title: Corynebacterium diphtheriae putative tellurite-resistance protein (CDCE8392_0813) contributes to the intracellular survival in human epithelial cells and lethality of Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the aetiologic agent of diphtheria, also represents a global medical challenge because of the existence of invasive strains as causative agents of systemic infections. Although tellurite (TeO32-) is toxic to most microorganisms, TeO32--resistant bacteria, including C. diphtheriae, exist in nature. The presence of TeO32--resistance (TeR) determinants in pathogenic bacteria might provide selective advantages in the natural environment. In the present study, we investigated the role of the putative TeR determinant (CDCE8392_813gene) in the virulence attributes of diphtheria bacilli. The disruption of CDCE8392_0813 gene expression in the LDCIC-L1 mutant increased susceptibility to TeO32- and reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide), but not to other antimicrobial agents. The LDCIC-L1 mutant also showed a decrease in both the lethality of Caenorhabditis elegans and the survival inside of human epithelial cells compared to wild-type strain. Conversely, the haemagglutinating activity and adherence to and formation of biofilms on different abiotic surfaces were not regulated through the CDCE8392_0813 gene. In conclusion, the CDCE8392_813 gene contributes to the TeR and pathogenic potential of C. diphtheriae.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Louisy Sanches Dos
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors.forename: Camila Azevedo
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Cintia Silva Dos
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: José Augusto Adler
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Bacterianas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Centro Universitário do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, BR.
authors.forename: Priscila Soares
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sabbadini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Maria das Graças de
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors.forename: Vasco
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirata Júnior
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl fuer Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, DE.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burkovski
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Lídia Maria Buarque de Oliveira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Asad
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Ana Luíza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mattos-Guaraldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013691:Tellurium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C000605006:tellurite-resistance protein, Corynebacterium diphtheriae; C026660:tellurous acid; D013691:Tellurium