Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of the sexually-transmitted disease gonorrhea as well as pelvic inflammatory disease, and disseminated gonococcal infection. Gonococci survive in the human population by generating a high degree of genetic diversity resulting in antigenic variation and the avoidance of the host immune response. The genetic diversity results from both intragenomic and intergenomic recombination. Intergenomic recombination results from natural transformation with DNA from other gonococci. Natural transformation is so frequent that the gonococcal population structure is considered panmictic. We discovered and are working to characterize a type IV secretion system (T4SS) in N. gonorrhoeae. We have shown that the T4SS acts to secrete chromosomal DNA, and that the secreted DNA is active in the transformation of other gonococci in the population. The T4SS is encoded on a genetic island present in eighty per cent of N. gonorrhoeae strains. Mutations in the T4SS genes resulted in loss of DNA secretion into the medium, drastic reduction in the ability of a strain to donate DNA for natural transformation, and altered interactions with host cells. In infection of primary cervical cells, T4SS mutants were delayed in attachment. At later times post-infection, the T4SS mutants were bound to the host cells as unusually large aggregates. Furthermore, studies with a transformed cervical cell line showed decreased invasion by a mutant deleted for the genetic island that encodes the T4SS. This proposal is focused on determining the function of the gonococcal T4SS - examining the mechanism of DNA secretion and how the secretion system affects host cell interactions. The goals of this proposal are contained in three specific aims. We will generate antibodies to specific proteins that make up the secretion apparatus and use these antibodies to determine the locations of the proteins in gonococcal cell compartments and on whole gonococcal cells. We will examine the mechanism of DNA secretion using genetic methods to identify and characterize proteins that act to bind and cleave DNA for secretion. We will characterize the effects of the T4SS on host cell infection using microscopy, invasion and intracellular growth assays, and measures of host cell signaling. We hypothesize that a secreted DNA-protein complex affects infection directly, by altering bacterial adherence or dispersion, or acts indirectly by affecting host cell signaling leading to different expression of host proteins affecting bacterial adherence, invasion, or intracellular survival. It is anticipated that these studies will not only lead to a better understanding of type IV secretion and the horizontal transfer of genes via transformation, but that they will also identify potential surface molecules that may be targets for drugs or immunotherapy. NARRATIVE: This project will characterize the mechanism of secretion of DNA and proteins by a secretion apparatus found in the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These studies will lead to a better understanding of how genes are transferred between bacteria and how N. gonorrhoeae infects human cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI047958-08
Application #
8010928
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IDM-Q (02))
Program Officer
Hiltke, Thomas J
Project Start
2002-07-01
Project End
2012-12-31
Budget Start
2011-01-01
Budget End
2011-12-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$347,389
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
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Andrade, Warrison A; Agarwal, Sarika; Mo, Shunyan et al. (2016) Type I Interferon Induction by Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Dual Requirement of Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase and Toll-like Receptor 4. Cell Rep 15:2438-48
Harrison, Odile B; Clemence, Marianne; Dillard, Joseph P et al. (2016) Genomic analyses of Neisseria gonorrhoeae reveal an association of the gonococcal genetic island with antimicrobial resistance. J Infect 73:578-587
Ramsey, Meghan E; Bender, Tobias; Klimowicz, Amy K et al. (2015) Targeted mutagenesis of intergenic regions in the Neisseria gonorrhoeae gonococcal genetic island reveals multiple regulatory mechanisms controlling type IV secretion. Mol Microbiol 97:1168-85
Pachulec, Emilia; Siewering, Katja; Bender, Tobias et al. (2014) Functional analysis of the Gonococcal Genetic Island of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. PLoS One 9:e109613
Ramsey, Meghan E; Hackett, Kathleen T; Bender, Tobias et al. (2014) TraK and TraB are conserved outer membrane proteins of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae Type IV secretion system and are expressed at low levels in wild-type cells. J Bacteriol 196:2954-68
Kohler, Petra L; Chan, Yolande A; Hackett, Kathleen T et al. (2013) Mating pair formation homologue TraG is a variable membrane protein essential for contact-independent type IV secretion of chromosomal DNA by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Bacteriol 195:1666-79
Stohl, Elizabeth A; Chan, Yolande A; Hackett, Kathleen T et al. (2012) Neisseria gonorrhoeae virulence factor NG1686 is a bifunctional M23B family metallopeptidase that influences resistance to hydrogen peroxide and colony morphology. J Biol Chem 287:11222-33
Woodhams, Katelynn L; Benet, Zachary L; Blonsky, Sarah E et al. (2012) Prevalence and detailed mapping of the gonococcal genetic island in Neisseria meningitidis. J Bacteriol 194:2275-85
Jain, Samta; Zweig, Maria; Peeters, Eveline et al. (2012) Characterization of the single stranded DNA binding protein SsbB encoded in the Gonoccocal Genetic Island. PLoS One 7:e35285

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