title: Colonization of human epithelial cell lines by Corynebacterium ulcerans from human and animal sources.
abstract: Corynebacterium ulcerans is an emerging pathogen transmitted by a zoonotic pathway to humans. Despite rising numbers of infections and potentially fatal outcomes, data on the colonization of the human host are lacking up to now. In this study, adhesion of two C. ulcerans isolates to human epithelial cells, invasion of host cells and the function of two putative virulence factors with respect to these processes were investigated. C. ulcerans strains BR-AD22 and 809 were able to adhere to Detroit562 and HeLa cells, and invade these epithelial cell lines with a rate comparable to other pathogens as shown by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and replication assays. Infection led to detrimental effects on the cells as deduced from measurements of transepithelial resistance. Mutant strains of putative virulence factors phospholipase D and DIP0733 homologue CULC22_00609 generated in this study showed no influence on colonization under the experimental conditions tested. The data presented here indicate a high infectious potential of this emerging pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hacker
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: BioCer Entwicklungs-GmbH, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasselt
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mattos-Guaraldi
authors.affiliation: Centrum für Biotechnologie, Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tauch
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burkovski
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors