Efficient Type Three Secretion (T3S) by Gram-negative bacteria requires adhesion to the targeted host cell. We have recently determined that the Yersinia pestis adhesin Ail facilitates T3S of Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) via binding to host fibronectin. Yop delivery is required for plague infection and mutants that lack Yops are completely avirulent. A ?ail mutant has poor Yop delivery in vitro and is attenuated in vivo (>3000-fold increase in LD50). Thus, Ail appears to be a prominent adhesin for Yop delivery in vivo. This makes Ail an important potential target for Y. pestis vaccine development and anti-plague therapies. We hypothesize that Ail in conjunction with fibronectin interacts with host cells to allow efficient Yop delivery, possibly by stimulating receptor-initiated cell signaling required for Yop delivery. We further hypothesize that Fn acts as a bridge between Ail-expressing bacteria and 21 integrins on host cells (receptors for Fn). ?1 integrin signaling has recently been shown to be important for invasin-mediated Yop delivery by the closely related pathogen, Y. pseudotuberculosis. In this proposal, we will define the regions of Ail that interact with Fn and address the effects of Ail binding to Fn and subsequent engagement of ?1 integrins. By understanding this critical step in the Yop delivery process by a key adhesin of Y. pestis, we will significantly expand our knowledge of the role of adhesion in Yop delivery in particular and T3S in general. These studies will be broadly applicable to other bacterial pathogens that utilize a T3S mechanism for toxin delivery. Furthermore by defining a crucial interaction mechanism between Y. pestis and host cells, we may identify targets for therapeutics that can be used to treat plague, a rapidly fatal disease and bioterrorism threat.
The Aims of this proposal are:
Aim 1 : Determine the residues of Ail required for host cell binding and Yop delivery Aim 2: Characterize Ail binding to host cell fibronectin and the role of 21 integrins in Ail-mediated Yop delivery

Public Health Relevance

Yersinia pestis causes the rapidly fatal infectious disease plague, making Y. pestis a bioterrorism threat. This project is aimed at furthering our understanding of the interaction of the Y. pestis surface protein Ail with host cells. This critical interaction is required for plague virulence and characterizing this interaction may lead to development of anti-plague therapeutics and/or an effective plague vaccine.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AI090194-02
Application #
8231326
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IDM-A (80))
Program Officer
Mukhopadhyay, Suman
Project Start
2011-03-01
Project End
2013-05-31
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$194,375
Indirect Cost
$69,375
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Tsang, Tiffany M; Wiese, Jeffrey S; Alhabeil, Jamal A et al. (2017) Defining the Ail Ligand-Binding Surface: Hydrophobic Residues in Two Extracellular Loops Mediate Cell and Extracellular Matrix Binding To Facilitate Yop Delivery. Infect Immun 85:
Merritt, Peter M; Nero, Thomas; Bohman, Lesley et al. (2015) Yersinia pestis targets neutrophils via complement receptor 3. Cell Microbiol 17:666-87
Tsang, Tiffany M; Wiese, Jeffrey S; Felek, Suleyman et al. (2013) Ail proteins of Yersinia pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis have different cell binding and invasion activities. PLoS One 8:e83621
Tsang, Tiffany M; Annis, Douglas S; Kronshage, Malte et al. (2012) Ail protein binds ninth type III fibronectin repeat (9FNIII) within central 120-kDa region of fibronectin to facilitate cell binding by Yersinia pestis. J Biol Chem 287:16759-67
Yamashita, Satoshi; Lukacik, Petra; Barnard, Travis J et al. (2011) Structural insights into Ail-mediated adhesion in Yersinia pestis. Structure 19:1672-82
Felek, Suleyman; Jeong, Jenny J; Runco, Lisa M et al. (2011) Contributions of chaperone/usher systems to cell binding, biofilm formation and Yersinia pestis virulence. Microbiology 157:805-18