Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by human corneal epithelial cells: role of bacterial fibronectin-binding protein and host cell factors.
Wild-type Staphylococcus aureus was observed to be capable of invading human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in vitro. Internalization of S. aureus required expression of fibronectin-binding proteins (FnBPs); the capacity of an FnBP-deficient isogenic strain to invade HCEC was reduced by more than 99%. The binding of S. aureus to HCEC did not require viable bacteria, since UV-killed cells were observed to adhere efficiently. Invasion of HCEC by S. aureus involved active host cell mechanisms; uptake was nearly completely eliminated by cytochalasin D and genistein. These data suggest that FnBPs play a key role in host-parasite interactions and may serve as an important adhesin or invasin in ulcerative keratitis caused by S. aureus.
Department of Biology, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee 74804, USA.
Bradley D
BD
Jett
Michael S
MS
Gilmore
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C078635:fibronectin-binding proteins, bacterial