Bacteria-host interactions: virulence factors, mucosal immune response and chronic sequelae

, DI GENARO MS

Buenos Aires

Encuentro; Humboldt Colloquium Shaping the Future of German-Argentinian Scientific Cooperation ? The Role of Curiosity-Driven Research? Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2018

Fundación Alexander von Humboldt

Yersinia enterocolitica (Ye) are enteropathogenic bacteria prevalent in the environment and often isolated from soil, water, food, and clinical sources. Ye inject the effector proteins called Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) into host target cells. YopP induces apoptosis in macrophages and dendritic cells. We aimed to compare the invasion properties and immune response induced by YopP-deficient (Ye yopP) and wild type (Ye wt) strains. Our results suggest that YopP could play a critical role in Ye infection, controlling the immune response at mucosal entry sites. The specific mechanism by which YopP controls the mucosal immune response remains to be determined and they are currently under investigation. On the other hand, infections with pathogenic enterobacteria frequently cause acute self-limited diarrhea, however, they can be followed by a chronic sequelae such as reactive arthritis (ReA). The immunopathogenic mechanisms of ReA have not been fully elucidated, so no specific treatment is applied. Dendritic cells are key inducer cells in the immune response; however, the functions of these cells in ReA have not been investigated. Our findings support a mucosal-joint connection in Ye-induced ReA. Migratory dendritic cells in joint draining lymph nodes may participate in the unbalanced immune response in ReA induced by Ye.