title: Interaction of clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae with human complement factor H.
abstract: PspC recruits complement factor H (FH) to the pneumococcal surface. While there is differential expression of pspC during infection, detection of PspC on the surface of viable pneumococci is difficult due to variability among PspCs. We analyzed FH binding to detect PspC expression on the surface of pneumococcal isolates from different pathological sources. Using flow cytometry, we investigated FH-binding to 89 low-passage clinical isolates classified by disease manifestation (systemic, mucosal, or carriage). Carriage isolates recruited significantly more FH to their surfaces than either systemic or mucosal isolates, and this binding was independent of capsular serotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Quin
authors.forename: Chinwendu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Onwubiko
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carmicle
authors.forename: Larry S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: McDaniel
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C493495:CFH protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017242:Complement Factor H