Group B streptococcal pilus proteins contribute to adherence to and invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells.
Surface filamentous structures known as pili have been discovered recently in the gram-positive streptococcal pathogens that cause invasive disease in humans, including group B Streptococcus (GBS). We show that two GBS proteins involved in pilus formation, encoded by pilA and pilB, also facilitate the interaction of this important agent of central nervous system infection with endothelial cells of the human blood-brain barrier.
Maisey
Heather C
HC
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pharmacology & Drug Discovery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Hensler
Mary
M
Nizet
Victor
V
Doran
Kelly S
KS
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C068255:pilB protein, Bacteria