymphocytes, whereas antibody-coated HRBC are lysed by both monocytes and PMN, but not by lymphocytes. Antibody-coated CRBC would appear to be lysed by all of the three effector cell types tested.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Concanavalin A inhibits the effector phase of specific cytotoxicity.

The effects of concanavalin A (Con A) on the effector phase of specific and nonspecific cytotoxicity were studied. The addition of the lectin to the cytotoxicity assay resulted in inhibition of specific cytotoxicity and induced the lysis of nonspecific targets only when the lectin was added after the target cells. Preincubation of the effector cells with the ligand strongly inhibited specific cytotoxicity and did not induce nonspecific cytotoxicity. However, preincubation of the target cells with Con A before addition to the assay had no effect on the specific lysis and strongly facilitated the lysis of nonspecific targets. The inhibitory effect was not due to the agglutinating property of the lectin, since another agglutinogenic and non-mitogenic lectin (Helix pomatia) did not inhibit cytotoxicity. Induction of effector-to-effector killing seemed unlikely, since the addition of Con A to 51Cr-labelled effector cells did not significantly enhance the release of isotope. The inhibitory effect could be reversed by a subsequent incubation of the Con A-treated effectors with alpha-methyl-d-mannoside. We suggest that Con A inhibits specific alloreactive cytotoxicity by blocking the antigen-binding receptors of T cells and induces nonspecific cytotoxicity by already activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by binding to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens of the targets and creating structures mimicking allogenic MHC products that will be recognized by CTLs via the antigen-binding receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Effector-independent voluntary timing: behavioural and neuroimaging evidence.

We investigated effector-independent aspects of voluntary motor timing, using behavioural measurements and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Two types of temporal pattern were investigated; one isochronous, the other a metric, rhythmic sequence of six temporal intervals. Each pattern was performed using tapping movements with the left or right index fingers, or rhythmic speech on one syllable. Deviations from the ideal temporal pattern in the rhythmic sequence tasks were consistent between the three different effectors, within subjects. This suggests that the same representation of the rhythm was used to time the movements with all effectors. To reveal brain regions involved in such effector-independent timing, we localized the overlap in brain activity when the rhythmic sequence was performed with the different effectors. Activity was found in the mesial and lateral premotor cortices, posterior and anterior regions of the superior temporal gyrus and the inferior frontal cortex. Subcortical activations were in the left globus pallidus, the vermis and bilaterally in the cerebellar hemispheres (lobule VI) and the thalamus. The overlap in activity between the isochronous tasks included the same set of brain regions, except for the basal ganglia and the thalamus. Rhythmic sequences had significantly higher activity in mesial premotor cortex, the left superior temporal gyrus and the cerebellum, than had isochronous movements. These findings reveal a set of brain regions likely to be involved in effector-independent representations of temporal patterns in voluntary motor timing. A subset of these regions plays important roles for the organization of rhythmic sequences of several intervals.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Identification of new secreted effectors in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

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.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗

PubMed2005

The locus of enterocyte effacement-encoded effector proteins all promote enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli pathogenicity in infant rabbits.

The genes encoding the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) type III secretion system (TTSS) and five effector proteins secreted by the TTSS are located on the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island. Deletion of tir, which encodes one of these effector proteins, results in a profound reduction (approximately 10,000-fold) in EHEC colonization of the infant rabbit intestine, but the in vivo phenotypes of other LEE genes are unknown. Here, we constructed in-frame deletions in escN, the putative ATPase component of the TTSS, and the genes encoding the four other LEE-encoded effector proteins, EspH, Map, EspF, and EspG, to investigate the contributions of the TTSS and the translocated effector proteins to EHEC pathogenicity in infant rabbits. We found that the TTSS is required for EHEC colonization and attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion formation in the rabbit intestine. Deletion of escN reduced EHEC recovery from the rabbit intestine by approximately 10,000-fold. Although EspH, Map, EspF, and EspG were not required for A/E lesion formation in the rabbit intestine or in HeLa cells, these effector proteins promote EHEC colonization. Colonization by the espH and espF mutants was reduced throughout the intestine. In contrast, colonization by the map and espG mutants was reduced only in the small intestine, indicating that Map and EspG have organ-specific effects. EspF appears to down-regulate the host response to EHEC, since we observed increased accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the colonic mucosa of rabbits infected with the EHEC espF mutant. Thus, all the known LEE-encoded effector proteins influence EHEC pathogenicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Regulation of type III secretion hierarchy of translocators and effectors in attaching and effacing bacterial pathogens.

Human enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and the mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium (CR) belong to the family of attaching and effacing (A/E) bacterial pathogens. They possess the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island, which encodes a type III secretion system. These pathogens secrete a number of proteins into culture media, including type III effector proteins and translocators that are required for the translocation of effectors into host cells. Preliminary evidence indicated that the LEE-encoded SepL and Rorf6/SepD may form a molecular switch that controls the secretion of translocators and effectors in CR. Here, we show that SepL and SepD indeed perform this function in A/E pathogens such as EHEC and EPEC. Their sepL and sepD mutants do not secrete translocators but exhibit enhanced secretion of effectors. We demonstrate that SepL and SepD interact with each other and that both SepL and SepD are localized to the bacterial membranes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that culture media influence the type III secretion profile of EHEC, EPEC, and CR and that low-calcium concentrations inhibit secretion of translocators but promote the secretion of effectors, similar to effects on type III secretion by mutations in sepL and sepD. However, the secretion profile of the sepD and sepL mutants is not affected by these culture conditions. Collectively, our results suggest that SepL and SepD not only are necessary for efficient translocator secretion in A/E pathogens but also control a switch from translocator to effector secretion by sensing certain environmental signals such as low calcium.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗