Insight into the emerging insect to human pathogen Photorhabdus revealing geographic differences in immune cell tropism

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1425909
• Publication Date: 2024-09-18T04:46:58Z
• Authors: Max Addison; Alexia Hapeshi; Zi Xin Wong; John E. Connolly; Nicholas Robin Wa...
• Keywords: Photorhabdus; Infectivity; Photorhabdus luminescens; Human pathogen; Tissue tropism

Background Photorhabdus asymbiotica is a species of the insect pathogenic genus that has been isolated as an etiological agent in human infections. Since then, multiple isolates have identified worldwide; however, actual clinical infections so far only North America, Australia, and Nepal. Previous research on had shown strains differed their behaviour when infecting cultured cells. Methods In this study, we investigate differences between activities P. from different geographic locations. Pathogenicity was analysed using infection assays with both cell lines (THP-1, CHO, HEK cells) primary immune cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) blood. Results Here, present findings Australian (Kingscliff) American (ATCC43949) isolates, non-clinical soilborne nematode Thailand (PB68) Northern Europe (HIT JUN) . We also show first new isolate luminescens (Texas), non- to cause infection, confirming its ability infect survive inside Conclusion Here for time, how selectively infects certain while avoiding others infectivity varies depending growth temperature. tropism location strain from, European HIT JUN lack within mammalian tissue culture.