G1-arrested newborn cells are the predominant infectious form of the pathogen Brucella abortus

Michaël Deghelt, Caroline Mullier, Jean-François Sternon, Nayla Francis, Géraldine Laloux, Delphine Dotreppe, Charles Van der Henst, Christine Jacobs-Wagner, Jean-Jacques Letesson and Xavier De Bolle ()
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Michaël Deghelt: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)
Caroline Mullier: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)
Jean-François Sternon: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)
Nayla Francis: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)
Géraldine Laloux: Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University
Delphine Dotreppe: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)
Charles Van der Henst: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)
Christine Jacobs-Wagner: Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University
Jean-Jacques Letesson: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)
Xavier De Bolle: Microorganisms biology research unit (URBM), University of Namur (UNamur)

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Several intracellular pathogens, such as Brucella abortus, display a biphasic infection process starting with a non-proliferative stage of unclear nature. Here, we study the cell cycle of B. abortus at the single-cell level, in culture and during infection of HeLa cells and macrophages. The localization of segregation and replication loci of the two bacterial chromosomes indicates that, immediately after being engulfed by host-cell endocytic vacuoles, most bacterial cells are newborn. These bacterial cells do not initiate DNA replication for the next 4 to 6 h, indicating a G1 arrest. Moreover, growth is completely stopped during that time, reflecting a global cell cycle block. Growth and DNA replication resume later, although bacteria still reside within endosomal-like compartments. We hypothesize that the predominance of G1-arrested bacteria in the infectious population, and the bacterial cell cycle arrest following internalization, may constitute a widespread strategy among intracellular pathogens to colonize new proliferation niches.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5366

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