A Rapid Image-based Bacterial Virulence Assay Using Amoeba

This method can help answer key questions in the bacterial pathogenesis field, such as when are host-killing virulence effectors expressed in bacterial cells, and what are the virulence states of surface-attached implantonic cells? The main advantage of this technique is that it is fast, quantitative and the host cells are relatively easy to handle. We first had the idea for this method when we noticed that surface-attached implantonic subpopulation of Pseudomonas have different host-killing phenotypes.

To begin grow E.coli strain BR overnight as outlined in the text protocol. Then bring the E.coli culture to room temperature. Using a wooden stick, innoculate amoeba into 750 l of the culture.

Immediately add 700 l of the amoeba E.coli mixture to a GYP plate. Tilt the plate to spread the culture evenly on the surface of the plate. Then place the plate in a box that maintains high humidity.

Incubate the plate inside of the box at 22 C for four to five days. After the incubation period is over, use a sterile pipette tip to collect amoeba spores from half of the plate. Then pipette up and down to resuspend the amoeba on the pipette tip in 1 mL of PS medium.

Transfer the inoculate mixture to a 250 mL flask with 25 mL of PS medium supplemented with antibiotic antimicotic solution. Grow the amoeba at 22 C in a rotating shaker at 100 rpm. After culturing Pseudomonas aeruginosa overnight, dilute the culture with PSB media in a 6 cm petri dish.

Then shake the culture on a benchtop rotator set to 100 rpm at 37 C.First microwave 50 mL of 1%agar in DB buffer in a 250 mL flask. Add 15 L of calcium AM to the 15 mL of molten agar and mix gently. Pour the molten agar mixture into a 12 by 10 cm glass plate, and allow the agar to solidify for ten minutes at room temperature.

Next use a metal ruler and a printed grid to cut the solidified agar pad into smaller 1.5 by 1.5 cm sections. Ensure the gel remains hydrated until it is ready for use. Next, to isolate the cells attached to the surface, remove the liquid medium from the petri dish.

Then wash the dish with 1 mL of development buffer to remove the planktonic cells. To assay virulence of surface attached bacteria cells, add 10 L of amoeba cells from the previously obtained surface attached bacterial cells. To isolate the planktonic cells, transfer 10 L of the culture to a fresh petri dish.

Next, assay the virulence of planktonic cells by mixing 10 L of amoeba cells with the previously obtained planktonic bacteria. Immediately place the small agar pad on top of the appropriate bacteria amoeba mixture on the petri dish surface. Then, remove excess liquid by gently pipetting any excess liquid, and allow the dish to dry for 20 minutes.

Cover the dish with the lid and incubate it at room temperature for an additional 40 minutes. Finally, use a fluorescence microscope to acquire images for at least 100 amoeba cells. In this protocol, the virulence of planktonic and surface-attached Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells was assayed.

Surface-attached wild type Pseudomonas aeruginosa killed amoeba indicated by a round amoeba cell shape and the presence of calcein fluorescence. Compared to planktonic cells surface-attached wild type Pseudomonas aeruginosa had a high host killing index. Planktonic cells were consumed by the amoeba indicated by the amorphous amoeba cell shapes and relatively little calcein fluorescence.

While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember to use a fresh stock of calcein AM, and amoeba cells and keep a close track of the optical density of amoeba. Following this procedure, other methods like transcription profiling can be performed in order to answer additional questions like Which genes are activated in planktonic and surface-attached subpopulation? After watching this video you should have a good understanding of how to conduct the rapid image-based virulence assay.