Role of Pili in the Virulence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
AUTOR(ES)
Punsalang, Amado P.
RESUMO
Gonococci of the colonial types that are associated with virulence, types 1 and 2, have pili that enable the bacteria both to attach in vitro to human epithelial cells and to resist phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These piliated gonococci also agglutinate various mammalian and chicken erythrocytes. Gonococci of an avirulent colonial type, i.e., type 4, have no pili and neither attach to epithelial cells or erythrocytes nor resist phagocytosis. Like the type 4 bacteria, mechanically or enzymatically (trypsin) depiliated type 1 gonococci failed to attach to epithelial cells and erythrocytes and were susceptible to phagocytosis. Pili of types 1 and 2 gonococci were antigenically similar. Both type 1 gonococci and pili isolated from them induced in rabbits antibody that (i) precipitated gonococcal pili in immunodiffusion, (ii) reacted with piliated gonococci as tested by indirect immunofluorescent analysis, (iii) inhibited attachment of piliated gonococci to both human epithelial cells and erythrocytes, and (iv) opsonized piliated gonococci.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=422841Documentos Relacionados
- Arrangement of pili in colonies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- Production of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pili (fimbriae) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Role of pili and the phase-variable PilC protein in natural competence for transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- Proteins that appear to be associated with pili in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- Effect of siderophores on virulence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
