Intracellular survival of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in human macrophages is independent of Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-2

Microbiology (Reading). 2010 Dec;156(Pt 12):3689-3698. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.041624-0. Epub 2010 Sep 3.

Abstract

For successful infection, Salmonella enterica secretes and injects effector proteins into host cells by two distinct type three secretion systems (T3SSs) located on Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs)-1 and -2. The SPI-2 T3SS is involved in intracellular survival of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium and systemic disease. As little is known regarding the function of the SPI-2 T3SS from S. enterica serovar Typhi, the aetiological agent of typhoid fever, we investigated its role for survival in human macrophages. Mutations in the translocon (sseB), basal secretion apparatus (ssaR) and regulator (ssrB) did not result in any reduction in survival under many of the conditions tested. Similar results were obtained with another S. Typhi strain or by using human primary cells. Results were corroborated based on complete deletion of the SPI-2 T3SS. Surprisingly, the data suggest that the SPI-2 T3SS of S. Typhi is not required for survival in human macrophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Genomic Islands*
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / microbiology*
  • Microbial Viability*
  • Salmonella Infections / microbiology*
  • Salmonella typhi / genetics
  • Salmonella typhi / physiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins