Abstract
The initial binding of bacteria to host cells is crucial to the delivery of virulence factors and thus is a key determinant of the pathogen's success. We report a multivalent adhesion molecule (MAM) that enables a wide range of Gram-negative pathogens to establish high-affinity binding to host cells during the early stages of infection. MAM7 binds to the host by engaging in both protein-protein (with fibronectin) and protein-lipid (with phosphatidic acid) interactions with the host cell membrane. We find that MAM7 expression on the outer membrane of a Gram-negative pathogen is necessary for virulence in a nematode infection model and for efficient killing of cultured mammalian host cells. Expression of MAM7 on nonpathogenic strains produced a tool that can be used to impede infection by Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Targeting or exploiting MAM7 might prove to be important in combating Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 11614-11619 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Volume | 108 |
Issue number | 28 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 12 2011 |
Keywords
- Adhesin
- Bacterial attachment
- Microbiology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General