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Pathogenic Neisseria hitchhike on the uropod of human neutrophils

Niklas Söderholm1, Katarina Vielfort, Kjell Hultenby

  • 1Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Toxicology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

Plos One
|September 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pathogenic Neisseria bacteria adhere to polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) using type IV pili. This interaction allows bacteria to evade immune cells and spread infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are key innate immune cells crucial for combating bacterial infections.
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae exhibits remarkable survival within PMNs, posing a significant clinical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the novel mechanism of pathogenic Neisseria adherence to PMNs.
  • To elucidate the role of type IV pili in this interaction and subsequent bacterial survival.

Main Methods:

  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy were used to visualize bacterial-PMN interactions.
  • Live-cell imaging and electrography were employed to study bacterial internalization and PMN responses.

Main Results:

  • Pathogenic Neisseria utilizes type IV pili to adhere to the uropod of polarized PMNs.
  • Bacterial adhesion triggers the accumulation of the complement regulator CD46.
  • Neisseria meningitidis adhesion involves PilC1 and PilC2 proteins, unlike N. gonorrhoeae.
  • Internalization into PMNs via the uropod and subsequent immune evasion were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Pathogenic Neisseria employs a unique pilus-mediated adherence strategy to the PMN uropod for immune evasion.
  • This mechanism facilitates bacterial survival and dissemination, highlighting a novel aspect of Neisseria pathogenesis.

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