Open AccessB ordetella pertussis entry into respiratory epithelial cells and intracellular survival
Author(s) -
Lamberti Yanina,
Gorgojo Juan,
Massillo Cintia,
Rodriguez Maria E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.983
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2049-632X
DOI - 10.1111/2049-632x.12072
Subject(s) - bordetella pertussis , pertussis toxin , internalization , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , intracellular , extracellular , pertactin , endosome , intracellular parasite , bacteria , g protein , signal transduction , cell , biochemistry , genetics
B ordetella pertussis is the causative agent of pertussis, aka whooping cough. Although generally considered an extracellular pathogen, this bacterium has been found inside respiratory epithelial cells, which might represent a survival strategy inside the host. Relatively little is known, however, about the mechanism of internalization and the fate of B . pertussis inside the epithelia. We show here that B . pertussis is able to enter those cells by a mechanism dependent on microtubule assembly, lipid raft integrity, and the activation of a tyrosine‐kinase‐mediated signaling. Once inside the cell, a significant proportion of the intracellular bacteria evade phagolysosomal fusion and remain viable in nonacidic lysosome‐associated membrane‐protein‐1‐negative compartments. In addition, intracellular B . pertussis was found able to repopulate the extracellular environment after complete elimination of the extracellular bacteria with polymyxin B . Taken together, these data suggest that B . pertussis is able to survive within respiratory epithelial cells and by this means potentially contribute to host immune system evasion.