Nanoscale clustering of mycobacterial ligands and DC-SIGN host receptors are key determinants for pathogen recognition.

ABSTRACT: The bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis binds to the C-type lectin DC-SIGN (dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin) on dendritic cells to evade the immune system. While DC-SIGN glycoconjugate ligands are ubiquitous among mycobacterial species, the receptor selectively binds pathogenic species from the M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC). Here, we unravel the molecular mechanism behind this intriguing selective recognition by means of a multidisciplinary approach combining single-molecule atomic force microscopy with Förster resonance energy transfer and bioassays. Molecular recognition imaging of mycobacteria demonstrates that the distribution of DC-SIGN ligands markedly differs between Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Cal

SUBMITTER: Viljoen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10198640 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature