title: Meningococcal interactions with the host.
abstract: Neisseria meningitidis interacts with host tissues through hierarchical, concerted and co-ordinated actions of a number of adhesins; many of which undergo antigenic and phase variation, a strategy that helps immune evasion. Three major structures, pili, Opa and Opc predominantly influence bacterial adhesion to host cells. Pili and Opa proteins also determine host and tissue specificity while Opa and Opc facilitate efficient cellular invasion. Recent studies have also implied a role of certain adhesin-receptor pairs in determining increased host susceptibility to infection. This chapter examines our current knowledge of meningococcal adhesion and invasion mechanisms particularly related to human epithelial and endothelial cells which are of primary importance in the disease process.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, unité 570, Université Paris Descartes, 156 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 75015, France.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carbonnelle
authors.forename: Darryl J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morand
authors.forename: Natalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourdoulous
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murillo
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nassif
authors.forename: Mumtaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virji
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors