title: Pathogenic E. coli exploits SslE mucinase activity to translocate through the mucosal barrier and get access to host cells.
abstract: SslE is a zinc-metalloprotease involved in the degradation of mucin substrates and recently proposed as a potential vaccine candidate against pathogenic E. coli. In this paper, by exploiting a human in vitro model of mucus-secreting cells, we demonstrated that bacteria expressing SslE have a metabolic benefit which results in an increased growth rate postulating the importance of this antigen in enhancing E. coli fitness. We also observed that SslE expression facilitates E. coli penetration of the mucus favouring bacteria adhesion to host cells. Moreover, we found that SslE-mediated opening of the mucosae contributed to the activation of pro-inflammatory events. Indeed, intestinal cells infected with SslE-secreting bacteria showed an increased production of IL-8 contributing to neutrophil recruitment. The results presented in this paper conclusively designate SslE as an important colonization factor favouring E. coli access to both metabolic substrates and target cells.
authors: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Valeri
authors: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Rossi Paccani
authors: Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Kasendra
authors: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Nesta
authors: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Serino
authors: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy.
authors: Mariagrazia
authors: M
authors: Pizza
authors: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Soriani
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C583861:SslE protein, E coli; D037521:Virulence Factors; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; C100002:hyaluronate lyase