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Neisseria meningitidis producing the Opc adhesin binds epithelial cell proteoglycan receptors
Author(s) -
De Vries Frits P.,
Cole Robert,
Dankert Jacob,
Frosch Matthias,
Van Putten Jos P. M.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.00763.x
Subject(s) - proteoglycan , biology , bacterial adhesin , receptor , neisseria meningitidis , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , biochemistry , bacteria , extracellular matrix , gene , escherichia coli , genetics
Neisseria meningitidis possesses a repertoire of surface adhesins that promote bacterial adherence to and entry into mammalian cells. Here, we have identified heparan sulphate proteoglycans as epithelial cell receptors for the meningococcal Opc invasin. Binding studies with radiolabelled heparin and heparin affinity chromatography demonstrated that Opc is a heparin binding protein. Subsequent binding experiments with purified 35 SO 4 ‐labelled epithelial cell proteoglycan receptors and infection assays with epithelial cells that had been treated with heparitinase to remove glycosaminoglycans confirmed that Opc‐expressing meningococci exploit host cell‐surface proteoglycans to gain access to the epithelial cell interior. Unexpectedly, Opa28‐producing meningococci lacking Opc also bound proteoglycans. These bacteria also bound CEA receptors in contrast to the Opc‐expressing phenotype, suggesting that Opa28 may possess domains with specificity for different receptors. Opa/Opc‐negative meningococci did not bind either proteoglycan or CEA receptors. Using a set of genetically defined mutants with different lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and capsular phenotype, we were able to demonstrate that surface sialic acids interfere with the Opc–proteoglycan receptor interaction. This effect may provide the molecular basis for the reported modulatory effect of capsule and LPS on meningococcal adherence to and entry into various cell types.