TitleThe fadD2 gene is required for efficient Mycobacterium avium invasion of mucosal epithelial cells.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsDam, T, Danelishvili, L, Wu, M, Bermudez, LE
JournalJ Infect Dis
Volume193
Issue8
Pagination1135-42
Date Published2006 Apr 15
ISSN0022-1899
KeywordsActin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex, Animals, Antibodies, Bacterial, Arabidopsis Proteins, Cell Line, Epithelial Cells, Fatty Acid Desaturases, Female, Genetic Complementation Test, Intestinal Mucosa, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mycobacterium avium, Phenotype, Phosphorylation, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Mycobacterium avium is capable of invading the intestinal epithelial cells, which requires cytoskeleton rearrangement and protein phosphorylation in the host cell. However, little is known about the mechanism.

METHODS: A transposon bank was screened for invasion-impaired mutants.

RESULTS: Among the genes identified, inactivation of the fadD2 gene resulted in approximately 50% reduction in invasion in vitro and 100-fold reduction in invasion in vivo, compared with the wild-type (wt) strain. Invasion by wt M. avium led to the recruitment of neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASp), which was not observed with mutant lacking a functional fadD2 gene. M. avium entry resulted in the phosphorylation of N-WASp and activation of the Arp2/3 complex. Supernatant obtained from wt M. avium incubated with HEp2 epithelial cells rescued the mutant 1B2 ability to enter the cells, which suggests that activation of Cdc42 probably follows the secretion of M. avium proteins.

CONCLUSION: fadD2 is a regulator of M. avium invasion, and its effect is through Cdc42.

DOI10.1086/501469
Alternate JournalJ Infect Dis
PubMed ID16544254
Grant ListAI25767 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States