The gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of plague. Y. pestis and some other pathogens have the ability to modify the acyl chains in their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) /lipid A in order to minimize Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. Consequently, Y. pestis produces a tetra-acyl LPS with poor TLR4-activating ability at 37C, while synthesizing a potent hexa-acyl lipid at 26C. We have shown that the resulting evasion of innate immune responses at 37C is necessary for Y. pestis virulence via the peripheral route, by generating a modified bacterial strain synthesizing a hexa-acylated TLR4-activating LPS also at 37C. The modified strain contained LpxL, a lipid A biosynthesis enzyme from E. coli, that is absent in Y. pestis, and has more than a million-fold reduced virulence. Our main hypothesis is that evasion of LPS-TLR4 signaling is essential for the virulence of Y. pestis, and that a tight regulation of lipid A structure is necessary for this evasion to occur. We propose to use Y. pestis strains that generate modified LPS to study evasion and activation of innate immunity by the plague bacillus. Our model system appears well suited to describe efficient innate immune mechanisms against Y. pestis, and our long-term goal is to define such mechanisms and bacterial countermeasures. 1) Y. pestis expresses LpxP, a lipid A biosynthesis gene that likely is necessary for the production of a hexa-acyl TLR4-activating LPS at lower temperatures. We propose to study regulation of LpxP expression at 37C, as regulation appears necessary for virulence. 2) We also wish to study the role of evasion of LPS-TLR4 signaling in the evolution of Y. pestis to a highly virulent pathogen from its closest ancestor, Y. pseudotuberculosis (Y. ptb), which only may cause a mild gastroenteritis. Interestingly, Y. ptb harbors an LpxL gene. Our proposal suggests studies of Y. ptb LpxL function, this will include expression of Y. ptb LpxL in Y. pestis, and study LPS activity and structures. 3) Preliminary results indicate that interleukin-1 (IL-1) release and signaling is effective in clearing infection with Y. pestis-LpxL, more so than TNF and type I IFN. We will analyze mechanisms by which Y. pestis induces and is controlled by IL-1, in vitro and in vivo.

Public Health Relevance

In this proposal, we are addressing mechanisms by which Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is activating and evading the innate immune system. We are also investigating the development of immune evasion strategies in the development of the plague bacillus as a highly virulent pathogen. Our findings may help identifying new strategies for the development of therapies against plague and other infections.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI057588-07
Application #
7894709
Study Section
Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens Study Section (HIBP)
Program Officer
Mukhopadhyay, Suman
Project Start
2004-03-01
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2010-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$415,101
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
603847393
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01655
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