Premium
The PilA protein of non‐typeable Haemophilus influenzae plays a role in biofilm formation, adherence to epithelial cells and colonization of the mammalian upper respiratory tract
Author(s) -
Jurcisek Joseph A.,
Bookwalter James E.,
Baker Beth D.,
Fernandez Soledad,
Novotny Laura A.,
Munson Robert S.,
Bakaletz Lauren O.
Publication year - 2007
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.1365-2958.2007.05864.x
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , haemophilus influenzae , pilus , biofilm , in vivo , pasteurellaceae , respiratory tract , respiratory tract infections , ex vivo , virulence , bacteria , gene , respiratory system , genetics , anatomy , antibiotics
Summary We recently described the expression of type IV pili (Tfp) by non‐typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI), a common respiratory tract pathogen. Prior to that report, Tfp were not thought to be produced by NTHI as they are not observed on NTHI when grown on chocolate agar or other commonly used growth media. To further characterize growth conditions permissive for the expression of NTHI Tfp, as well as determine their role in colonization and virulence, we transformed an NTHI otitis media isolate with a reporter plasmid containing the lux gene cluster driven by the pilA promoter. Transcription from the pilA promoter was demonstrated under a variety of in vitro growth conditions and, importantly, by ex vivo imaging of luciferase‐producing NTHI in infected chinchillas. Luciferase‐producing NTHI were also identified within a biofilm formed by NTHI in vivo . We further demonstrated a role for NTHI PilA in adherence to human respiratory epithelial cells, in colonization of the chinchilla respiratory tract as well as a requirement for PilA in biofilm development, both in vitro and in vivo . Collectively, our data demonstrate that NTHI express PilA in vivo , and that PilA plays an important role in the pathogenesis of an upper respiratory tract infection induced by NTHI.