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Natural antibody contributes to host defense against an attenuated Brucella abortus virB mutant.

ABSTRACT: Brucella abortus is an intracellular pathogen that persists within phagocytic cells of the reticuloendothelial system. To identify in vivo interactions between B. abortus and the host that lead to persistent infection, we studied the persistence of B. abortus and an isogenic virB mutant deficient in the VirB type IV secretion system (T4SS) in knockout mice. In contrast to control mice, mice lacking B cells (Igh6(-/-)) were permissive for infection with the attenuated virB mutant. To determine the basis for this phenotype, we characterized immune functions of Igh6(-/-) mice in the context of B. abortus infection. Igh6(-/-) mice had greater numbers of extracellular bacteria in the spleen and increased early expression of proinflammatory cytokines during B. abortus infection. Further, a virB mutant, despite its wild-type level of survival, failed to elicit microgranuloma formation in the spleens of Igh6(-/-) mice, suggesting a requirement for the T4SS to elicit this pathological change. Passive transfer of immunoglobulin G from naïve mice restored the ability of Igh6(-/-) mice to control the persistence of the virB mutant by a complement-independent mechanism. Further, adoptive transfer of CD11b(+) cells from C57BL/6 mice to Igh6(-/-) mice restored the ability of the knockout mice to limit the replication of the virB mutant in the spleen, suggesting that the Igh6(-)(/)(-) mutation affects phagocyte function and that phagocyte function can be restored by natural antibody.

SUBMITTER: Rolan HG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2708545 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Natural antibody contributes to host defense against an attenuated Brucella abortus virB mutant.

Rolán Hortensia G HG Xavier Mariana N MN Santos Renato L RL Tsolis Renée M RM

Infection and immunity 20090413 7

Brucella abortus is an intracellular pathogen that persists within phagocytic cells of the reticuloendothelial system. To identify in vivo interactions between B. abortus and the host that lead to persistent infection, we studied the persistence of B. abortus and an isogenic virB mutant deficient in the VirB type IV secretion system (T4SS) in knockout mice. In contrast to control mice, mice lacking B cells (Igh6(-/-)) were permissive for infection with the attenuated virB mutant. To determine th ...[more]

PMID: 19364836

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Project description:The O antigen of Brucella abortus has been described as a major virulence determinant based on the attenuated survival of fortuitously isolated rough variants. However, the lack of genetic definition of these mutants and the virulence of naturally occurring rough species, Brucella ovis and Brucella canis, has confused interpretation. To better characterize the role of O antigen in virulence and survival, transposon mutagenesis was used to generate B. abortus rough mutants defective in O-antigen presentation. Sequence analysis of DNA flanking the site of Tn5 insertion was used to verify insertion in genes encoding lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthetic functions. Not surprisingly, each of the rough mutants was attenuated for survival in mice, but unexpected differences among the mutants were observed. In an effort to define the basis for the observed differences, the structure of the rough LPS and the sensitivity of these mutants to individual killing mechanisms were examined in vitro. All of the B. abortus rough mutants exhibited a 4- to 5-log-unit increase, compared to the smooth parental strain, in sensitivity to complement-mediated lysis. Little change was evident in the sensitivity of these organisms to hydrogen peroxide, consistent with an inability of O antigen to exclude relatively small molecules. Sensitivity to polymyxin B, which was employed as a model cationic, amphipathic peptide similar to defensins found in phagocytic cells, revealed survival differences among the rough mutants similar to those observed in the mouse. One mutant in particular exhibited hypersensitivity to polymyxin B and reduced survival in mice. This mutant was characterized by a truncated rough LPS. DNA sequence analysis of this mutant revealed a transposon interruption in the gene encoding phosphomannomutase (pmm), suggesting that this activity may be required for the synthesis of a full-length core polysaccharide in addition to O antigen. B. abortus O antigen appears to be essential for extra- and intracellular survival in mice.

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Natural antibody contributes to host defense against an attenuated Brucella abortus virB mutant.

Publications

Natural antibody contributes to host defense against an attenuated Brucella abortus virB mutant.

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