A Vibrio vulnificus type IV pilin contributes to biofilm formation, adherence to epithelial cells, and virulence.

ABSTRACT: Vibrio vulnificus expresses a multitude of cell-associated and secreted factors that potentially contribute to pathogenicity, although the specific roles of most of these factors have been difficult to define. Previously we have shown that a mutation in pilD (originally designated vvpD), which encodes a type IV prepilin peptidase/N-methyltransferase, abolishes expression of surface pili, suggesting that they belong to the type IV class. In addition, a pilD mutant exhibits reduced adherence to HEp-2 cells, a block in secretion of several exoenzymes that follow the type II secretion pathway, and decreased virulence. In this study, we have cloned and characterized a V. vulnificus type IV pilin (PilA) that shares extensive homology to group A type IV pilins expressed by many pathogens, includi

SUBMITTER: Paranjpye RN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1064924 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature