Bacterial membrane vesicles transport their DNA cargo into host cells

Natalie J Bitto; Ross Chapman; Sacha Pidot; Adam Costin; Camden Lo; Jasmine Choi; Tanya D'Cruze; Eric C Reynolds; Stuart G Dashper; Lynne Turnbull; Cynthia B Whitchurch; Timothy P Stinear; Katryn J Stacey; Richard L Ferrero

Journal article

Bacterial membrane vesicles transport their DNA cargo into host cells

Natalie J Bitto, Ross Chapman, Sacha Pidot, Adam Costin, Camden Lo, Jasmine Choi, Tanya D'Cruze, Eric C Reynolds, Stuart G Dashper, Lynne Turnbull, Cynthia B Whitchurch, Timothy P Stinear, Katryn J Stacey, Richard L Ferrero

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07288-4

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Abstract

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are extracellular sacs containing biologically active products, such as proteins, cell wall components and toxins. OMVs are reported to contain DNA, however, little is known about the nature of this DNA, nor whether it can be transported into host cells. Our work demonstrates that chromosomal DNA is packaged into OMVs shed by bacteria during exponential phase. Most of this DNA was present on the external surfaces of OMVs, with smaller amounts located internally. The DNA within the internal compartments of Pseudomonas aeruginosa OMVs were consistently enriched in specific regions of the bacterial chromosome, encoding proteins involved in virulence, str..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Eric Reynolds Author Melbourne Dental School

Stuart Dashper Author Melbourne Dental School

Tim Stinear Author Microbiology and Immunology

Sacha Pidot Author Microbiology and Immunology

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Awarded by A.R.C. Fellowship

Awarded by NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship

Funding Acknowledgements

This project was supported by funding from the Australian Research Council to R.L.F. and K.J.S. (Discovery grant DP120104911) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to R.L.F. (Project grant APP1030243). Research at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research is supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. R.L.F. and T.P.S. are NHMRC Senior Research Fellows (APP1079904 and APP1105525, respectively). K.J.S. was supported by A.R.C. Fellowship FT0991576 and NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship APP1059729. N.B. was funded by an Australian Postgraduate Award. E.R., S.D. and T.D.'C. were supported by the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant APP1101935. R.C. was funded by the NHMRC. C.L. Ferrero is thanked for his assistance with graphics.