Host epigenetic changes to Salmonella Paratyphi exposure

Abstract

Motivation: Typhoid fever, resulting from Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A, stands as a significant contributor to illness and mortality. Recent challenge studies on the host immunity to these Salmonella bacteria, indicate that both infection and vaccination lead to changes in gene expression within leukocytes, and these alterations could be associated with immune and inflammatory responses during the course of the disease. The aim of the present study is to explore the methylation changes occurring during and after the paratyphoid infection by comparing individuals in two cell population (cd14+ and cd56+ cells), at three different timepoints: before, during and after the infection. Results: The analysis of the three timepoints performed separately in the two -cell leukocyte populations revealed that biggest differences in DNA methylation were observed in infected individuals in cd14+ monocytes cells. In this particularly cell types, highest differences in methylation in individuals before, during and after the paratyphoid infection, were observed in seven specific genes, with a global DNA hypomethylation for infected individuals than the other ones. The most significant CpGs were observed within the SND1, PSAP and MNDA genes. Gene set analysis revealed a significant enrichment for signaling pathways related to Golgi vesicle transport and MHC protein complex.