Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli regulates host-cell mitochondrial morphology

The diarrheagenic pathogen enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is responsible for significant childhood mortality and morbidity. EPEC and related attaching-and-effacing (A/E) pathogens use a type III secretion system to hierarchically deliver effector proteins into host cells and manipulate epithelial structure and function. Subversion of host mitochondrial biology is a key aspect of A/E pathogen virulence strategy, but the mechanisms remain poorly defined. We demonstrate that the early-secreted effector EspZ and the late-secreted effector EspH have contrasting effects on host mitochondrial structure and function. EspZ interacts with FIS1, a protein that induces mitochondrial fragmentation and mitophagy. Infection of epithelial cells with either wildtype EPEC or an isogenic espZ deletion mutant (ΔespZ) robustly upregulated FIS1 abundance, but a marked increase in mitochondrial fragmentation and mitophagy was seen only in ΔespZ-infected cells. FIS1-depleted cells were protected against ΔespZ-induced fission, and EspZ-expressing transfected epithelial cells were protected against pharmacologically induced mitochondrial fission and membrane potential disruption. Thus, EspZ interacts with FIS1 and blocks mitochondrial fragmentation and mitophagy. In contrast to WT EPEC, ΔespH-infected epithelial cells had minimal FIS1 upregulation and exhibited hyperfused mitochondria. Consistent with the contrasting impacts on organelle shape, mitochondrial membrane potential was preserved in ΔespH-infected cells, but profoundly disrupted in ΔespZ-infected cells. Collectively, our studies reveal hitherto unappreciated roles for two essential EPEC virulence factors in the temporal and dynamic regulation of host mitochondrial biology. Bacterial pathogens strategically manipulate host cell structures and functions during the process of colonization and expansion, and this eventually contributes to disease symptoms. The diarrhea-causing pathogen enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) secretes proteins into host cells to alter their behavior. Two secreted proteins, EspZ and EspH, were previously shown to be essential for causing disease in animal models. In this study, we demonstrate that interplay between EspZ/EspH and host factors modulates the structure and function of host cell mitochondria. Among their various roles, mitochondria generate energy, produce important biomolecules, and protect cells from damage. EPEC infection of epithelial cells results in increased abundance of