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Enolase-like protein present on the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa binds plasminogen

Ireneusz Ceremuga1, Ewa Seweryn, Iwona Bednarz-Misa

  • 1Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland, ireneusz.ceremuga@am.wroc.pl.

Folia Microbiologica
|March 28, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria bind human plasminogen using an enolase-like protein on their cell surface. This binding aids bacterial invasion into host tissues, as confirmed by microscopy and immunoblotting assays.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • * Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic bacterium known to invade host tissues.
  • * Bacterial invasion is often facilitated by interactions with host proteins like plasminogen (Plg).
  • * The specific mechanisms of plasminogen binding by P. aeruginosa require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To confirm the binding affinity of P. aeruginosa to human plasminogen.
  • * To identify the bacterial surface protein responsible for plasminogen binding.
  • * To investigate the role of this protein in bacterial invasion.

Main Methods:

  • * Confirmation of P. aeruginosa binding to human plasminogen.
  • * Identification of the plasminogen-binding protein using cell wall analysis.
  • * Electron microscopy to visualize protein localization on the bacterial cell surface.
  • * Immunoblotting assays to examine plasminogen-binding activity.

Main Results:

  • * P. aeruginosa demonstrated a significant binding affinity for human plasminogen.
  • * An enolase-like protein was identified on the P. aeruginosa cell wall.
  • * Electron microscopy supported the presence of alpha-enolase on the bacterial cell surface.
  • * The identified enolase-like protein exhibited plasminogen-binding activity.

Conclusions:

  • * P. aeruginosa utilizes an enolase-like protein, likely alpha-enolase, on its cell surface to bind human plasminogen.
  • * This interaction is a key factor in P. aeruginosa's ability to invade host tissues.
  • * Targeting this bacterial enolase-plasminogen interaction could offer novel therapeutic strategies against P. aeruginosa infections.

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