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*Ehrlichia ruminantium* uses its transmembrane protein Ape to adhere to host bovine aortic endothelial cellsuse asterix (*) to get italics
Valérie Pinarello, Elena Bencurova, Isabel Marcelino, Olivier Gros, Carinne Puech, Mangesh Bhide, Nathalie Vachiery, Damien F. MeyerPlease use the format "First name initials family name" as in "Marie S. Curie, Niels H. D. Bohr, Albert Einstein, John R. R. Tolkien, Donna T. Strickland"
2022
<p><em>Ehrlichia ruminantium</em> is an obligate intracellular bacterium, transmitted by ticks of the genus <em>Amblyomma</em> and responsible for heartwater, a disease of domestic and wild ruminants. High genetic diversity of <em>E. ruminantium</em> strains hampers the development of an effective vaccine against all strains present in the field. In order to develop strategies for the control of heartwater through both vaccine and alternative therapeutic approaches, it is important to first gain a better understanding of the early interaction of <em>E. ruminantium</em> and its host cell. Particularly, the mechanisms associated with bacterial adhesion remain to be elucidated. Herein, we studied the role of <em>E. ruminantium</em> membrane protein ERGA_CDS_01230 (UniProt Q5FFA9), a probable iron transporter, in the adhesion process to host bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). The recombinant version of the protein ERGA_CDS_01230, successfully produced in the Leishmania tarentolae system, is O-glycosylated. Following in vitro culture of <em>E. ruminantium</em> in BAEC, the expression of CDS ERGA_CDS_01230 peaks at the extracellular infectious elementary body stages. This result suggests the likely involvement of ERGA_CDS_01230, named hereafter Ape for Adhesion protein of Ehrlichia, in the early interaction of <em>E. ruminantium</em> with its host cells. We showed using flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy that beads coated with recombinant ERGA_CDS_01230 (rApe) adheres to BAEC. In addition, we also observed that rApe interacts with proteins of the cell lysate, membrane and organelle fractions. Additionally, enzymatic treatment degrading dermatan and chondroitin sulfates on the surface of BAEC is associated with a 50% reduction in the number of bacteria in the host cell after a developmental cycle, indicating that glycosaminoglycans seem to play a role in the adhesion of <em>E. ruminantium</em> to the host cell. Finally, Ape induces a humoral response in vaccinated animals. Globally, our work identifying the role of Ape in <em>E. ruminantium</em> adhesion to host cells makes it a gold vaccine candidate and represents a first step toward the understanding of the mechanisms of cell invasion by <em>E. ruminantium</em>.</p>
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Interactions between hosts and infectious agents/vectors, Microbiology of infections
No need for them to be recommenders of PCIInfections. Please do not suggest reviewers for whom there might be a conflict of interest. Reviewers are not allowed to review preprints written by close colleagues (with whom they have published in the last four years, with whom they have received joint funding in the last four years, or with whom they are currently writing a manuscript, or submitting a grant proposal), or by family members, friends, or anyone for whom bias might affect the nature of the review - see the code of conduct
e.g. John Doe [john@doe.com]
2021-10-14 16:54:54
Thomas Pollet
Rodolfo García-Contreras, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz