Manipulation of the host cell plasma membrane by bacterial pathogens

Many bacterial pathogens remodel the plasma membrane of human cells to establish infection. In this seminar, I discuss work in my laboratory that has elucidated how the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) reshape the host plasma membrane to invade human cells, spread between cells, or adhere tightly to the apical cell surface.

I begin by summarising work early in my career demonstrating that Listeria activates a human receptor tyrosine and the downstream signalling enzyme phosphoinositide 3-kinase to induce bacterial internalisation into host cells. Another early finding that Listeria perturbs intercellular membrane tension to enhance bacterial spread between human cells will be discussed. I will end the seminar by covering current work demonstrating that the evolutionarily distant pathogens, Listeria, Shigella, and EPEC have each evolved strategies to manipulate the human exocyst complex. Targeting of the exocyst by these pathogens expands specific regions of the host cell plasma membrane, thereby enhancing the formation of membrane protrusions that mediate intercellular dissemination of bacteria or the adhesion of bacteria to the apical surface of cells.