Deciphering the genetic basis of Moraxella catarrhalis complement resistance: a critical role for the disulphide bond formation system

Autor: Vries, S.P.W. de, Rademakers, R.J., Jongh, C.E. de, Eleveld, M.J., Hermans, P.W.M., Bootsma, H.J.
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Molecular Microbiology, 91, 3, pp. 522-37
Molecular Microbiology, 91, 522-37
ISSN: 0950-382X
Popis: Item does not contain fulltext The complement system is an important innate defence mechanism, and the ability to resist complement-mediated killing is considered a key virulence trait of the respiratory tract pathogen M. catarrhalis. We studied the molecular basis of complement resistance by transcriptional profiling and Tn-seq, a genome-wide negative-selection screenings technology. Exposure of M. catarrhalis to human serum resulted in increased expression of 84 genes and reduced expression of 134 genes, among which genes encoding ABC transporter systems and surface proteins UspA1 and McaP. By subjecting a approximately 15 800 transposon mutant library to serum, mutants of 53 genes were negatively selected, including the key complement-resistance factor uspA2H. Validation with directed mutants confirmed Tn-seq phenotypes of uspA2H and 11 newly identified genes, with mutants of MCR_0424, olpA, MCR_1483, and dsbB most severely attenuated. Detailed analysis showed that both components of the disulphide bond formation (DSB) system, DsbB and DsbA, were required for complement-resistance in multiple isolates, and fulfil a critical role in evasion of IgG-dependent classical pathway-mediated killing. Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) structure and membrane stability were severely affected in DeltadsbA strains, suggesting a pivotal role for the DSB system in LOS structure safeguarding and membrane stability maintenance.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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