Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature
11:40

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature

Published on: April 1, 2014

15.1K

Dual pili post-translational modifications synergize to mediate meningococcal adherence to platelet activating factor

Freda E-C Jen1, Matthew J Warren, Benjamin L Schulz

  • 1Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Plos Pathogens
|May 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pathogenic Neisseria pili use phosphorylcholine (ChoP) and glycans for adherence. These modifications synergize to engage the platelet activating factor receptor (PAFr) on airway cells, a key step in meningococcal infection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Pili are critical virulence factors in pathogenic Neisseria, mediating adhesion, motility, and DNA transformation.
  • Neisseria meningitidis pili undergo various post-translational modifications, including phase-variable phosphorylcholine (ChoP) and glycan additions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To locate phosphorylcholine (ChoP) modifications on N. meningitidis pilin.
  • To investigate how phase-variable glycans affect ChoP surface accessibility.
  • To identify the primary receptor for meningococcal adherence to human airway cells.

Main Methods:

  • Mass spectrometry to identify modifications.
  • Analysis of pilin structure and glycan variations.
  • Cell-based assays using human bronchial epithelial cells and tissues.

Main Results:

  • Two ChoP modifications were localized to the C-terminus of N. meningitidis pilin.
  • Surface accessibility of ChoP is modulated by phase-variable glycan structures.
  • Platelet activating factor receptor (PAFr) is identified as a crucial early receptor for meningococcal adherence.

Conclusions:

  • Synergy between pilin-linked glycan and ChoP modifications is essential for optimal engagement of PAFr.
  • This interaction mediates meningococcal adherence to human airway cells, highlighting a key step in pathogenesis.

More Related Videos

Covalent Immobilization of Proteins for the Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy11:13

Covalent Immobilization of Proteins for the Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy

Published on: August 20, 2018

13.5K
Pneumococcus Infection of Primary Human Endothelial Cells in Constant Flow09:34

Pneumococcus Infection of Primary Human Endothelial Cells in Constant Flow

Published on: October 31, 2019

5.8K

Related Concept Videos

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators02:04

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators

Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
8.2K
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
2.5K
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
2.8K
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
5.8K
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
3.3K
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...
76