A <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> secreted virulence factor Rv1435c/hsr1 disrupts host snRNP biogenesis

K Komal Chauhan (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) D Dipanwita Datta (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) Y Yogita Kapoor N Nishat Passricha (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) R Ravi Dutt (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) N Naresh Arora (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) M Mrinmoy Das (Department of Chemistry, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA.) K Kavya Rao (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) L Lakshyaveer Singh (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) A Arunima Gautam (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) R Raman Deep Sharma (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) B Binayak Sarkar (National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) M Mohit Yadav (National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) B Basanti Malakar (National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) H Haroon Kalam (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg) P Prince Saini (Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali) L Lalita Mehra (Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences) P Prasenjit Das (Department of Chemistry, Functional Materials) V Vineet Ahuja A Amit Singhal (A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)) V Vinay Nandicoori (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) D Dhiraj Kumar (Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg)

Abstract

Transcriptional adaptation drives the host responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ) infection. However, Mtb alters host RNA splicing to quench host antibacterial responses, the mechanism for which remains unknown. Here, we report a mechanism whereby a secreted Mtb protein interferes with the biogenesis of key spliceosomal components. A high-throughput yeast-2-hybrid screen identified several Mtb -secreted proteins interacting with the host RNA splicing factors (SFs). Through custom-designed in-cell assays, we show that one of those proteins, Rv1435c/hsr1 (host splicing regulator 1), targets specific exon-skipping events. The Mtb Rv14345c/hsr1 facilitates direct interaction between Mtb phagosomes and U5 snRNA and SNRPF, key components of the snRNPs. Genetic deletion of Rv1435c/hsr1 reverses the specific exon-skipping events caused by WT Mtb infection. The Δ hsr1 strain shows compromised growth during ex vivo infection in macrophages and in vivo infection in mice. Tissue sections from the WT Mtb or Δhsr1 -infected mice showed significant hsr1-dependent SNRPF staining, a phenomenon also noted in the human intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) biopsies. Thus, hsr1 is a virulence factor that disrupts host snRNP biogenesis for pathogenesis. The splicing regulators from the host and pathogen are novel targets for antituberculosis therapy.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 27
Published July 08, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (22)

K

Komal Chauhan

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

D

Dipanwita Datta

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

Y

Yogita Kapoor

N

Nishat Passricha

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

R

Ravi Dutt

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

N

Naresh Arora

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

M

Mrinmoy Das

Department of Chemistry, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA.

K

Kavya Rao

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

L

Lakshyaveer Singh

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

A

Arunima Gautam

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

R

Raman Deep Sharma

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

B

Binayak Sarkar

National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

M

Mohit Yadav

National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

B

Basanti Malakar

National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

H

Haroon Kalam

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg

P

Prince Saini

Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali

L

Lalita Mehra

Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences

P

Prasenjit Das

Department of Chemistry, Functional Materials

V

Vineet Ahuja

A

Amit Singhal

A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

V

Vinay Nandicoori

Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology

D

Dhiraj Kumar

Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg