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A Haemophilus influenzae IgA protease‐like protein promotes intimate interaction with human epithelial cells
Author(s) -
St. Geme Joseph W.,
Falkow Stanley
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1994.tb01283.x
Subject(s) - biology , proteases , haemophilus influenzae , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , organism , colonization , respiratory tract , gene product , gene , immunology , enzyme , gene expression , genetics , respiratory system , biochemistry , antibiotics , anatomy
Summary Haemophilus influenzae represents a common cause of human disease and an important source of morbidity and mortality. Disease caused by this organism begins with colonization of the upper respiratory tract. Several studies indicate that H. influenzae is capable of binding to and entering cultured human cells, properties which are potentially of relevance to the process of colonization. In the present study, we isolated an H. influenzae gene designated hap , which is associated with the capacity for In vitro attachment and entry. Analysis of the derived amino acid sequence of hap demonstrated significant homology with the serine‐type lgA1 proteases expressed by H. influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is notable that the hap product shares the catalytic domain of the lgA1 proteases and appears to be processed and secreted in an analogous manner. We speculate that the hap gene product is an important determinant of colonization, perhaps enabling the organism to evade the local immune response and thereby persist within the respiratory tract.