Varintip Srinon. Characterization of phospholipase C enzymes from Burkholderia pseudomallei. Master's Degree(Immunology). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2009.
Characterization of phospholipase C enzymes from Burkholderia pseudomallei
Abstract:
Burkholderia pseudomallei, a gram-negative bacillus is the causative agent of
melioidosis, a disease which is recognized as a major public health problem in the
northeast of Thailand. This organism secretes several exoenzymes such as protease,
lipase and phospholipases C (PLC). From genome sequence analysis, B. pseudomallei
carry at least three PLC genes (plc1, plc2 and plc3) on two different chromosomes.
PLC enzyme has been suggested to be a key virulence factor in several infectious
diseases. However, the role of PLC enzymes in B. pseudomallei pathogenesis is not
well defined. In the present study, recombinant plasmids encoding each different B.
pseudomallei plc gene have been cloned for analysis of enzyme and hemolytic
activity. B. pseudomallei Plc1, Plc2 and Plc3 enzymes are able to hydrolyse
phospholipid phosphatidylcholine (PC) but they could not lyses sheep red blood cells,
indicating that all three B. pseudomallei PLC enzymes can be classified as PC-PLC
and non-hemolytic PLC. Moreover, a B. pseudomallei strain carrying a mutation in
plc3 gene, disrupting Plc3 enzyme production, was constructed by insertional
inactivation and examined for the ability to survive within host cells. Comparisons of
plaque forming efficiency, multinucleated giant cell (MNGC) formation and
intracellular localization of B. pseudomallei strains in the infected host cells relative to
LAMP-1 (late endosome marker) containing vesicles revealed that B. pseudomallei
plc3 knockout mutant exhibited virulence phenotypes similar to the wild-type strain,
suggesting that Plc3 enzyme may not play a role in B. pseudomallei escaping from the
endocytic vesicle, cell-to-cell-spread and induction of MNGC formation. While the
mutant caused more cytotoxic effects to cells, the oxidative burst of neutrophils
induced by B. pseudomallei plc3 knockout mutant was significantly impaired when
compare with B. pseudomallei wild-type infection. These findings suggest that B.
pseudomallei Plc3 enzyme is involved in the induction of oxidative burst in infected
host cell.