Adhesion mediated by autotransporters of Gram-negative bacteria: structural and functional features.
The ability of bacterial proteins to promote adhesion to biological surfaces is a fundamental step in bacterial infections. Some bacterial adhesins belong to the family of autotransporters, which are secreted to the surface of Gram-negative bacteria by an elegantly simple mechanism. This review will summarize their functional and structural features.
Girard
Victoria
V
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada.
Mourez
Michael
M
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001692:Biological Transport; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014774:Virulence
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial