• Super-resolution microscopy shows how cells combat drug-resistant bacteria

    Super-resolution microscopy studied how drug-resistant bacteria such as salmonella survive and propagate within host cells.
    May 24, 2017
    3 min read

    Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany) used super-resolution microscopy to study how drug-resistant bacteria such as salmonella survive and propagate within host cells, visualizing protein patterns at the near-molecular level.

    Related: Optical trapping method observes bacteria in super resolution without sample prep

    Upon bacterial invasion, cells flag escaped bacteria with a small protein called ubiquitin, which is known to regulate numerous cellular processes. The attached flags contain chains of differently linked ubiquitin molecules, resulting in a secret code that has so far only partially been decoded. These ubiquitin chains relay specific signals from the surface of the bacteria into the cell.

    Super-resolution microscopy (dSTORM) visualization of salmonella within a human cell, surrounded by a coat of different ubiquitin chains. Purple represents linear ubiquitin chains, while green represents all ubiquitin chains. (Image copyright: Mike Heilemann/Ivan Dikic)

    Employing super-resolution microscopy, the research team was able to visualize different ubiquitin chains on the bacterial surface and analyze their molecular organization in detail. They discovered that one chain type—so-called linear chains—plays an essential role during a bacterial invasion. Linear ubiquitin chains trigger degradation of bacteria and kick off an inflammatory signaling cascade that results in restricting bacterial proliferation. In addition, the researchers identified the enzyme otulin as an important regulator capable of limiting this reaction—a very important notion, considering the fact that excessive inflammation is one of the major causes of tissue damage following bacterial infection.

    Super-resolution microscopy (dSTORM) visualization of one Salmonella bacterium within a human cell, surrounded by a coat of different ubiquitin chains. Purple represents linear ubiquitin chains, while green represents all ubiquitin chains. Visualized by super-resolution microscopy (dSTORM). (Image copyright: Mike Heilemann/Ivan Dikic)

    Signaling the cells' need for pathogen defense is just one important role of ubiquitin. The small protein is also involved in development and progression of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as cancer. Until now, however, very little is known about how small errors in the ubiquitin system contribute to these serious human diseases, and how the system can be targeted pharmaceutically.

    Super-resolution microscopy (3D-dSTORM) visualization of one Salmonella bacterium within a human cell, surrounded by a coat of different ubiquitin chains. The colored dots represent individual linear ubiquitin chains. (Image copyright: Mike Heilemann/Ivan Dikic)

    These new findings pave the way for many follow-up projects, which may ultimately lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

    Full details of the work appear in the journal Nature Microbiology; for more information, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmicrobiol.2017.66.

    Sign up for Laser Focus World Newsletters
    Get the latest news and updates.

    Voice Your Opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!