title: BslA, a pXO1-encoded adhesin of Bacillus anthracis.
abstract: The Gram-positive pathogen Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax, a fulminant and lethal infection of mammals. Two large virulence plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, harbour genes required for anthrax pathogenesis and encode secreted toxins or provide for the poly gamma-d-glutamic acid capsule. In addition to capsule, B. anthracis harbours additional cell wall envelope structures, including the surface layer (S-layer), which is composed of crystalline protein arrays. We sought to identify the B. anthracis envelope factor that mediates adherence of vegetative forms to human cells and isolated BslA (B. anthracisS-layer protein A). Its structural gene, bslA, is located on the pXO1 pathogenicity island (pXO1-90) and bslA expression is both necessary and sufficient for adherence of vegetative forms to host cells. BslA assembly into S-layers and surface exposure is presumably mediated by three N-terminal SLH domains. Twenty-three B. anthracis genes, whose products harbour similar SLH domains, may provide additional surface molecules that allow bacilli to engage cells or tissues of specific hosts during anthrax pathogenesis.
authors: Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Justin W
authors: JW
authors: Kern
authors: Olaf
authors: O
authors: Schneewind
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000382:microbiology; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D044404:Genomic Islands; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010957:Plasmids; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C055764:S-layer proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors