title: Adherence molecules of pathogenic pneumococci.
abstract: Adherence molecules are key players in pathogen-host interactions. These are usually surface-exposed structures that facilitate adherence to host cells, or target host serum proteins of the extracellular matrix. Our knowledge of the function of pneumococcal cell-surface structures, and the basic mechanisms underlying their interaction with host receptor molecules has dramatically increased, through molecular and structural analysis of adherence molecules. In particular, choline-binding proteins have received considerable attention because of their versatility, and their sophisticated role in the interaction with host proteins. Interestingly, subversion of host-protein functions to facilitate host invasion and immune evasion has also been attributed to intracellular or surface-exposed proteins of the pathogen. Many of these molecules do not possess the classic features of bacterial surface proteins.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany. s.hammerschmidt@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammerschmidt
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C110344:SpsA protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae