Visualization of the type III secretion mediated Salmonella–host cell interface using cryo-electron tomography

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.39514
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03T12:00:48Z
• Authors: Donghyun Park; Maria Lara-Tejero; M Neal Waxham; Wenwei Li; Bo Hu; Jorge E Galán; Jun Liu
• Keywords: Secretory protein

Many important gram-negative bacterial pathogens use highly sophisticated type III protein secretion systems (T3SSs) to establish complex host-pathogen interactions. Bacterial-host cell contact triggers the activation of T3SS and subsequent insertion a translocon pore into target membrane, which serves as conduit for passage effector proteins. Therefore initial interaction between T3SS-bearing bacteria host cells is critical step in deployment machine, yet this process remains poorly understood. Here, we high-throughput cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) visualize T3SS-mediated Salmonella-host interface. Our analysis reveals intact at an unprecedented level resolution, its establishment intimate association cells, essential translocation. studies provide data supporting long postulated direct injection model