Authors

AnnMarie Torres

Type

Text

Type

Dissertation

Advisor

van der Velden, Adrianus W.M. | Bliska, James | Krug, Laurie | Zong, Wei-Xing | Macian, Fernando.

Date

2014-12-01

Keywords

Microbiology

Department

Department of Genetics.

Language

en_US

Source

This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/11401/77635

Publisher

The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.

Format

application/pdf

Abstract

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) are pathogenic bacteria that suppress T cell responses to avoid clearance by the immune system, yet the mechanisms that mediate this immunosuppression remain largely unknown. Our laboratory previously showed that L-Asparaginase II produced by S. Typhimurium inhibits T cell responses and mediates virulence. The goal of my dissertation research was to determine the mechanism by which L-Asparaginase II produced by S. Typhimurium inhibits T cell responses. As described in my dissertation, I have found that L-Asparaginase II of S. Typhimurium exhibits L-asparagine hydrolysis activity and that this activity is required for the inhibition of T cells. Furthermore, I have found that exogenous L-asparagine is a resource important for T cell function and that L-Asparaginase II-mediated deprivation of exogenous L-asparagine inhibits T cell responses through suppression of metabolic reprogramming. The suppression of T cell metabolism was characterized by the inhibition of mTOR signaling, autophagy, c-Myc expression and new protein synthesis required for the activation, proliferation and differentiation of naïve T cells into effector T cells. These findings advance knowledge of a mechanism used by S. Typhimurium to delay onset of protective immune responses and thus have fundamental implications for understanding host interactions with bacterial pathogens. | Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) are pathogenic bacteria that suppress T cell responses to avoid clearance by the immune system, yet the mechanisms that mediate this immunosuppression remain largely unknown. Our laboratory previously showed that L-Asparaginase II produced by S. Typhimurium inhibits T cell responses and mediates virulence. The goal of my dissertation research was to determine the mechanism by which L-Asparaginase II produced by S. Typhimurium inhibits T cell responses. As described in my dissertation, I have found that L-Asparaginase II of S. Typhimurium exhibits L-asparagine hydrolysis activity and that this activity is required for the inhibition of T cells. Furthermore, I have found that exogenous L-asparagine is a resource important for T cell function and that L-Asparaginase II-mediated deprivation of exogenous L-asparagine inhibits T cell responses through suppression of metabolic reprogramming. The suppression of T cell metabolism was characterized by the inhibition of mTOR signaling, autophagy, c-Myc expression and new protein synthesis required for the activation, proliferation and differentiation of naïve T cells into effector T cells. These findings advance knowledge of a mechanism used by S. Typhimurium to delay onset of protective immune responses and thus have fundamental implications for understanding host interactions with bacterial pathogens. | 139 pages

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