The Vi capsular polysaccharide prevents complement receptor 3-mediated clearance of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi

R. Paul Wilson, Sebastian E. Winter, Alanna M. Spees, Maria G. Winter, Jessalyn H. Nishimori, Jesus F. Sanchez, Sean Paul Nuccio, Robert W. Crawford, Çagla Tükel, Andreas J. Bäumler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

Capsular polysaccharides are important virulence factors of invasive bacterial pathogens. Here we studied the role of the virulence (Vi) capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi) in preventing innate immune recognition by complement. Comparison of capsulated S. Typhi with a noncapsulated mutant (ΔtviBCDE vexABCDE mutant) revealed that the Vi capsule interfered with complement component 3 (C3) deposition. Decreased complement fixation resulted in reduced bacterial binding to complement receptor 3 (CR3) on the surface of murine macrophages in vitro and decreased CR3-dependent clearance of Vi capsulated S. Typhi from the livers and spleens of mice. Opsonization of bacteria with immune serum prior to intraperitoneal infection increased clearance of capsulated S. Typhi from the liver. Our data suggest that the Vi capsule prevents CR3-dependent clearance, which can be overcome in part by a specific antibody response.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)830-837
Number of pages8
JournalInfection and Immunity
Volume79
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011
Externally publishedYes

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