1. Systematic reconstruction of an effector-gene network reveals determinants of Salmonella cellular and tissue tropism
- Author
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Maria G. Winter, Sing Sing Way, Laura Taylor Alto, James M. Ertelt, Wesley B. Burford, Neal M. Alto, Sebastian E. Winter, Giang Pham, Li-Shu Zhang, and Didi Chen
- Subjects
Salmonella typhimurium ,Cytoplasm ,Genomic Islands ,Operon ,Gene regulatory network ,Mutagenesis (molecular biology technique) ,Biology ,Microbiology ,Tropism ,Article ,Mice ,Bacterial Proteins ,Virology ,Type III Secretion Systems ,Animals ,Humans ,Gene Regulatory Networks ,Gene ,Pathogen ,Genetics ,Microbial Viability ,Virulence ,Effector ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,Host cell cytoplasm ,Host-Pathogen Interactions ,Salmonella Infections ,Tissue tropism ,Parasitology ,Female - Abstract
Summary The minimal genetic requirements for microbes to survive within multiorganism communities, including host-pathogen interactions, remain poorly understood. Here, we combined targeted gene mutagenesis with phenotype-guided genetic reassembly to identify a cooperative network of SPI-2 T3SS effector genes that are sufficient for Salmonella Typhimurium (STm) to cause disease in a natural host organism. Five SPI-2 effector genes support pathogen survival within the host cell cytoplasm by coordinating bacterial replication with Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) division. Unexpectedly, this minimal genetic repertoire does not support STm systemic infection of mice. In vivo screening revealed a second effector-gene network, encoded by the spv operon, that expands the life cycle of STm from growth in cells to deep-tissue colonization in a murine model of typhoid fever. Comparison between Salmonella infection models suggests how cooperation between effector genes drives tissue tropism in a pathogen group.
- Published
- 2020