Pilin antigenic variants impact gonococcal lifestyle and antibiotic tolerance by modulating interbacterial forces.

ABSTRACT: Type 4 pili (T4P) are multifunctional filaments involved in adhesion, surface motility, biofilm formation, and horizontal gene transfer. These extracellular polymers are surface-exposed and, therefore, act as antigens. The human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae uses pilin antigenic variation to escape immune surveillance, yet it is unclear how antigenic variation impacts most other functions of T4P. Here, we addressed this question by replacing the major pilin of a laboratory strain with pilins from clinical isolates. We reveal that the resulting strains vary substantially in their attractive forces. Strongly interacting bacteria form microcolonies while weakly interacting bacteria retain a planktonic lifestyle. In mixed microcolonies, different variant strains segregate in agreement with th

SUBMITTER: Wielert I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11813099 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature