Role of YopK in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Resistance against Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Defense

Abstract

The enteropathogenYersinia pseudotuberculosiscan survive in the harsh environment of lymphoid compartments that abounds in immune cells. This capacity is dependent on the plasmid-encodedYersiniaouter proteins (Yops) that are delivered into the host cell via a mechanism involving theYersiniatype III secretion system. We show that the virulence protein YopK has a role in the mechanism by whichY. pseudotuberculosisavoids the polymorphonuclear leukocyte or neutrophil (PMN) defense. AyopKmutant, which is attenuated in the mouse infection model, where it fails to cause systemic infection, was found to colonize Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes more rapidly than the wild-type strain. Further, in mice lacking PMNs, theyopKmutant caused full disease with systemic spread and typical symptoms. Analyses of effects on PMNs revealed that both the wild-type strain and theyopKmutant inhibited internalization and reactive oxygen species production, as well as neutrophil extracellular trap formation by PMNs. However, the wild-type strain effectively avoided induction of PMN death, whereas the mutant caused a necrosis-like PMN death. Taken together, our results indicate that YopK is required for the ability ofYersiniato resist the PMN defense, which is critical for the virulence of the pathogen. We suggest a mechanism whereby YopK functions to prevent unintended Yop delivery and thereby PMN disruption, resulting in necrosis-like cell death, which would enhance the inflammatory response favoring the host.