title: 'Small' talk: Opa proteins as mediators of Neisseria-host-cell communication.
abstract: Opa proteins are variable outer membrane proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis that mediate tight interaction of these pathogens with human cells. They have emerged as a paradigm of a bacterial toolbox allowing recognition of different host receptors and orchestrating the cell type tropism displayed by pathogenic Neisseriae. Recent work has highlighted the molecular basis of Opa-protein-host-receptor interaction and has shed new light on the functional consequences of this interaction with regard to bacterial attachment, invasion, and responses elicited in particular host cells.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christof R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hauck
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009343:Neisseria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D016870:Neisseriaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C050308:opacity proteins