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PMID: 1673923 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Phase variation of the opacity outer membrane protein controls invasion by Neisseria gonorrhoeae into human epithelial cells.

The EMBO journal ·Vol. 10 ·No. 6 ·1991-06-00 ·Pages 1307-15

Makino S, van Putten JP, Meyer TF

Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a facultative intracellular bacterium capable of penetrating into certain human epithelial cell types. In order to identify gonococcal factors essential for invading Chang human conjunctiva cells, a gentamicin selection assay for the quantification of viable intracellular bacteria was used in conjunction with microscopy. The results demonstrate a correlation between the invasive behaviour of gonococci and the expression of Opa proteins, a family of variable outer membrane proteins present in all pathogenic Neisseria species. However, only particular Opa proteins supported invasion into Chang cells as indicated by the use of two unrelated gonococcal strains. Invasion was sensitive to cytochalasin D, and strong adherence mediated by the Opa proteins appeared to be essential for the internalization of gonococci. In contrast pili, which also conferred binding to Chang conjunctiva cells, did not support cellular invasion but rather were inhibitory.

MeSH Terms
Bacterial Adhesion Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/chemistry,metabolism Blotting, Western Cells, Cultured Conjunctiva/cytology Epithelium/microbiology Fimbriae, Bacterial Fluorescent Antibody Technique Humans In Vitro Techniques Microscopy, Electron Molecular Weight Neisseria gonorrhoeae/immunology,pathogenicity
Chemicals
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Makino S
Max-Planck-Institut für Biologie, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Tübingen, FRG.
van Putten J P
Meyer T F
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Article Info
Journal
The EMBO journal
Abbr.
EMBO J
ISSN
0261-4189
Published
1991-06-00
Pages
1307-15
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
8208664
PMCID
PMC452788
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text View journal details
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