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Type III Secretion in the Melioidosis Pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei

Charles W Vander Broek1, Joanne M Stevens1

  • 1The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of EdinburghMidlothian, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|July 1, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Burkholderia pseudomallei uses three Type III Secretion Systems (T3SSs) for virulence. This review focuses on T3SS-3, crucial for bacterial escape and disease progression, comparing it to Salmonella and Shigella systems.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems

Background:

  • Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen causing melioidosis, a severe and under-reported emerging disease in humans and animals.
  • Type III Secretion Systems (T3SSs) are critical virulence factors in Gram-negative pathogens.
  • B. pseudomallei possesses three T3SSs, with T3SS-3 being homologous to Salmonella and Shigella systems and essential for virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and frame current knowledge of B. pseudomallei T3SSs.
  • To contextualize B. pseudomallei T3SSs, particularly T3SS-3, with well-characterized model T3SSs from Salmonella and Shigella.
  • To highlight gaps in understanding T3SS-3 assembly, secretion, and regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on B. pseudomallei T3SSs.
  • Comparative analysis of T3SS-3 with homologous systems in Salmonella and Shigella.
  • Discussion of known regulatory cascades, secretomes, and effector proteins of T3SS-3.

Main Results:

  • T3SS-3 is essential for B. pseudomallei's endosomal escape within host cells.
  • T3SS-3 contributes significantly to virulence in both hamster and murine infection models.
  • While T3SS-3 regulation and secretome are partially described, few effector proteins are functionally characterized.

Conclusions:

  • T3SS-3 is a key virulence determinant in B. pseudomallei, playing a vital role in host cell manipulation.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the assembly, secretion hierarchy, and temporal regulation of T3SS-3.
  • Comparative studies with Salmonella and Shigella T3SSs provide valuable insights for understanding B. pseudomallei pathogenesis.
Keywords:
Burkholderia pseudomalleiT3SSeffectormelioidosistranslocator

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