Proteome analysis of Bordetella pertussis isolated from human macrophages

Yanina Lamberti1, Juan Hilario Cafiero1, Kristin Surmann2

  • 1CINDEFI (UNLP CONICET La Plata), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.

Journal of Proteomics
|February 14, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) adapts within human macrophages, altering nearly 300 proteins for survival. This study reveals key bacterial responses to the intracellular environment, offering insights into whooping cough pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Proteomics

Background:

  • Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) is a human respiratory pathogen responsible for whooping cough.
  • Despite vaccination, B. pertussis incidence is rising, particularly in vaccinated populations.
  • B. pertussis survival within host macrophages is implicated in persistence and vaccine failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the proteomic adaptation of B. pertussis during intracellular infection of human macrophages.
  • To identify bacterial proteins and pathways involved in B. pertussis survival within the host cell environment.

Main Methods:

  • Proteome analysis of intracellular B. pertussis at 3 and 48 hours post-infection.
  • Comparison of intracellular bacterial proteomes with extracellular B. pertussis.
  • Utilized nano-liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

Main Results:

  • Out of 762 identified proteins, nearly 300 showed altered abundance in intracellular B. pertussis compared to extracellular bacteria.
  • Enrichment of proteins involved in stress response, iron uptake, metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and virulence was observed.
  • This represents the first global proteome analysis of B. pertussis adapting to the intramacrophage environment.

Conclusions:

  • B. pertussis undergoes significant proteomic changes to adapt to the intracellular macrophage environment.
  • These adaptive responses are crucial for bacterial survival, persistence, and pathogenesis.
  • Understanding these adaptations provides new insights into B. pertussis biology and potential therapeutic targets.

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