Quantitative proteomics revealed modulation of macrophages by MetQ gene of Streptococcus suis serotype 2

Xiaomeng Pei1, Junchi Liu1, Mingxing Liu1

  • 1MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.

AMB Express
|October 30, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This study investigates how deleting the MetQ gene in Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) affects macrophage antiphagocytosis. Findings reveal key protein changes impacting innate immunity, offering potential targets for SS2 infection control.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Proteomics

Background:

  • Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is a zoonotic pathogen causing severe illness in humans and pigs.
  • The MetQ gene's role in SS2's antiphagocytic mechanisms and pathogenesis remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the attenuated antiphagocytosis of the SS2 MetQ deletion strain.
  • To identify host cell protein alterations in macrophages infected with SS2, specifically the △MetQ strain.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC) coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for differential protein expression analysis.
  • Employed bioinformatics for data analysis, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting for validation.

Main Results:

  • Identified differentially expressed proteins in RAW264.7 macrophages upon infection with △MetQ and wild-type SS2 (ZY05719).
  • Observed downregulation of immune-related proteins (e.g., Src, Ccl9) and upregulation of actin cytoskeleton and endocytosis-related proteins (e.g., Pstpip1, Ppp1r9b).

Conclusions:

  • The proteomic analysis provides insights into the antiphagocytic strategies of SS2 and its impact on macrophage innate immunity.
  • Identified proteins like Src, Ccl9, Pstpip1, and Ppp1r9b may serve as novel therapeutic targets for controlling SS2 infections.