RESPIRATORY EPITHELIAL CELLS AS AN ALTERNATIVE NICHE FOR BORDETELLA PARAPERTUSSIS

GORGOJO JUAN PABLO; BAROLI, CARLOS; ALVAREZ HAYES, JIMENA; BLANCÁ, BRUNO; RODRIGUEZ, MARÍA EUGENIA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de SAIC SAI SAFIS 2018; 2018

Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología

B. parapertussis (Bpp) is one of the two causative agents of whopping cough. Humans are the only natural reservoir for this respiratory non-invasive pathogen. However, its location within the host during asymptomatic periods is still unclear. We previously showed that Bpp survives intracellularly in neutrophils and macrophages. These cells have been proposed as a niche of persistence. Here we investigated the potential of the epithelial airway cells, also relevant at the infection sites, as another niche of persistence for Bpp. We used the 16HBE40- bronchial cell line that partially retained the characteristics and functions of the airway epithelium. Culture conditions were set up to promote cell polarity and the formation of tight junctions. Cells were infected with Bpp and the outcome of this interaction was evaluated. We used fluorescent probes to investigate bacterial internalization and intracellular trafficking by confocal microscopy. Intracellular survival was evaluated by polymyxin B protection assays. Statistical differences were analyzed by ANOVA (p