A HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE IGA PROTEASE-LIKE PROTEIN PROMOTES INTIMATE INTERACTION WITH HUMAN EPITHELIAL-CELLS

被引:123
作者
STGEME, JW
DELAMORENA, ML
FALKOW, S
机构
[1] WASHINGTON UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT MOLEC MICROBIOL,ST LOUIS,MO 63110
[2] ST LOUIS CHILDRENS HOSP,DIV INFECT DIS,ST LOUIS,MO 63110
[3] STANFORD UNIV,DEPT MICROBIOL & IMMUNOL,STANFORD,CA 94305
关键词
D O I
10.1111/j.1365-2958.1994.tb01283.x
中图分类号
Q5 [生物化学]; Q7 [分子生物学];
学科分类号
071010 ; 081704 ;
摘要
Haemophilus influenzae represents a common cause of human disease and an important source of morbidity and mortality. Disease caused by this organism begins with colonization of the upper respiratory tract. Several studies indicate that H. influenzae is capable of binding to and entering cultured human cells, properties which are potentially of relevance to the process of colonization. In the present study, we isolated an H. influenzae gene designated hap, which is associated with the capacity for in vitro attachment and entry. Analysis of the derived amino acid sequence of hap demonstrated significant homology with the serine-type IgA1 proteases expressed by H. influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is notable that the hap product shares the catalytic domain of the IgA1 proteases and appears to be processed and secreted in an analogous manner. We speculate that the hap gene product is an important determinant of colonization, perhaps enabling the organism to evade the local immune response and thereby persist within the respiratory tract.
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页码:217 / 233
页数:17
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