The DNABII family of proteins is comprised of the only nucleoid associated proteins required for nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae biofilm structure.

ABSTRACT: Biofilms play a central role in the pathobiology of otitis media (OM), bronchitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and pneumonia caused by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI). Our previous studies show that extracellular DNA (eDNA) and DNABII proteins are essential components of biofilms formed by NTHI. The DNABII protein family includes integration host factor (IHF) and the histone-like protein HU and plays a central role in NTHI biofilm structural integrity. We demonstrated that immunological targeting of these proteins during NTHI-induced experimental OM in a chinchilla model caused rapid clearance of biofilms from the middle ear. Given the essential role of DNABII proteins in maintaining the structure of an NTHI biofilm, we investigated whether any of the other nucleoid associated pro

SUBMITTER: Devaraj A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6011942 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature