Open AccessCholesterol‐dependent attachment of human respiratory cells by Bordetella pertussis
Author(s) -
Lamberti Yanina,
Hayes Jimena Alvarez,
Perez Vidakovics Maria L.,
Rodriguez Maria Eugenia
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2009.00557.x
Subject(s) - bordetella pertussis , filipin , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bordetella , virulence factor , respiratory tract , whooping cough , pathogen , pertussis toxin , colonization , receptor , cholesterol , virulence , bacteria , immunology , respiratory system , biochemistry , g protein , vaccination , genetics , anatomy , gene
Bordetella pertussis is a re‐emerging human respiratory pathogen whose infectious process is not fully understood, hampering the design of effective vaccines. The nature of bacterial attachment to host cells is a key event in the outcome of the infection. However, host cell receptors involved in B. pertussis colonization of the respiratory tract are still under investigation. Here, we report that cholesterol‐rich domains are involved in B. pertussis adhesion to epithelial cells. Treatment of A549 cells with cholesterol‐sequestering drugs such as methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, nystatin, or filipin resulted in a significant decrease of B. pertussis attachment. Confocal laser microscopy studies showed B. pertussis associated with cholesterol‐rich domains. Accordingly, B. pertussis was found in detergent‐resistant membrane domain fractions isolated from bacterial‐infected A549 cells. Our results indicate a main role of filamentous hemagglutinin, an environmentally regulated virulence factor, in this interaction, and a specific affinity for cholesterol, one of the major components of traqueal secretions, which might additionally contribute to the effective colonization of the respiratory tract.