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Bacterial Amyloids: The Link between Bacterial Infections and Autoimmunity

Lauren Nicastro1, Çagla Tükel1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Trends in Microbiology
|August 20, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Bacteria in biofilms use host-like molecules, including amyloids and DNA, to evade immunity. These structures can activate autoimmune pathways, suggesting a link between bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacteria evade immune responses using molecular mimicry.
  • Bacterial biofilms contain host-like molecules, including amyloids and extracellular DNA (eDNA).
  • Bacterial amyloids, such as curli, and eDNA form structures recognized by the immune system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss recent findings on biofilms linking amyloids and DNA to immune activation.
  • To propose a novel mechanism connecting bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases.
  • To highlight the role of amyloids as carriers for DNA and potentiators of autoimmune responses.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on bacterial biofilms, amyloids, and autoimmune responses.
  • Analysis of molecular structures formed by bacterial amyloids and DNA.
  • Discussion of proposed mechanisms for immune system activation by biofilm components.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial amyloids and eDNA form unique molecular structures within biofilms.
  • These structures are recognized by the immune system, potentially activating autoimmune pathways.
  • Amyloids may act as carriers for DNA, enhancing their role in immune modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial biofilms present molecules that mimic host components, aiding immune evasion.
  • The interaction of bacterial amyloids and DNA in biofilms may trigger autoimmune responses.
  • This work proposes a novel link between bacterial infections and the initiation or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases.
Keywords:
SLEamyloidautoimmune responsebiofilmcurliinfectionlupus

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