Analysis of the expression of outer-membrane proteins in Neisseria meningitidis in iron-replete and iron-deficient media.
A total of 103 Neisseria strains, including 42 carrier and 40 invasive N. meningitidis and 21 commensal species were studied. Outer-membrane proteins from carrier and invasive N. meningitidis showed similar molecular mass distributions (except in the range from 78 to 82 kDa in which 90% of the invasive but only 47.6% of the carrier strains expressed proteins), many strains showing neither class II (41 kDa) nor class III (38 kDa) proteins. When grown in iron-restricted conditions proteins were induced mainly in the ranges from 62 to 92 kDa with no significant differences between groups. Commensal species, both in normal and in iron-restricted conditions, showed outer-membrane protein patterns different from those of N. meningitidis in several molecular mass ranges. Cluster analysis based on expression of principal outer-membrane proteins allowed the differentiation of commensal species and N. meningitidis, although not that of the invasive and carrier groups within the latter.
Ferreirós
C M
CM
Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Criado
M T
MT
Del Río
M C
MC
Pintor
M
M
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D007501:Iron