Pseudomonas aeruginosa injects type III effector ExoS into epithelial cells through the function of type IV pili.
Translocation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa through epithelial tissues can cause sepsis. Here, we examined whether P. aeruginosa penetrates epithelial cell layers using type IV pili (TFP). Deletion of TFP (pilA) did not affect association with Caco-2 cells, although it decreased penetration through, and disruption of, Caco-2 cell monolayers. We found that TFP are necessary for injection of the type III effector ExoS, which impairs defense against P. aeruginosa penetration, into host cells. Deletion of pilA attenuated oral infection in silkworms. We conclude that P. aeruginosa injects ExoS into cells through the function of TFP, enabling penetration of epithelial barriers.
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Naoki
N
Hayashi
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Hideyuki
H
Nishizawa
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Seiya
S
Kitao
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Sakurako
S
Deguchi
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Takano
T
Nakamura
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Akiyo
A
Fujimoto
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Mototsugu
M
Shikata
Department of Microbiology and Infection Control Science, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan. Electronic address: ngotoh@mb.kyoto-phu.ac.jp.
Naomasa
N
Gotoh
D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012831:Bombyx / Q000382:microbiology; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C444820:exoenzyme S
Bacterial translocation; Epithelial cell; ExoS; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Type III secretion system; Type IV pili