The Phase-Specific Dynamics in Gene Expression of Salmonella Typhimurium During Acanthamoeba castellanii Infection

Being facultative intracellular pathogens, the bacterium often is found in the environment. In natural habitats, Salmonella are able to survive and multiply inside free-living protists that support preservation and distribution of the pathogen, its virulence, and resistance to antimicrobial agents. At the same time, the expression profile of Salmonella genes in the eukaryotic cells has been shown not to be stable, but changes dramatically according to the sequential stages of infection. Previously, we had described the gene expression profile of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028S at the early stage of interaction with Acanthamoeba castellanii. In this study, we have revealed the phase-specific dynamics in expression of several clusters and functional groups of S. Typhimurium 14028S genes. The early stage of invasion characterized by a maximum response to oxidative stress, and it was accompanied by activation of SPI-1 genes, which can contribute to the successful internalization into the host cell. At the second stage (8 h) increase in expression of SPI-2 and SPI-3 genes was accompanied with a maximum expression of iron uptake genes and lysozyme inhibitors. At the late stage of the infection (15 h), downregulation of carbon metabolism and oxidative stress response genes, as well as a decrease in the expression of all other genes, was revealed that may be an evidence of adaptation of Salmonella to intracellular conditions. The obtained results might be useful for further search of factors reducing persistence of pathogens like Salmonella in the environment.