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Related Experiment Videos

A Sphingomonas bacterium interacting with epithelial cells.

Maria Grazia Ammendolia1, Lucia Bertuccini, Fabio Minelli

  • 1Department of Technology and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. ammendol@iss.it

Research in Microbiology
|September 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Sphingomonas bacteria, environmental microbes, can infect humans. These bacteria interact with epithelial cells, triggering surface changes and entering cells via macropinocytosis, potentially using lipid rafts for attachment.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas are environmental microbes.
  • They have been linked to community-acquired and nosocomial infections.
  • This study investigated an environmental Sphingomonas isolate's interaction with epithelial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a Sphingomonas isolate found contaminating HeLa cells.
  • To investigate the mechanisms of bacterial attachment and entry into epithelial cells.
  • To understand the cellular responses induced by Sphingomonas-epithelial cell interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of the contaminating microorganism (morphological, genetic, biochemical assays).
  • Investigation of cell interaction and entry mechanisms using electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and biochemical inhibitors.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of cellular changes including microvillar extensions, membrane ruffling, and cholesterol distribution.

    • Main Results:

    • The contaminating organism was identified as belonging to the genus Sphingomonas.
    • Sphingomonas contact induced significant epithelial cell surface alterations, including microvillar extensions and membrane ruffling.
    • Bacterial entry into HeLa cells involved actin microfilaments and occurred partly via macropinocytosis, with lipid rafts potentially serving as initial binding sites.

    Conclusions:

    • Sphingomonas bacteria exhibit specific mechanisms for interacting with and entering epithelial cells.
    • The cellular response involves actin-dependent processes and macropinocytosis.
    • Lipid rafts may play a role in the initial adhesion of Sphingomonas to host cells, highlighting potential pathways for infection.