Oral Presentation BacPath 13: Molecular Analysis of Bacterial Pathogens Conference 2015

Cell death and bacterial gut infection (#38)

Elizabeth L. Hartland 1 2
  1. Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

Many bacterial pathogens have evolved distinct ways of disarming the immune response and prolonging infection. Some pathogenic E. coli interfere with the innate response by injecting virulence effector proteins into the host cell that shut down immune signaling pathways. We have identified effector proteins that prevent inflammation and apoptosis by inactivating key signalling proteins. Recently we described a novel glycosyltransferase effector that blocks the extrinsic apoptotic pathway through GlcNAcylation of an arginine residue in the death domain of FADD. Most recently, we identified a new cysteine protease effector that cleaves RIPK1, RIPK3 and TRIF in the RHIM domain and thereby blocks necroptosis. Through the action of these effector proteins, the pathogen prevents death receptor induced cell death, thereby inhibiting a major innate host response.