The accessory type III secretion system effectors collectively shape intestinal inflammatory infection outcomes.
Loading...
Embargo End Date
ICR Authors
Authors
Biswas, P
Sanchez-Garrido, J
Kozik, Z
Mishra, V
Ruano-Gallego, D
Berkachy, R
Jordan, S
Wong, JLC
Choudhary, JS
Frankel, G
Sanchez-Garrido, J
Kozik, Z
Mishra, V
Ruano-Gallego, D
Berkachy, R
Jordan, S
Wong, JLC
Choudhary, JS
Frankel, G
Document Type
Journal Article
Date
2025-12-31
Date Accepted
2025-06-23
Abstract
Injection of effectors via a type III secretion system (T3SS) is an infection strategy shared by various Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, many infecting mucosal surfaces. While individual T3SS effectors are well characterized, their network-level organization and the distinction between core and accessory effectors remain incompletely understood. Here, by systematically dissecting the T3SS effector network of the enteric mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium (CR) we identified a subset of 12 accessory effectors that, while dispensable for colonization, significantly alter infection outcomes. A strain lacking the accessory effectors (CRM12) remained virulent in susceptible mouse hosts yet resulted in reduced epithelial barrier damage, inflammation, and immune cell infiltration in resistant mice. Deep proteomic analysis specifically targeting CR-attached colonic epithelial cells revealed that, despite lacking 39% of its effector repertoire, infection with CRM12 results in similar changes to global protein expression as seen in mice infected with the wild-type strain, though key regulators of barrier integrity were differentially expressed. Using a host with impaired barrier repair (Il22- /- mice), we confirmed that accessory effectors collectively shape infection outcomes without significantly impacting virulence. This study refines the concept of core and accessory effectors, providing a basis for further studies into effector-driven host adaptation.
Citation
Gut Microbes, 2025, 17 (1), pp. 2526134 -
Source Title
Gut Microbes
Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
ISSN
1949-0976
eISSN
1949-0984
Collections
Research Team
Prote & Metabolomics Fac