Innate recognition by neutrophil granulocytes differs between Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains causing local or disseminating infections.

ABSTRACT: Members of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family serve as cellular receptors for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. More specifically, neisserial colony opacity (OpaCEA)) proteins bind to epithelial CEACAMs (CEACAM1, CEA, CEACAM6) to promote bacterial colonization of the mucosa. In contrast, recognition by CEACAM3, expressed by human granulocytes, results in uptake and destruction of Opa(CEA)-expressing bacteria. Therefore, CEACAM3-mediated uptake might limit the spread of gonococci. However, some strains can cause disseminating gonococcal infections (DGIs), and it is currently unknown how these strains escape detection by granulocyte CEACAM3. Therefore, the opa gene loci from N. gonorrhoeae strain VP1, which was derived from a patient with disseminated gonococcal

SUBMITTER: Roth A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3697628 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature