Cyto-adherence of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides to bovine lung epithelial cells

Abstract

BackgroundMycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm) is the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a respiratory disease of cattle, whereas the closely related Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc) is a goat pathogen. Cyto-adherence is a crucial step in host colonization by mycoplasmas and subsequent pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between Mmm and mammalian host cells by establishing a cyto-adherence flow cytometric assay and comparing tissue and species specificity of Mmm and Mmc strains.ResultsThere were little significant differences in the adherence patterns of eight different Mmm strains to adult bovine lung epithelial cells. However, there was statistically significant variation in binding to different host cells types. Highest binding was observed with lung epithelial cells, intermediate binding with endothelial cells and very low binding with fibroblasts, suggesting the presence of effective adherence of Mmm on cells lining the airways of the lung, which is the target organ for this pathogen, possibly by high expression of a specific receptor. However, binding to bovine fetal lung epithelial cells was comparably low; suggesting that the lack of severe pulmonary disease seen in many infected young calves can be explained by reduced expression of a specific receptor.ConclusionsMmm bound with high efficiency to adult bovine lung cells and less efficiently to calves or goat lung cells. The data show that cyto-adherence of Mmm is species- and tissue- specific confirming its role in colonization of the target host and subsequent infection and development of CBPP.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0347-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Host-Pathogen Interactions of Mycoplasma mycoides in Caprine and Bovine Precision-Cut Lung Slices (PCLS) Models

“…As reported by Aye et al [55], Mmm is less adherent to endothelial cells than to epithelial cells. Similarly, we did not detect Mmm Afadé adherent to endothelial cells of the blood vessels present in the PCLS and from cattle infected with Mmm Afadé (Data not shown).…”

“…Our result is in agreement with a previous report that Mmm is both species and tissue-specific. Aye and colleagues [55] could show significantly higher numbers of Mmm adherent to adult primary lung epithelial cells compared to primary caprine lung epithelial cells. On the contrary, the adherence of fast-growing Mmc was not strongly influenced by the type of host tissue since we observed a continuous increase in caprine as well as bovine PCLS.…”

Respiratory explants as a model to investigate early events of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia infection

“…Since CBPP spreads by the respiratory route, non-ciliated epithelial cells residing within bronchioles and alveoli should be regarded as the earliest and most relevant cellular targets of infection. As widely shown for other respiratory pathogens (namely, influenza viruses), the different expression of cellular surface molecules—which might vary with age and/or along the airways—could strongly influence the tropism of Mmm and should be investigated in depth [ 19 , 43 ].…”

Identification of targets of monoclonal antibodies that inhibit adhesion and growth in Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides

“…The cytoadherence assay and flow cytometry analysis were performed as previously described ( Aye et al, 2015 ). The proportion of cells to which mycoplasmas had bound was calculated using Flow Jo ( FLOWJO, 2014 ).…”

“…In our previous study, we established a cytoadherence assay that measured the interaction of Mmm with various host cells and showed that Mmm cytoadherence is tissue and host specific ( Aye et al, 2015 ). In this study we further analyzed the adhesion of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides ( Mmm ), the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), an important disease of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa.…”