Background Many human-restricted Gram-negative bacteria exploit carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules

Background Many human-restricted Gram-negative bacteria exploit carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) for web host colonization. is essential however not sufficient for Opa protein-independent binding which requires multiple extracellular domains from the individual receptor within a mobile framework. Knock-down of CEACAM1 inhibits binding to lung epithelial cells whereas chemical substance or pharmacological disruption of web host protein glycosylation will not abrogate CEACAM1 identification by non-opaque meningococci. The previously characterized meningococcal invasins Opc or NadA usually do not operate within a CEACAM1-reliant manner. Conclusions The outcomes demonstrate a definite Opa protein-independent relationship between and individual CEACAM1 mechanistically. Our useful investigations suggest the current LP-533401 presence of another CEACAM1-binding invasin in the meningococcal surface area that associates using the protein backbone rather than the carbohydrate structures of CEACAM1. The redundancy in meningococcal CEACAM1-binding factors further highlights the important role of CEACAM recognition in the biology of this human-adapted pathogen. Introduction The genus contains two human-specific pathogens and is the causative agent of gonorrhea and primarily infects the urogenital tract causing localized inflammation is a frequent commensal of the upper respiratory tract which can cause life-threatening invasive infections such as septicaemia and meningitis [1] [2]. To cause disease meningococci need to traverse the mucosal barrier and enter into the bloodstream. There the bacteria can multiply rapidly as a polysaccharide capsule and sialylation of lipooligosaccharide renders them resistant against complement-mediated killing [3]. Furthermore has a propensity to tightly interact with endothelial cells and to cross the blood-brain barrier resulting in fulminant meningococcal meningitis LP-533401 [4]. Clearly colonization of the mucosal epithelium is the first step for causing disease followed by invasion intracellular persistence and transcytosis [5]. Known meningococcal factors which promote adhesion to epithelial cells and presumably play a role in colonization are type IV pili App (adhesion and penetration protein) [6] [7] MspA LP-533401 (meningococcal serin protease A) [8] NhhA (Neisserial hia/hsf homologue) [9] and HrpA [10]. Additionally meningococci express a panel of proteins that not only mediate adhesion but also promote invasion into host cells such as colony opacity associated (Opa) proteins Opc and NadA [11]. NadA belongs to the oligomeric coiled-coil (Oca) family of adhesins and seems to be expressed primarily in hyper-virulent lineages but not in [12]. The cellular receptor for NadA is still unknown – however there is evidence that the receptor is of protein nature [13]. In contrast to NadA Opc and Opa proteins belong to class 5 outer membrane proteins. Opc is a phase variable protein and though the gene is found also in gonococci the protein is only expressed by meningococci [14]. Opc associates with several host molecules including extracellular matrix proteins integrins and heparansulfate proteoglycans [15] [16] [17]. Unlike Opc Opa proteins are expressed in most meningococcal and gonococcal isolates. Whereas the meningococcal genome encodes up LP-533401 to 4 distinct Opa proteins gonococci harbour up to 11 copies of genes [18]. Expression of Opa proteins is subject to phase variation due to a RecA-independent insertion or deletion of pentanucleotide repeats within the leader peptide coding sequence which leads to translational reading frame shifts in the constitutively transcribed genes [19]. In natural settings Mouse monoclonal to CD106. phase variation of individual Opa proteins results in a heterogenous population of bacteria expressing none one or multiple Opa proteins. Upon LP-533401 culture on agar plates colonies expressing distinct Opa proteins can be differentiated by their phenotype. Besides a few Opa protein variants that recognize cell surface expressed heparansulphate proteoglycans (OpaHSPG) [20] [21] most Opa proteins of diverse strains of and recognize one or more members of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family (OpaCEA) [22] [23] [24]. In particular CEACAM1 CEACAM3 CEA (the product of the gene) as well as CEACAM6 have been reported to bind to neisserial OpaCEA proteins and to mediate internalization LP-533401 of the pathogens [25] [26]. In this regard the molecular mechanism of.