Identification of a 36-kDa fibronectin-binding protein expressed by a virulent variant of Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae.
We investigated the ability of a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, its isogenic avirulent variant and a saprophytic strain to bind fibronectin using alkaline phosphatase-labelled fibronectin. A single 36-kDa fibronectin-binding protein was expressed only by the virulent strain and was located in the outer sheath according to proteinase K treatment results. The interaction of this protein with fibronectin was specific and the region of fibronectin bound to this potential adhesin overlapped the gelatin-binding domain. The inability of a RGDS synthetic peptide to inhibit the binding of fibronectin indicated that the cell-binding domain was not involved in this interaction. Considering the wide distribution of fibronectin within a host and the diversity of mammals involved in the epidemiology of leptospirosis, its implication in the cell attachment process of virulent leptospires is coherent with the multiplicity of target cells.
Merien
F
F
Leptospira Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, P.O. Box 61, 98845, Nouméa, New Caledonia.
Truccolo
J
J
Baranton
G
G
Perolat
P
P
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D019286:Endopeptidase K / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000378:metabolism; D014709:Vero Cells; D014774:Virulence; D014895:Weil Disease / Q000382:microbiology
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; C078635:fibronectin-binding proteins, bacterial; D019286:Endopeptidase K