Impact of inter-amoebic phagocytosis on the L. pneumophila growth. Issue 18 (29th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dey, Rafik; Mameri, Mouh Rayane; Trajkovic-Bodennec, Selena; Bodennec, Jacques; Pernin, Pierre
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology letters. Volume 367:Issue 18(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08-29
• Subjects: legionellosis -- L. pneumophila Paris -- free living amoeba (FLA) -- inter-amoebic phagocytosis -- tripartite co-culture; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa147
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-1097

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Free-living amoebae are known to act as replication niches for the pathogenic bacterium Legionella pneumophila in freshwater environments. However, we previously reported that some strains of the Willaertia magna species are more resistant to L. pneumophila infection and differ in their ability to support its growth. From this observation, we hypothesize that L. pneumophila growth in environment could be partly dependent on the composition of amoebic populations and on the possible interactions between different amoebic species. We tested this hypothesis by studying the growth of L. pneumophila and of a permissive free-living amoeba, Vermamoeba vermiformis (formerly named Hartmannella vermiformis ), in co-culture with or without other free-living amoebae ( Acanthamoeba castellanii and W. magna ). We demonstrate the occurrence of inter-amoebic phagocytosis with A. castellanii and W. magna being able to ingest V. vermiformis infected or not infected with L. pneumophila . We also found that L. pneumophila growth is strongly impacted by the permissiveness of each interactive amoeba demonstrating that L. pneumophila proliferation and spread are controlled, at least in part, by inter-amoebic interactions. Abstract : The Legionella pneumophila growth is impacted by the occurrence of inter-amoebic phagocytosis.