Inhibition of bactericidal activity in monocytes infected with Coxiella burnetii

In order to understand how Coxiella burnetii grows well in host cells,the monocytes infected with C. burnetiiwas compared in proteomic study. The protein profiles of C. burnetii infected human monocytes (THP-1) and un-infected THP-1 were prepared by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. By bioinformation analysis,15 of 97 identified proteins were recognized as proteins associated with regulations of phagocytosis,bactericide and apoptosis of monocytes. These results indicated that the internalization of C. burnetii organisms was enhanced,and the bactericidal activity and apoptosis of monocytes were inhibited after infection of C. burnetii. It is also suggested that the differential expression of these proteins are beneficial for survival and growth of C. burnetii in the host cells.