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Author Spotlight: Advancements in Understanding and Combatting Shigella Infections
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Author Spotlight: Advancements in Understanding and Combatting Shigella Infections

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The MFS efflux pump EmrKY contributes to the survival of Shigella within macrophages

Martina Pasqua1, Milena Grossi1, Sara Scinicariello1

  • 1Istituto Pasteur Italia, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "C. Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.

Scientific Reports
|March 1, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Shigella flexneri utilizes the EmrKY efflux pump during host cell invasion. This pump is activated by acidic conditions within macrophages, aiding bacterial survival in the host environment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Efflux pumps are vital membrane proteins in all organisms.
  • They are implicated in antibiotic resistance and pathogen-host interactions.
  • Shigella flexneri causes bacillary dysentery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the efflux pump network in Shigella flexneri.
  • To understand the regulation and function of specific efflux pumps during infection.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of efflux pumps in S. flexneri and E. coli.
  • Gene expression analysis during intracellular infection.
  • Investigating the role of the EvgS/EvgA two-component system.
  • Assessing bacterial survival in macrophage-like cells.

Main Results:

  • S. flexneri possesses 14 characterized efflux pumps.
  • The emrKY operon is highly induced in infected macrophages.
  • EmrKY expression is regulated by high K+, acidic pH, and the EvgS/EvgA system.
  • Intracellular pH reduction in macrophages triggers emrKY activation.
  • EmrKY is crucial for S. flexneri survival within macrophages.

Conclusions:

  • The EmrKY efflux pump plays a critical role in Shigella flexneri's survival during host cell invasion.
  • Efflux pumps are key virulence factors in bacterial pathogenesis.
  • This study reveals a novel mechanism of bacterial adaptation within the host environment.

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