Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative Genomics

<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> is an intracellular facultative pathogen that causes listeriosis, a foodborne zoonotic infection. There are differences in the pathogenic potential of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> subtypes and strains. Comparison of the genome sequences among <i>...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hossam Abdelhamed, Mark L. Lawrence, Reshma Ramachandran, Attila Karsi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
Series:Toxins
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/9/508
_version_ 1798042035198885888
author Hossam Abdelhamed
Mark L. Lawrence
Reshma Ramachandran
Attila Karsi
author_facet Hossam Abdelhamed
Mark L. Lawrence
Reshma Ramachandran
Attila Karsi
author_sort Hossam Abdelhamed
collection DOAJ
description <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> is an intracellular facultative pathogen that causes listeriosis, a foodborne zoonotic infection. There are differences in the pathogenic potential of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> subtypes and strains. Comparison of the genome sequences among <i>L. monocytogenes</i> pathogenic strains EGD-e and F2365 with nonpathogenic <i>L. innocua</i> CLIP1182 and <i>L. monocytogenes</i> strain HCC23 revealed a set of proteins that were present in pathogenic strains and had no orthologs among the nonpathogenic strains. Among the candidate virulence factors are five proteins: putrescine carbamoyltransferase; InlH/InlC2 family class 1 internalin; phosphotransferase system (PTS) fructose transporter subunit EIIC; putative transketolase; and transcription antiterminator BglG family. To determine if these proteins have a role in adherence and invasion of intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and/or contribute to virulence, five mutant strains were constructed. F2365Δ<i>inlC2</i>, F2365Δ<i>eiic</i>, and F2365Δ<i>tkt</i> exhibited a significant (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) reduction in adhesion to Caco-2 cells compared to parent F2365 strain. The invasion of F2365Δ<i>aguB</i>, F2365Δ<i>inlC2</i>, and F2365Δ<i>bglG</i> decreased significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) compared with the parent strain. Bacterial loads in mouse liver and spleen infected by F2365 was significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) higher than it was for F2365Δ<i>aguB</i>, F2365Δ<i>inlC2</i>, F2365Δ<i>eiic</i>, F2365Δ<i>tkt</i>, and F2365Δ<i>bglG</i> strains. This study demonstrates that <i>aguB</i>, <i>inlC2</i>, <i>eiic</i>, <i>tkt</i>, and <i>bglG</i> play a role in <i>L. monocytogenes</i> pathogenicity.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T22:30:49Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0ee04c2318d043a280d2b8e437ac2ba1
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2072-6651
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T22:30:49Z
publishDate 2019-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Toxins
spelling doaj.art-0ee04c2318d043a280d2b8e437ac2ba12022-12-22T03:59:26ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512019-08-0111950810.3390/toxins11090508toxins11090508Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative GenomicsHossam Abdelhamed0Mark L. Lawrence1Reshma Ramachandran2Attila Karsi3Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USADepartment of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USADepartment of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USADepartment of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> is an intracellular facultative pathogen that causes listeriosis, a foodborne zoonotic infection. There are differences in the pathogenic potential of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> subtypes and strains. Comparison of the genome sequences among <i>L. monocytogenes</i> pathogenic strains EGD-e and F2365 with nonpathogenic <i>L. innocua</i> CLIP1182 and <i>L. monocytogenes</i> strain HCC23 revealed a set of proteins that were present in pathogenic strains and had no orthologs among the nonpathogenic strains. Among the candidate virulence factors are five proteins: putrescine carbamoyltransferase; InlH/InlC2 family class 1 internalin; phosphotransferase system (PTS) fructose transporter subunit EIIC; putative transketolase; and transcription antiterminator BglG family. To determine if these proteins have a role in adherence and invasion of intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and/or contribute to virulence, five mutant strains were constructed. F2365Δ<i>inlC2</i>, F2365Δ<i>eiic</i>, and F2365Δ<i>tkt</i> exhibited a significant (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) reduction in adhesion to Caco-2 cells compared to parent F2365 strain. The invasion of F2365Δ<i>aguB</i>, F2365Δ<i>inlC2</i>, and F2365Δ<i>bglG</i> decreased significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) compared with the parent strain. Bacterial loads in mouse liver and spleen infected by F2365 was significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) higher than it was for F2365Δ<i>aguB</i>, F2365Δ<i>inlC2</i>, F2365Δ<i>eiic</i>, F2365Δ<i>tkt</i>, and F2365Δ<i>bglG</i> strains. This study demonstrates that <i>aguB</i>, <i>inlC2</i>, <i>eiic</i>, <i>tkt</i>, and <i>bglG</i> play a role in <i>L. monocytogenes</i> pathogenicity.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/9/508<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>adhesioninvasionmice infection
spellingShingle Hossam Abdelhamed
Mark L. Lawrence
Reshma Ramachandran
Attila Karsi
Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative Genomics
Toxins
<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>
adhesion
invasion
mice infection
title Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative Genomics
title_full Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative Genomics
title_fullStr Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative Genomics
title_full_unstemmed Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative Genomics
title_short Validation of Predicted Virulence Factors in <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> Identified Using Comparative Genomics
title_sort validation of predicted virulence factors in em listeria monocytogenes em identified using comparative genomics
topic <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>
adhesion
invasion
mice infection
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/9/508
work_keys_str_mv AT hossamabdelhamed validationofpredictedvirulencefactorsinemlisteriamonocytogenesemidentifiedusingcomparativegenomics
AT markllawrence validationofpredictedvirulencefactorsinemlisteriamonocytogenesemidentifiedusingcomparativegenomics
AT reshmaramachandran validationofpredictedvirulencefactorsinemlisteriamonocytogenesemidentifiedusingcomparativegenomics
AT attilakarsi validationofpredictedvirulencefactorsinemlisteriamonocytogenesemidentifiedusingcomparativegenomics