title: Neuraminidase expressed by Streptococcus pneumoniae desialylates the lipopolysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae: a paradigm for interbacterial competition among pathogens of the human respiratory tract.
abstract: Both Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae are capable of mimicking host structures by decorating their lipopolysaccharides with sialic acid. We show that a neuraminidase expressed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (NanA) is able to desialylate the cell surfaces of both these species, which reside in and possibly compete for the same host niche.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Shakhnovich
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Weiser
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D017753:Ecosystem; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009439:Neuraminidase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid