Premium
Ng‐MIP, a surface‐exposed lipoprotein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae , has a peptidyl‐prolyl cis / trans isomerase (PPIase) activity and is involved in persistence in macrophages
Author(s) -
Leuzzi Rosanna,
Serino Laura,
Scarselli Maria,
Savino Silvana,
Fontana Maria Rita,
Monaci Elisabetta,
Taddei Annarita,
Fischer Gunter,
Rappuoli Rino,
Pizza Mariagrazia
Publication year - 2005
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.1365-2958.2005.04859.x
Subject(s) - biology , neisseria gonorrhoeae , chlamydia trachomatis , peptidylprolyl isomerase , microbiology and biotechnology , isomerase , infectivity , legionella pneumophila , virulence , virulence factor , gene , biochemistry , bacteria , virology , virus , genetics
Summary Macrophage infectivity potentiators (MIPs) are a family of surface‐exposed virulence factors of intracellular microorganisms such as Legionella , Chlamydia and Trypanosoma . These proteins display peptidyl‐prolyl cis / trans isomerase (PPIase) activity that is inhibited by immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin. Here we describe the identification and characterization in Neisseria gonorrhoeae of Ng‐MIP, a surface‐exposed lipoprotein with high homology to MIPs. The protein is an homodimer with rapamycin‐inhibited PPIase activity confirming that it is a functional member of the MIP family. A knock‐out strain, generated by deletion of the mip gene in N. gonorrhoeae F62 strain, was evaluated for its role in infection of mouse and human macrophages. We show that Ng‐MIP promotes the intracellular survival of N. gonorrhoeae in macrophages, highlighting a possible role of this protein in promoting the persistence of gonococcal infection.