Optimization of virulence functions through glucosylation of Shigella LPS.
Shigella, the leading cause of bacillary dysentery, uses a type III secretion system (TTSS) to inject proteins into human cells, leading to bacterial invasion and a vigorous inflammatory response. The bacterium is protected against the response by the O antigen of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on its surface. We show that bacteriophage-encoded glucosylation of Shigella O antigen, the basis of different serotypes, shortens the LPS molecule by around half. This enhances TTSS function without compromising the protective properties of the LPS. Thus, LPS glucosylation promotes bacterial invasion and evasion of innate immunity, which may have contributed to the emergence of serotype diversity in Shigella.
West
Nicholas P
NP
Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Flowers Building, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Sansonetti
Philippe
P
Mounier
Joëlle
J
Exley
Rachel M
RM
Parsot
Claude
C
Guadagnini
Stéphanie
S
Prévost
Marie-Christine
MC
Prochnicka-Chalufour
Ada
A
Delepierre
Muriel
M
Tanguy
Myriam
M
Tang
Christoph M
CM
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009154:Mutation; D009504:Neutrophils; D019081:O Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009876:Operon; D011817:Rabbits; D012703:Serotyping; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014774:Virulence
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019081:O Antigens; D005947:Glucose