Work

Host membrane lipids are trafficked to membranes of intravacuolar bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Significance Biological membranes are essential for life. Although bacteria and eukaryotic cells have evolved to produce membranes of different compositions, several bacterial pathogens can hijack and utilize host-synthesized membrane lipids. Here, we show that an obligatory intracellular pathogen, Ehrlichia chaffeensis , deficient in biosynthesis of cholesterol and some glycerophospholipids, actively acquires host-derived membrane components within membrane-bound inclusions (vacuoles). The trafficking of host membrane components to Ehrlichia and membrane-bound inclusions appears to occur via endocytosis and autophagy induced by a bacteria-secreted protein. Numerous intraluminal vesicles were found in Ehrlichia inclusions that may function as a membrane reserve for rapid proliferation of Ehrlichia . Our findings provide insights into host membrane assimilation by an intracellular pathogen, which can be exploited for antibacterial therapy.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1921619117

Authors: Mingqun Lin, Giovanna Grandinetti, Lisa M. Hartnell, Donald Bliss, Sriram Subramaniam, Yasuko Rikihisa