Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Size Exclusion Chromatography to Analyze Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicle Heterogeneity
07:26

Size Exclusion Chromatography to Analyze Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicle Heterogeneity

Published on: March 31, 2021

Cytotoxic effects of Kingella kingae outer membrane vesicles on human cells

R Maldonado1, R Wei, S C Kachlany

  • 1Department of Oral Biology, New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.

Microbial Pathogenesis
|March 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Kingella kingae produces outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that contribute to osteoarticular infections in children. These OMVs contain virulence factors and trigger inflammatory responses in bone and joint cells.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Bacterial Virulence

Background:

  • Kingella kingae is an emerging pathogen responsible for pediatric osteoarticular infections.
  • Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are increasingly recognized as key virulence factors in bacterial pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the production and role of OMVs in Kingella kingae pathogenesis.
  • To characterize the composition and biological activity of K. kingae OMVs.

Main Methods:

  • Electron microscopy of K. kingae clinical isolates.
  • Purification and biochemical characterization of OMVs.
  • In vitro assays using human osteoblasts and synovial cells.

Main Results:

  • K. kingae produces heterogeneously-sized OMVs containing virulence factors like RtxA toxin and PilC2 pilus adhesin.
  • OMVs exhibit hemolytic and leukotoxic activities, and are internalized by host bone and joint cells.
  • Interaction with OMVs induces increased production of GM-CSF and IL-6 in host cells.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first report of OMV production by Kingella kingae.
  • K. kingae OMVs are complex virulence factors contributing to cytolytic and inflammatory effects in osteoarticular infections.

More Related Videos

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen07:15

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen

Published on: March 21, 2011

Legionella pneumophila Outer Membrane Vesicles: Isolation and Analysis of Their Pro-inflammatory Potential on Macrophages08:34

Legionella pneumophila Outer Membrane Vesicles: Isolation and Analysis of Their Pro-inflammatory Potential on Macrophages

Published on: February 22, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...