Abstract
Escherichia coli is a versatile pathogen causing millions of infections in humans every year. This bacterium can form multicellular aggregates when it expresses a self-associating protein, antigen 43 (Ag43), on its surface. We have discovered that Ag43-expressing E. coli cells are efficiently taken up by human defense cells, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), in an opsonin-independent manner. Surprisingly, the phagocytosed bacteria were not immediately killed but resided as tight aggregates within the PMNs. Our observations indicate that Ag43-mediated uptake and survival in PMNs constitute a mechanism to subvert one of the primary defense mechanisms of the human body.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Infection and Immunity |
Vol/bind | 75 |
Udgave nummer | 1 |
Sider (fra-til) | 30-4 |
Antal sider | 5 |
ISSN | 0019-9567 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 1 jan. 2007 |