Autophagic process in recognition of Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli mediated by icsA and icsB: a possible mechanism of bacterial degradation by intestinal epithelial cells

• Grant number: 12/01123-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Marina Baquerizo Martinez
• Grantee: Hadassa Cristhina de Azevedo Soares dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The recognition of invading bacteria by the host cell is a key factor in determining the fate of bacterial infection. Recent studies indicate that autophagy, defined as the degradation system of cytoplasmic organelles and cytosolic proteins, is also able to recognize invading bacteria. However, some species of bacteria such as Shigella flexneri, have survival strategies against the autophagic degradation. Our laboratory aims to characterize the biology of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) infection, which in turn has pathophysiological similarities with the genus Shigella spp. The intra-and intercellular spread of these invasive bacteria depends on two effector proteins, IcsA and IcsB. It is noteworthy that IcsA has an affinity with the autophagic protein Atg5, which in turn could lead to bacterial death by autophagy. However, as a defense strategy, IcsB can camouflage IcsA recognition by Atg5. Recently, we observed that the expression of icsA and icsB genes leads to the lower EIEC dissemination in intestinal cells compared to S. flexneri. With these previous results we hypothesized that the smallest spread of EIEC might have some connection with its death by autophagy, and the following question arouses: is autophagy related to the EIEC death into the host cells? Was this one of the mechanisms that EIEC becomes more susceptible to recognition by the host cell?

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SANTOS, Hadassa Cristhina de Azevedo Soares dos. Autophagy in recognition of Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli: a possible bacterial degradation mechanism by epithelial cells.. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) São Paulo.