Wentong Cai

Wentong Cai


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

18Years (2009-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 September 2018 in Veterinary Microbiology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
DXDa Xu
Da Xu
JSJiabao Song
Jiabao Song
Ganwu LiGanwu Li
Ganwu Li
WCWentong Cai
Wentong Cai
ZSZong Shucheng
Zong Shucheng
ZBZhigao Bu
Zhigao Bu

14 June 2021 in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
XYXin Yan
Xin Yan
SHSen Hu
Sen Hu
YYYan Yang
Yan Yang
DXDa Xu
Da Xu
WLWenxing Liu
Wenxing Liu
ZBZhigao Bu
Zhigao Bu
Brucella, a notorious intracellular pathogen, causes chronic infections in many mammals, including humans. The twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway transports folded proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane; protein substrates translocated byBrucellainclude ABC transporters, oxidoreductases, and cell envelope biosynthesis proteins. Previously, we showed that a Tat mutant ofBrucella melitensisM28 exhibits reduced survival within murine macrophages. In this study, we compared the host responses elicited by wild-type M28 and its Tat-mutant strains ex vivo. We utilized label-free quantitative proteomics to assess proteomic changes in RAW264.7 macrophages after infection with M28 and its Tat mutants. A total of 6085 macrophage proteins were identified with high confidence, and 79, 50, and 99 proteins were differentially produced upon infection with the Tat mutant at 4, 24, and 48 hpi, respectively, relative to the wild-type infection. Gene ontology and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that immune response-related proteins were enriched among the upregulated proteins. Compared to the wild-type M28 infection, the most upregulated proteins upon Tat-mutant infection included the cytosolic nucleic acid signaling pathway-related proteins IFIH1, DHX58, IFI202, IFI204, and ISG15 and the NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins PTGS2, CD40, and TRAF1, suggesting that the host increases the production of these proteins in response to Tat mutant infection. Upregulation of some proteins was further verified by a parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) assay. ELISA and qRT-PCR assays indicated that Tat mutant infection significantly induced proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) production. Finally, we showed that the Tat mutant displays higher sensitivity to nitrosative stress than the wild type and that treatment with the NO synthase inhibitor L-NMMA significantly increases the intracellular survival of the Tat mutant, indicating that NO production contributes to restricting Tat mutant survival within macrophages. Collectively, this work improves our understanding of host immune responses to Tat mutants and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the attenuated virulence of Tat mutants.

1 September 2009
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
WCWentong Cai
Wentong Cai
TCTao Cai
Tao Cai
JZJiang Zhang
Jiang Zhang
HZHuiming Zheng
Huiming Zheng
ZZZengtao Zhong
Zengtao Zhong
JZJun Zhu
Jun Zhu