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

Julia Chamot-Rooke1, Guillain Mikaty, Christian Malosse

  • 1Ecole Polytechnique, Laboratoire des Mécanismes Réactionnels, Palaiseau F-91128, France.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis uses type IV pili for colonization. A specific modification of these pili releases bacterial contacts, enabling pathogen spread and invasive disease.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Bacterial Adherence

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis asymptomatically colonizes the human throat.
  • Colonization can lead to severe invasive diseases like meningitis.
  • Type IV pili mediate bacterial adherence and aggregate formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of posttranslational modification of type IV pili in N. meningitidis colonization.
  • To understand how bacterial proliferation affects pili function and dissemination.

Main Methods:

  • Studied gene transcription in N. meningitidis during host cell interaction.
  • Analyzed the effect of phosphoglycerol addition on type IV pili function.
  • Investigated bacterial detachment and migration across epithelial barriers.

Main Results:

  • Host cell contact increased transcription of a gene encoding a phosphoglycerol transferase.
  • This modification detached bacteria from host cells by altering type IV pili interactions.
  • Regulated detachment facilitated bacterial propagation and epithelial migration.

Conclusions:

  • Posttranslational modification of type IV pili is crucial for N. meningitidis dissemination.
  • This mechanism allows bacteria to detach, colonize new sites, and cause invasive disease.

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