IMPORTANCEInfection of macrophages and amoebae plays a central role in the pathogenesis of L. pneumophila, the agent of Legionnaires’ disease. We have previously demonstrated that the T2S system of L. pneumophila greatly contributes to intracellular infection. However, the location of T2S substrates within the infected host cell is unknown. This report presents the first evidence of a L. pneumophila T2S substrate in the host cell cytosol and, therefore, the first evidence of a non-T4S effector trafficking out of the LCV. We also provide the first indication that the LCV is not completely intact but is instead semipermeable and that this occurs in human but not murine macrophages. Given this permeability, we hypothesize that other T2S substrates and LCV lumenal contents can escape into the host cell cytosol. Thus, these substrates may represent a battery of previously unidentified effectors that can interact with host factors and contribute to intracellular infection by L. pneumophila.
Legionella pneumophila replicates in macrophages in a host-derived phagosome, termed the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). While the translocation of type IV secretion (T4S) effectors into the macrophage cytosol is well established, the location of type II secretion (T2S) substrates in the infected host cell is unknown. Here, we show that the T2S substrate ProA, a metalloprotease, translocates into the cytosol of human macrophages, where it associates with the LCV membrane (LCVM). Translocation is detected as early as 10 h postinoculation (p.i.), which is approximately the midpoint of the intracellular life cycle. However, it is detected as early as 6 h p.i. if ProA is hyperexpressed, indicating that translocation depends on the timing of ProA expression and that any other factors necessary for translocation are in place by that time point. Translocation occurs with all L. pneumophila strains tested and in amoebae, natural hosts for L. pneumophila. It was absent in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and murine macrophage cell lines. The ChiA chitinase also associated with the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM at 6 h p.i. and in a T2S-dependent manner. Galectin-3 and galectin-8, eukaryotic proteins whose localization is influenced by damage to host membranes, appeared within the LCV of infected human but not murine macrophages beginning at 6 h p.i. Thus, we hypothesize that ProA and ChiA are first secreted into the vacuolar lumen by the activity of the T2S and subsequently traffic into the macrophage cytosol via a novel mechanism that involves a semipermeable LCVM.
INTRODUCTIONLegionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacterium that thrives in fresh water environments where it survives free, as part of multispecies biofilms, and within amoebae, which are the main environmental replicative niche (1, 2). Humans become infected with L. pneumophila after inhalation of contaminated aerosols produced in man-made water systems. Within the infected lung, the bacteria replicate in alveolar macrophages in a process similar to that which occurs within amoebae to cause a life-threatening pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease (3). In the United States, there are >18,000 cases of the disease per year (4), and recent reports signal an increasing incidence of the disease, especially among the immunocompromised (5, 6). After entry into host cells, L. pneumophila avoids fusion with degradative lysosomes and remodels its phagosome into a replicative niche known as the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). Smooth vesicles, rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and mitochondria are recruited to the LCV beginning at 2 h postinfection (p.i.) (7, 8). The host GTPase Rab1 is well known for being recruited to the cytoplasmic face of the LCV during smooth vesicle recruitment (9, 10). Soon after, the bacteria begin to replicate within the LCV and eventually increase their numbers by 50-fold to 100-fold. Macrophage lysis is evident after 24 h, at which point the legionellae escape and initiate new rounds of infection (11).Secreted bacterial proteins orchestrate many aspects of L. pneumophila pathogenesis (12). The Dot/Icm type IV secretion (T4S) system delivers >320 effectors from the bacterial cytosol directly into the host cytosol via an apparatus that extends across the bacterial cell wall and LCV membrane (LCVM) (2, 13–15). These effectors interact with a variety of host factors and contribute to the formation of the highly specialized LCVs. Thus, T4S mutants that cannot deliver effectors do not grow intracellularly (13). It has been shown that type II secretion (T2S) also has a major role in L. pneumophila pathogenesis (16, 17). T2S is a two-step process wherein proteins destined for secretion are first trafficked across the bacterial inner membrane and into the periplasm via the Sec pathway or the Tat pathway (18). In a second step, the proteins are recognized by the T2S apparatus and exit the cell through a dedicated outer membrane pore. In L. pneumophila clinical isolate 130b, T2S substrates number more than 25 and include degradative enzymes such as proteases, lipases, a chitinase, and novel proteins (18). T2S is important for both the intracellular infection of host cells and growth in a murine model of Legionnaires’ disease (19–21).In contrast to T4S effectors, the location of T2S substrates during intracellular infection is unknown. A prevailing view of L. pneumophila infection is that the LCV is a tight compartment from which only T4S effectors translocate into the host cell cytosol (22). However, two of our recent observations suggest that T2S substrates might not be restricted to the LCV. First, T2S mutants are impaired in their ability to retain Rab1B on the cytoplasmic face of the LCV, suggesting that a T2S substrate might exit the LCV and engage cytosolic host GTPases (21). Second, the same T2S mutants trigger elevated cytokine levels through the MyD88 and Toll-like receptor 2 signaling pathways in infected human macrophages, suggesting that other T2S substrates might translocate and dampen cytosolic sensors of innate immunity (23, 24). Here, we demonstrate that the ProA and ChiA substrates do, in fact, translocate into the macrophage cytosol and associate with the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM. Additional data suggest that this process occurs in two steps where the substrates are first delivered into the lumen of the LCV via the T2S system and then access the macrophage cytosol through a semipermeable vacuolar membrane.RESULTSProA is present at the periphery of the LCV.To begin to analyze the localization of T2S substrates during intracellular infection, we examined ProA, as it is the most abundantly expressed T2S substrate, at least in broth culture (17). ProA is a 38-kDa zinc metalloprotease that mediates damage in animal models of pneumonia (25–27) and has cytotoxic activity against a variety of tissue culture cells (28, 29). Although ProA is not required for replication in human macrophages and Acanthamoeba castellanii, it is necessary for optimal replication in Hartmannella vermiformis and Naegleria lovaniensis (30–32). Polyclonal ProA antiserum was produced in rabbits immunized with purified recombinant FLAG-tagged ProA. To verify the specificity of the antibody, L. pneumophila wild-type (WT) strain 130b, proA mutant, and T2S (lspF) mutant culture supernatants were analyzed by immunoblotting. A band of the expected size was detected in the WT supernatant but was absent in the supernatants of the proA and lspF mutants (Fig. 1A). To determine the localization of ProA in infected human macrophages, differentiated U937 macrophage-like cells were synchronously infected with strain 130b for 16 h, fixed, permeabilized with Triton X-100 (TX-100), and processed for indirect immunofluorescence analysis (IFA) of ProA by confocal microscopy. Anti-lipopolysaccharide (anti-LPS) monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3/1 was used to delineate bacteria within the LCV. As previously reported, this antiserum detects a phase-variable epitope of LPS that is expressed by all bacteria early in intracellular infection and predominantly by bacteria at the periphery of the vacuole at 15 h or more postinoculation (p.i.) (33). Strikingly, ProA formed a robust ring-like pattern at the periphery of the vacuole in 82% of the infected macrophages (Fig. 1B). This ring was absent in cells infected with the proA mutant but was restored in macrophages infected with the complemented proA mutant (Fig. 1B), confirming that the observed antiserum labeling is entirely due to ProA. This ring pattern was also seen when WT bacteria were delineated by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression rather than by the use of anti-LPS MAb 3/1 (see Fig. S1A in the supplemental material). To further analyze the timing of ProA localization, U937 cells were infected for 12, 16, 20, and 24 h and processed for IFA and confocal microscopy. ProA localized to the LCVM in 37% of cells by 12 h, and the proportion increased to ~80% of cells by 16 to 20 h p.i. (Fig. 1C). Lysis of the host cell was observed at 24 h, as previously recorded (11, 21).10.1128/mBio.00870-17.1FIG S1 ProA localization in macrophages infected with GFP-expressing bacteria. U937 cells were infected with WT strain 130b (A) or lspF mutant NU275 expressing GFP (B) and were then analyzed by confocal microscopy with ProA antiserum. Host nuclei and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI. ProA and GFP expression data appear in the left and center columns, respectively, and the merged images appear in the right columns with the percentages of ProA-positive LCVMs (± SD) in the lower-right-hand corner. The images presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of three independent experiments. Download FIG S1, TIF file, 0.2 MB.Copyright © 2017 Truchan et al.2017Truchan et al.This content is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.FIG 1 Location of ProA in L. pneumophila-infected macrophages. (A) WT strain 130b (WT), proA mutant AA200 (proA-), and lspF mutant NU275 (lspF-) were grown in BYE broth, and then culture supernatants were subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis using ProA antiserum. The values corresponding to migration of molecular mass markers (shown in kilodaltons) appear on the left. (B) Human U937 cells were infected with the WT strain, proA mutant, or complemented proA mutant (proA-/pMproA) for 16 h and were then analyzed by confocal microscopy using antibodies against ProA (left) and LPS (middle). Host nuclei and bacterial DNA were stained with DAPI (blue), and merged images appear in the right column with the percentages of ProA-positive LCVMs (± standard deviations [SD]) in the lower-right-hand corner. Results presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of two (A) or three (B and C) independent experiments. (C) Quantification of percent ProA localization (± SD) to the LCVM over time, based on the combined results from three independent experiments. Asterisks indicate significant differences in the extent of localization between 12 and 16 h (Student’s t test; **, P < 0.01). PI, postinoculation.ProA localizes to the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM.To determine if ProA is present on the lumenal or cytoplasmic face of the LCV membrane (LCVM), U937s cells infected with WT L. pneumophila were permeabilized with digitonin. Unlike TX-100, which permeabilizes all host and bacterial membranes (34), digitonin selectively permeabilizes the plasma membrane, allowing antibody delivery into the macrophage cytosol only (35). Thus, in contrast to what was seen with TX-100-treated cells (Fig. 1B), the LPS antibody did not label digitonin-treated cells (Fig. 2A). More importantly, the robust ring of ProA was still detected after digitonin treatment. These data suggest that ProA is on the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM. To confirm these results with a method that does not rely on membrane permeabilization, LCVs were liberated from infected U937 cells by Dounce homogenization (36) and were then processed for IFA and confocal microscopy. As shown by analysis of free LCVs, the antibody has direct access to ProA only if it is on the surface of the vacuole. Importantly, the robust ring of ProA was detected similarly on both unpermeabilized and permeabilized free LCVs (Fig. 2B). LPS was detected only in permeabilized LCVs and on surrounding free bacteria (Fig. 2B), confirming the membrane integrity of the isolated vacuoles. We conclude from these data that ProA is present to a great extent on the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM in infected U937 cells.FIG 2 Location of ProA on the LCVM. WT 130b-infected U937 cells permeabilized with either TX-100 or digitonin (A) and LCVs isolated from WT-infected U937 cells that were left untreated or permeabilized with TX-100 (B) were labeled with ProA (left) and LPS (middle) antisera and then analyzed by confocal microscopy. Host nuclei and bacterial DNA were stained with DAPI, and merged images appear in the right column with the percentages of ProA-positive LCVMs (± SD) in the lower-right-hand corner. Results in panel A show a portion of the cell containing the LCV. Data presented are representative of three independent experiments.ProA localizes to the LCVM as early as 6 h postinoculation.To determine when during infection ProA first translocates and localizes to the LCVM, U937 cells were synchronously infected with WT 130b and surveyed with ProA and LPS antisera at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h p.i. by confocal microscopy. Expression of ProA was observed starting at 8 h p.i., ~4 h after the start of bacterial replication (Fig. 3A and C). At this time point, ProA could be seen within the lumen of the LCV and was first detected, albeit weakly, at the LCVM. By 10 h p.i., ProA was clearly localized to the LCVM in 15% of infected cells, and the proportion rose to almost 40% by 12 h p.i. (Fig. 3A and C), as had been seen in earlier experiments (Fig. 1C). Interestingly, beyond 8 h, ProA was rarely detected in the LCV, suggesting that ProA translocates very soon after it is expressed and that the timing of translocation is dictated by the timing of ProA expression. To investigate this possibility, U937 cells were infected with the WT strain, which hyperexpresses ProA from the pMproA multicopy plasmid, for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h and were examined by confocal microscopy. Expression of ProA was then evident by 2 h p.i., and translocation and localization to the LCVM had clearly occurred by 6 h p.i., 4 h earlier than had been seen with the WT strain (Fig. 3B and C). ProA localized to 40% of LCVMs by 8 h p.i. in cells infected with pMproA-containing L. pneumophila in contrast to the 12-h time point observed in WT L. pneumophila infections (Fig. 3). Together, these results indicate that the timing of ProA translocation is primarily controlled by the timing and level of ProA expression. They also indicate that all other factors, whether host or bacterial, needed for translocation are in place by 6 h p.i.FIG 3 Timing of ProA localization to the LCVM. (A and B) U937 cells were infected for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h with either WT 130b (A) or the WT carrying pMproA (B) and were then labeled with LPS antisera (upper-right boxes) and ProA antisera (lower-right boxes) and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Host and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI, and the merged images appear as the larger boxes on the left side. Results presented here show a portion of the cell containing the LCV. (C) Quantification of percent ProA localization (± SD) to the LCVM over time, based on combined results from three independent trials.ProA translocation and localization to the LCVM are conserved in human macrophages and amoebae and with other strains of L. pneumophila.To examine if ProA translocation is conserved and not just a peculiarity of U937 cells, localization in a variety of other host cell types was examined. First, we examined the human THP-1 macrophage cell line and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We utilized PBMCs differentiated either in human serum or in the presence of human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), as previously described (37, 38). Like U937 cells, these cells have been widely used to study the cell biology of L. pneumophila infection (23, 39–41). In all cells, ProA exhibited a ring at the LCVM (Fig. 4A). We next detected this pattern of ProA localization in A. castellanii, the major environmental amoebal host for L. pneumophila (Fig. 4B) (42). Finally, we assessed ProA localization in mouse macrophages. We utilized bone marrow-derived (BMD) macrophages obtained from A/J mice, as well as RAW 264.7 and J774A.1 macrophage cell lines, since these cell types are used in the Legionella field (21, 43–45). Curiously, ProA localization to the LCVM was absent in all of the mouse macrophages infected with WT L. pneumophila (Fig. 4C). Given that most primary mouse-derived macrophages are resistant to L. pneumophila infection as a result of flagellin activation of the mouse-specific variant of Nod-like receptor Naip5 (46, 47), we wondered if the lack of translocation that we observed in murine macrophages could be attributed to the activation of Naip5. However, translocation of ProA was still not observed when we infected various murine BMD macrophages with a flagellin mutant (Fig. S2). Taken together, these data suggest that there might be differences in translocation into the cytosol in human versus murine macrophages. To determine if other strains of L. pneumophila also translocate ProA, U937 cells were infected with strains Philadelphia-1 (Phil-1) and Paris. Like 130b, these strains are clinical isolates that have been extensively utilized in the analysis of L. pneumophila infection (48). ProA was seen in a ring-like pattern surrounding the LCVs of both strains (Fig. 5). Together, these results indicate that ProA translocation is not just an anomaly of infection with strain 130b and is likely common during infection by different strains and within different human and amoebal host cell types. This conservation suggests that the association of ProA with the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM has a functional role in intracellular infection.10.1128/mBio.00870-17.2FIG S2 Localization of ProA in BMD macrophages from C57BL/6 and A/J mice infected with a flagellin mutant. BMD macrophages from C57BL/6 and A/J mice were infected with fla mutant NU347 and then analyzed by confocal microscopy with ProA and LPS antisera. Host nuclei and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI. The images presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of two independent experiments. Download FIG S2, TIF file, 0.2 MB.Copyright © 2017 Truchan et al.2017Truchan et al.This content is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.FIG 4 ProA translocation within different infected host cells. (A) Human THP-1 cells and PBMCs differentiated with human serum or human recombinant M-CSF. (B) A. castellanii amoebae. (C) BMD macrophages from A/J mice, J774A.1 cells, and RAW 264.7 cells were infected with WT 130b and then analyzed by confocal microscopy using ProA (left) and LPS (center) antisera. Host and bacterial DNA were stained with DAPI, and merged images appear in the rightmost columns. The images presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of two (PBMC + human M-CSF; panel A) or three independent experiments.FIG 5 ProA translocation by different L. pneumophila strains. U937 cells were infected with WT strains Paris and Philadelphia-1 (Phil-1) and were then analyzed by confocal microscopy with ProA and LPS antisera. Host nuclei and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI. The results presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of three independent experiments.ProA translocation into the macrophage cytosol is dependent on type II secretion.To date, the only L. pneumophila proteins reported to be trafficked into the cytosol of infected human or amoebal cells are the effectors of the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion (T4BS) system (13, 49). Given this, we next determined if ProA localization to the LCVM is, in fact, dependent on the T2S. U937 cells were infected with an lspDE mutant and the lspF mutant and were examined by confocal microscopy. Strikingly, in the T2S mutant-infected cells, ProA no longer localized to the LCVM and was completely contained within the LCV (Fig. 6A). This result was also observed using GFP-expressing mutant bacteria, where the ProA signal completely overlapped the GFP signal (Fig. S1B). When the lspF mutant was complemented, ProA localization to the LCVM was restored (Fig. 6A). Thus, ProA localization to the LCVM is dependent on the T2S.FIG 6 Effect of the T2S, T1S, and T4S on ProA translocation. U937 cells were infected with WT strain 130b, lspDE mutant NU258 (lspDE-), lspF mutant NU275 (lspF-), and a complemented lspF mutant (lspF-/pMlspF) (A) and tolC mutant NU390 (tolC-), lvh mutant AA474, and dotA mutant GG105 (B) and were then analyzed by confocal microscopy using ProA (left) and LPS (center) antisera. Host nuclei and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI, and merged images appear in the right columns with the percentages of ProA-positive LCVMs (± SD) in the lower-right-hand corner. The results presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of three independent experiments.In addition to the T2S and the Dot/Icm T4BS system, L. pneumophila encodes two functional secretion systems—type 1 secretion (T1S) and Lvh type 4A secretion (T4AS). To first examine if ProA translocation is also dependent on T1S in addition to T2S, U937 cells were infected with a tolC mutant of strain 130b, as tolC encodes the outer membrane component of the secretion apparatus (50). The ring of ProA was still observed in this mutant (Fig. 6B), indicating that T1S is not involved. To determine if translocation is dependent on T4AS, we studied a mutant where the entire lvh locus was deleted (51). This mutant also showed a robust ring of ProA at the LCVM (Fig. 6B). Finally, to try to determine if translocation is dependent on the Dot/Icm type 4B system, we utilized a dotA mutant lacking the type 4 secretion system inner membrane DotA protein (52). However, the dotA mutant was completely unable to replicate within the macrophages (Fig. 6B), as has been previously reported (53, 54), and thus, we were not able to assess expression of ProA. Nonetheless, we do not believe that ProA is a Dot/Icm substrate, since multiple broad genetic and bioinformatic screens have led to the identification of >320 T4S effectors but none identified ProA (14, 15, 55–58). Given that finding and our data on the T2S, T1S, and T4AS mutants, we hypothesize that translocation occurs in two steps: (i) ProA is trafficked into the vacuolar lumen by the T2S system, and (ii) ProA traffics across the LCVM and into the macrophage cytosol via a novel mechanism.The type II secretion substrate ChiA also localizes to the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM.To begin to determine if other T2S substrates traffic into the macrophage cytosol, we generated antisera against ChiA. L. pneumophila ChiA is an 81-kDa enzyme that degrades chitin, an insoluble polymer found in the cell walls of mold, fungi, and algae (59). Interestingly, a chiA mutant of L. pneumophila showed a reduced ability to persist in the lungs of infected mice (59). Confirming its specificity, the ChiA antiserum recognized a band of the appropriate molecular weight in the WT supernatant but did not recognize a band in the chiA mutant supernatant (Fig. 7A). That ChiA exhibited a multibanding pattern suggests that it is modified or degraded during culture. Recognition of ChiA was visible but noticeably diminished in the lspF mutant supernatant, confirming the importance of the T2S system in exporting this protein. The small amount that was detected was likely due to some lysis of the bacteria and/or to the presence of the substrate in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) (60). To examine the localization of ChiA in infected host cells, U937 cells were infected with WT 130b for 16 h and processed for IFA with LPS and ChiA antisera. When the cells were permeabilized with TX-100, as had been done for ProA, the ChiA signal was observed in the vacuole and overlapped the bacteria (Fig. 7B). However, when the cells were permeabilized with methanol (MeOH), which, unlike TX-100, permeabilizes host membranes but does not permeabilize the peptidoglycan layer of L. pneumophila (61), ChiA gave a ring-like pattern surrounding the LCV in 58% of infected cells. To test whether ChiA is present on the cytoplasmic or lumenal face of the LCVM, we analyzed free LCVs. The ChiA antiserum labeled the unpermeabilized and permeabilized LCVs similarly (Fig. 7C), indicating that ChiA, like ProA, is present on the cytoplasmic face of the vacuole. In light of our ChiA result, we next examined T2S substrate CelA, a cellulase, for its localization during infection after TX-100 and MeOH permeabilization. We were not able to observe CelA associated with the LCVM at 16 h p.i. (Fig. S3), implying that not all T2S substrates translocate across the LCVM. However, it is possible that CelA translocates into the macrophage cytosol but does not localize to the LCVM and is too diffused for detection.10.1128/mBio.00870-17.3FIG S3 Localization of CelA in L. pneumophila-infected macrophages. (A) The WT strain, celA mutant NU353 (celA-), and lspF mutant NU275 (lspF-) were grown in BYE broth, and culture supernatants were then subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis performed with CelA antiserum. (B) U937 cells were infected with WT strain 130b, permeabilized with TX-100 or MeOH, and analyzed by confocal microscopy with CelA (left) and LPS (center) antisera. Host nuclei and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI, and the merged images appear in the right column. The images presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV (B) and are representative of two (A) or three (B) independent experiments. Download FIG S3, TIF file, 0.4 MB.Copyright © 2017 Truchan et al.2017Truchan et al.This content is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.FIG 7 Location of ChiA in L. pneumophila-infected macrophages. (A) WT 130b, chiA mutant NU318 (chiA-), and lspF mutant NU275 (lspF-) were grown in BYE broth, and culture supernatants were then subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis with ChiA antiserum. (B) U937 cells were infected with WT 130b and permeabilized with TX-100 or MeOH and were then analyzed by confocal microscopy with ChiA (left column) and LPS (center column) antisera. The images presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV. (C) LCVs obtained from WT 130b-infected U937 cells were labeled with ChiA and LPS antisera and then analyzed by confocal microscopy. (B and C) Host nuclei and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI, and merged images appear in the right columns with the percentages of ChiA-positive LCVMs (± SD) in the lower-right-hand corner. The data presented are representative of three independent experiments.To determine when ChiA is first capable of localizing to the LCVM, U937 cells were infected with WT L. pneumophila or the WT strain hyperexpressing ChiA from an inducible plasmid (pMchiA) and were analyzed at 6, 10, and 16 h p.i. Overexpressed ChiA clearly localized to the LCVM as early as 6 h p.i. (Fig. 8B). In contrast, ChiA from WT did not associate with the LCVM until 10 h p.i., as had been observed for ProA, but the intensity of the ring increased and was comparable to that of the ProA ring at the 16-h time point (Fig. 8A to C). This timing overlaps the localization of ProA and further suggests that all factors needed for the translocation of T2S substrates are in place by 6 h p.i. To next determine if ChiA translocation is also dependent on T2S, the lspF mutant was tested. Similar to ProA, ChiA was contained in the vacuole and, as visualized after permeabilization with TX-100, was completely contained within the bacteria (Fig. 8D). Together, these data indicate that ChiA also localizes to the LCVM as early as 6 h p.i. in a T2S-dependent manner.FIG 8 Timing and T2S dependency of ChiA translocation. U937 cells were infected for 6, 10, and 16 h with either WT 130b (A) or the WT carrying pMchiA (B) and were then labeled with LPS (upper-right boxes) and ChiA (lower-right boxes) antisera and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Host and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI, and the merged images appear as the larger boxes on the left side. (C) Quantification of percent ChiA localization (± SD) to the LCVM over time, based on the combined results from three independent trials. (D) U937 cells were infected with WT 130b and lspF mutant NU275, permeabilized with TX-100 or MeOH, and analyzed by confocal microscopy with DAPI and using ChiA and LPS antisera. The images presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of three independent experiments.Galectin localizes within the LCV of human macrophages as early as 6 h postinoculation.We envisioned that the second step of translocation after secretion of the T2S substrates into the vacuolar lumen might involve a permeable LCVM. To assess this, we analyzed galectin-3, a eukaryotic protein whose localization changes in response to the presence of damaged host membranes. Indeed, galectin-3 has been widely utilized to examine vacuolar integrity for other intracellular pathogens, such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Shigella flexneri, and Trypanosoma cruzi (62, 63). To begin, we infected a variety of macrophages with WT 130b for 16 h and examined galectin-3 localization by IFA. Strikingly, galectin-3 clearly localized within the LCVs of U937 cells and differentiated PBMCs and associated with the bacteria (Fig. 9A). In uninfected cells, the galectin-3 antibody gave a diffused cytosolic labeling (Fig. 9A). That galectin-3 associated with the bacteria within the LCV is compatible with the observation that galectin-3 can bind to the surface of bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (64–66). Localization within the LCV was also observed when we employed a second galectin-3 antibody obtained from an alternative source, although the degree of association with the bacteria was less pronounced (Fig. S4). Interestingly, galectin-3 did not localize in the LCV of infected murine macrophages (Fig. 9A), just as ProA translocation was not evident in this cell type (Fig. 4). Indeed, the galectin-3 assay results appeared similar in infected and uninfected cells. To further examine this, infected U937 cells were labeled with an antibody against galectin-8, which also localizes to damaged vesicles but has not been shown to bind to the surface of bacteria (67). Galectin-8 was also observed within the LCV, albeit exhibiting a more punctate pattern that did not colocalize with the bacteria (Fig. S4).10.1128/mBio.00870-17.4FIG S4 Localization of galectin-3 and galectin-8 in L. pneumophila-infected macrophages. U937 cells were infected with WT 130b for 16 h or were left uninfected and were analyzed by confocal microscopy with galectin-3 (Abcam, Inc.), galectin-8, and LPS antisera. Host nuclei and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI. The images presented show a portion of the cell containing the LCV and are representative of three independent experiments. Download FIG S4, TIF file, 0.3 MB.Copyright © 2017 Truchan et al.2017Truchan et al.This content is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.FIG 9 Galectin localization in L. pneumophila-infected macrophages. (A) U937 cells, PBMCs differentiated with human serum, BMD macrophages from A/J mice, and RAW 264.7 cells were infected with WT 130b for 16 h or were left uninfected (rightmost column) and were analyzed by confocal microscopy with galectin-3 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) (left) and LPS (center) antisera. Host and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI, and merged images appear in the right column. (B and C) U937 cells were infected with WT 130b for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h (B) or with the lspF mutant NU275 for 16 h (C) and were then analyzed by confocal microscopy with galectin-3 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) and LPS antisera. Host and bacterial DNAs were stained with DAPI, and merged images appear in the right columns with the percentages of galectin-positive LCVMs (± SD) in the lower-right-hand corner. The images presented are representative of three independent trials.To assess when the LCVM is first permeable to galectin-3, U937 cells were analyzed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h p.i. Remarkably, galectin-3 localized within the LCV as early as 6 h p.i., the same time point where we were first able to visualize ProA and ChiA at the LCVM (Fig. 9B). These data suggest that the LCV is permeable as early as 6 h p.i. and that ProA and ChiA might exit the LCV through a permeable membrane. That permeability is detected as early as 6 h p.i. suggests that this is neither a late-stage effect of extensive intracellular replication nor a prelude to host cell lysis. As the T2S system delivers many degradative enzymes, including lipolytic enzymes (68), we next determined if the presence of the permeable membrane is dependent on the T2S system. U937 cells were infected with the lspF mutant for 16 h and galectin-3 localization was analyzed. Galectin-3 localized within the LCV (Fig. 9C) and did so similarly to the manner seen with infection with WT L. pneumophila, indicating that the T2S system is not required for the permeable LCVM.DISCUSSIONHere, we demonstrate that the T2S substrates ProA and ChiA translocate out of the LCV and into the macrophage cytosol, where they appear in a ring-like pattern around the LCVM. When L. pneumophila is grown in broth cultures, ProA and ChiA exist within OMVs, in addition to being released into the extracellular milieu via the T2S system (59, 60). OMVs have also been previously detected in the LCV in infected macrophages (60). However, since L. pneumophila mutants lacking T2S do not exhibit ProA and ChiA localization around the LCVM, the translocation event most likely begins with the secretion of “free” protein into the vacuolar lumen via the T2S system, followed by a second trafficking event across the LCVM. Translocation across the LCVM occurred with all clinical isolates tested and was also evident in infected amoebae, heightening the significance of our findings. The predominant view in the L. pneumophila field has been that the only protein effectors that gain access to the host cell cytosol during intracellular infection are those of the Dot/Icm T4S system (22). Our data represent a shift in this paradigm. Furthermore, our observation of galectin-3 localization within the LCV in human macrophages, but not within mouse macrophages where ProA did not translocate, suggests that the T2S substrates access the host cytosol through a permeable LCV. Others have examined the permeability of the LCV but have done so primarily using murine BMD macrophages with or without gamma interferon (IFN-γ) treatment and/or at very early infection times (54, 69, 70). In all cases, little to no permeability was detected and the authors therefore did not conclude that L. pneumophila exists naturally in a semipermeable vacuole. As such, the LCVM has been thought to be impermeable with respect to the export of proteins, being susceptible only to the action of the T4S apparatus. To our knowledge, the current report presents the first substantial data set that led to a contrasting conclusion.Given that galectin-3, galectin-8, ProA, and ChiA cross the LCVM at 40, 40, 38, and 80 kDa, respectively, but that the IgG anti-LPS antibodies (at 150 kDa) cannot, we surmise that the vacuolar membrane is only semipermeable and is not grossly damaged or compromised. Although we observed ProA and ChiA at the LCVM from 6 to 20 h, the amount of translocated protein appeared to increase from 8 to 10 h for ProA (see Fig. 3A) and from 10 to 16 h for ChiA (see Fig. 8A). This suggests that the permeability of the LCVM is not transient and occurs for at least 10 h, i.e., between 6 and 16 h postentry while the LCV is growing in size. As noted above, the LCVM is formed from the plasma membrane during phagocytosis and the LCV undergoes fusion with the ER and ER-Golgi intermediate compartment vesicles within the first few hours after bacterial entry (8, 71). Consequently, as early as 4 h p.i., the LCVM contains a variety of plasma membrane and ER membrane proteins (72, 73). Thus, we posit that the semipermeability of the LCVM might be due to the early acquisition of a host-derived membrane transporter(s) which is capable of translocating ProA and ChiA. Interestingly, vacuoles that harbor Mycobacterium tuberculosis contain a host membrane transporter derived from the ER that allows the translocation of mycobacterial proteins of up to 70 kDa in size into the macrophage cytosol (74–76). Thus, co-opting of host membrane transporters to deliver effector proteins into the host cytosol may prove to be a common strategy of intracellular parasites. However, an alternative hypothesis to explain the translocation event is that a nonspecific pore is formed in the LCVM when the Dot/Icm T4S apparatus pierces the vacuolar membrane, thereby allowing the “accidental” leakage of non-T4S substrates from the lumen of the LCV into the host cytosol. Such a scenario has been theorized to be responsible for the translocation of L. pneumophila flagellin (46). Furthermore, in the case of Burkholderia cenocepacia, proteases are secreted into the lumen of the pathogen-occupied vacuole via the T2S system and then access the macrophage cytosol through the vacuolar membrane that has been disrupted by the type VI secretion system (77). As a third explanation for our observations, a L. pneumophila factor secreted into the lumen of the LCV might create a pore in the LCVM that allows translocation. Our analysis of a panel of secretion mutants indicates that the T2S, T1S, and Lvh T4S systems are not required for the permeability of the vacuole. However, the Dot/Icm T4S system or a yet-to-be-defined secretion system could be delivering a pore-forming effector into the LCV. Given that the galectin proteins and ProA and ChiA, representing three structurally distinct proteins, are translocated across the LCVM, we surmise that the second step of translocation is relatively nonspecific. Thus, we posit that other T2S substrates of L. pneumophila access the cytosol of infected host cells.Both ProA and ChiA exhibit a striking ring-like pattern on the cytoplasmic face of the LCVM, suggesting that the two proteins form an association with the vacuolar membrane. In the case of ProA, that association may be due to a putative farnesylation domain (-CYVD) at the C terminus of the protein (78, 79). Farnesylation is a type of eukaryotic posttranslational modification that adds an isoprenyl lipid moiety to a C-terminal cysteine residue (78, 80). This moiety can intercalate into the peripheral region of a lipid bilayer and thereby facilitate membrane association. Indeed, the L. pneumophila Dot/Icm T4S effector AnkB associates with the LCVM through farnesylation (81). In thinking how ChiA might associate with the LCVM, it could be relevant that ChiA, unlike ProA, was observed at the LCVM following MeOH but not TX-100 permeabilization. MeOH permeabilizes cells by dissolving lipids from membranes, whereas TX-100 can nonselectively extract proteins along with lipids (34, 82). Therefore, the apparent tethering of ChiA to the LCVM could be the result of a protein-protein interaction, analogous to the manner in which the Dot/Icm T4S effector PieA localizes to the LCVM (83). Additional possibilities derive from studies of other Dot/Icm effectors such as SidG, which uses a hydrophobic domain to insert into the LCVM (84), or LidA, SetA, and SidM (DrrA), which bind to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate or phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate in the LCVM (81, 85, 86). Although ProA and ChiA were clearly evident near the cytoplasmic face of the LCV, it is possible that they also spread to other locations within the host cell and that our microscopic analysis was not sensitive enough to detect this.Because ProA and ChiA gain access to the host cell cytoplasm, they likely have a broader role in intracellular infection than previously imagined. Indeed, by not being restricted to the lumen of the LCV, these T2S substrates, like the myriad Dot/Icm effectors, have the potential to promote bacterial growth and/or alterations in host function. Since ProA and ChiA do not clearly appear on the LCVM until approximately 10 h p.i., the translocation event is probably not required for the genesis of the LCV or the earliest rounds of L. pneumophila replication. Rather, we posit that translocated ProA and ChiA are involved in the middle stages of intracellular infection and in further maturation of the LCV, processes that are relatively insufficiently studied in the Legionella field. In vitro, the ProA metalloprotease degrades a broad range of substrates, including extracellular matrix proteins and cytokines (24, 87). Therefore, there may be many cytosolic proteins that are susceptible to ProA action. However, given that it accumulates at or on the LCVM, ProA is likely acting most significantly upon nearby host and/or bacterial proteins whose cleavage or degradation might be needed for optimal maturation of the LCV. Proteomic analysis has revealed that the makeup of the LCV does change over time, with some proteins, including Dot/Icm effectors, appearing early and then disappearing (73, 88, 89). In the case of ChiA, we hypothesize that the translocated chitinase is capable of cleaving O-GlcNAcylated proteins (59, 90), which may be present at or near the LCVM. The vast majority of the Dot/Icm T4S effectors that gain access to the host cell cytoplasm are not absolutely required for bacterial intracellular replication, as the individual effector mutants do not replicate to lower numbers than WT bacteria (91). Rather, many of these proteins have subtler and, in some instances, overlapping functions. Although not necessarily required for optimal replication, ProA and ChiA could be mediating processes that impact downstream events, such as signaling of the innate immune system or destruction of the host cell and bacterial spread.In sum, we have documented that T2S substrates of L. pneumophila translocate out of the LCV and into the host cell cytoplasm, where they accumulate at the LCVM. This translocation event correlated with the appearance of a semipermeable LCVM as early as 6 h p.i. Taken together, these observations represent a shift in our view of the LCV from considering it impermeable, except for the translocation of Dot/Icm T4S effectors, to considering it to represent a compartment that is more open, permitting potentially many other bacterial factors to access the host cell cytoplasm and beyond. This significantly expands the potential ways in which L. pneumophila might alter or damage its host. Additionally, the observations indicating that translocation and membrane permeability occur in human but not murine macrophages suggest that there are more differences during intracellular infection of these two hosts than previously appreciated (23).MATERIALS AND METHODSBacterial strains, media, and chemicals.L. pneumophila strain 130b, also known as AA100 (American Type Culture Collection [ATCC], strain number BAA-74) is a clinical isolate that served as our principal WT strain (92). lspF mutant NU275, lspDE mutant NU258, a complemented lspF mutant, proA mutant AA200, chiA mutant NU318, celA mutant NU253, dotA mutant GG105, tolC mutant NU390, lvh mutant AA474, and fla mutant NU347 have been previously described (20, 51, 54, 59, 93–95). Other WT strains examined were strains Paris and Philadelphia-1 (Phil-1) (48). Plasmids expressing pMGFP, pMproA, and pMchiA have been previously described (21, 31, 59). Legionellae were routinely cultured at 37°C on buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) agar or in buffered yeast extract (BYE) broth which, when appropriate, was supplemented with antibiotics (21). Escherichia coli strains DH5α and BL21(DE3) were cultured on LB agar and in LB broth for cloning experiments and in Terrific Broth (TB) for assessments of protein expression. Chemicals were from Sigma-Aldrich unless otherwise noted.Recombinant protein and antiserum production.Genes encoding celA, chiA, and proA were PCR amplified using 5′ GGACAGGGTCTCTCATGAAAATATTTAAGTTTAGCAGTTG 3′ and 5′ ATAATACTCGAGATTAAAATAAGGCTTCAATGTTTG 3′ for celA, 5′ GGACAGGGTCTCTCATGCGATATTTATTATTACTGCC 3′ and 5′ ATAATACTCGAGCTCACAAACACCATTAATAGC 3′ for chiA, and 5′ GGACAGGGTCTCTCATGCACCCAAATTATTATTT 3′ and 5′ ATAATACTCGAGATCGACATAACAAGATTGAT 3′ for proA and cloned into pET28a (Novagen, EMD Millipore). BL21(DE3) colonies containing the recombinant expression plasmid were resuspended in 5 ml TB and used to inoculate 500 ml TB with kanamycin in a 2-liter flask to an initial optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of 0.1. Flasks were incubated at 37°C with shaking at 250 rpm until an OD600 of 0.7 was reached. Isopropyl-β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) was added to reach a final concentration of 1 mM for induction of protein expression, and the cell suspension was incubated for an additional 4 h. Cells were harvested by centrifugation at 6,000 × g for 10 min, and the pellet was frozen at −20°C until ready for processing. Bacterial pellets were thawed at room temperature, resuspended in 5 ml of Extraction buffer (20 mM Tris-Cl [pH 7.9], 0.5 M NaCl, 10% glycerol, 30 mM imidazole) with cOmplete protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche Life Science) and lysozyme at 0.1 mg/ml and were incubated for 30 min on ice. Cell suspensions were sonicated for 8 cycles (15 s on and 30 s off) at 30% power using the microtip of a Branson sonicator (Branson). Unbroken cells and cell debris were removed by centrifugation at 27,000 × g for 15 min at 4°C. Supernatants containing extracted protein were passed through a 0.2-μm-pore-size syringe filter before loading onto an affinity column. Ni++ affinity columns for gravity flow chromatography were prepared by adding 2 ml 50% Ni++ slurry (Qiagen) to disposable liquid chromatography columns (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and were allowed to settle for a 1-ml bed volume. Columns were first washed with 5 column volumes (CV) of double-distilled water (ddH2O) and equilibrated with 5 CV Extraction buffer. Cell lysate was loaded onto the equilibrated Ni++ affinity columns at a low flow rate. The columns were washed with 10 CV Extraction buffer, and protein was eluted at a low flow rate using Extraction buffer containing 250 mM imidazole. Fractions (1 ml) were collected and analyzed for protein purity by SDS-PAGE. Fractions with 90% or greater purity were pooled and concentrated, and the Extraction buffer was exchanged with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Purified recombinant proteins were submitted to Lampire Biological Laboratories (Pipersville, PA) at a concentration of 2 mg/ml for production of rabbit polyclonal antisera.Immunoblot analyses of secreted proteins.L. pneumophila strains were grown to an OD660 of 1.8 to 2.0 in a shaking incubator at 230 rpm at 37°C. Supernatants were isolated by centrifugation of the cultures at 5,000 × g at 4°C, followed by filtration through a 0.2-μm-pore-size membrane (EMD Millipore). Supernatant protein was concentrated 25× (vol/vol) as follows. Isopropanol (100 ml) was added to 50 ml of culture supernatant and incubated at −20°C overnight. Precipitated protein was centrifuged at 10,000 × g for 30 min at 4°C, and the resulting pellet was washed twice in 70% ethanol and resuspended in 2 ml of PBS with added cOmplete protease inhibitor cocktail. Sample volumes were normalized to the measured bacterial optical density, diluted in SDS-loading buffer, and analyzed by immunoblotting as previously described (21). Primary antisera were used at the following concentrations: CelA, 1:5,000; ChiA, 1:10,000; and ProA, 1:5,000 (in 1% milk [wt/vol]–Tris-buffered saline [TBS-T]). The secondary antibody, goat anti-rabbit horseradish peroxidase antibody (Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.), was diluted 1:10,000 in 1% milk–TBS-T.Cultivation, differentiation, and infection of host cell lines.Human U937 (ATCC CRL-1593.2), THP-1 (ATCC TIB 202), RAW 264.7 (ATCC TIB-71), and J774A.1 (ATCC TIB-67) cell lines were maintained in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (RPMI FBS) at 37°C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO2. U937 cells were differentiated 72 h prior to infection in RPMI FBS with 20 ng/ml phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (96). THP-1 cells were differentiated with 100 ng/ml PMA 16 to 20 h prior to infection (23). The amoeba A. castellanii (ATCC 30234) was grown and maintained at 35°C in 712 PYG medium, as previously described (32). BMD macrophages were obtained from 6-to-8-week-old A/J mice (Jackson Laboratory) as previously described (96). BMD macrophages from C57BL/6 mice were obtained from 12-week-old mice in an identical manner. PBMCs were obtained from healthy human volunteers and cultured as previously described (97). PBMCs (10 × 106) were differentiated in 10-cm-diameter dishes using 10 ml RPMI medium supplemented with 15% human serum type AB or RPMI medium supplemented with 10% FBS and 50 ng/ml recombinant human M-CSF for 3 days. After 2 to 3 days, fresh medium containing human serum or M-CSF was added and the cells were allowed to differentiate for an additional 3 to 4 days for a total of 6 days (23, 41). A total of 2.5 × 105 differentiated macrophages or 5 × 105 amoebae in a volume of 250 μl were seeded onto 12-mm-diameter coverslips (Electron Microscopy Sciences) in 24-well plates and allowed to adhere for 2 to 24 h. The monolayers were infected with L. pneumophila from 3-day-old BCYE plates at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 50 (for macrophages) or 5 (for amoebae) in 250 µl of media without FBS. The tissue culture plates were centrifuged at 250 × g for 5 min and floated on a 37°C water bath for 5 min to allow bacterial entry and were then washed three times with 500 μl media each time to remove any remaining extracellular bacteria (21). For WT 130b carrying pMproA and pMchiA, IPTG was added to the well at a final concentration of 1 mM to induce protein expression. Infection was allowed to proceed to the indicated time points in a humidified incubator at 37°C with 5% CO2 (for macrophages) or at 35°C (for amoebae).Immunofluorescence assays and microscopy.Uninfected and infected cells were processed for immunofluorescence analysis (98). The cells were fixed in 4% (vol/vol) paraformaldehyde (Electron Microscopy Sciences) for 20 min at room temperature followed by permeabilization with 0.5% (vol/vol) TX-100 for 10 min, with ice-cold MeOH for 30 s, or with 55 μg/ml digitonin for 5 min at 4°C (99, 100). The cells were blocked for 1 h at 37°C in 5% (vol/vol) bovine serum albumin (BSA)–PBS. The T2S substrate rabbit polyclonal antisera were diluted in 250 µl 1% BSA–PBS to their working concentrations as follows: for rabbit anti-ProA, 1:400; for rabbit anti-CelA, 1:100; and for rabbit anti-ChiA, 1:200. They were then incubated in two successive wells of fixed and permeabilized uninfected macrophages or amoebae at 37°C for 1 h each time to preadsorb the antisera and reduce background. Per the recommendations of the manufacturers, rabbit anti-galectin 3 from Santa Cruz Biotechnology was used at a concentration of 1:50, rabbit anti-galectin-3 antibody from Abcam, Inc., was used at 1:250, and goat anti-galectin 8 from R&D Systems was used at 15 µg/ml. Mouse anti-LPS (MAb 3/1) antiserum was added to the 250 μl of preadsorbed antisera or to the galectin dilution at a final concentration of 1:1,500. The cells were then incubated in primary antisera for 2 h at 37°C followed by three washes with 500 μl of PBS. Secondary antibodies Alexa Fluor Oregon green-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (Invitrogen), Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated rabbit anti-mouse IgG antibody (Invitrogen), Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody (Invitrogen), and Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated rabbit anti-goat IgG antibody (Invitrogen) were each added to the cells at a concentration of 1:500 in 250 μl of 1% BSA–PBS for 1 h at 37°C. The coverslips were washed three times with 500 μl of PBS prior to mounting on slides with ProLong Gold Antifade with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) (Molecular Probes). Images were obtained using a Nikon C2+ or Nikon A1R laser scanning confocal microscope. To quantify localization to the macrophage cytosol and LCVM, 100 cells from each of 3 replicate experiments were analyzed on an EVOS XL cell imaging system (Thermo Fisher Scientific).Analysis of free LCVs.Differentiated U937 cells (3 × 106) were seeded onto four wells of a 6-well plate and allowed to adhere. The cells were infected as described above. After 16 h, the wells were washed in 2 ml of PBS and gently scraped with a cell scraper (Falcon) to remove cells. Free LCVs were prepared as previously described (36, 69). The cells were pelleted at 233 × g for 5 min at 4°C and resuspended in 1 ml of ice-cold homogenization hypo-osmotic buffer (20 mM HEPES–KOH, pH 7.2, 250 mM sucrose, 5 mM EGTA) with cOmplete protease inhibitor cocktail. The cells were then added to a type B Dounce homogenizer (Kimble Chase) and subjected to Dounce homogenization 5 times. Lysis of >90% of the cells was verified by trypan blue exclusion assay (101). The LCVs were separated from intact host cells and nuclei by centrifugation at 524 × g for 3 min at 4°C. The supernatant (500 μl) was centrifuged at 1,455 × g for 5 min onto poly-l-lysine-coated coverslips in a 24-well plate. The plate was incubated for 15 min at 37°C in a buffered, humidified chamber to help facilitate adhesion. The free LCVs were then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay and confocal microscopy as detailed above.
Acanthamoeba chitinase galectin Legionella pneumophila Legionella-containing vacuole macrophage protease type II secretion