Myosin IIA is essential for Shigella flexneri cell ‐to‐cell spread

In this study, the role of myosin II and its specific kinase, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), during Shigella intercellular spreading was investigated in HeLa cells. Inhibition of MLCK and myosin II, as well as myosin IIA knockdown, significantly reduced Shigella plaque and infectious focus formation. Protrusion formation and intracellular bacterial growth was not affected. Low levels of myosin II were localised to the Shigella F‐actin tail. HeLa cells were also infected with Shigella strains defective in cell‐to‐cell spreading. Unexpectedly loss of myosin IIA labelling was observed in HeLa cells infected with these mutant strains. This phenomenon was not observed with WT Shigella or with the less abundant myosin IIB isoform, suggesting a critical role for myosin IIA. In this study, we show that the cell protein Myosin IIA is needed for the human pathogen Shigella flexneri to efficiently infect human cells.
Source: FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research