Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Visualisation and Quantification of Intracellular Interactions of Neisseria meningitidis and Human α-actinin by Confocal Imaging
12:58

Visualisation and Quantification of Intracellular Interactions of Neisseria meningitidis and Human α-actinin by Confocal Imaging

Published on: October 25, 2010

The role of neisserial Opa proteins in interactions with host cells

C Dehio1, S D Gray-Owen, T F Meyer

  • 1Dept Infektionsbiologie, Max-Planck-Institut für Biologie, Tübingen, Germany.

Trends in Microbiology
|February 26, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Pathogenic bacteria called Neisseria use phase-variable Opa proteins to interact with host cells. These proteins enable bacterial engulfment and phagocytosis by immune cells, highlighting key host-cell processes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Pathogenic Neisseria species utilize phase-variable Opa proteins for host cell interactions.
  • Opa proteins are crucial for bacterial engulfment by epithelial cells.
  • They also mediate opsonin-independent phagocytosis by professional phagocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Opa proteins in Neisseria pathogenesis.
  • To identify cellular targets of specific Opa proteins.
  • To elucidate host signaling events in Opa-dependent cellular processes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Opa protein interactions with host cells.
  • Identification of cellular receptors for Opa proteins.
  • Investigation of host signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Defined Opa proteins were found to target specific host cell molecules.
  • Key host signaling pathways mediating Opa-dependent cellular processes were identified.
  • Understanding of pathogen-host interactions was advanced.

Conclusions:

  • Opa proteins are versatile virulence factors in Neisseria pathogenesis.
  • Targeting specific host cell processes is a key mechanism for Neisseria invasion and survival.
  • Further research into these interactions can inform therapeutic strategies.

More Related Videos

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature11:40

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature

Published on: April 1, 2014

From Constructs to Crystals – Towards Structure Determination of β-barrel Outer Membrane Proteins09:55

From Constructs to Crystals – Towards Structure Determination of β-barrel Outer Membrane Proteins

Published on: July 4, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
Role of Septins01:02

Role of Septins

Septins are the recently discovered fourth major protein component of the cytoskeleton, along with microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. These proteins can associate with other cytoskeletal filaments and carry out varied roles or can be free-floating in the cytoplasm.
Cellular Functions of Septins
Recent studies have revealed the multifaceted roles of septins in various cellular processes such as cytokinesis, ciliogenesis, and neurogenesis. Septins act as scaffolds and...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
Inhibitors Of Virion Release01:25

Inhibitors Of Virion Release

Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...