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Haemophilus influenzae adhesins and the innate immune response

Ronander, Elena LU (2008) In Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series 2008:6.
Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae is a human specific Gram-negative respiratory tract pathogen. Encapsulated H. influenzae strains exist in six different serotypes a-f, of which type b (Hib) is the most virulent. Hib is protected by the polysaccharide capsule when invading the blood circulaton and may cause diseases such as meningitis and epiglottitis. Non-encapsulated H. influenzae referred to as nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi), are frequently associated with acute otitis media in children and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among the elderly. H. influenzae expresses several outer membrane proteins of which the adhesins play an important role in the initial interactions with the airway epithelium.

In this thesis, we have... (More)
Haemophilus influenzae is a human specific Gram-negative respiratory tract pathogen. Encapsulated H. influenzae strains exist in six different serotypes a-f, of which type b (Hib) is the most virulent. Hib is protected by the polysaccharide capsule when invading the blood circulaton and may cause diseases such as meningitis and epiglottitis. Non-encapsulated H. influenzae referred to as nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi), are frequently associated with acute otitis media in children and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among the elderly. H. influenzae expresses several outer membrane proteins of which the adhesins play an important role in the initial interactions with the airway epithelium.

In this thesis, we have studied two Haemophilus influenzae adhesins and their interactions with innate defense mechanisms. Vitronectin is a glycoprotein that regulates the terminal pathway of the complement system by inhibiting the membrane attack complex. We demonstrate that Haemophilus influenzae surface fibrils (Hsf) may increase the bacterial survival by interacting with vitronectin in serum.

We also describe the isolation and characterization of a novel H. influenzae adhesin designated protein E (PE). PE was isolated by using an IgD myeloma serum which specifically recognized the protein on the bacterial surface. Furthermore, PE was found to be a 16 kDa protein and classified as a lipoprotein. PE displays adhesive activity to three respiratory epithelial cell lines and erythrocytes, both when expressed on the surface of H. influenzae and as a recombinant protein in E. coli. The active adhesive binding domain has been determined to be located within the central part of the molecule, PE amino acids 84-108. PE shows stimulatory effects when incubated with respiratory epithelial cells by inducing high levels of IL-8 and ICAM-1. These inflammatory mediators play an important role for the innate immune response and the recruitment of neutrophils. Finally, PE promotes bacterial invasion into epithelial cells.

In summary, the work presented in this thesis shows that Hsf may prolong the bacterial survival by interacting with the complement regulator vitronectin. The novel protein PE has been isolated, characterized and shown to be important for interactions of H. influenzae with the innate immune system. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Docent von Pawel-Rammingen, Ulrich, Institutionen för Molekylärbiologi, Umeå Universitet
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
inflammation, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus surface fibrils, complement, innate immune response, protein E, respiratory epithelium, adhesins
in
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
volume
2008:6
pages
62 pages
publisher
Medical Microbiology, Lund University
defense location
Lilla föreläsningsalen, Ingång 59
defense date
2008-01-08 09:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-85897-57-5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
37ad9057-a5f2-4dfc-a17b-18837a6caa21 (old id 838535)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:33:53
date last changed
2019-05-21 22:21:11
@phdthesis{37ad9057-a5f2-4dfc-a17b-18837a6caa21,
  abstract     = {{Haemophilus influenzae is a human specific Gram-negative respiratory tract pathogen. Encapsulated H. influenzae strains exist in six different serotypes a-f, of which type b (Hib) is the most virulent. Hib is protected by the polysaccharide capsule when invading the blood circulaton and may cause diseases such as meningitis and epiglottitis. Non-encapsulated H. influenzae referred to as nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi), are frequently associated with acute otitis media in children and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among the elderly. H. influenzae expresses several outer membrane proteins of which the adhesins play an important role in the initial interactions with the airway epithelium. <br/><br>
In this thesis, we have studied two Haemophilus influenzae adhesins and their interactions with innate defense mechanisms. Vitronectin is a glycoprotein that regulates the terminal pathway of the complement system by inhibiting the membrane attack complex. We demonstrate that Haemophilus influenzae surface fibrils (Hsf) may increase the bacterial survival by interacting with vitronectin in serum. <br/><br>
We also describe the isolation and characterization of a novel H. influenzae adhesin designated protein E (PE). PE was isolated by using an IgD myeloma serum which specifically recognized the protein on the bacterial surface. Furthermore, PE was found to be a 16 kDa protein and classified as a lipoprotein. PE displays adhesive activity to three respiratory epithelial cell lines and erythrocytes, both when expressed on the surface of H. influenzae and as a recombinant protein in E. coli. The active adhesive binding domain has been determined to be located within the central part of the molecule, PE amino acids 84-108. PE shows stimulatory effects when incubated with respiratory epithelial cells by inducing high levels of IL-8 and ICAM-1. These inflammatory mediators play an important role for the innate immune response and the recruitment of neutrophils. Finally, PE promotes bacterial invasion into epithelial cells. <br/><br>
In summary, the work presented in this thesis shows that Hsf may prolong the bacterial survival by interacting with the complement regulator vitronectin. The novel protein PE has been isolated, characterized and shown to be important for interactions of H. influenzae with the innate immune system.}},
  author       = {{Ronander, Elena}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-85897-57-5}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{inflammation; Haemophilus influenzae; Haemophilus surface fibrils; complement; innate immune response; protein E; respiratory epithelium; adhesins}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Medical Microbiology, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Haemophilus influenzae adhesins and the innate immune response}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3450690/946503.pdf}},
  volume       = {{2008:6}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}