Tularemia is a potentially fatal zoonosis of humans caused by the facultative intracellular bacterium, Francisella tularensis (Ft). Indeed, inhalation of as few as ten organisms is sufficient to cause severe pneumonic disease, tissue necrosis and death. Because of its extreme virulence via the aerosol route, Ft is a potential bioweapon and has been classified as a Category A Select Agent. The results of a recent study demonstrate that matrix metalloprotease-9 is upregulated by Ft and that subsequent cleavage of extracellular matrix generates a chemoattractant that drives neutrophil migration into the lung. Although neutrophils are the dominant white blood cell in alveoli and bronchioles during acute infection (day 2-14), and engulf large numbers of bacteria in this locale, Ft are not killed and bacterial load increases markedly. These data suggest that disruption of neutrophil function by Ft may be an important aspect of virulence. Indeed, if PMN accumulation migration into the lung is compromised, mice survive an otherwise lethal dose of F. tularensis. Although relatively few pathogens resist elimination by PMN, almost nothing is known about neutrophil-Ft interactions at the molecular level. Our preliminary data now demonstrate that Ft has profound effects on human neutrophil function that include rapid and complete inhibition of the oxidative burst. In this regard it is noteworthy that cell activation by heterologous stimuli is also impaired, and as such our data suggest that effects of Ft extend beyond the confines of its own phagosome. Francisella also blocks non-oxidative killing arsenal of the neutrophil, and degranulation is inhibited or severely delayed. Later in infection, Ft breaches the phagosome membrane and resides in the nutrient-rich cytosol. Thus, we hypothesize that Ft disrupts both NADPH oxidase activity and phagosome-lysosome fusion as a means to evade intracellular killing. Our long term goal is to define at the molecular level the mechanisms by which Ft disrupts neutrophil function. To test this hypothesis we will: 1. Elucidate the effect of Ft on NADPH oxidase assembly and activity. 2. Define the composition of the phagosome and quantify granule mobilization;and 3. Discern the extent to which PMN function is impaired via effects of Ft virulence determinants on neutrophil gene expression and key intracellular signaling pathways. Toward this end we will utilize chemiluminescence fluorescence and other biochemical assays to quantify reactive oxygen species;confocal microscopy to localize NADPH oxidase components;immunofluorescence microscopy and immuno-electron microscopy to assess phagosome composition;transmission electron microscopy to quantify phagosome escape and PMN viability;in vitro kinase assays and immunoblotting to measure intracellular signaling;DNA microarrays to define changes in neutrophil gene expression;and both targeted allelic replacement strategies and transposon mutant library screening to begin to define Ft genes required for virulence in this system. Project Narrative: Inhalation of the bacterium called Francisella tularensis causes severe, sometime fatal pneumonia and no vaccine is available. In this study we will begin to determine how Francisella avoid being killed by a type of white blood cell called neutrophils (which accumulate in the lung during this infection). The results of this study may lead to new treatments to combat this severe and often fatal lung infection.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI073835-02
Application #
7541415
Study Section
Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens Study Section (HIBP)
Program Officer
Mukhopadhyay, Suman
Project Start
2007-12-15
Project End
2012-11-30
Budget Start
2008-12-01
Budget End
2009-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$375,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
Kinkead, Lauren C; Whitmore, Laura C; McCracken, Jenna M et al. (2018) Bacterial lipoproteins and other factors released by Francisella tularensis modulate human neutrophil lifespan: Effects of a TLR1 SNP on apoptosis inhibition. Cell Microbiol 20:
Kinkead, Lauren C; Fayram, Drew C; Allen, Lee-Ann H (2017) Francisella novicida inhibits spontaneous apoptosis and extends human neutrophil lifespan. J Leukoc Biol 102:815-828
McCracken, Jenna M; Kinkead, Lauren C; McCaffrey, Ramona L et al. (2016) Francisella tularensis Modulates a Distinct Subset of Regulatory Factors and Sustains Mitochondrial Integrity to Impair Human Neutrophil Apoptosis. J Innate Immun 8:299-313
Allen, Lee-Ann H (2014) Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy of neutrophils. Methods Mol Biol 1124:251-68
McCracken, Jenna M; Allen, Lee-Ann H (2014) Regulation of human neutrophil apoptosis and lifespan in health and disease. J Cell Death 7:15-23
Allen, Lee-Ann H (2013) Editorial: Leukocytes in tularemia--so many cells, so little time. J Leukoc Biol 93:641-4
Schwartz, Justin T; Bandyopadhyay, Sarmistha; Kobayashi, Scott D et al. (2013) Francisella tularensis alters human neutrophil gene expression: insights into the molecular basis of delayed neutrophil apoptosis. J Innate Immun 5:124-36
Allen, Lee-Ann H (2013) Neutrophils: potential therapeutic targets in tularemia? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 3:109
Casbon, Amy-Jo; Long, Matthew E; Dunn, Kenneth W et al. (2012) Effects of IFN-? on intracellular trafficking and activity of macrophage NADPH oxidase flavocytochrome b558. J Leukoc Biol 92:869-82
Schwartz, Justin T; Barker, Jason H; Long, Matthew E et al. (2012) Natural IgM mediates complement-dependent uptake of Francisella tularensis by human neutrophils via complement receptors 1 and 3 in nonimmune serum. J Immunol 189:3064-77

Showing the most recent 10 out of 16 publications