title: Desialylation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Lipooligosaccharide by Cervicovaginal Microbiome Sialidases: The Potential for Enhancing Infectivity in Men.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that Neisseria gonorrhoeae sialylates the terminal N-acetyllactosamine present on its lipooligosaccharide (LOS) by acquiring CMP-N-acetyl-5-neuraminic acid upon entering human cells during infection. This renders the organism resistant to killing by complement in normal human serum. N-acetyllactosamine residues on LOS must be free of N-acetyl-5-neuraminc acid (Neu5Ac; also known as "sialic acid") in order for organisms to bind to and enter urethral epithelial cells during infection in men. This raises the question of how the gonococcus infects men if N-acetyllactosamine residues are substituted by Neu5Ac during infection in women. Here, we demonstrate that women with gonococcal infections have levels of sialidases present in cervicovaginal secretions that can result in desialylation of (sialylated) gonococcal LOS. The principle sialidases responsible for this desialylation appear to be bacterial in origin. These studies suggest that members of the cervicovaginal microbiome can modify N. gonorrhoeae, which will enhance successful transmission to men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ketterer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Byerly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: J Dennis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fortenberry
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetric and Gynecologic Specialists, Medical College of South Carolina Hospital, Charleston.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Soper
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Apicella
mesh_terms: D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000378:metabolism*; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C023023:lipid-linked oligosaccharides; D009439:Neuraminidase
keywords: N-acetyllactosamine; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; cervicovaginal secretions; lipooligosacharide; sialidase; sialyltransferase