SdiA as a Repressor of Phagocytosis and Intracellular Survival in Klebsiella pneumoniae: Insights from Macrophage and Amoeba Models

Abstract

1.In 2024, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified Klebsiella pneumoniae as a maximum priority pathogen for the development of new alternatives to antibiotics. In this context, understanding the regulation of key virulence mechanisms is essential. Here, we investigated the role of the orphan quorum-sensing receptor SdiA in modulating virulence-associated processes during macrophage infection. Deletion of sdiA ({Delta}sdiA) significantly increased susceptibility to phagocytosis, as demonstrated using an amoeba predation model in which mutant strains formed larger clearance zones compared to wild-type bacteria. This phenotype was also observed in murine macrophages, where {Delta}sdiA strains exhibited increased adhesion (1.5 to 2.5-fold) and phagocytic uptake. Reduced uronic acid levels were also quantified in mutant strains, indirectly indicating a diminished capsule production, likely contributing to this enhanced phagocytosis. Despite enhanced uptake, {Delta}sdiA strains showed increased intracellular survival and replication rates within macrophages, leading to reduced host cell viability. This effect occurred despite loss of interbacterial killing capacity against E. coli, suggesting that enhanced intracellular fitness is not driven by classical antibacterial offensive mechanisms. Notably, mutant-infected macrophages displayed increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), NF-{kappa}B expression, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (mCXCL10 and mTNF) production, indicating that macrophage defence mechanisms are not impaired during mutant infection. Overall, bacterial survival of {Delta}sdiA could result from overwhelming, rather than actively suppressing, host defences. Together, these findings identify SdiA as a negative regulator of phagocytosis and intracellular survival in K. pneumoniae and highlight a context-dependent role in virulence. This work provides new insights into the regulatory networks governing host-pathogen interactions and bacterial adaptation to the intracellular environment. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=150 SRC="FIGDIR/small/725935v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (50K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d45bfdorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e3547forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c078f9org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@46408a_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG O_FLOATNOGraphical AbstractC_FLOATNO Loss of sdiA strongly affects phagocytosis, as mutant strains showed increasing adhesion (1.5 to 2.5-fold) and phagocytic uptake. Diminished capsule production could be contributing to this enhanced phagocytosis, as reduced uronic acid levels were also quantified in mutant strains. Despite being internalized at higher rates, mutants exhibited enhanced intracellular survival and replication, reducing macrophage viability. This fitness advantage occurred independently of classical offensive mechanisms, as evidenced by a lost ability to kill E. coli. Notably, mutant-infected macrophages mounted a stronger immune response, marked by elevated ROS, NF-{kappa}B expression, and pro-inflammatory cytokines production (mCXCL10 and mTNF). Together, these findings suggest that strains survive by overwhelming, rather than suppressing, host immune defences. Created with Biorender (https://www.biorender.com/). C_FIG HighlightsO_LISdiA deletion in K. pneumoniae increases susceptibility to phagocytosis. C_LIO_LIThe mutant strains exhibit reduced uronic acid levels, indicative of capsule production. C_LIO_LISdiA mutants show enhanced intracellular survival and higher macrophage death. C_LIO_LIMutant infected macrophages have higher NF-{kappa}B, TNF, and CXCL10 responses. C_LIO_LISdiA-deficient strains lose predatory capacity against E. coli. C_LI