A predation assay using amoebae to screen for virulence factors unearthed the first W. chondrophila inclusion membrane protein.
C Kebbi-BeghdadiLudovic PillouxA CroxattoN TosettiTrestan PillonelGilbert GreubPublished in: Scientific reports (2019)
Waddlia chondrophila is an intracellular bacterium phylogenetically related to the well-studied human and animal pathogens of the Chlamydiaceae family. In the last decade, W. chondrophila was convincingly demonstrated to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in humans and abortions in animals. All members of the phylum Chlamydiae possess a Type Three Secretion System that they use for delivering virulence proteins into the host cell cytosol to modulate their environment and create optimal conditions to complete their life cycle. To identify W. chondrophila virulence proteins, we used an original screening approach that combines a cosmid library with an assay monitoring resistance to predation by phagocytic amoebae. This technique combined with bioinformatic data allowed the identification of 28 candidate virulence proteins, including Wimp1, the first identified inclusion membrane protein of W. chondrophila.
Keyphrases
- antimicrobial resistance
- escherichia coli
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
- staphylococcus aureus
- biofilm formation
- pregnancy outcomes
- high throughput
- life cycle
- endothelial cells
- cystic fibrosis
- single cell
- stem cells
- mesenchymal stem cells
- cell therapy
- reactive oxygen species
- induced pluripotent stem cells
- gram negative
- multidrug resistant
- data analysis
- drug induced
- bioinformatics analysis