Genome-scale CRISPR screening reveals that C3aR signaling is critical for rapid capture of fungi by macrophages.

The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) invades, replicates within, and destroys macrophages. To interrogate the molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction, we conducted a host-directed CRISPR-Cas9 screen and identified 361 genes that modify macrophage susceptibility to Hc infection, greatly expanding our understanding of host gene networks targeted by Hc. We identified pathways that have not been previously implicated in Hc interaction with macrophages, including the ragulator complex (involved in nutrient stress sensing), glycosylation enzymes, protein degradation machinery, mitochondrial respiration genes, solute transporters, and the ER membrane complex (EMC).

A non-canonical autophagy-dependent role of the ATG16L1 variant in urothelial vesicular trafficking and uropathogenic Escherichia coli persistence.

50% of Caucasians carry a Thr300Ala variant (T300A) in the protein encoded by the macroautophagy/autophagy gene ATG16L1. Here, we show that the T300A variant confers protection against urinary tract infections (UTIs), the most common infectious disease in women. Using knockin mice carrying the human T300A variant, we show that the variant limits the UTI-causing bacteria, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), from establishing persistent intracellular reservoirs, which can seed UTI recurrence.

Estrogenic modulation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli infection pathogenesis in a murine menopause model.

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), annually affect over 13 million patients in the United States. Menopausal women are disproportionally susceptible, suggesting estrogen deficiency is a significant risk factor for chronic and recurrent UTI. How estrogen status governs susceptibility to UTIs remains unknown, and whether hormone therapy protects against UTIs remains controversial.

ATG16L1 and pathogenesis of urinary tract infections.

Autophagy is generally considered to be antipathogenic. The autophagy gene ATG16L1 has a commonly occurring mutation associated with Crohn disease (CD) and intestinal cell abnormalities. Mice hypomorphic for ATG16L1 (ATG16L1(HM)) recreate specific features of CD.

Atg16L1 deficiency confers protection from uropathogenic Escherichia coli infection in vivo.

Urinary tract infection (UTI), a frequent and important disease in humans, is primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). UPEC forms acute cytoplasmic biofilms within superficial urothelial cells and can persist by establishing membrane-enclosed latent reservoirs to seed recurrent UTI. The host responds with an influx of innate immune cells and shedding of infected epithelial cells.