Extracellular Vesicles from Mycoplasma gallisepticum: Modulators of Macrophage Activation and Virulence

Yingjie Wang; Shiying Li; Tengfei Wang; Mengyun Zou; Xiuli Peng

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiad486

Extracellular Vesicles from Mycoplasma gallisepticum: Modulators of Macrophage Activation and Virulence

J Infect Dis. 2023 Oct 31:jiad486. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad486. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yingjie Wang¹, Shiying Li¹, Tengfei Wang¹, Mengyun Zou¹, Xiuli Peng¹

Affiliation

¹ Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.

PMID: 37929888
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad486

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication by transporting proteins. To investigate the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), a major threat to the poultry industry, we isolated and characterized MG-produced EVs. Our study highlights the significant impact of MG-derived EVs on immune function and macrophage apoptosis, setting them apart from other MG metabolites. These EVs dose-dependently enhance MG adhesion and proliferation, simultaneously modulating TLR2 and IFN-γ pathways, thereby inhibiting macrophage activation. A comprehensive protein analysis revealed 117 proteins in MG-derived EVs, including established virulence factors such as GapA, CrmA, VlhA, and CrmB. Crucially, these EV-associated proteins significantly contribute to MG infection. Our findings advance our comprehension of MG pathogenesis, offering insights for preventive strategies, and emphasize the pivotal role of MG-derived EVs and their associated proteins. This research sheds light on the composition and crucial role of MG-derived EVs in MG pathogenesis, aiding our fight against MG infections.

Keywords: Keyword: Mycoplasma gallisepticum; extracellular vesicles; virulence proteins.