Posttranslational modification of pili upon cell contact triggers N. meningitidis dissemination.

J. Chamot-Rooke; G. Mikaty; C. Malosse; M. Soyer; A. Dumont; J. Gault; A.-F. Imhaus; P. Martin; M. Trellet; G. Clary; P. Chafey; L. Camoin; M. Nilges; X. Nassif; G. Duménil

doi:10.1126/science.1200729

Journal articles

Posttranslational modification of pili upon cell contact triggers N. meningitidis dissemination.

J. Chamot-Rooke ¹ G. Mikaty ² C. Malosse ¹ M. Soyer ^{3, 4} A. Dumont ^{3, 4} J. Gault ¹ A.-F. Imhaus ^{3, 4} P. Martin ² M. Trellet ⁵ G. Clary ^{3, 6} P. Chafey ^{3, 6} L. Camoin ^{3, 6} M. Nilges ⁵ X. Nassif ^{7, 2} G. Duménil ^{3, 4}

1 DCMR - Laboratoire des mécanismes réactionnels

2 Inserm U1002 - Pathogénie des infections systémiques

3 UPD5 Médecine - Université Paris Descartes - Faculté de Médecine

4 PARCC - UMR-S U970 - Paris-Centre de Recherche Cardiovasculaire

5 Bioinformatique Structurale

6 IC UM3 (UMR 8104 / U1016) - Institut Cochin

7 CHU Necker - Enfants Malades [AP-HP]

Abstract : The Gram-negative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis asymptomatically colonizes the throat of 10 to 30% of the human population, but throat colonization can also act as the port of entry to the blood (septicemia) and then the brain (meningitis). Colonization is mediated by filamentous organelles referred to as type IV pili, which allow the formation of bacterial aggregates associated with host cells. We found that proliferation of N. meningitidis in contact with host cells increased the transcription of a bacterial gene encoding a transferase that adds phosphoglycerol onto type IV pili. This unusual posttranslational modification specifically released type IV pili-dependent contacts between bacteria. In turn, this regulated detachment process allowed propagation of the bacterium to new colonization sites and also migration across the epithelium, a prerequisite for dissemination and invasive disease.

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Journal articles

Domain :

Chemical Sciences / Theoretical and/or physical chemistry

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Submitted on : Monday, December 2, 2013 - 9:15:17 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, December 15, 2021 - 10:00:23 AM

Posttranslational modification of pili upon cell contact triggers N. meningitidis dissemination.

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