Integrated sensing of host stresses by inhibition of a cytoplasmic two-component system controls M. tuberculosis acute lung infection Journal Article


Authors: Buglino, J. A.; Sankhe, G. D.; Lazar, N.; Bean, J. M.; Glickman, M. S.
Article Title: Integrated sensing of host stresses by inhibition of a cytoplasmic two-component system controls M. tuberculosis acute lung infection
Abstract: Bacterial pathogens that infect phagocytic cells must deploy mechanisms that sense and neutralize host microbicidal effectors. For Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, these mechanisms allow the bacterium to rapidly adapt from aerosol transmission to initial growth in the lung alveolar macrophage. Here, we identify a branched signaling circuit in M. tuberculosis that controls growth in the lung through integrated direct sensing of copper ions and nitric oxide by coupled activity of the Rip1 intramembrane protease and the PdtaS/R two-component system. This circuit uses a two-signal mechanism to inactivate the PdtaS/PdtaR two-component system, which constitutively represses virulence gene expression. Cu and NO inhibit the PdtaS sensor kinase through a dicysteine motif in the N-terminal GAF domain. The NO arm of the pathway is further controlled by sequestration of the PdtaR RNA binding response regulator by an NO-induced small RNA, controlled by the Rip1 intramembrane protease. This coupled Rip1/PdtaS/PdtaR circuit controls NO resistance and acute lung infection in mice by relieving PdtaS/R-mediated repression of isonitrile chalkophore biosynthesis. These studies identify an integrated mechanism by which M. tuberculosis senses and resists macrophage chemical effectors to achieve pathogenesis. © 2021, Buglino et al.
Keywords: signal transduction; microbiology; tuberculosis; infectious disease; bacterial pathogenesis; m. tuberculosis; nutritional immunity
Journal Title: eLife
Volume: 10
ISSN: 2050-084X
Publisher: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd.  
Date Published: 2021-05-18
Start Page: e65351
Language: English
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.65351
PUBMED: 34003742
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8131098
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 June 2021 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. James M Bean
    24 Bean
  2. John A Buglino
    10 Buglino
  3. Michael Glickman
    110 Glickman
  4. Gaurav Dasharath Sankhe
    2 Sankhe