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Mycoplasma genitalium and M. pneumoniae Regulate a Distinct Set of Protein-Coding Genes in Epithelial Cells

Enrique I Ramos1, Kishore Das2, Alana L Harrison1

  • 1Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, United States.

Frontiers in Immunology
|October 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections trigger different host cell responses. While both bacteria affect similar cellular processes, M. pneumoniae uniquely impacts immune and inflammatory pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathogen-Host Interactions

Background:

  • Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infect human urogenital and respiratory tracts, respectively.
  • Both species share pathogenic mechanisms, invading and persisting in epithelial cells.
  • Bacterial interactions with host cells are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate differential host gene expression in response to M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae.
  • To elucidate bacterium-host interaction mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • HeLa cells were infected with M. genitalium or M. pneumoniae.
  • Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to analyze gene expression.
  • KEGG pathway and signaling network analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • HeLa cells exhibited distinct gene expression profiles in response to each Mycoplasma species.
  • Significant overlap in regulated genes was observed, but many were species-specific.
  • M. genitalium-specific genes related to cellular processes; M. pneumoniae-specific genes involved immune response and inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae induce differential host cellular responses.
  • M. pneumoniae may possess mechanisms to modulate host immune pathways, unlike M. genitalium.
  • Further research into these species-specific interactions is warranted.
Keywords:
RNA-seqepithelial cellsgene expressioninteractionsmycoplasmaprotein-coding

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