title: EmrA1 membrane fusion protein of Francisella tularensis LVS is required for resistance to oxidative stress, intramacrophage survival and virulence in mice.
abstract: Francisella tularensis is a category A biodefence agent that causes a fatal human disease known as tularaemia. The pathogenicity of F. tularensis depends on its ability to persist inside host immune cells primarily by resisting an attack from host-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). Based on the ability of F. tularensis to resist high ROS/RNS levels, we have hypothesized that additional unknown factors act in conjunction with known antioxidant defences to render ROS resistance. By screening a transposon insertion library of F. tularensis LVS in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, we have identified an oxidant-sensitive mutant in putative EmrA1 (FTL_0687) secretion protein. The results demonstrate that the emrA1 mutant is highly sensitive to oxidants and several antimicrobial agents, and exhibits diminished intramacrophage growth that can be restored to wild-type F. tularensis LVS levels by either transcomplementation, inhibition of ROS generation or infection in NADPH oxidase deficient (gp91Phox(-/-)) macrophages. The emrA1 mutant is attenuated for virulence, which is restored by infection in gp91Phox(-/-) mice. Further, EmrA1 contributes to oxidative stress resistance by affecting secretion of Francisella antioxidant enzymes SodB and KatG. This study exposes unique links between transporter activity and the antioxidant defence mechanisms of F. tularensis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic and Social Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Sukalyani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banik
authors.forename: Harshita
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rane
authors.forename: Vanessa T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Seham M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rabadi
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Thanassi
authors.forename: Chandra Shekhar
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Bakshi
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malik
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems / Q000187:drug effects; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000187:drug effects; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D014406:Tularemia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C488842:Cybb protein, mouse; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases