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Role of Lipids in Coxiella burnetii Infection

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Coxiella burnetii: Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Research of the Q Fever Bacterium

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((volume 984))

Abstract

Lipids are essential components of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, serving diverse functions including energy metabolism and membrane structure. Intracellular vacuolar pathogens such as Coxiella burnetii require lipids for both normal bacterial functions as well as formation of the acidic, phagolysosomal-like parasitophorous vacuole (PV) surrounding the bacteria. As an intracellular pathogen, C. burnetii can acquire lipid through both de novo bacterial synthesis and subversion of host cell pools. The C. burnetii genome encodes enzymes required for de novo synthesis of fatty acids and phospholipids. The high percentage of branched fatty acids suggests C. burnetii modifies these molecules to generate a bacterial cell envelope that can resist the harsh environment of the PV, such as the acidic pH. In addition to fatty acids and their derivatives, C. burnetii requires isoprenoids, particularly sterols as the PV membrane is cholesterol-rich. With the exception of two eukaryote-like sterol reductases, C. burnetii does not have the capability to generate cholesterol, suggesting sterols are actively diverted from the host cell. While C. burnetii utilizes host cell lipids for membrane biogenesis and possibly energy, bacterial manipulation of host cell lipid signaling pathways may support establishment of the intracellular niche. For example, effectors secreted by the C. burnetii Type IV secretion system may either directly or indirectly modify host cell lipids. Further understanding of the lipid biosynthetic capabilities of C. burnetii, along with C. burnetii’s manipulation of host cell lipids, will provide insight into the host-pathogen relationship.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Audrey Chong, Bob Heinzen, and Seth Winfree for critical reading of the manuscript. DHCR24+/− mice were generously provided by Quark Biotech (Israel). This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S. 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA

    Stacey D. Gilk

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  1. Stacey D. Gilk
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Correspondence to Stacey D. Gilk .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Virology, Dept. of Rickettsiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia

    Rudolf Toman

  2. Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, NIH/NIAID, South Fourth Street 903, Hamilton, 59840, Montana, USA

    Robert A. Heinzen

  3. , Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis, College of Medicine, Texas A&M, Joe H. Reynolds Medical Building, College Station 407, College Station, 77843-1114, Texas, USA

    James E. Samuel

  4. Institut Fédératif de Recherche 48, Les Maladies Infect Transmissibles, CNRS-IRD UMR 6236, Bd Jean Moulin 27, Marseille, Cedex 05, 13385, France

    Jean-Louis Mege

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Gilk, S.D. (2012). Role of Lipids in Coxiella burnetii Infection. In: Toman, R., Heinzen, R., Samuel, J., Mege, JL. (eds) Coxiella burnetii: Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Research of the Q Fever Bacterium. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 984. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4315-1_10

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