title: Interactions between Neisseria meningitidis and the complement system.
abstract: Meningococcal infection remains a worldwide health problem, and understanding the mechanisms by which Neisseria meningitidis evades host innate and acquired immunity is crucial. The complement system is vital for protecting individuals against N. meningitidis. However, this pathogen has evolved several mechanisms to avoid killing by human complement. Bacterial structures such as polysaccharide capsule and those which mimic or bind host molecules function to prevent complement-mediated lysis and phagocytosis. This review provides an update on the recent findings on the diverse mechanisms by which N. meningitidis avoids complement-mediated killing, and how polymorphisms in genes encoding human complement proteins affect susceptibility to this important human pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Department of Infectious Diseases, Flowers Building, Armstrong Road, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Muriel C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Exley
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Christoph M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000502:physiology; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D003165:Complement System Proteins