Functional and structural analyses reveal that a dual domain sialidase protects bacteria from complement killing through desialylation of complement factors.

ABSTRACT: The complement system is the first line of innate immune defense against microbial infections. To survive in humans and cause infections, bacterial pathogens have developed sophisticated mechanisms to subvert the complement-mediated bactericidal activity. There are reports that sialidases, also known as neuraminidases, are implicated in bacterial complement resistance; however, its underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Several complement proteins (e.g., C1q, C4, and C5) and regulators (e.g., factor H and C4bp) are modified by various sialoglycans (glycans with terminal sialic acids), which are essential for their functions. This report provides both functional and structural evidence that bacterial sialidases can disarm the complement system via desialylating key complement prote

SUBMITTER: Clark ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10553830 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature