Epithelial cells provide immunocompetence to the early embryo for bacterial clearance
Early embryos are exposed to environmental perturbations that may influence their development, including bacteria. Despite lacking a proper immune system, the surface epithelium of early embryos (trophectoderm in mammals) can phagocytose defective pluripotent cells. Here, we explore the dynamic interactions between early embryos and bacteria. Quantitative live imaging of infection models developed in zebrafish embryos reveals the efficient phagocytic capability of surface epithelia in detecting, ingesting, and destroying infiltrated E. coli and S. aureus. In vivo single-cell interferences uncover actin-based epithelial zippering protrusions mediating bacterial phagocytosis, safeguarding developmental robustness upon infection. Transcriptomic and inter-scale dynamic analyses of phagocyte-bacteria interactions identify specific features of this epithelial phagocytic program. Notably, live imaging of mouse and human blastocysts supports a conserved role of the trophectoderm in bacterial phagocytosis. This defensive role of the surface epithelium against bacterial infection provides immunocompetence to early embryos, with relevant implications for understanding failures in human embryogenesis.
Authors
- Mireia Rumbo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4418-5468)
- Marc Casals (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5174-8452)
- Núria Blanco‐Cabra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4784-1072)
- Manuel Irimia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2179-2567)
- Samuel Ojosnegros (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9562-3264)
- Esteban Hoijman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1927-1989)
- Joan Roncero-Carol
- Eduard Torrents (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-1609)
- Anna Veiga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0943-9904)
- Berta Alsina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6997-1249)
- Loris Mularoni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7053-7717)
- Begoña Arán (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5011-7755)
- Marta Miret-Cuesta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1083-5904)
- June Olaizola-Muñoa
- Miquel Solé Inarejos
Institutions
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
- Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (ES)
- Bellvitge University Hospital (ES)
- Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Bellvitge (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Dexeus (ES)
- Ajuntament de L’Hospitalet (ES)
- Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (ES)
- USP Institut Universitari Dexeus (ES)
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (ES)
- Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona (ES)
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (ES)
- Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cell Host & Microbe
- Published
- 2025-06-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2025.05.025
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.60