Biological Trojan horse: Antigen 43 provides specific bacterial uptake and survival in human neutrophils

Sara Fexby, Thomas Bjarnsholt, Peter Østrup Jensen, Viktoria Roos, Niels Høiby, Michael Christian Givskov, Per Klemm

51 Citationer (Scopus)

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.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftInfection and Immunity
Vol/bind75
Udgave nummer1
Sider (fra-til)30-4
Antal sider5
ISSN0019-9567
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 jan. 2007

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