Poster De Conférence Année : 2025

Extracellular Vesicles in Foal Rhodococcosis: Isolation, Characterization, and Immunomodulatory Potential

Résumé

Equine rhodococcosis is an infectious disease caused by Rhodococcus equi (R.equi), a Gram-positive coccobacillus that primarily affects unweaned foals. It is the leading cause of pneumonia and respiratory distress in foals, often resulting in severe complications within the equine industry. R.equi is a facultative intracellular pathogen that survives within host macrophages by evading immune defenses, particularly through the inhibition of phagosome acidification. Its virulence is closely linked to the presence of the plasmid pVAPA, which encodes Virulence-associated protein A, a key factor in bacterial replication and persistence. The immune response to R.equi involves a complex interplay of cytokines, some of which support bacterial clearance, while others may exacerbate inflammation. Interestingly, both virulent and avirulent R.equi strains elicit similar inflammatory responses, underlining gaps in our understanding of the bacterium’s immune interactions. Extracellular vesicles, lipid bilayer vesicles, whether secreted by bacteria (BEVs) or by infected host cells (EVs), play a crucial role in immune modulation and pathogenesis by transporting bioactive molecules, including virulence factors. Although R.equi has been shown to produce BEVs, their role in macrophage infection and disease progression remains largely unexplored and no studies have focused on EVs secreted by infected host cells. Our study aims to isolate and characterize R.equi-derived BVEs and circulating EVs in infected foals and to investigate their potential role in immune responses during R.equi-host interactions. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could provide new insights into R.equi pathogenesis and pave the way for better diagnostics and vaccine development.

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Dates et versions

hal-05143588 , version 1 (04-07-2025)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-05143588 , version 1

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Meriem Rami, A. Rincé. Extracellular Vesicles in Foal Rhodococcosis: Isolation, Characterization, and Immunomodulatory Potential. 27ème Journées de l'Ecole Doctorale Normande de Biologie Intégrative, Santé, Environnement, Apr 2025, Le Havre, France. ⟨hal-05143588⟩
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