Neisseria meningitidis
Molecular PathogenesisNeisseria meningitidis Urethritis Outbreak Isolates Express a Novel Factor H Binding Protein Variant That Is a Potential Target of Group B-Directed Meningococcal (MenB) VaccinesFactor H binding protein (FHbp) is an important Neisseria meningitidis virulence factor that binds a negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway, human factor H (FH). Binding of FH increases meningococcal resistance to complement-mediated killing. FHbp also is reported to prevent interaction of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) LL-37 with the meningococcal...
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsNeisseria meningitidis Type IV Pili Trigger Ca2+-Dependent Lysosomal Trafficking of the Acid Sphingomyelinase To Enhance Surface Ceramide LevelsAcid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is a lipid hydrolase that converts sphingomyelin to ceramide and that can be activated by various cellular stress mechanisms, including bacterial pathogens. Vesicle transportation or trafficking of ASM from the lysosomal compartment to the cell membrane is a prerequisite for its activation in response to bacterial infections; however, the effectors and mechanisms of ASM translocation and activation are poorly...
Bacterial InfectionsVirulence Traits of a Serogroup C Meningococcus and Isogenic cssA Mutant, Defective in Surface-Exposed Sialic Acid, in a Murine Model of MeningitisIn serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis, the cssA (siaA) gene codes for an UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase that catalyzes the conversion of UDP-N-acetyl-α-d-glucosamine into N-acetyl-d-mannosamine and UDP in the first step in sialic acid biosynthesis. This enzyme is required...
- Microbial Immunity and Vaccines | SpotlightNeisseria cinerea Expresses a Functional Factor H Binding Protein Which Is Recognized by Immune Responses Elicited by Meningococcal Vaccines
- Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsTranscellular Passage of Neisseria meningitidis across a Polarized Respiratory Epithelium
- Host Response and InflammationThe Oligosaccharide of Gonococcal Lipooligosaccharide Contains Several Epitopes That Are Recognized by Human Antibodies