title: Neisseria gonorrhoeae induces focal polymerization of actin in primary human urethral epithelium.
abstract: The pathogenic Neisseria species induce cytoskeletal reorganization in immortalized cell lines. In Chang conjunctival epithelium and T84 intestinal epithelium, focal cytoskeletal rearrangements in which bacteria contacted the epithelial surface were observed. We show that actin footprints are induced in gonococcus-challenged primary urethral epithelium. Moreover, the microbes induced microvillus extension from the epithelial cell surface. Our results indicate that formation of actin footprints is not an artifact of commonly used immortalized cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa School of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1109, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lubaroff
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Apicella
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000502:physiology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D014521:Urethra / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D011108:Polymers