Neutrophils (PMNs) are powerful anti-microbial cells that are rapidly mobilized and recruited to infected tissues and sites of tissue damage. Once within tissues, PMNs can deploy many activities to remove pathogens and/or damaged cells. Dysregulation of these events can have severe consequences for the host and contribute to the pathology a variety of diseases, including diabetes, thrombus formation and lupus. It has been increasingly recognized that immune cells generate appropriate responses by integrating a variety signals from receptors through multi-protein platforms, called microclusters. This signal integration has been studied extensively in T cells, but the specific rules of integration and cellular outcomes for one cell type do not necessarily apply to other cells because each cell type plays distinct roles in immunity. How PMNs integrate signals from the host and bacteria to generate the correct response in infected tissues is very poorly understood. This application seeks to uncover and understand critical molecular mechanisms PMNs employ to trigger bactericidal responses, using the bacterial pathogen, Yersinia, and its effector proteins, YopH and YopO. Based on our preliminary data indicating that YopH disrupts integration of signals by inactivating SKAP-2, PRAM-1 and SLP- 76-regulated pathways that emanate from micro-clusters, we will focus on understanding the role of SKAP2 in PMN responses. Our central hypothesis is that YopH and YopO impair PMN responses to bacteria by modulating a SKAP2-dependent system that coordinates the anti-microbial functions of PMNs triggered a variety of different types of receptors.
Our aims are (1) to determine the critical functions of YopH in tissu infection; (2) dissect the role of SKAP2 in the anti-microbial responses of PMNs; and (3) understand the effects of YopO on neutrophil signaling after receptor stimulation. Through the proposed research, we expect to contribute a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms critical for PMNs anti-microbial responses. An understanding of how PMNs are inactivated by Yops in infected tissues will reveal the mechanisms by which PMNs deploy their anti-microbial and tissue damaging arsenal and lead to new ways to stop this deployment in auto-immune syndromes.

Public Health Relevance

The work described in this application will uncover the mechanisms used by neutrophils to thwart and kill bacterial infections. This knowledge is critical to understanding how pathogens evade host immune systems and how dysregulation of neutrophils can lead to auto-immune and other disease pathologies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI113166-02
Application #
8848342
Study Section
Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens Study Section (HIBP)
Program Officer
Mukhopadhyay, Suman
Project Start
2014-05-15
Project End
2019-04-30
Budget Start
2015-05-01
Budget End
2016-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
039318308
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Shaban, Lamyaa; Chen, Ying; Fasciano, Alyssa C et al. (2018) A 3D intestinal tissue model supports Clostridioides difficile germination, colonization, toxin production and epithelial damage. Anaerobe 50:85-92
Nguyen, Giang T; Green, Erin R; Mecsas, Joan (2017) Neutrophils to the ROScue: Mechanisms of NADPH Oxidase Activation and Bacterial Resistance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 7:373
Saleh, Danish; Najjar, Malek; Zelic, Matija et al. (2017) Kinase Activities of RIPK1 and RIPK3 Can Direct IFN-? Synthesis Induced by Lipopolysaccharide. J Immunol 198:4435-4447
Green, Erin R; Mecsas, Joan (2016) Bacterial Secretion Systems: An Overview. Microbiol Spectr 4:
Ratner, Dmitry; Orning, M Pontus A; Proulx, Megan K et al. (2016) The Yersinia pestis Effector YopM Inhibits Pyrin Inflammasome Activation. PLoS Pathog 12:e1006035
Hauser, Alan R; Mecsas, Joan; Moir, Donald T (2016) Beyond Antibiotics: New Therapeutic Approaches for Bacterial Infections. Clin Infect Dis 63:89-95
Green, Erin R; Clark, Stacie; Crimmins, Gregory T et al. (2016) Fis Is Essential for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Virulence and Protects against Reactive Oxygen Species Produced by Phagocytic Cells during Infection. PLoS Pathog 12:e1005898
Paczosa, Michelle K; Mecsas, Joan (2016) Klebsiella pneumoniae: Going on the Offense with a Strong Defense. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 80:629-61
Rosadini, Charles V; Zanoni, Ivan; Odendall, Charlotte et al. (2015) A Single Bacterial Immune Evasion Strategy Dismantles Both MyD88 and TRIF Signaling Pathways Downstream of TLR4. Cell Host Microbe 18:682-93