title: Aeromonas salmonicida type III secretion system-effectors-mediated immune suppression in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
abstract: Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, the etiologic agent of furunculosis, is a major pathogen in aquaculture. Together with other pathogens, it is characterized by the presence of a type 3 secretion system (T3SS). The T3SS is the main virulence mechanism of A. salmonicida. It is used by the bacterium to secrete and translocate several toxins and effector proteins into the host cell. Some of these factors have a detrimental impact on the integrity of the cell cytoskeleton, likely contributing to impair phagocytosis. Furthermore, it has been suggested that effectors of the T3SS are able to modulate the host's immune response. Here we present the first partial characterization of the immune response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) infected with distinct strains of A. salmonicida either carrying (i) a fully functional T3SS or (ii) a functionally impaired T3SS or (iii) devoid of T3SS ("cured" strain). Infection with an A. salmonicida strain either carrying a fully functional or a secretion-impaired T3SS was associated with a strong and persistent immune suppression. However, the infection appeared to be fatal only in the presence of a fully functional T3SS. In contrast, the absence of T3SS was neither associated with immune suppression nor fish death. These findings suggest that the T3SS and T3SS-delivered effector molecules and toxins of A. salmonicida do not only impair the host cells' cytoskeleton thus damaging cell physiology and phagocytosis, but also heavily affect the transcription of critical immune mediators including the shut-down of important warning signals to recognize infection and induce immune defense.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern-CH, Switzerland; Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), University of Bern, Bern-CH, Switzerland. Electronic address: francesco.origgi@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Origgi
authors.affiliation: Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benedicenti
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), University of Bern, Bern-CH, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Segner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), University of Bern, Bern-CH, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sattler
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), University of Bern, Bern-CH, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wahli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern-CH, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D048409:Aeromonas salmonicida / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005667:Furunculosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss / Q000276:immunology*; D000069296:Type III Secretion Systems / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000069296:Type III Secretion Systems
keywords: A. salmonicida; Disease; Fish; Furunculosis; Immune suppression; Immunity; T3SS