Multi-Dot/Icm effector deletion mutants reveal distinct host transcriptional responses in Legionella pneumophila infected macrophages

Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen that uses a type IV secretion system called Dot/Icm to translocate over 330 effector proteins into the infected cells. To explore the collective impact of Dot/Icm effectors on host cell processes, we created a library of 14 L. pneumophila genomic mutant strains lacking effector-rich regions (a total of 85 effector genes deleted) and used the multi-deletion mutants to interrogate host-pathogen interactions. We then performed bulk mRNAseq profilling of PMA-differentiated THP1 macrophages after infection with WT, Dot/Icm-deficient mutant, or genomic mutant strains of Legionella pneumophila 130b (18h post-infection, MOI 10).