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Binding of C4b-binding protein: A molecular mechanism of serum resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Ram, Sanjay ; Cullinane, Meabh ; Blom, Anna LU orcid ; Gulati, Sunita ; McQuillen, Daniel P. ; Monks, Brian G. ; O'Connell, Catherine ; Boden, Ryan ; Elkins, Christopher and Pangburn, Michael K. , et al. (2001) In Journal of Experimental Medicine 193(3). p.281-295
Abstract
We screened 29 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and found 16/21 strains that resisted killing by normal human serum and 0/8 serum sensitive strains that bound the complement regulator, C4b-binding protein (C4bp). Microbial surfacebound C4bp demonstrated cofactor activity. We constructed gonococcal strains with hybrid porin (Por) molecules derived from each of the major serogroups (Por1A and Por1B) of N. gonorrhoeae, and showed that the loop 1 of Por1A is required for C4bp binding. Por1B loops 5 and 7 of serum-resistant gonococci together formed a negatively charged C4bp-binding domain. C4bpPor1B interactions were ionic in nature (inhibited by high salt or by heparin), whereas the C4bpPor1A bond was hydrophobic. Only recombinant C4bp mutant... (More)
We screened 29 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and found 16/21 strains that resisted killing by normal human serum and 0/8 serum sensitive strains that bound the complement regulator, C4b-binding protein (C4bp). Microbial surfacebound C4bp demonstrated cofactor activity. We constructed gonococcal strains with hybrid porin (Por) molecules derived from each of the major serogroups (Por1A and Por1B) of N. gonorrhoeae, and showed that the loop 1 of Por1A is required for C4bp binding. Por1B loops 5 and 7 of serum-resistant gonococci together formed a negatively charged C4bp-binding domain. C4bpPor1B interactions were ionic in nature (inhibited by high salt or by heparin), whereas the C4bpPor1A bond was hydrophobic. Only recombinant C4bp mutant molecules containing the NH2-terminal -chain short consensus repeat (SCR1) bound to both Por1A and Por1B gonococci, suggesting that SCR1 contained Por binding sites. C4bp -chain monomers did not bind gonococci, indicating that the polymeric form of C4bp was required for binding. Using fAb fragments against C4bp SCR1, C4bp binding to Por1A and Por1B strains was inhibited in a complement-dependent serum bactericidal assay. This resulted in complete killing of these otherwise fully serum resistant strains in only 10 normal serum, underscoring the importance of C4bp in mediating gonococcal serum resistance. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Experimental Medicine
volume
193
issue
3
pages
281 - 295
publisher
Rockefeller University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000166902900002
  • scopus:0035808776
ISSN
1540-9538
DOI
10.1084/jem.193.3.281
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
376afb47-dd50-4d53-a72a-9db53595e4e3 (old id 131235)
alternative location
http://www.jem.org/cgi/content/abstract/193/3/281
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:53:01
date last changed
2022-03-14 20:37:19
@article{376afb47-dd50-4d53-a72a-9db53595e4e3,
  abstract     = {{We screened 29 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and found 16/21 strains that resisted killing by normal human serum and 0/8 serum sensitive strains that bound the complement regulator, C4b-binding protein (C4bp). Microbial surfacebound C4bp demonstrated cofactor activity. We constructed gonococcal strains with hybrid porin (Por) molecules derived from each of the major serogroups (Por1A and Por1B) of N. gonorrhoeae, and showed that the loop 1 of Por1A is required for C4bp binding. Por1B loops 5 and 7 of serum-resistant gonococci together formed a negatively charged C4bp-binding domain. C4bpPor1B interactions were ionic in nature (inhibited by high salt or by heparin), whereas the C4bpPor1A bond was hydrophobic. Only recombinant C4bp mutant molecules containing the NH2-terminal -chain short consensus repeat (SCR1) bound to both Por1A and Por1B gonococci, suggesting that SCR1 contained Por binding sites. C4bp -chain monomers did not bind gonococci, indicating that the polymeric form of C4bp was required for binding. Using fAb fragments against C4bp SCR1, C4bp binding to Por1A and Por1B strains was inhibited in a complement-dependent serum bactericidal assay. This resulted in complete killing of these otherwise fully serum resistant strains in only 10 normal serum, underscoring the importance of C4bp in mediating gonococcal serum resistance.}},
  author       = {{Ram, Sanjay and Cullinane, Meabh and Blom, Anna and Gulati, Sunita and McQuillen, Daniel P. and Monks, Brian G. and O'Connell, Catherine and Boden, Ryan and Elkins, Christopher and Pangburn, Michael K. and Dahlbäck, Björn and Rice, Peter A.}},
  issn         = {{1540-9538}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{281--295}},
  publisher    = {{Rockefeller University Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of Experimental Medicine}},
  title        = {{Binding of C4b-binding protein: A molecular mechanism of serum resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4502068/624184.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1084/jem.193.3.281}},
  volume       = {{193}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}