| 1. |
- Schmidtchen, Artur, et al.
(författare)
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Dermatan sulphate is released by proteinases of common pathogenic bacteria and inactivates antibacterial alpha-defensin
- 2001
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2958 .- 0950-382X. ; 39:3, s. 708-713
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Defensins represent an evolutionarily conserved group of small peptides with potent antibacterial activities. We report here that extracellular proteinases secreted by the human pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus pyogenes release dermatan sulphate by degrading dermatan sulphate-containing proteoglycans, such as decorin. Dermatan sulphate was found to bind to neutrophil-derived alpha-defensin, and this binding completely neutralized its bactericidal activity. During infection, proteoglycan degradation and release of dermatan sulphate may therefore represent a previously unknown virulence mechanism, which could serve as a target for novel antibacterial strategies.
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| 2. |
- Brady, L. Jeannine, et al.
(författare)
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The changing faces of Streptococcus antigen I/II polypeptide family adhesins
- 2010
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 0950-382X .- 1365-2958. ; 77:2, s. 276-286
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Streptococcus mutans antigen I/II (AgI/II) protein was one of the first cell wall-anchored adhesins identified in Gram-positive bacteria. It mediates attachment of S. mutans to tooth surfaces and has been a focus for immunization studies against dental caries. The AgI/II family polypeptides recognize salivary glycoproteins, and are also involved in biofilm formation, platelet aggregation, tissue invasion and immune modulation. The genes encoding AgI/II family polypeptides are found among Streptococcus species indigenous to the human mouth, as well as in Streptococcus pyogenes, S. agalactiae and S. suis. Evidence of functionalities for different regions of the AgI/II proteins has emerged. A sequence motif within the C-terminal portion of Streptococcus gordonii SspB (AgI/II) is bound by Porphyromonas gingivalis, thus promoting oral colonization by this anaerobic pathogen. The significance of other epitopes is now clearer following resolution of regional crystal structures. A new picture emerges of the central V (variable) region, predicted to contain a carbohydrate-binding trench, being projected from the cell surface by a stalk formed by an unusual association between an N-terminal α-helix and a C-terminal polyproline helix. This presentation mode might be important in determining functional conformations of other Gram-positive surface proteins that have adhesin domains flanked by α-helical and proline-rich regions. Ever since dental caries (tooth decay) was first shown to be caused by bacteria, there has been continued interest in developing vaccine or passive immunization protocols for its control or prevention (Lehner et al., 1980). Although dental caries is not fatal, and in developed countries caries is now considered to be largely avoidable through controlled diet and good oral hygiene, there remain significant problems with childhood disease, especially among indigent populations. Consequently, caries is one of the most common worldwide infectious diseases. Therefore, research continues towards employing vaccine formulations comprised of peptide components derived from surface proteins of Streptococcus mutans, a major agent associated with dental caries (Lehner et al., 1975). One of the most promising strategies seems to be delivery of peptides, derived from glucan-binding protein B (GbpB) and antigen I/II (AgI/II) protein, via a mucosal (nasal) route. The GbpB polypeptide binds extracellular glucans, thus promoting co-adhesion of S. mutans cells in the development of dental plaque (Taubman and Nash, 2006). The AgI/II protein (also named P1, SpaP, AgB or PAc) is a major surface protein that functions as an adhesin, attaching S. mutans to the saliva-coated tooth enamel surface (Koga et al., 1990; Kelly et al., 1995). Antibodies against SpaP and GbpB block adherence and co-adhesion, respectively, thus disrupting colonization of the oral cavity by S. mutans (Ma et al., 1990; 1998; Taubman and Nash, 2006). The terminology AgI/II derives from the identification of two major cell wall antigens I and II in S. mutans by Russell et al. (1980), and the subsequent recognition that AgII was a component of AgI. Following the discovery of AgI/II, it became apparent that genes encoding orthologous proteins were widely dispersed among the streptococci (Jenkinson and Demuth, 1997). The viridans Streptococcus AgI/II adhesins range in composition from 1310 to 1653 amino acid (aa) residues, while the Streptococcus agalactiae AgI/II proteins are smaller (826–932 aa residues) (Tettelin et al., 2005). The widespread distribution of these AgI/II protein genes across the streptococci is perhaps not surprising, given the complex streptococcal communities that exist on surfaces of the oro- and naso-pharynx and within the bacterial soup of saliva. It is interesting, though, that the AgI/II family polypeptide genes have not yet been discovered in Streptococcus pneumoniae, which might be by the fact that S. pneumoniae forms a distinct evolutionary cluster (Kilian et al., 2008).
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| 3. |
- Pettersson, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
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The V-antigen of Yersinia is surface exposed before target cell contact and involved in virulence protein translocation :
- 1999
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0950-382X .- 1365-2958. ; 32:5, s. 961-976
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type III-mediated translocation of Yop effectors is an essential virulence mechanism of pathogenic Yersinia. LcrV is the only protein secreted by the type III secretion system that induces protective immunity. LcrV also plays a significant role in the regulation of Yop expression and secretion. The role of LcrV in the virulence process has, however, remained elusive on account of its pleiotropic effects. Here, we show that anti-LcrV antibodies can block the delivery of Yop effectors into the target cell cytosol. This argues strongly for a critical role of LcrV in the Yop translocation process. Additional evidence supporting this role was obtained by genetic analysis. LcrV was found to be present on the bacterial surface before the establishment of bacteria target cell contact. These findings suggest that LcrV serves an important role in the initiation of the translocation process and provides one possible explanation for the mechanism of LcrV-induced protective immunity.
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| 4. |
- Berggård, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Binding of human C4BP to the hypervariable region of M protein: a molecular mechanism of phagocytosis resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes
- 2001
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2958 .- 0950-382X. ; 42:2, s. 539-551
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The amino-terminal hypervariable region (HVR) of streptococcal M protein is required for the ability of this virulence factor to confer phagocytosis resistance. The function of the HVR has remained unknown, but the finding that many HVRs with extremely divergent sequences bind the human complement regulator C4b-binding protein (C4BP) has suggested that this ligand may play a role in phagocytosis resistance. We used the M22 system to study the function of bound C4BP and provide several lines of evidence that C4BP indeed contributes to phagocytosis resistance. First, the ability of anti-HVR antibodies to cause opsonization correlated with their ability to inhibit binding of C4BP. Secondly, a short deletion in the HVR eliminated C4BP binding and also reduced the ability of M22 to confer phagocytosis resistance. Thirdly, the addition of an excess of pure C4BP to a phagocytosis system almost completely blocked the effect of opsonizing anti-HVR antibodies. Together, our data indicate that binding of C4BP to the HVR of M22 plays an important role in phagocytosis resistance, but other properties of M22 also contribute. This study provides the first molecular insight into the mechanisms by which the HVR of an M protein confers phagocytosis resistance.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Frick, Inga-Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Uptake and intracellular transportation of a bacterial surface protein in lymphoid cells.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2958 .- 0950-382X. ; 44:4, s. 917-934
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Some strains of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes express a surface protein called protein H, which is released from the streptococcal surface by a cysteine proteinase produced by the bacteria. Here, we find that soluble protein H binds to the surface of lymphocytes and granulocytes, and that the molecule is taken up by lymphocytes and transported to the perinuclear region. The translocation over the cell membrane is rapid, and the uptake and intracellular transportation is not dependent on actin polymerization. Protein H could be immunoprecipitated from cell extracts and nuclear preparations of lymphocytes, and analysis of molecular interactions between pro-tein H and proteins of different cellular compart-ments demonstrated a binding to nucleophosmin/ B23, a protein known to shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and to the nuclear proteins SET and hnRNP A2/B1. Nucleophosmin/B23 was co-immunoprecipitated with protein H from cell and nuclear extracts, and binding experiments, including kinetic analyses, suggest that protein H dissociating from nucleophosmin/B23 complexes in the perinuclear region or in the nucleus binds to proteins SET and hnRNP A2/B1. Finally, the uptake and intracellular transportation of protein H was found to result in a cytostatic effect on B and T lymphocytes.
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| 7. |
- Frick, Inga-Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Virulent aggregates of Streptococcus pyogenes are generated by homophilic protein-protein interactions
- 2000
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2958 .- 0950-382X. ; 37:5, s. 1232-1247
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many strains of the important human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes form aggregates when grown in vitro in liquid medium. The present studies demonstrate that this property is crucial for the adherence, the resistance to phagocytosis and the virulence of S. pyogenes. A conserved sequence of 19 amino acid residues (designated AHP) was identified in surface proteins of common S. pyogenes serotypes. This sequence was found to promote bacterial aggregation through homophilic protein-protein interactions between AHP-containing surface proteins of neighbouring bacteria. A synthetic AHP peptide inhibited S. pyogenes aggregation, reduced the survival of S. pyogenes in human blood and attenuated its virulence in mice. In contrast, mutant bacteria devoid of surface proteins containing AHP-related sequences did not aggregate or adhere to epithelial cells. These bacteria are also rapidly killed in human blood and show reduced virulence in mice, underlining the pathogenic significance of the AHP sequence and S. pyogenes aggregation.
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| 8. |
- Hedlund, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Sphingomyelin, glycosphingolipids, and ceramide signalling in cells exposed to p-fimbriated Escherichia coli
- 1998
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2958 .- 0950-382X. ; 29:5, s. 1297-1306
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Uropathogenic Escherichia coli attach to epithelial cells through P fimbriae that bind Galα1‐4Galβ‐oligosaccharide sequences in cell surface glycosphingolipids. The binding of P‐fimbriated E. coli to uroepithelial cells causes the release of ceramide, activation of the ceramide signalling pathway and a cytokine response in the epithelial cells. The present study examined the molecular source of ceramide in human kidney A498 cells exposed to P‐fimbriated E. coli. Agonists such as TNF‐α and IL‐1β released ceramide from sphingomyelin by the activation of endogenous sphingomyelinases and hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, and triggered an IL‐6 response. P‐fimbriated E. coli caused a slight increase in endogenous sphingomyelinase activity, but there was no associated sphingomyelin hydrolysis. Instead, the concentration of galactose‐containing glycolipids decreased. We propose that P‐fimbriated E. coli differ from other activators of the ceramide pathway, in that release of ceramide is from receptor glycolipids and not from sphingomyelin. Receptor breakdown may be an efficient host defence strategy, as it reduces the concentration of cell surface receptors, releases soluble receptor analogues and activates an inflammatory response.
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| 9. |
- Hedlund, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Type 1 fimbriae deliver an LPS- and TLR4-dependent activation signal to CD14-negative cells
- 2001
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2958 .- 0950-382X. ; 39:3, s. 542-552
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fimbriae target bacteria to different mucosal surfaces and enhance the inflammatory response at these sites. Inflammation may be triggered by the fimbriae themselves or by fimbriae-dependent delivery of other host activating molecules such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although LPS activates systemic inflammation through the CD14 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathways, mechanisms of epithelial cell activation by LPS are not well understood. These cells lack CD14 receptors and are unresponsive to pure LPS, but fimbriated Escherichia coli overcome this refractoriness and trigger epithelial cytokine responses. We now show that type 1 fimbriae can present an LPS- and TLR4-dependent signal to the CD14-negative epithelial cells. Human uroepithelial cells were shown to express TLR4, and type 1 fimbriated E. coli strains triggered an LPS-dependent response in those cells. A similar LPS- and fimbriae-dependent response was observed in the urinary tract of TLR4-proficient mice, but not in TLR4-defective mice. The moderate inflammatory response in the TLR4-defective mice was fimbriae dependent but LPS independent. The results demonstrate that type 1 fimbriae present LPS to CD14-negative cells and that the TLR4 genotype determines this response despite the absence of CD14 on the target cells. The results illustrate how the host "sees" LPS and other microbial products not as purified molecules but as complexes, and that fimbriae determine the molecular context in which LPS is presented to host cells.
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| 10. |
- Håkansson, Anders P, et al.
(författare)
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A folding variant of alpha-lactalbumin with bactericidal activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae
- 2000
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Ingår i: Molecular Microbiology. - : Wiley. - 0950-382X .- 1365-2958. ; 35:3, s. 589-600
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study describes an alpha-lactalbumin folding variant from human milk with bactericidal activity against antibiotic-resistant and -susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The active complex precipitated with the casein fraction at pH 4.6 and was purified from casein by a combination of anion exchange and gel chromatography. Unlike other casein components, the active complex was retained on the ion-exchange matrix and eluted only with high salt. The eluted fraction showed N-terminal and mass spectrometric identity with human milk alpha-lactalbumin, but native alpha-lactalbumin had no bactericidal effect. Spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that the active form of the molecule was in a different folding state, with secondary structure identical to alpha-lactalbumin from human milk whey, but fluctuating tertiary structure. Native alpha-lactalbumin could be converted to the active bactericidal form by ion-exchange chromatography in the presence of a cofactor from human milk casein, characterized as a C18:1 fatty acid. Analysis of the antibacterial spectrum showed selectivity for streptococci; Gram-negative and other Gram-positive bacteria were resistant. The folding variant of alpha-lactalbumin is a new example of naturally occurring molecules with antimicrobial activity.
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