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Hemagglutinin protease hapa associated with vibrio cholerae outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) disrupts tight and adherens junctions
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR). Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS). Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology (Faculty of Medicine).
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR). Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology (Faculty of Medicine). Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS).ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0103-0696
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR).ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2646-8501
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2025 (English)In: Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, E-ISSN 2001-3078, Vol. 14, no 5, article id e70092Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This study explores the virulence mechanisms of Vibrio cholerae, with a particular emphasis on HapA, a zinc metalloprotease delivered via outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). The findings reveal that OMV-associated HapA disrupts the integrity of tight and adherens junctions in intestinal epithelial cell models more effectively than its purified counterpart, suggesting that association with OMVs substantially potentiates the pathogenic effects of HapA. The study further details the uptake of V. cholerae OMVs by epithelial cells, as well as their targeted degradation of key junctional proteins, including claudin, ZO-1, and ?-catenin. These results highlight the critical role of OMV-associated HapA in compromising epithelial barrier function. Additionally, the use of spheroids and intestinal organoids in our experiments provides deeper insight into bacterial pathogenesis, offering valuable information for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2025. Vol. 14, no 5, article id e70092
Keywords [en]
adherens junctions, cholera, outer membrane vesicles, protease, tight junctions, virulence
National Category
Cell and Molecular Biology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-241753DOI: 10.1002/jev2.70092ISI: 001494292700001PubMedID: 40415227Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105006502317OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-241753DiVA, id: diva2:1979140
Funder
Swedish Research Council, 18-02914Swedish Research Council, 2022-00981Swedish Research Council, 2019-01720Swedish Cancer Society, 2020-711Swedish Cancer Society, 2023-2821The Kempe Foundations, SMK21-0024Available from: 2025-06-30 Created: 2025-06-30 Last updated: 2026-01-29Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Modulation of cancer cell signaling by haemagglutinin protease HapA from Vibrio cholerae
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Modulation of cancer cell signaling by haemagglutinin protease HapA from Vibrio cholerae
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Vibrio cholerae releases outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that package virulence factors, yet how vesicular deliveryreshapes host responses, particularly in cancer cells, remains incompletely defined. This thesis characterises the role of OMVs-associated virulence factors in regulating cellular signalling in epithelial cells. Furthermore, the thesis aims toaddress the antitumour activities of the V. cholerae zinc metalloprotease haemagglutinin protease A (HapA), with emphasison how OMV association modulates potency and mechanism. Using intestinal epithelial monolayers, 3D spheroids, and intestinal organoids, we demonstrate that V. cholerae OMVs canassociated with the epithelial cell membrane and are rapidly internalized through various endocytic mechanisms into theintracellular compartments. The OMV-associated HapA causes disruption of tight- and adherens-junction proteins inpolarized Caco-2 cells, and intestinal organoids. Moreover, the OMV-associated HapA compromises barrier integrity moreefficiently than the purified enzyme. OMV-associated HapA is internalised by epithelial cells via endocytosis. The HapA then selectively degraded tight- and adherens-junction proteins, including claudin, ZO-1, and β-catenin, resulting in loss ofepithelial cohesion. Importantly, compare to the soluble protein, OMV-associated HapA was biologically more active indisruption of epithelial cells.To assess effects on carcinoma cells, we analysed V. cholerae secretome mutants and identified HapA as the principal factorreducing epithelial cancer cell viability. Mechanistically, HapA cleaves protease-activated receptors PAR1 and PAR2 atnoncanonical sites distinct from human proteases, eliciting an early, transient MEK–ERK activation that culminates incaspase-7–dependent apoptosis. We further uncover a PAR-independent mechanism in colorectal carcinoma cells whereby HapA directly uses β-catenin as asubstrate, attenuating Wnt/β-catenin signalling, downregulating Axin2 and Cyclin D1, suppressing tumor cell proliferation,and enforcing G0/G1 arrest. Collectively, these studies define dual antitumour mechanisms for HapA: PAR1/2 reprogramming of MEK–ERK dynamicsand direct attenuation of β-catenin signalling. The findings also establish OMVs as a potent vehicle that enhance proteaseefficacy at epithelial and tumour interfaces. This work highlights therapeutically relevant host–pathogen interactions andsupports the exploration of OMV-based delivery or protease-targeted strategies in cancer therapy.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Umeå University, 2026. p. 101
Series
Umeå University medical dissertations, ISSN 0346-6612 ; 2405
Keywords
Outer membrane vesicles, Haemagglutinin protease A, 3D Spheroids, Intestinal organoids, endocytosis, tight and adherens junctions, Wnt/β-catenin signalling, Receptor PAR1 and PAR2, MEK–ERK activation, apoptosis
National Category
Medical Biotechnology (Focus on Cell Biology, (incl. Stem Cell Biology), Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Biopharmacy) Microbiology in the Medical Area
Research subject
Medical Cell Biology; Microbiology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-249184 (URN)978-91-8070-903-3 (ISBN)978-91-8070-904-0 (ISBN)
Public defence
2026-02-27, Sal 921, 1D, Hörsal B. Floor 9, Norrlands Universitetssjukhus, Umeå, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Funder
Swedish Research Council, 2018-02914Swedish Research Council, 2022-00981The Kempe FoundationsSwedish Cancer Society, 2020-711
Note

Link to participate via Zoom: https://umu.zoom.us/j/65197188730, password: 651 9718 8730

Available from: 2026-02-06 Created: 2026-01-29 Last updated: 2026-02-02Bibliographically approved

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Baryalai, PalwashaToh, EricRamstedt, MadeleineUhlin, Bernt EricNadeem, AftabWai, Sun Nyunt

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Baryalai, PalwashaToh, EricRamstedt, MadeleineUhlin, Bernt EricNadeem, AftabWai, Sun Nyunt
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Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS)Department of Molecular Biology (Faculty of Medicine)Department of Chemistry
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