This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sjölinder, H.
Right arrow Articles by Jonsson, A.-B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sjölinder, H.
Right arrow Articles by Jonsson, A.-B.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infection and Immunity, November 2008, p. 5412-5420, Vol. 76, No. 11
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00478-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Meningococcal Outer Membrane Protein NhhA Is Essential for Colonization and Disease by Preventing Phagocytosis and Complement Attack{triangledown}

Hong Sjölinder, Jens Eriksson, Lisa Maudsdotter, Helena Aro, and Ann-Beth Jonsson*

Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden

Received 17 April 2008/ Returned for modification 23 May 2008/ Accepted 2 September 2008

Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of meningitis and septicemia worldwide, with a rapid onset of disease and a high morbidity and mortality. NhhA is a meningococcal outer membrane protein included in the family of trimeric autotransporter adhesins. The protein binds to the extracellular matrix proteins heparan sulfate and laminin and facilitates attachment to host epithelial cells. In this study, we show that NhhA is essential for bacterial colonization of the nasopharyngeal mucosa in a murine model of meningococcal disease. Successful colonization depends on bacterial attachment but also to the capacity to overcome innate host immune responses. We found that NhhA protected bacteria from phagocytosis, which is important for the mucosal survival of bacteria. In addition, NhhA mediated extensive serum resistance that increased bacterial survival in blood and promoted lethal sepsis. The presence of NhhA protected bacteria from complement-mediated killing by preventing the deposition of the membrane attack complex. Taken together, the results of this work reveal that NhhA inhibits phagocytosis and protects bacteria against complement-mediated killing, which enhances both nasal colonization and the development of sepsis in vivo.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Centrum, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 582, Uppsala, Sweden. Phone: 46-(0)18-471 4507. Fax: 46-(0)18-471 4673. E-mail: Ann-Beth.Jonsson{at}imbim.uu.se

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 15 September 2008.

Editor: J. N. Weiser

Infection and Immunity, November 2008, p. 5412-5420, Vol. 76, No. 11
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00478-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Hu, Y.-h., Liu, C.-s., Hou, J.-h., Sun, L. (2009). Identification, Characterization, and Molecular Application of a Virulence-Associated Autotransporter from a Pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens Strain. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 4333-4340 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»