Name: applying fluorescence resonance energy transfer (fret) to examine effector translocation efficiency by coxiella burnetii during sirna silencing
Uploaded: 2016-07-06T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Applying Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer FRET to Examine Effector Translocation Efficiency by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA Silencing at JoVE.com

This work was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants (Grant ID 1062383 and 1063646) awarded to HJN. EAL is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award.

Note: All procedures involving the growth or manipulation of Coxiella burnetii RSA439 NMII should be performed in a Physical Containment Level 2 Laboratory and within a biological safety cabinet in compliance with local guidelines. A schematic diagram of the reverse transfection and translocation assay workflow described below is shown in Figure 2.
1. Preparation of C. burnetii Culture Expressing CBU0077 Fused to &#946;-lactamase (pBlaM-CBU0077) (DAY 1)
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Secretion systems, and the bacterial effector proteins these systems transport into the cytoplasm of host cells, are an important virulence component that many pathogenic bacteria utilize to establish an infection within unique replicative niches. The focus of many research groups has been to investigate the interplay between bacterial effectors and host proteins and the influence these effectors have on host cellular pathways. Very limited research, if any, has examined the potential for host proteins to be necessary fo...

Coxiella burnetii is a unique intracellular pathogen that causes the zoonotic human infection Q fever. This disease is associated with a broad spectrum of clinical presentations extending from asymptomatic seroconversion to life-threatening chronic infection that often manifests as endocarditis years after exposure1. Human infection occurs primarily through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols with ruminants the major reservoir for infection, in particular, dairy cows, sheep and goats. Although Coxiella infection in these animals is typically subclinical, the infection may trigger abortion and the considerable bacterial load within the birthing fluid and placenta can contaminate the local environment1. An example of the enormous burden such contamination can have on both public health and the agriculture industry was recently observed in the Q fever outbreak that occurred in the Netherlands2. Between 2007 and 2010, over 4,000 human cases of Q fever were diagnosed and this outbreak was linked to significant contamination of goat farms3. Additionally, Coxiella is a potential biological weapon, as classified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, due to the environmental stability of the bacteria and low infectious dose necessary to cause severe morbidity and mortality4.
Coxiella exists in two phases: Phase I organisms, isolated from natural sources, are extremely virulent and Phase II organisms are highly attenuated in vivo. For example, after several in vitro passages of Coxiella burnetii Nine Mile Phase I organisms, Phase II bacteria were produced that contain an irreversible chromosomal deletion resulting in truncated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)5. This strain, C. burnetii NMII, is phenotypically similar to Phase I in tissue culture models and provides a safer model for researchers to study Coxiella pathogenesis in laboratories5. In recent years several breakthroughs have rapidly advanced the field of Coxiella genetics. Most notably, the development of axenic media (acidified citrate cysteine medium - ACCM-2) has allowed the cell-free growth of Coxiella in both liquid and on solid media6,7. This resulted in direct improvements of genetic tools available for Coxiella including an inducible gene expression system, shuttle vectors and random transposon systems8-11. Most recently, two methods for targeted gene inactivation have also been developed, paving the way for examining specific virulence gene candidates12.
Following internalization by alveolar macrophages, Coxiella replicates to high numbers within a membrane-bound compartment termed the Coxiella-containing vacuole (CCV). The CCV requires host endocytic trafficking through early and late endosomes until it matures into a lysosome-derived organelle13. Throughout this process, the CCV acquires host factors that either appear transiently or remain associated with the vacuole, including, but not limited to, Rab5, Rab7, CD63 and LAMP-113-15. Replication of Coxiella within host cells is entirely dependent on a fully functional Dot/Icm Type IVB Secretion System (T4SS)8,16,17. This secretion system is a multi-protein structure ancestrally related to conjugation systems and spans both bacterial and vacuolar membranes to deliver bacterial proteins, termed effectors, into the host cytoplasm18. The Coxiella T4SS is functionally very similar to the well characterized Type IVB Dot/Icm Secretion System of Legionella pneumophila19,20. Interestingly, activation of the T4SS and subsequent effector translocation does not occur until Coxiella reaches the acidic lysosome-derived organelle, approximately 8 hr post-infection17,21. To date, over 130 Dot/Icm effectors have been identified9,17,22-24. Many of these effectors likely play important roles during replication of Coxiella within host cells; however, only a few effectors have been functionally characterized25-29.
In this study we utilize a fluorescence based translocation assay that relies on cleavage of the CCF2-AM FRET substrate (hereafter referred to as the BlaM substrate) via &#946;-lactamase activity within the host cell cytoplasm (Figure 1). The gene of interest is fused to TEM-1 &#946;-lactamase (BlaM) on a reporter plasmid that provides constitutive expression. The BlaM substrate is composed of two fluorophores (coumarin and fluorescein) that form a FRET pair. Excitation of the coumarin results in FRET of the fluorescein and green fluorescence emission in the absence of effector translocation; however, if the BlaM-effector fusion protein is translocated into the host cytoplasm, the resultant &#946;-lactamase activity cleaves the &#946;-lactam ring of the BlaM substrate, separating the FRET pair producing blue fluorescence emission following excitation. This translocation assay has been well proven as an approach to identify effector proteins from a range of different intracellular and extracellular bacteria, including C. burnetii, L. pneumophila, L. longbeachae, Chlamydia trachomatis, enteropathogenic E. coli, Salmonella and Brucella17,30-35.
To determine the role of specific host factors on Coxiella effector translocation we utilize a well-established method for gene silencing known as RNA interference, in particular small interfering RNA (siRNA). Originally identified in Caenorhabditis elegans, RNA interference is a conserved endogenous cellular process used for innate defense against viruses as well as gene regulation36,37. After binding of sequence-specific siRNA, degradation of mRNA occurs through RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) resulting in specific gene silencing or knockdown38. In this study, siRNA was used to target two host proteins, Rab5A and Rab7A, which are important regulators of the endocytic pathway. The impact of silencing Rab5A and Rab7A on effector translocation was ascertained using C. burnetii pBlaM-CBU0077. CBU0077 was selected as it was previously shown to be translocated by the Dot/Icm secretion system of Coxiella17.
Utilizing both siRNA gene silencing and the fluorescencebased translocation assay described here, we are beginning to establish a role for host factors in the translocation of effector proteins by Coxiella. This approach can be applied to a wide range of both intracellular and extracellular bacteria that possess similar secretion systems responsible for the translocation of effector proteins.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="760">
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Reagents</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Citric acid</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C0759</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium citrate</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S4641</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Potassium phosphate</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">60218</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Magnesium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Calbiochem</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">442611</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Calcium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C5080</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Iron sulfate</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S93248</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S9625</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">L-cysteine</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C6852</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Bacto-neopeptone</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">211681</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Casamino acids</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BP1424</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Methyl beta cyclodextrin</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C4555</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">RPMI + Glutamax</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">61870-036</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">ACCM-2 medium component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Chloramphenicol</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C0378</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For bacterial culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">ON-TARGETplus Non-targeting Control Pool (OTP)</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Dharmacon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D-001810-10-05</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Non-targeting control</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">siGENOME Human PLK1 (5347) siRNA - SMARTpool</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Dharmacon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M-003290-01-005</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Causes cell death; measure of transfection efficiency</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">siGENOME Human RAB5A (5968) siRNA - SMARTpool</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Dharmacon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M-004009-00-0005</td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">siGENOME Human RAB7A (7879) siRNA - SMARTpool</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Dharmacon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M-010388-00-0005</td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:343px;">5X siRNA buffer</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Dharmacon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">B-002000-UB-100</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Use sterile RNase-free water to dilute 5X siRNA buffer to 1X siRNA buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">DharmaFECT-1 Transfection Reagent</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Dharmacon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T-2001-01</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For transfection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">Opti-MEM + GlutaMAX</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">51985-034</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Reduced-serum medium used for transfection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">DMEM + GlutaMAX</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">10567-014</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For cell culture and infection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">Heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS)</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SH30071.03</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Can use alternate equivalent product</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">DMSO</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D8418</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For storage of Coxiella strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">PBS</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For cell culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">0.05% Trypsin + EDTA</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">25300-054</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For cell culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:343px;">dH2O</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For dilution of samples and standards for qPCR</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">Quick-gDNA Mini Prep</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ZYMO Research</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D3007</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Can use alternate equivalent product to extract gDNA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:343px;">SensiFAST SYBR No-ROX Kit</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Bioline</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BIO-98020</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Can use alternate equivalent qPCR master mix product for qPCR reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="120">
			<td height="120" style="height:120px;width:343px;">LiveBLAzer FRET-B/G Loading kit with CCF2-AM</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">K1032</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For measurement of translocation using fluorescence and generation of the 6X loading solution (contains Solution A, B, C and DMSO)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">106469</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Probenicid solution component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium phosphate monobasic</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">71505</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Probenicid solution component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">di-Sodium hydrogen orthophosphate</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">106586</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Probenicid solution component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Probenicid</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P8761</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Probenicid solution component</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:343px;">DRAQ5 Fluorescent Probe Solution (5 mM)</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">62251</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Nuclei stain to determine cell viablity. Use 1:4000 diluted in PBS.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:343px;">4% PFA (paraformaldehyde) solution in PBS</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P6148</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">Fixing solution for HeLa 229 cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:343px;">25cm2 tissue culture flask with vented cap</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">430639</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For growth of bacterial strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:343px;">96 Well Flat Clear bottom Black Polystyrene TC-Treated Microplates, Individually wrapped, with Lid, Sterile</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3603</td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:343px;">75cm2 tissue culture flask with vented cap</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">430641</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For growth of HeLa 229 cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:343px;">175cm2 tissue culture flask with vented cap</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">431080</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For growth of HeLa 229 cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Haemocytometer</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For quantification of HeLa 229 cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Tear-A-Way 96 Well PCR plates</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">4titude</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">4ti-0750/TA</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For qPCR reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">8-Lid chain, flat</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Sarstedt</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">65.989.002</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For qPCR reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Bench top microfuge</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Bench top vortex</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Orbital mixer</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Eppendorf</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">5810 R</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For pelleting bacterial culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Nanodrop</td>
			<td style="width:87px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For gDNA quantification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:343px;">Mx3005P QPCR machine</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">Aligent Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">401456</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For quantification of Coxiella genomes in 7 day culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:343px;">ClarioSTAR microplate reader</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">BMG LabTech</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;">For measurement of fluorescence</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

applying fluorescence resonance energy transfer (fret) to examine effector translocation efficiency by coxiella burnetii during sirna silencing

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is an intracellular pathogen that relies on a Type IV Dot/Icm Secretion System to establish a replicative niche. A cohort of effectors are translocated through this system into the host cell to manipulate host processes and allow the establishment of a unique lysosome-derived vacuole for replication. The method presented here involves the combination of two well-established techniques: specific gene silencing using siRNA and measurement of effector translocation using a FRET-based substrate that relies on &#946;-lactamase activity. Applying these two approaches, we can begin to understand the role of host factors in bacterial secretion system function and effector translocation. In this study we examined the role of Rab5A and Rab7A, both important regulators of the endocytic trafficking pathway. We demonstrate that silencing the expression of either protein results in a decrease in effector translocation efficiency. These methods can be easily modified to examine other intracellular and extracellular pathogens that also utilize secretion systems. In this way, a global picture of host factors involved in bacterial effector translocation may be revealed.

For this study, the C. burnetii pBlaM-CBU0077 strain was selected as CBU0077 has been previously shown to be a translocated effector of the Coxiella Dot/Icm secretion system17. Prior to infection, the total number of genomes/ml in the seven day C. burnetii pBlaM-CBU0077 culture was enumerated using qPCR. Figure 4 demonstrates an example of the cycle threshold (Ct) values expected from both standards and samples following qPCR. The Ct ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Applying Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer FRET to Examine Effector Translocation Efficiency by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA Silencing at JoVE.com

Applying Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer FRET to Examine Effector Translocation Efficiency by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA Silencing

Investigating the interactions between bacterial pathogens and their hosts is an important area of biological research. Here, we describe the necessary techniques to measure effector translocation by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA gene silencing using BlaM substrate.

Applying Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to Examine Effector Translocation Efficiency by Coxiella burnetii during siRNA Silencing

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is an intracellular pathogen that relies on a Type IV Dot/Icm Secretion System to establish a ...

The overall goal of this experimental procedure is to examine the impact of specific host processes on the ability of bacterial pathogens to translocate effector proteins. This method can help answer key questions in the field of cellular microbiology. Specifically how the host is involved in either blocking or promoting the delivery of bacterial virulence effectors into the host cell.The main advantage of this technique is that it combines two established techniques. Namely, siRNA gene silencing and reporter essay to measure bacterial protein translocation. To investigate the interplay between pathogens and the eukaryotic cell.This method provides insight into coxiella pathogensis and can also be applied to investigate the host pathogen interactions of other bacteria that depend on efficient protein translocation. For example, chlamydia, salmonella, and attaching interfacing E.coli. After culturing C.burnetii expressing CBU0077, fuse the betalactamase according to the text protocol in a 25 centimeter squared culture flask with a vented cap.Inoculate 10 milliliters of pre-warmed ACCM2 containing three micrograms per milliliter of chloramphenical with 20 microliters of the bacteria. Grow the culture at 37 degrees celsius with five percent carbon dioxide and 2.5 percent oxygen for seven days. To reverse transfect hela cells with siRNA and after preparing the siRNA according to the text protocol, place DMEM plus 10%FCS, 05 percent trypsin EDTA, and PBS in a 37 degrees celsius water bath for 30 minutes to warm prior to use.For each experimental siRNA transfection, combine 0.4 microliters of transfection reagent and 63.6 microliters of reduced serum media in an individual microfuge tube. Vortex all microfuge tubes and allow the components to complex for five minutes at room temperature. Add 16 microliters of each experimental siRNA to the corresponding microfuge tubes containing the transfection complex.Then vortex and incubate at room temperature for 20 minutes. During the 20 minutes incubation, add 20 microliters of the transfection reagent, reduced serum medium and siRNA mix into the appropriate wells of a sterile black, flat, clear bottomed 96 well tray. Also during the 20 minute incubation, use 10 milliliters of pre-warmed PBS to wash a monolayer of confluent or subconfluent hela cells in a 75 centimeter squared flask.Add one milliliter of 05 percent trypsin EDTA solution to the flask and incubate at 37 degrees celsius and five percent carbon dioxide for three to five minutes to detach the cells. Collect the cells in nine milliliters of pre-warmed DMEM with 10%FCS. Using a hemocytometer to count the cells.Then with DMEM 10%FCS, bring the cells to a final density of 4.9 times 10 to the four cells per milliliter. Immediately following the 20 minute incubation, pipette 80 microliters of the cells into each well of the 96 well plate containing the siRNA transfection mixture which will bring the cell density to 3.92 times 10 to the third cells per well. This is the most critical step in the procedure.It is very important that the hela cells are added to the siRNA transfection mixture immediately following the 20 minute incubation. Otherwise transfection efficiency can be compromised. Ensure the blank wells contain only 80 microliters of DMEM plus 10%FCS.Incubate the plate for 24 hours. Then, with a multi-channel adapter attached to a vacuum source, and a pipette, replace the medium with 100 microliters of fresh DMEM plus 10%FCS. Incubate the cells for an additional 48 hours.After seven days of growth in ACCM2, centrifuge the 10 milliliters of C.burnetii P BlaM CBU0077 culture at 15, 000 times g and room temperature for 15 minutes. After removing the supernatant, use 10 milliliters of pre-warmed DMEM FCS to re-suspend the pellet. Then use water to prepare one in ten and one in one hundred dilutions in a final volume of 100 microliters of the culture and set up QPCR according to the text protocol.After calculating the total genomes per milliliter in the C.burnetii P BlaM CBU0077 culture, use pre-warmed DMEM FCS to adjust the volume of the culture to two milliliters for a concentration of 1.88 times 10 to the eight bacteria per milliliter. Next, remove the medium from the blank and reverse transfected cells. Then add 50 microliters of the diluted bacteria to the appropriate wells and add 50 microliters of DMEM FCS to the blank and uninfected wells.After preparing the solutions for the BlaM substrate according to the text protocol, prepare a master mix by combining 1.8 microliters of solution A and 16.2 microliters of solution B.Mix the tube well by vortexing. Then add 237 microliters of solution C and 45 microliters of 0.1 molar probenecid. Vortex the tube again.Add 10 microliters of the Six X loading solution directly into all the blank and reverse transfected wells without removing the existing medium. Incubate the plate in the dark at room temperature for two hours. To determine the level of translocation, on a microplate reader, create a fluorescence intensity protocol using Endpoint as the reading mode.Select 96 well microplate, then under optic settings, select two multichromatics and for the first number preset, input 410-10 nanometers excitation and 520-10 emission. For the second number preset, input 410-10 nanometers excitation and 450-10 emission. Then ensure Well multichromatics is selected.Next, select Orbital Averaging with a diameter of three millimeters. Under Optic, select Bottom optic. Then under Speed and Precision, select Precise.This corresponds to eight regions per well. Adjust the plate layout by selecting the appropriate wells as blanks and sample wells. Then, select Start measurement.Remove the lid and place the tray into the plate reader. Ensure the gain value is adjusted to avoid reaching maximum fluorescence values by performing a gain adjustment on one of the infected wells that has been reverse transfected with OTP siRNA. Select Start measurement to measure all the appropriate wells using Bottom fluorescence at an excitation of 410 nanometers and emission of both 450 nanometers and 520 nanometers for blue and green fluorescence respectively.Analyze the results according to the text protocol. This figure demonstrates an example of the cycle threshold value expected from both standards and samples following QPCR to determine the total number of genomes per milliliter in the seven day C.burnetii culture. Based on this data, there were 2.31 times 10 to the eight genomes per milliliter in the 10 milliliter re-suspended bacterial culture.The result to silencing either Rab5A or Rab7A on effector translocation from three independent experiments after incubation of the reversed transfected cells with BlaM substrate is shown here. A significant decrease in the level of BlaM CBU0077 translocation occurred during silencing of both Rab5A and Rab7A compared to OTP control. As demonstrated in this graph, although treatment with either Rab5A or Rab7A results in a reduction in cell viability compared to OTP control, this reduction is not as severe as treatment with PLK1, a gene known to cause cell death when silenced.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to silence specific host targets using siRNA, and subsequently investigate the impact this has on bacterial effector protein translocation using FRET based reporter assay. This protocol has been optimized for both silencing of Rab GTPases in coxieller infection of hela cells. To utilize this method to target other host proteins, transfection conditions require optimization to ensure efficient gene silencing.Similarly to use this method with other bacterial pathogens, infection condition require optimization.

applying-fluorescence-resonance-energy-transfer-fret-to-examine

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Detection of Toxin Translocation into the Host Cytosol by Surface Plasmon Resonance

AB toxins consist of an enzymatic A subunit and a cell-binding B subunit1. These toxins are secreted into the extracellular milieu, but they act upon targets within the eukaryotic cytosol. Some AB toxins travel by vesicle carriers from the cell surface to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) before entering the cytosol2-4. In the ER, the catalytic A chain dissociates from the rest of the toxin and moves through a protein-conducting channel to reach its cytosolic target5. The translocated, cytosolic A chain is difficult to detect because toxin trafficking to the ER is an extremely inefficient process: most internalized toxin is routed to the lysosomes for degradation, so only a small fraction of surface-bound toxin reaches the Golgi apparatus and ER6-12.

To monitor toxin translocation from the ER to the cytosol in cultured cells, we combined a subcellular fractionation protocol with the highly sensitive detection method of surface plasmon resonance (SPR)13-15. The plasma membrane of toxin-treated cells is selectively permeabilized with digitonin, allowing collection of a cytosolic fraction which is subsequently perfused over an SPR sensor coated with an anti-toxin A chain antibody. The antibody-coated sensor can capture and detect pg/mL quantities of cytosolic toxin. With this protocol, it is possible to follow the kinetics of toxin entry into the cytosol and to characterize inhibitory effects on the translocation event. The concentration of cytosolic toxin can also be calculated from a standard curve generated with known quantities of A chain standards that have been perfused over the sensor. Our method represents a rapid, sensitive, and quantitative detection system that does not require radiolabeling or other modifications to the target toxin.

In this report, we describe how surface plasmon resonance is used to detect toxin entry into the host cytosol. This highly sensitive method can provide quantitative data on the amount of cytosolic toxin, and it can be applied to a range of toxins.

AB toxins consist of an enzymatic A subunit and a cell-binding B subunit1.  These toxins are secreted into the extracellular milieu, but they act upon ...

In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function

T cell exhaustion is a major factor in failed pathogen clearance during chronic viral infections. Immunoregulatory pathways, such as PD-1 and IL-10, are upregulated upon this ongoing antigen exposure and contribute to loss of proliferation, reduced cytolytic function, and impaired cytokine production by CD4 and CD8 T cells. In the murine model of LCMV infection, administration of blocking antibodies against these two pathways augmented T cell responses. However, there is currently no in vitro assay to measure the impact of such blockade on cytokine secretion in cells from human samples. Our protocol and experimental approach enable us to accurately and efficiently quantify the restoration of cytokine production by HIV-specific CD4 T cells from HIV infected subjects.
Here, we depict an in vitro experimental design that enables measurements of cytokine secretion by HIV-specific CD4 T cells and their impact on other cell subsets. CD8 T cells were depleted from whole blood and remaining PBMCs were isolated via Ficoll separation method. CD8-depleted PBMCs were then incubated with blocking antibodies against PD-L1 and/or IL-10R&#945; and, after stimulation with an HIV-1 Gag peptide pool, cells were incubated at 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2. After 48 hr, supernatant was collected for cytokine analysis by beads arrays and cell pellets were collected for either phenotypic analysis using flow cytometry or transcriptional analysis using qRT-PCR. For more detailed analysis, different cell populations were obtained by selective subset depletion from PBMCs or by sorting using flow cytometry before being assessed in the same assays. These methods provide a highly sensitive and specific approach to determine the modulation of cytokine production by antigen-specific T-helper cells and to determine functional interactions between different populations of immune cells.

In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function

We developed an in vitro assay to investigate the role of immunoregulatory pathways in the regulation of cytokine secretion by HIV-specific CD4 T cells.

T cell exhaustion is a major factor in failed pathogen clearance during chronic viral infections. Immunoregulatory pathways, such as PD-1 and IL-10, are ...

Induction of Murine Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of Effector CD4+CD45RBhigh T Cells into Immunodeficient Mice

There are many different animal models available for studying the pathogenesis of human inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We describe here an experimental colitis model that is initiated by adoptive transfer of syngeneic splenic CD4+CD45RBhigh T cells into T and B cell deficient recipient mice. The CD4+CD45RBhigh T cell population that largely consists of na&#239;ve effector cells is capable of inducing chronic intestinal inflammation, closely resembling key aspects of human IBD. This method can be manipulated to study aspects of disease onset and progression. Additionally it can be used to study the function of innate, adaptive, and regulatory immune cell populations, and the role of environmental exposures, i.e., the microbiota, in intestinal inflammation. In this article we illustrate the methodology for inducing colitis with a step-by-step protocol. This includes a video demonstration of key technical aspects required to successfully develop this murine model of experimental colitis for research purposes.

Induction of Murine Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of Effector CD4+CD45RBhigh T Cells into Immunodeficient Mice

Here, we present a protocol to induce colonic inflammation in mice by adoptive transfer of syngeneic CD4+CD45RBhigh T cells into T and B cell deficient recipients. Clinical and histopathological features mimic human inflammatory bowel diseases. This method allows the study of the initiation of colonic inflammation and progression of disease.

There are many different animal models available for studying the pathogenesis of human inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), each with its own advantages ...

Generation and Multi-phenotypic High-content Screening of Coxiella burnetii Transposon Mutants

Invasion and colonization of host cells by bacterial pathogens depend on the activity of a large number of prokaryotic proteins, defined as virulence factors, which can subvert and manipulate key host functions. The study of host/pathogen interactions is therefore extremely important to understand bacterial infections and develop alternative strategies to counter infectious diseases. This approach however, requires the development of new high-throughput assays for the unbiased, automated identification and characterization of bacterial virulence determinants. Here, we describe a method for the generation of a GFP-tagged mutant library by transposon mutagenesis and the development of high-content screening approaches for the simultaneous identification of multiple transposon-associated phenotypes. Our working model is the intracellular bacterial pathogen Coxiellaburnetii, the etiological agent of the zoonosis Q fever, which is associated with severe outbreaks with a consequent health and economic burden. The obligate intracellular nature of this pathogen has, until recently, severely hampered the identification of bacterial factors involved in host pathogen interactions, making of Coxiella the ideal model for the implementation of high-throughput/high-content approaches.

Generation and Multi-phenotypic High-content Screening of Coxiella burnetii Transposon Mutants

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the zoonotic disease Q fever. Here we describe methods for the generation of Coxiella fluorescent transposon mutants as well as the automated identification and analysis of the resulting internalization, replication and cytotoxic phenotypes.

Invasion and colonization of host cells by bacterial pathogens depend on the activity of a large number of prokaryotic proteins, defined as virulence ...

Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling

The technique presented here allows one to analyze at which step a target protein, or alternatively a small molecule, interacts with the components of a signaling pathway. The method is based, on the one hand, on the inducible expression of a specific protein to initiate a signaling event at a defined and predetermined step in the selected signaling cascade. Concomitant expression, on the other hand, of the gene of interest then allows the investigator to evaluate if the activity of the expressed target protein is located upstream or downstream of the initiated signaling event, depending on the readout of the signaling pathway that is obtained. Here, the apoptotic cascade was selected as a defined signaling pathway to demonstrate protocol functionality. Pathogenic bacteria, such as Coxiella burnetii, translocate effector proteins that interfere with host cell death induction in the host cell to ensure bacterial survival in the cell and to promote their dissemination in the organism. The C. burnetii effector protein CaeB effectively inhibits host cell death after induction of apoptosis with UV-light or with staurosporine. To narrow down at which step CaeB interferes with the propagation of the apoptotic signal, selected proteins with well-characterized pro-apoptotic activity were expressed transiently in a doxycycline-inducible manner. If CaeB acts upstream of these proteins, apoptosis will proceed unhindered. If CaeB acts downstream, cell death will be inhibited. The test proteins selected were Bax, which acts at the level of the mitochondria, and caspase 3, which is the major executioner protease. CaeB interferes with cell death induced by Bax expression, but not by caspase 3 expression. CaeB, thus, interacts with the apoptotic cascade between these two proteins.

The method described here is used to induce the apoptotic signaling cascade at defined steps in order to dissect the activity of an anti-apoptotic bacterial effector protein. This method can also be used for inducible expression of pro-apoptotic or toxic proteins, or for dissecting interference with other signaling pathways.

The technique presented here allows one to analyze at which step a target protein, or alternatively a small molecule, interacts with the components of a ...

Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica Effector Translocation into Host Cells Using Beta-lactamase Effector Fusions

Many gram-negative bacteria including pathogenic Yersinia spp. employ type III secretion systems to translocate effector proteins into eukaryotic target cells. Inside the host cell the effector proteins manipulate cellular functions to the benefit of the bacteria. To better understand the control of type III secretion during host cell interaction, sensitive and accurate assays to measure translocation are required. We here describe the application of an assay based on the fusion of a Yersinia enterocolitica effector protein fragment (Yersinia outer protein; YopE) with TEM-1 beta-lactamase for quantitative analysis of translocation. The assay relies on cleavage of a cell permeant FRET dye (CCF4/AM) by translocated beta-lactamase fusion. After cleavage of the cephalosporin core of CCF4 by the beta-lactamase, FRET from coumarin to fluorescein is disrupted and excitation of the coumarin moiety leads to blue fluorescence emission. Different applications of this method have been described in the literature highlighting its versatility. The method allows for analysis of translocation in vitro and also in in vivo, e.g., in a mouse model. Detection of the fluorescence signals can be performed using plate readers, FACS analysis or fluorescence microscopy. In the setup described here, in vitro translocation of effector fusions into HeLa cells by different Yersinia mutants is monitored by laser scanning microscopy. Recording intracellular conversion of the FRET reporter by the beta-lactamase effector fusion in real-time provides robust quantitative results. We here show exemplary data, demonstrating increased translocation by a Y. enterocolitica YopE mutant compared to the wild type strain.

Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica Effector Translocation into Host Cells Using Beta-lactamase Effector Fusions

Effector translocation into host cells via a type III secretion system is a common virulence strategy among gram-negative bacteria. A beta-lactamase effector fusion based assay for quantitative analysis of translocation was applied. In Yersinia infected cells, conversion of a FRET reporter by the beta-lactamase is monitored using laser scanning microscopy.

Many gram-negative bacteria including pathogenic Yersinia spp. employ type III secretion systems to translocate effector proteins into eukaryotic target ...

Measuring Phagosome pH by Ratiometric Fluorescence Microscopy

Phagocytosis is a fundamental process through which innate immune cells engulf bacteria, apoptotic cells or other foreign particles in order to kill or neutralize the ingested material, or to present it as antigens and initiate adaptive immune responses. The pH of phagosomes is a critical parameter regulating fission or fusion with endomembranes and activation of proteolytic enzymes, events that allow the phagocytic vacuole to mature into a degradative organelle. In addition, translocation of H+ is required for the production of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are essential for efficient killing and signaling to other host tissues. Many intracellular pathogens subvert phagocytic killing by limiting phagosomal acidification, highlighting the importance of pH in phagosome biology. Here we describe a ratiometric method for measuring phagosomal pH in neutrophils using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled zymosan as phagocytic targets, and live-cell imaging. The assay is based on the fluorescence properties of FITC, which is quenched by acidic pH when excited at 490 nm but not when excited at 440 nm, allowing quantification of a pH-dependent ratio, rather than absolute fluorescence, of a single dye. A detailed protocol for performing in situ dye calibration and conversion of ratio to real pH values is also provided. Single-dye ratiometric methods are generally considered superior to single wavelength or dual-dye pseudo-ratiometric protocols, as they are less sensitive to perturbations such as bleaching, focus changes, laser variations, and uneven labeling, which distort the measured signal. This method can be easily modified to measure pH in other phagocytic cell types, and zymosan can be replaced by any other amine-containing particle, from inert beads to living microorganisms. Finally, this method can be adapted to make use of other fluorescent probes sensitive to different pH ranges or other phagosomal activities, making it a generalized protocol for the functional imaging of phagosomes.

Phagosomal pH influences phagosome maturation, oxidant production, phagosomal killing as well as antigen presentation. Here we describe a ratiometric method for measuring time-course and endpoint pH changes in individual phagosomes in living phagocytes using fluorescence microscopy.

Phagocytosis is a fundamental process through which innate immune cells engulf bacteria, apoptotic cells or other foreign particles in order to kill or ...

The Development of Lyophilized Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Reagents for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii, the agent causing Q fever, is an obligate intracellular bacterium. PCR based diagnostic assays have been developed for detecting C. burnetii DNA in cell cultures and clinical samples. PCR requires specialized equipment and extensive end user training, and therefore, it is not suitable for routine work especially in a resource-constrained area. We have developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to detect the presence of C. burnetii in patient samples. This method is performed at a single temperature around 60 &#176;C in a water bath or heating block. The sensitivity of this LAMP assay is very similar to PCR with a detection limit of about 25 copies per reaction. This report describes the preparation of the reaction using lyophilized reagents and visualization of results using hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) or a UV lamp with fluorescent intercalating dye in the reaction. The LAMP reagents were lyophilized and stored at room temperature (RT) for one month without loss of detection sensitivity. This LAMP assay is particularly robust because the reaction mixture preparation does not involve complex steps. This method is ideal for use in resource-limited settings where Q fever is endemic.

The Development of Lyophilized Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Reagents for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii

We described here a simple loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method using lyophilized reagents for the detection of C. burnetii in patient samples.

Coxiella burnetii, the agent causing Q fever, is an obligate intracellular bacterium. PCR based diagnostic assays have been developed for detecting C. ...

A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies

Antibodies play a crucial role in coupling the innate and adaptive immune responses against viral pathogens through their antigen binding domains and Fc-regions. Here, we describe how to measure the activation of Fc effector functions by monoclonal antibodies targeting the influenza virus hemagglutinin with the use of a genetically engineered Jurkat cell line expressing an activating type 1 Fc-Fc&#947;R. Using this method, the contribution of specific Fc-Fc&#947;R interactions conferred by immunoglobulins can be determined using an in vitro assay.

We describe a method to measure the activation of Fc-mediated effector functions by antibodies that target the influenza virus hemagglutinin. This assay can also be adapted to assess the ability of monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal sera targeting other viral surface glycoproteins to induce Fc-mediated immunity.

Antibodies play a crucial role in coupling the innate and adaptive immune responses against viral pathogens through their antigen binding domains and ...

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein (NSF) attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins are key for membrane trafficking, as they catalyze membrane fusion within eukaryotic cells. The SNARE protein family consists of about 36 different members. Specific intracellular transport routes are catalyzed by specific sets of 3 or 4 SNARE proteins that thereby contribute to the specificity and fidelity of membrane trafficking. However, studying the precise function of SNARE proteins is technically challenging, because SNAREs are highly abundant and functionally redundant, with most SNAREs having multiple and overlapping functions. In this protocol, a new method for the visualization of SNARE complex formation in live cells is described. This method is based on expressing SNARE proteins C-terminally fused to fluorescent proteins and measuring their interaction by F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) employing fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). By fitting the fluorescence lifetime histograms with a multicomponent decay model, FRET-FLIM allows (semi-)quantitative estimation of the fraction of the SNARE complex formation at different vesicles. This protocol has been successfully applied to visualize SNARE complex formation at the plasma membrane and at endosomal compartments in mammalian cell lines and primary immune cells, and can be readily extended to study SNARE functions at other organelles in animal, plant, and fungal cells.

This protocol describes a new method allowing for the quantitative visualization of complex formation of SNARE proteins, based on F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy.

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein (NSF) attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins are key for membrane trafficking, as they catalyze ...