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Infection and Immunity, March 2008, p. 1298-1304, Vol. 76, No. 3
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00741-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Acute-Phase Reactant C-Reactive Protein Binds to Phosphorylcholine-Expressing Neisseria meningitidis and Increases Uptake by Human Phagocytes{triangledown}

Rosalyn Casey, Jane Newcombe, JohnJoe McFadden, and Katherine B. Bodman-Smith*

Division of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom

Received 1 June 2007/ Returned for modification 10 August 2007/ Accepted 2 January 2008

Neisseria meningitidis is a global cause of meningitis and septicemia. Immunity to N. meningitidis involves both innate and specific mechanisms with killing by serum bactericidal activity and phagocytic cells. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase serum protein that has been shown to help protect the host from several bacterial pathogens, which it recognizes by binding to phosphorylcholine (PC) on their surfaces. Pathogenic Neisseria species can exhibit phase-variable PC modification on type 1 and 2 pili. We have shown that CRP can bind to piliated meningococci in a classical calcium-dependent manner. The binding of CRP to the meningococcus was concentration dependent, of low affinity, and specific for PC. CRP appears to act as an opsonin for N. meningitidis, as CRP-opsonized bacteria showed increased uptake by human macrophages and neutrophils. Further investigation into the downstream effects of CRP-bound N. meningitidis may lead us to a better understanding of meningococcal infection and help direct more effective therapeutic interventions.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom. Phone: 01483 689736. Fax: 01483 686401. E-mail: K.bodman-smith{at}surrey.ac.uk

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 14 January 2008.

Editor: V. J. DiRita

Infection and Immunity, March 2008, p. 1298-1304, Vol. 76, No. 3
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00741-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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