Salmonella Typhi sense host neuroendocrine stress hormones and release the toxin haemolysin E.

Journal article

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. typhi) causes typhoid fever. We show that exposure of S. typhi to neuroendocrine stress hormones results in haemolysis, which is associated with the release of haemolysin E in membrane vesicles. This effect is attributed to increased expression of the small RNA micA and RNA chaperone Hfq, with concomitant downregulation of outer membrane protein A. Deletion of micA or the two-component signal-transduction system, CpxAR, abolishes the phenotype. The hormone response is inhibited by the β-blocker propranolol. We provide mechanistic insights into the basis of neuroendocrine hormone-mediated haemolysis by S. typhi, increasing our understanding of inter-kingdom signalling.

Authors: Karavolos, M; Bulmer, D; Spencer, H; Rampioni, G; Schmalen, I

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: EMBO reports
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 252-258
• Publication date: 2011-03-01
• DOI: 10.1038/embor.2011.4
• EISSN: 1469-3178
• ISSN: 1469-221X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Down-Regulation; Propranolol; Signal Transduction; Epinephrine; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; Protein Kinases; Stress, Physiological; Salmonella typhi; Hemolysis; Hemolysin Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Hormones; Norepinephrine; Bacterial Proteins