Infection and Immunity
Infection and Immunity
5 years ago

FRAEM reveals a role for C. trachomatis TmeA in invasion that is independent of host AHNAK.

McKuen, Fields, Mueller, Bae
Development of approaches to genetically manipulate Chlamydia is fostering important advances in understanding pathogenesis. Fluorescence-reported allelic exchange mutagenesis (FRAEM) now enables the complete deletion of specific genes in C. trachomatis L2. We have leveraged this technology to delete the coding sequences for a known type III effector. The evidence provided herein indicates that CT694/CTL0063 is a virulence protein involved in chlamydial invasion. Based on our findings, we designate the gene product corresponding to ct694/ctl0063 as translocated membrane-associated effector A (TmeA). Deletion of tmeA did not impact development of intracellular chlamydiae. However, the absence of TmeA manifested as a decrease in infectivity in both tissue culture and murine infection models. The in vitro defect was reflected by impaired invasion of host cells. TmeA binds human AHNAK and we demonstrate herein that AHNAK is transiently recruited by invading chlamydiae. TmeA, however, is not required for endogenous AHNAK recruitment. TmeA also impairs AHNAK-dependent actin bundling activity. This TmeA-mediated effect likely does not explain impaired invasion displayed by tmeA Chlamydia since AHNAK-deficient cells revealed no invasion phenotype. Overall, our data indicate the efficacy of FRAEM and reveal a role of TmeA during chlamydial invasion that manifests independently of effects on AHNAK.

Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00640-17

DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00640-17

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