Yersinia pseudotuberculosis exploits CD209 receptors for promoting host dissemination and infection

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a Gram-negative enteropathogen and causes gastrointestinal infections. It disseminates from gut to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), spleen and liver of infected humans and animals. Although the molecular mechanisms for dissemination and infection are unclear, many Gram-negative enteropathogens presumably invade into the small intestine via the Peyer’s patches to initiate dissemination. In this study, we demonstrate that Y. pseudotuberculosis utilizes its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core to interact with CD209 receptors, leading to invasion of human dendritic cells (DCs) and murine macrophages. These Y. pseudotuberculosis -CD209 interactions result in bacterial dissemination to MLNs, spleens and livers of both wild-type and Peyer’s patch-deficient mice. The blocking of the Y. pseudotuberculosis -CD209 interactions by expression of O-antigen and with oligosaccharides reduces infectivity. Based on the well-documented studies, in which HIV-CD209 interaction leads to the viral dissemination, we therefore propose an infection route for Y. pseudotuberculosis where this pathogen after penetrating the intestinal mucosal membrane hijacks via the Y. pseudotuberculosis -CD209 interaction antigen presenting cells (APCs) to reach their target destinations, MLNs, spleens and livers.