Infection of human enterocyte-like cells with rotavirus enhances invasiveness of Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis

Mixed infection with rotavirus and either Yersinia enterocolitica or Y. pse udotuberculosis was analysed in Caco-2 cells, an enterocyte-like cell line highly susceptible to these pathogens, Results showed an increase of bacter ial adhesion and internalisation in rotavirus-infected cells. Increased int ernalisation was also seen with Escherichia coli strain HB101 (pRI203), har bouring the inv gene from Y. pseudotuberculosis, which is involved in the i nvasion process of host cells. In contrast, the superinfection with bacteri a of Caco-2 cells pre-infected with rotavirus resulted in decreased viral a ntigen synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the dual infec tion of enterocytes, These data suggest that rotavirus infection enhances t he early interaction between host cell surfaces and enteroinvasive Yersinia spp.