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Related Experiment Videos

Gonococcal pilin variants in experimental gonorrhea.

J Swanson, K Robbins, O Barrera

    The Journal of Experimental Medicine
    |May 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary

    Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gc) can alter its pilin mRNA through gene conversion with partial genes, creating variants with distinct antigenic properties. These changes occur in previously conserved regions, impacting pilin structure and immune recognition.

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    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Genetics
    • Immunology

    Background:

    • Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gc) is a bacterium that causes gonorrhea.
    • Gc uses pili, protein filaments on its surface, for attachment and immune evasion.
    • Pilin, the main component of pili, is a target for antibodies but exhibits antigenic variation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying pilin antigenic variation in Gc.
    • To identify the genomic regions involved in generating pilin diversity.
    • To characterize the antigenic changes in Gc pilins resulting from genetic alterations.

    Main Methods:

    • Introduction of pilus+ Gc into a male subject's urethra.
    • Analysis of pilin mRNA sequences in Gc variants.

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  • Identification of gene conversion events involving complete and partial pilin genes.
  • Immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to detect antigenic differences in pilins.

    • Main Results:

    • Gc variants exhibited altered pilin mRNA sequences compared to the input strain.
    • These alterations resulted from gene conversion events between the complete pilin gene and various partial pilin genes.
    • Some variants showed evidence of multiple independent gene conversion events.
    • The resulting pilins displayed antigenic differences, detectable by mAbs.
    • Amino acid and antigenic changes were observed in a previously conserved pilin segment.

    Conclusions:

    • Gene conversion involving partial pilin gene sequences is a key mechanism for generating pilin diversity in Gc.
    • This process leads to antigenic variation in Gc pilins, potentially affecting immune responses.
    • The findings reveal that a previously conserved pilin region is subject to genetic modification and antigenic change.