Contribution of interactions between complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein and pathogens to their ability to establish infection with particular emphasis on Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Summary, in English

Complement activation and resulting opsonisation with C3b form key arms of the innate immune defense against infections. However, a wide variety of pathogens subvert complement attack by binding host complement inhibitors, which results in diminished opsonophagocytosis and killing of bacteria by lysis. Human C4b-binding protein (C4BP) binds Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Streptococcus pyogenes, both uniquely human pathogens. This binding specificity is circumvented by other bacterial species, which bind C4BP from numerous mammalian hosts that they infect. Binding of C4BP to Neisseria is mediated by outer membrane porin proteins and appears to be one of the main factors mediating serum resistance. Targeting C4BP binding sites on bacterial surfaces with vaccine-induced antibodies may block binding of C4BP and enhance a common vaccine design strategy that depends on the generation of complement-dependent bactericidal and opsonophagocytic antibody activities.

• Author: Anna Blom; Sanjay Ram
• Department/s: Protein Chemistry, Malmö
• Publishing year: 2008
• Language: English
• Pages: 49-55
• Publication/Series: Vaccine
• Volume: 26 Suppl 8
• Full text: - 948 kB; Download statistics
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19388165?dopt=Abstract; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.11.049
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Other Basic Medicine
• Keywords: Serum resistance; Complement; Porin; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; C4b-binding protein
• Status: Published
• Research group: Protein Chemistry, Malmö
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1873-2518