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Mutually constructive roles of Ail and LPS in Yersinia pestis serum survival

Chandan Singh1, Hwayoung Lee2, Ye Tian1

  • 1Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Molecular Microbiology
|May 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The protein Ail and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in Yersinia pestis cooperate to enhance bacterial survival against human immunity and antibiotics. This interaction strengthens the bacterial outer membrane, aiding plague pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria is crucial for virulence.
  • In Yersinia pestis, the plague-causing agent, protein Ail and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are key virulence factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the cooperative mechanisms between Ail and LPS in Yersinia pestis pathogenesis.
  • To understand how these components enhance bacterial survival against host defenses and antibiotics.

Main Methods:

  • Multidisciplinary approach combining various experimental techniques.
  • Analysis of Ail-LPS interactions at the bacterial membrane surface.

Main Results:

  • Identified mutually constructive interactions between Ail and LPS.
  • Observed an extended conformation of Ail and thickening/rigidification of the LPS membrane.
  • Demonstrated enhanced Y. pestis survival in human serum and increased antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

  • The Ail-LPS assembly functions as a critical, coordinated unit for Y. pestis pathogenesis.
  • Targeting this Ail-LPS interaction could be a novel strategy to combat plague.
Keywords:
Yersinia pestisAilLPSMDlipopolysaccharidenanodiscnuclear magnetic resonancestructure

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