The Chlamydia trachomatis secreted effector CebN targets nucleoporins and Rae1 to antagonize STAT1 nuclear import.

Abstract

To usurp host defenses and establish a replicative niche, obligate intracellular pathogens are tasked with remodeling the host cell using a comparatively small repertoire of effector proteins. For Chlamydia trachomatis (C.t), discovery of secreted proteins and their host targets has been particularly challenging due to the bacterium's historical genetic intractability. Using affinity purification-mass spectrometry, we defined host interaction partners for 21 secreted effector proteins, providing the first comprehensive type III secretion system (T3SS) effector-host interactome generated during infection. Among these, we show that the C-terminus of CebN (CT584) binds multiple nucleoporins and Rae1, host factors previously associated only with viral immune evasion. Remarkably, we shown that CebN localizes to the nuclear envelope not only in infected cells but also in uninfected bystander cells. Functionally, CebN is both necessary and sufficient to perturb STAT1 nuclear import following IFN-γ stimulation and its expression is critical for C.t. survival, as evidenced by reduced bacterial replication and smaller inclusions in cells infected with a CebN mutant. Together, these finds expand our understanding of chlamydia effector biology and highlight novel bacterial strategies for manipulating host defenses at the nuclear pore.