T-2 toxin induced <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium intoxication results in decreased <it>Salmonella </it>numbers in the cecum contents of pigs, despite marked effects on <it>Salmonella</it>-host cell interactions

• Main Authors: Verbrugghe Elin, Vandenbroucke Virginie, Dhaenens Maarten, Shearer Neil, Goossens Joline, De Saeger Sarah, Eeckhout Mia, D'Herde Katharina, Thompson Arthur, Deforce Dieter, Boyen Filip, Leyman Bregje, Van Parys Alexander, De Backer Patrick, Haesebrouck Freddy, Croubels Siska, Pasmans Frank
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-03-01
• Series: Veterinary Research
• Online Access: http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/43/1/22

<p>Abstract</p> <p>The mycotoxin T-2 toxin and <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium infections pose a significant threat to human and animal health. Interactions between both agents may result in a different outcome of the infection. Therefore, the aim of the presented study was to investigate the effects of low and relevant concentrations of T-2 toxin on the course of a <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium infection in pigs. We showed that the presence of 15 and 83 μg T-2 toxin per kg feed significantly decreased the amount of <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium bacteria present in the cecum contents, and a tendency to a reduced colonization of the jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and colon contents was noticed. In vitro, proteomic analysis of porcine enterocytes revealed that a very low concentration of T-2 toxin (5 ng/mL) affects the protein expression of mitochondrial, endoplasmatic reticulum and cytoskeleton associated proteins, proteins involved in protein synthesis and folding, RNA synthesis, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and regulatory processes. Similarly low concentrations (1-100 ng/mL) promoted the susceptibility of porcine macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells to <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium invasion, in a SPI-1 independent manner. Furthermore, T-2 toxin (1-5 ng/mL) promoted the translocation of <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium over an intestinal porcine epithelial cell monolayer. Although these findings may seem in favour of <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium, microarray analysis showed that T-2 toxin (5 ng/mL) causes an intoxication of <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium, represented by a reduced motility and a downregulation of metabolic and <it>Salmonella </it>Pathogenicity Island 1 genes. This study demonstrates marked interactions of T-2 toxin with <it>Salmonella </it>Typhimurium pathogenesis, resulting in bacterial intoxication.</p>