Expression of IgA Proteases by Haemophilus influenzae in the Respiratory Tract of Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Immunoglobulin (Ig)A proteases of Haemophilus influenzae are highly specific endopeptidases that cleave the hinge region of human IgA1 and also mediate invasion and trafficking in human respiratory epithelial cells, facilitating persistence of H. influenzae. Little is known about the expression of IgA proteases in clinical settings of H. influenzae infection.

Methods

We identified and characterized IgA protease genes in H. influenzae and studied their expression and proteolytic specificity, in vitro and in vivo in 169 independent strains of H. influenzae collected longitudinally over 10 years from adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Results

The H. influenzae pangenome has 2 alleles of IgA protease genes; all strains have igaA, and 40% of stra

SUBMITTER: Murphy TF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4633762 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature