title: Molecular mechanisms of complement evasion: learning from staphylococci and meningococci.
abstract: The complement system is a crucial component of the innate immune response in humans. Recent studies in Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria meningitidis have revealed how these bacteria escape complement-mediated killing. In addition, new structural data have provided detailed insights into the molecular mechanisms of host defence mediated by the complement system and how bacterial proteins interfere with this process. This information is fundamental to our understanding of bacterial pathogenesis and may facilitate the design of better vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serruto
authors.forename: Rino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rappuoli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarselli
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gros
authors.forename: Jos A G
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Strijp
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000382:microbiology; D057131:Immune Evasion; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins
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