title: Galleria mellonella apolipophorin III - an apolipoprotein with anti-Legionella pneumophila activity.
abstract: The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella has been exploited worldwide as an alternative model host for studying pathogenicity and virulence factors of different pathogens, including Legionella pneumophila, a causative agent of a severe form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. An important role in the insect immune response against invading pathogens is played by apolipophorin III (apoLp-III), a lipid- and pathogen associated molecular pattern-binding protein able to inhibit growth of some Gram-negative bacteria, including Legionella dumoffii. In the present study, anti-L. pneumophila activity of G. mellonella apoLp-III and the effects of the interaction of this protein with L. pneumophila cells are demonstrated. Alterations in the bacteria cell surface occurring upon apoLp-III treatment, revealed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, are also documented. ApoLp-III interactions with purified L. pneumophila LPS, an essential virulence factor of the bacteria, were analysed using electrophoresis and immunoblotting with anti-apoLp-III antibodies. Moreover, FTIR spectroscopy was used to gain detailed information on the type of conformational changes in L. pneumophila LPS and G. mellonella apoLp-III induced by their mutual interactions. The results indicate that apoLp-III binding to components of bacterial cell envelope, including LPS, may be responsible for anti-L. pneumophila activity of G. mellonella apoLp-III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka St. 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zdybicka-Barabas
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka St. 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palusińska-Szysz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Institute of Physics, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Maria Curie-Sklodowska Square 1, 20-031 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Wiesław I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Gruszecki
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka St. 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: cytryna@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cytryńska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000254:growth & development*; D009036:Moths / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; C042470:apolipophorin III
keywords: Apolipophorin III; Atomic force microscopy; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Galleria mellonella; Legionella pneumophila