Identification of a new OmpA-like protein in Neisseria gonorrhoeae involved in the binding to human epithelial cells and in vivo colonization.
Outer membrane protein As (OmpAs) are highly conserved proteins within the Enterobacteriaceae family. OmpA contributes to the maintenance of structural membrane integrity and invasion into mammalian cells. In Escherichia coli K1 OmpA also contributes to serum resistance and is involved in the virulence of the bacterium. Here we describe the identification of an OmpA-like protein in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng-OmpA). We show that the gonococcal OmpA-like protein, similarly to E. coli OmpA, plays a significant role in the adhesion and invasion into human cervical carcinoma and endometrial cells and is required for entry into macrophages and intracellular survival. Furthermore, the isogenic knockout ompA mutant demonstrates reduced recovery in a mouse model of infection when compared with the wild-type strain, suggesting that Ng-OmpA plays an important role in the in vivo colonization. All together, these data suggest that the newly identified surface exposed protein Ng-OmpA represents a novel virulence factor of gonococcus.
Serino
Laura
L
Research Centre, Novartis Vaccines, Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. laura.serino@novartis.com
Nesta
Barbara
B
Leuzzi
Rosanna
R
Fontana
Maria Rita
MR
Monaci
Elisabetta
E
Mocca
Brian T
BT
Cartocci
Elena
E
Masignani
Vega
V
Jerse
Ann E
AE
Rappuoli
Rino
R
Pizza
Mariagrazia
M
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins