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Mycoplasma agalactiae Induces Cytopathic Effects in Infected Cells Cultured In Vitro

Shrilakshmi Hegde1, Shivanand Manjunath Hegde1, Renate Rosengarten1

  • 1Division of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Biology, Institute of Bacteriology, Mycology and Hygiene, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Plos One
|September 24, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma agalactiae causes significant economic losses, but its pathogenesis is unclear. This study reveals M. agalactiae directly induces host cell death and lysis in vitro, offering new insights into disease mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathogenesis Research

Background:

  • Mycoplasma agalactiae is the cause of contagious agalactia syndrome in sheep and goats, leading to substantial global economic losses.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying M. agalactiae pathogenesis and virulence factors remain largely unknown.
  • The direct impact of M. agalactiae on host cell integrity and viability is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro effects of Mycoplasma agalactiae infection on host cell quality and viability.
  • To elucidate the cytopathic effects induced by M. agalactiae in host cells.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of HeLa cells with Mycoplasma agalactiae.
  • Microscopic observation of cellular morphology changes (elongation, shrinkage, blebbing).
  • Assessment of apoptosis-like phenomena (chromatin condensation, caspase-3 cleavage).
  • Measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release to quantify cell lysis.
  • Evaluation of gentamicin treatment to confirm the role of cytadherent bacteria.

Main Results:

  • Mycoplasma agalactiae infection induced significant changes in HeLa cell morphology, including elongation, cytoplasm shrinkage, and membrane blebbing.
  • Evidence of apoptosis-like cell death, characterized by chromatin condensation and increased caspase-3 cleavage, was observed 48 hours post-infection.
  • Decreased cell viability and increased cell lysis, indicated by LDH release, occurred in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
  • Gentamicin treatment significantly reduced LDH release, confirming the critical role of adhered M. agalactiae in inducing cell lysis.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence that Mycoplasma agalactiae directly induces cytopathic effects and apoptosis-like cell death in host cells in vitro.
  • The findings suggest that M. agalactiae-induced host cell lysis may contribute to the tissue destruction observed in natural infections.
  • Further research into apoptotic markers in host tissues could elucidate the link between M. agalactiae infection and disease pathology.

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