Biology subjects

Dersch, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Dersch, P..

13 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

The Shigella E3 ubiquitin ligase IpaH7.8 reprograms host kinase signaling to suppress NOX2-dependent oxidative burst responses in human monocytes

Bacterial effector proteins manipulate host signalling cascades, including immune responses, to facilitate infection. While most effectors of Gram-negative bacteria rely on a secretion system for intracellular delivery, some possess intrinsic cell-penetrating capabilities. Here, we characterize the Shigella flexneri LPX effector IpaH7.8, which combines autonomous cell entry with enzymatic modulation of immunomodulatory host signaling pathways through distinct structural domains. We show that recombinant IpaH7.8 (rIpaH7.8) enters human cells independent of Shigellas type III secretion system (T3SS) via lipid raft-mediated endocytosis and escapes the endosome through a conserved N-terminal domain composed of two -helices. In the cytosol, the C-terminal E3 ubiquitin ligase domain of the cell-penetrating effector protein targets the pore-forming protein gasdermin D (GSDMD), suppressing inflammasome-induced IL-1{beta} release. Beyond inflammasome inhibition, integrated transcriptomic and kinome profiling in primary human monocytes revealed that IpaH7.8 induces a coordinated reprogramming of host signaling networks. Cluster-resolved gene expression analysis demonstrated selective suppression of immune effector pathways alongside induction of regulatory programs and interference with vesicular trafficking. These transcriptional changes converged with kinase activity remodeling, characterized by attenuation of PKC- and PKA-dependent signaling pathways. Notably, both datasets identified the NOX2 complex as a central target of IpaH7.8 activity. The NOX2 subunit NCF1 was downregulated at the transcriptional level and showed reduced phosphorylation at regulatory sites, indicating impaired activation. Consistently, IpaH7.8 significantly reduced reactive oxygen species production in primary human monocytes, demonstrating functional suppression of oxidative burst responses. Together, our findings reveal that IpaH7.8 acts as a multi-layered regulator of host immunity that integrates ubiquitination and kinase signaling to suppress both inflammatory and antimicrobial responses. By converging on the NOX2 axis, this effector uncovers a central vulnerability in host defense and highlights bacterial effector proteins as modulators of complex signaling networks with potential therapeutic relevance. Author SummaryBacterial pathogens like Shigella flexneri manipulate host immune responses to survive and spread within human cells. The Shigella effector protein IpaH7.8 is known to block inflammatory cell death by targeting gasdermin D. Here, we show that IpaH7.8 can enter human cells without a bacterial secretion system. It uses a specialized protein domain to cross the membrane and reach the cytoplasm. Once inside, IpaH7.8 alters host cell signaling by both attaching ubiquitin to immune proteins and reprogramming phosphorylation pathways. This dual function allows Shigella to suppress inflammation and promotes its escape from immune defenses. Our findings reveal how IpaH7.8 combines cell entry, immune evasion, and cytoskeletal control in a single protein, and highlight its potential as a tool to modulate inflammation in disease contexts.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

Toxin-triggered activation of regulated exocytosis enhances bacterial egress from the intestinal layer

Bacterial exit from host cells is essential for dissemination yet remains poorly understood. Here, we define a non-lytic egress pathway exploited by the enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis that co-opts the host exocytosis machinery in intestinal epithelial cells. The bacteria secrete a CNF-family toxin that activates the Cdc42-PLC {gamma}1-IP3-IP3R signaling cascade, triggering SNARE-dependent fusion of the Yersinia-containing vacuoles with the cell membrane via VAMP7, Stx4, and SNAP23. This controlled exocytotic release preserves epithelial barrier integrity and occurs infrequently, representing a key rate-limiting step in systemic spread. These findings establish the host exocytotic machinery as an active determinant of bacterial egress, uncover a conserved vesicle trafficking pathway hijacked by intracellular pathogens for dissemination, and assign a new role for bacterial toxins in regulating host cell exit. Authors SummaryMany bacterial pathogens penetrate and cross protective host cell barriers to spread within the body. While the mechanisms by which enteric bacteria enter host cells are well characterized, far less is known about how they exit host cells after invasion. In this study, we investigated how the enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis exits from human gut epithelial cells after crossing them. We found that they egress at the basolateral side of the intestinal cells through a controlled, non-destructive process that preserves the integrity of the epithelial barrier. To achieve this, the bacteria co-opt host signaling pathways involved in host cell vesicle release (exocytosis) to promote controlled egress. These exit events are rare, suggesting that bacterial escape from cells is a major bottleneck during infection. Importantly, we show that this process is enhanced by a secreted toxin of the Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor (CNF) family (CNFY), which promotes the fusion of the bacteria-containing vacuole with the basolateral cell membrane. This finding uncovers a previously unrecognized role of bacterial toxins in facilitating bacterial cell egress.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

T6SS4 is heterogeneously expressed in Y. pseudotuberculosis and is a target for transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a complex secretion system encoded by many Gram-negative bacteria to translocate effector proteins directly into target cells. Due to its high complexity and energy-intensive firing process, regulation of the T6SS is tightly controlled in many organisms. Y. pseudotuberculosis encodes four complete T6SS clusters but lacks genes implicated in T6SS gene regulation in other microorganisms, indicating a distinct control mechanism. Here, we could show that the T6SS4 of Y. pseudotuberculosis is heterogeneously expressed within a population, which is determined by the transcriptional T6SS4 activator RovC. Moreover, the T6SS4 and RovC are embedded in a complex and global regulatory network, including the global post-transcriptional regulator CsrA, the Yersinia modulator A (YmoA), the global protease Lon, and RNases (PNP and RNase III). Post-transcriptional processing of the T6SS4 polycistron and different transcript stability within the operon also achieve a higher regulatory complexity. In summary, our work provides new insights into the sophisticated and complex regulatory network of the T6SS4 of Y. pseudotuberculosis, which clearly differs from regulation in other organisms. Authors summaryBacteria use a specialized multi-protein complex called the Type VI secretion system (T6SS) to inject toxic proteins into other cells to compete with target microorganisms or to infect host organisms. While the T6SS has been extensively studied in some model organisms, much less is known about the function and regulation of the four T6SS clusters of the food-borne human pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. In this study, we found that the T6SS4 of Y. pseudotuberculosis is only expressed in a small subpopulation in vitro. This suggests that its regulation is fundamentally different from what is known in other organisms. We show that a complex regulatory network regulates T6SS4 gene expression, and the T6SS4 transcript is post-transcriptionally processed, resulting in different mRNA levels of the individual T6SS components. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how bacteria, especially Y. pseudotuberculosis, regulate complex secretion systems at multiple levels.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Divergent granulopoiesis at extramedullary sites safeguards host defense

Extramedullary organs such as the spleen can assume granulopoiesis as a supportive mechanism to cope with the demands during persistent inflammation. However, the quantitative output of extramedullary granulopoiesis is limited, thus raising the question if the spleen in fact provides neutrophils of a qualitative difference rather than merely contributing to neutrophil numbers. Here we report splenic stress granulopoiesis with distinct production and differentiation trajectories. Myeloid progenitors in the spleen engage in accelerated production of neutrophils with an immature phenotype. Yet, neutrophils generated during persistent stress granulopoiesis are fully competent to exert antimicrobial functions and are necessary to contain bacterial invasion. Activation of type I interferon signaling in the spleen is required for splenic neutrophil production and its loss impairs host defense. Thus, the spleen provides an immunological environment for stress-induced rapid production and priming of highly active neutrophils to meet the demands during infection.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

Immune priming in the insect gut: a dynamic response revealed by ultrastructural and transcriptomic changes

Research on forms of memory in innate immune systems has recently gained momentum with the study of trained immunity in vertebrates and immune priming in invertebrates. Immune priming provides protection against previously encountered pathogens. However, causes and mechanisms of immune priming are still not well understood in most organisms. In this work, we combine RNA sequencing with transmission electron microscopy to investigate the dynamic processes during priming in the gut of a well-established model for oral immune priming, consisting of the host Tribolium castaneum and its entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis (Btt). We show that priming with specific, pathogen-derived virulence-relevant factors causes damage in the gut of T. castaneum larvae, which leads to an early physiological stress response as well as the upregulation of a specific set of immune genes. This response diminishes over time yet enables the gut to upregulate genes known to interfere with Btt virulence when T. castaneum larvae are later exposed to infectious Btt spores. The identification of these processes increases our understanding of immune priming as a dynamic process where cellular responses in concert with specific gene regulation prepare the gut tissue and thereby enable more efficient protection against infection. Such work can further help us understand the origin and mechanism of innate immune memory. Author summaryInvertebrate animals do not possess a classical adaptive immune system. And yet, many of these animals show forms of immune memory, collectively called immune priming. In this work, we investigate the causes of oral immune priming in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum in response to its bacterial entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis. Primary exposure to Btt spent culture media supernatants enables the larvae of T. castaneum to better withstand a subsequent infection with infectious Btt spores. We show that exposing T. castaneum larvae to those supernatants leads to damage in the gut resulting in a strong stress and immune response early after priming and a targeted up-regulation of beneficial genes upon the secondary re-encounter with Btt. These results suggest fundamental stress responses can be involved in innate immune memory phenomena, which has implications in translational research across species.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2024

RNase-mediated reprogramming of Yersinia virulence

RNA degradation is an essential process that allows bacteria to regulate gene expression and has emerged as an important mechanism for controlling virulence. However, the individual contributions of RNases in this process are mostly unknown. Here, we report that of 11 tested potential RNases of the intestinal pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, two, the endoribonuclease RNase III and the exoribonuclease PNPase, repress the synthesis of the master virulence regulator LcrF. LcrF activates the expression of virulence plasmid genes encoding the type III secretion system (Ysc-T3SS) and its substrates (Yop proteins), that are employed to inhibit immune cell functions during infection. Loss of both RNases led to an increase in lcrF mRNA levels and stability. Our work indicates that PNPase exerts its influence via YopD, known to accelerate lcrF mRNA degradation. Loss of RNase III results in the downregulation of the CsrB and CsrC RNAs, leading to increased availability of active CsrA, which has previously been shown to enhance lcrF mRNA translation and stability. Other factors that influence the translation process and were found to be differentially expressed in the RNase III-deficient mutant could support this process. Transcriptomic profiling further revealed that Ysc-T3SS-mediated Yop secretion leads to global reprogramming of the Yersinia transcriptome with a massive shift of the expression from chromosomal towards virulence plasmid-encoded genes. A similar extensive transcriptional reprogramming was also observed in the RNase III-deficient mutant under non-secretion conditions. This illustrates that RNase III enables immediate coordination of virulence traits, such as Ysc-T3SS/Yops, with other functions required for host-pathogen interactions and survival in the host. Author SummaryBacterial pathogens need to quickly adapt the expression of virulence- and fitness-relevant traits in response to host defenses. Pathogenic Yersinia species rapidly upregulate a type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject antiphagocytic and cell toxic effector proteins, named Yersinia outer proteins (Yops), into attacking immune cells. For this purpose, they display complex and resilient regulatory mechanisms. At the post-transcriptional level, this is mediated by different RNA-binding regulators including YopD and CsrA, while the fate of mRNAs is balanced by ribonucleases. Here, we demonstrate that out of 11 tested putative RNases of Yersinia, two major RNases, the endoribonuclease RNase III, and the exonuclease and degradosome component PNPase play a crucial role in the activation of the Ysc-T3SS/Yop machinery. We show that they promote the decay of the lcrF mRNA encoding the common transcriptional activator LcrF of the Ysc-T3SS/Yop components. PNPase seems to act through the control of the effector YopD, known to promote the decay of the lcrF transcript. In contrast, RNase III triggers processes that reduce lcrF mRNA translation and stability, and involve CsrA. A transcriptome analysis further revealed that RNase III controls a series of events that include rapid and massive genetic reprogramming from mainly chromosomal-encoded genes to virulence-plasmid-encoded ysc-T3SS/yop genes. This control process does not only ensure immediate counter-measures during an immune attack, it also helps to overcome accompanying energetic and stress burdens and allows to rapidly readjust the genetic program after a successful defense.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Infection and antibiotic-associated changes in the fecal microbiota of C. rodentium {Phi}stx2dact-infected C57BL/6 mice

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli causes watery to bloody diarrhea, which may progress to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. While early studies suggested that antibiotic treatment may worsen the pathology of an EHEC infection, recent work has shown that certain non-Shiga toxin-inducing antibiotics avert disease progression. Unfortunately, both intestinal bacterial infections and antibiotic treatment are associated with dysbiosis. This can alleviate colonization resistance, facilitate secondary infections, and potentially lead to more severe illness. To address the consequences in the context of an EHEC infection, we used the established mouse infection model organism C. rodentium {phi}stx2dact and monitored changes in fecal microbiota composition during infection and antibiotic treatment. C. rodentium {phi}stx2dact infection resulted in minor changes compared to antibiotic treatment. The infection caused clear alterations in the microbial community, leading mainly to a reduction of Muribaculaceae and a transient increase in Enterobacteriaceae distinct from Citrobacter. Antibiotic treatments of the infection resulted in marked and distinct variations in microbiota composition, diversity, and dispersion. Enrofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, which did not prevent Stx-mediated organ damage, had the least disruptive effects on the intestinal microbiota, while kanamycin and tetracycline, which rapidly cleared the infection, caused a severe reduction in diversity. Kanamycin treatment resulted in the depletion of all but Bacteroidetes genera, whereas tetracycline effects on Clostridia were less severe. Together, these data highlight the need to address the impact of individual antibiotics in the clinical care of life-threatening infections and consider microbiota-regenerating therapies. IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the impact of antibiotic treatment on enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infections is crucial for appropriate clinical care. While discouraged by early studies, recent findings suggest certain antibiotics can impede disease progression. Here, we investigated the impact of individual antibiotics on the fecal microbiota in the context of an established EHEC mouse model using C. rodentium {phi}stx2dact. The infection caused significant variations in the microbiota, leading to a transient increase in Enterobacteriaceae distinct from Citrobacter. However, these effects were minor compared to those observed for antibiotic treatments. Indeed, antibiotics that most efficiently cleared the infection also had the most detrimental effect on the fecal microbiota, causing a substantial reduction in microbial diversity. Conversely, antibiotics showing adverse effects or incomplete bacterial clearance had a reduced impact on microbiota composition and diversity. Taken together, our findings emphasize the delicate balance required to weigh the harmful effects of infection and antibiosis in treatment.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Endocytic vacuole formation by WASH-mediated endocytosis

Endocytosis is a fundamental cellular process facilitated by diverse mechanisms. Remarkably, several distinct clathrin-independent endocytic processes were identified and characterized following virus uptake into cells. For some, however, mechanistic execution and biological function remain largely unclear. This includes an endocytic process exploited by human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16). Using HPV16, we examined how vesicles are formed by combining systematic cellular perturbations with electron and video microscopy. Cargo uptake occurred by uncoated, inward-budding pits. Mechanistically, vesicle scission was facilitated by actin polymerization controlled through the actin nucleation promoting factor WASH. While WASH typically functions in conjunction with the retromer complex on endosomes during retrograde trafficking, endocytic vesicle formation was largely independent of retromer itself and the heterodimeric membrane-bending SNX-BAR retromer adaptor, thereby uncovering a role of WASH in endocytosis in addition to its canonical role in intracellular membrane trafficking.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The gatekeeper of Yersinia type III secretion is under RNA thermometer control

Many bacterial pathogens use a type III secretion system (T3SS) as molecular syringe to inject effector proteins into the host cell. In the foodborne pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, delivery of the secreted effector protein cocktail through the T3SS depends on YopN, a molecular gatekeeper that controls access to the secretion channel from the bacterial cytoplasm. Here, we show that several checkpoints adjust yopN expression to virulence conditions. A dominant cue is the host body temperature. A temperature of 37 {degrees}C is known to induce the RNA thermometer (RNAT)-dependent synthesis of LcrF, a transcription factor that activates expression of the entire T3SS regulon. Here, we uncovered a second layer of temperature control. We show that another RNAT silences translation of the yopN mRNA at low environmental temperatures. The long and short 5-untranslated region of both cellular yopN isoforms fold into a similar secondary structure that blocks ribosome binding. The hairpin structure with an internal loop melts at 37 {degrees}C and thereby permits formation of the translation initiation complex as shown by mutational analysis, in vitro structure probing and toeprinting methods. Importantly, we demonstrate the physiological relevance of the RNAT in the faithful control of type III secretion by using a point-mutated thermostable RNAT variant with a trapped SD sequence. Abrogated YopN production in this strain led to unrestricted effector protein secretion into the medium, bacterial growth arrest and delayed translocation into eukaryotic host cells. Cumulatively, our results show that substrate delivery by the Yersinia T3SS is under hierarchical surveillance of two RNATs. Author summaryTemperature serves as reliable external cue for pathogenic bacteria to recognize the entry into or exit from a warm-blooded host. At the molecular level, a temperature of 37 {degrees}C induces various virulence-related processes that manipulate host cell physiology. Here, we demonstrate the temperature-dependent synthesis of the secretion regulator YopN in the foodborne pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, a close relative of Yersinia pestis. YopN blocks secretion of effector proteins through the type III secretion system unless host cell contact is established. Temperature-specific regulation relies on an RNA structure in the 5-untranslated region of the yopN mRNA, referred to as RNA thermometer, which allows ribosome binding and thus translation initiation only at an infection-relevant temperature of 37 {degrees}C. A mutated variant of the thermosensor resulting in a closed conformation prevented synthesis of the molecular gatekeeper YopN and led to permanent secretion and defective translocation of virulence factors into host cells. We suggest that the RNA thermometer plays a critical role in adjusting the optimal cellular concentration of a surveillance factor that maintains the controlled translocation of virulence factors.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Identification of translocation inhibitors targeting the type III secretion system of enteropathogenic E. coli

Infections with enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) cause severe diarrhea in children. The non-invasive bacteria adhere to enterocytes of the small intestine and use a type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject effector proteins into host cells to modify and exploit cellular processes in favor of bacterial survival and replication. Several studies have shown that the T3SSs of bacterial pathogens are essential for virulence. Furthermore, the loss of T3SS-mediated effector translocation results in increased immune recognition and clearance of the bacteria. The T3SS is, therefore, considered a promising target for antivirulence strategies and novel therapeutics development. Here, we report the results of a high-throughput screening assay based on the translocation of the EPEC effector protein Tir. Using this assay, we screened more than 13,000 small molecular compounds of six different compound libraries and identified three substances which showed a significant dose-dependent effect on translocation without adverse effects on bacterial or eukaryotic cell viability. Additionally, these substances reduced bacterial binding to host cells, effector-dependent cell detachment and abolished A/E lesion formation without affecting the expression of components of the T3SS or associated effector proteins. Moreover, no effects of the inhibitors on bacterial motility or Shiga-toxin expression were observed. In summary, we have identified three new compounds that strongly inhibit T3SS-mediated translocation of effectors into mammalian cells, which could be valuable as lead substances for treating EPEC and EHEC infections.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

The structure of bacterial toxin CNFY reveals requirements for secretion, host cell recognition and endosomal release

Cytotoxic necrotizing factors (CNFs) are bacterial single-chain exotoxins that modulate cytokinetic/oncogenic and inflammatory processes through activation of host cell Rho GTPases. To achieve this, they are secreted, bind surface receptors to induce endocytosis and translocate a catalytic unit into the cytosol to intoxicate host cells. A three-dimensional structure that provides insight into the underlying mechanisms is still lacking. Here, we determined the crystal structure of full-length Yersinia pseudotuberculosis CNFY. CNFY consists of five domains (D1-D5), and by integrating structural and functional data we demonstrate that D1-3 act as export and translocation module for the catalytic unit (D4-5) or fused {beta}-lactamase reporter proteins. We further found that domain D4, which possesses structural similarity to ADP-ribosyl transferases, but had no equivalent catalytic activity, changed its position to interact extensively with D5 in the crystal structure of the free D4-5 fragment. This liberates D5 from a semi-blocked conformation in full-length CNFY, leading to higher deamidation activity. Finally, sequence comparisons identified the CNF translocation module in many uncharacterized bacterial proteins, suggesting its usability as a universal drug delivery tool.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

Bread feeding is a robust and more physiological enteropathogen administration method compared to oral gavage

Oral administration is a preferred model for studying infection by bacterial enteropathogens such as Yersinia. In the mouse model, the most frequent method for oral infection consists of oral gavage with a feeding needle directly introduced in the animal stomach via the esophagus. In this study, we compared needle gavage to bread feeding as an alternative mode of bacterial administration. Using a bioluminescence-expressing strain of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, we detected very early upon needle gavage a bioluminescent signal in the neck area together with a signal in the abdominal region, highlighting the presence of two independent sites of bacterial colonization and multiplication. Bacteria were often detected in the esophagus and trachea, as well as in the lymph nodes draining the salivary glands, suggesting that lesions made during needle introduction into the animal oral cavity lead to rapid bacterial draining to proximal lymph nodes. We then tested an alternative mode of bacterial administration using small pieces of white bread containing bacteria. Upon bread feeding infection, mice exhibited a stronger bioluminescent signal in the abdominal region as compared to needle gavage, and no signal was detected in the neck area. Moreover, Y. pseudotuberculosis incorporated in the bread is less susceptible to the acidic environment of the stomach and is therefore more efficient in causing intestinal infections. Based on our observations, bread feeding constitutes a natural and more efficient administration method which does not require specialized skills, is less traumatic for the animal, and results in diseases that more closely mimic food-borne intestinal infection.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

The alarmone (p)ppGpp is part of the heat shock response of Bacillus subtilis

Here, B. subtilis was used as a model organism to investigate how cells respond and adapt to proteotoxic stress conditions. Our experiments suggested that the stringent response, caused by raised levels of the (p)ppGpp alarmone, plays a role during thermotolerance development and the heat shock response. Accordingly, our experiments revealed a rapid increase of cellular (p)ppGpp levels upon heat shock as well as salt- and oxidative stress. Strains lacking (p)ppGpp exhibited increased stress sensitivity, while raised (p)ppGpp levels conferred increased stress tolerance to heat- and oxidative stress. During thermotolerance development, stress response genes were highly up-regulated together with a concurrent transcriptional down-regulation of the rRNA, which was influenced by the second messenger (p)ppGpp and the transcription factor Spx. Remarkably, we observed that (p)ppGpp appeared to control the cellular translational capacity and that during heat stress the raised cellular levels of the alarmone were able to curb the rate of protein synthesis. Furthermore, (p)ppGpp controls the heat-induced expression of Hpf and thus the formation of translationally inactive 100S disomes. These results indicate that B. subtilis cells respond to heat-mediated protein unfolding and aggregation, not only by raising the cellular repair capacity, but also by decreasing translation involving (p)ppGpp mediated stringent response to concurrently reduce the protein load for the cellular protein quality control system.\n\nAuthor SummaryHere we demonstrate that the bacterial stringent response, which is known to slow down translation upon sensing nutrient starvation, is also intricately involved in the stress response of B. subtilis cells. The second messengers (p)ppGpp act as pleiotropic regulators during the adaptation to heat stress. (p)ppGpp slows down translation and is also involved in the transcriptional down-regulation of the translation machinery, together with the transcriptional stress regulator Spx. The stress-induced elevation of cellular (p)ppGpp levels confers increased stress tolerance and facilitates an improved protein homeostasis by reducing the load on the protein quality control system.

microbiology↗