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Branched-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Listeria monocytogenes Intracellular Infection and Virulence
- Source :
- Infection and Immunity. 78:4667-4673
- Publication Year :
- 2010
- Publisher :
- American Society for Microbiology, 2010.
-
Abstract
- Anteiso-branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) represent the dominant group of membrane fatty acids and have been established as crucial determinants in resistance against environmental stresses in Listeria monocytogenes , a facultative intracellular pathogen. Here, we investigate the role of anteiso-BCFA in L. monocytogenes virulence by using mutants deficient in branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BKD), an enzyme complex involved in the synthesis of BCFA. In tissue culture models of infection, anteiso-BCFA contributed to intracellular growth and survival in macrophages and significantly enhanced plaque formation upon prolonged infection in L2 fibroblasts. The intracellular defects observed could be attributed partially to insufficient listeriolysin O (LLO) production, indicating a requirement for anteiso-BCFA in regulating virulence factor production. In a murine model of infection, the BKD-deficient mutant was highly attenuated, further emphasizing the importance of BKD-mediated metabolism in L. monocytogenes virulence. This study demonstrates an underappreciated role for BCFA in bacterial pathogenesis, which may provide insight into the development and application of antimicrobial agents.
- Subjects :
- Enzyme complex
Virulence Factors
Immunology
Virulence
Biology
medicine.disease_cause
Microbiology
Virulence factor
3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)
Cell Line
Mice
Listeria monocytogenes
medicine
Animals
Humans
Listeriosis
Pathogen
Macrophages
Intracellular parasite
Fatty Acids
Listeriolysin O
Fibroblasts
Molecular Pathogenesis
Culture Media
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Infectious Diseases
Biochemistry
Mutation
Female
Parasitology
Intracellular
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10985522 and 00199567
- Volume :
- 78
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Infection and Immunity
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....db8de297b4b84b3196844a1d9428839d