Mechanistic Study of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A Infection in Caenorhabditis elegans via Transcriptomic Analysis

Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A (SPA) is the causative agent of paratyphoid fever in humans, typically presenting with symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. In severe cases, the infection can lead to life-threatening systemic complications. Previous work by our research group demonstrated that SPA can infect and reduce the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Further investigation using Oil Red O staining revealed that SPA treatment significantly decreased lipid droplet accumulation in C. elegans.To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms, transcriptome analysis was performed, which showed that SPA modulates the expression of 213 genes in wild-type N2 C. elegans. Specifically, the expression of fatty acid metabolism-related genes acox-1.5 and ech-9 were significantly upregulated, while acs-2 was downregulated. Additionally, SPA suppressed the expression of several P450 detoxification genes, including CYP-35A3, CYP-35A2, CYP-35B1, and CYP-35C1.This study reveals a mechanism by which SPA promotes immune evasion through targeting metabolic and detoxification pathways in C. elegans. These findings enhance our understanding of SPA pathogenesis and provide a theoretical basis for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies.