AUTHOR=Alfituri Omar A. , Blake Rosemary , Jensen Kirsty , Mabbott Neil A. , Hope Jayne , Stevens Joanne M. 

TITLE=Differential role of M cells in enteroid infection by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1416537

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2024.1416537

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Infection of ruminants such as cattle with <italic>Mycobacterium avium</italic> subsp<italic>. paratuberculosis</italic> (MAP) causes Johne’s disease, a disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the small intestine and diarrhoea. Infection with MAP is acquired via the faecal-to-oral route and the pathogen initially invades the epithelial lining of the small intestine. In this study we used an <italic>in vitro</italic> 3D mouse enteroid model to determine the influence of M cells in infection of the gut epithelia by MAP, in comparison with another bacterial intestinal pathogen of veterinary importance, <italic>Salmonella enterica</italic> serovar Typhimurium. The differentiation of M cells in the enteroid cultures was induced by stimulation with the cytokine receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), and the effects on MAP and <italic>Salmonella</italic> uptake and intracellular survival were determined. The presence of M cells in the cultures correlated with increased uptake and intracellular survival of <italic>Salmonella</italic>, but had no effect on MAP. Interestingly neither pathogen was observed to preferentially accumulate within GP2-positive M cells.</p>