NafA Negatively Controls Neisseria meningitidis Piliation

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021749
• Publication Date: 2011-07-01T21:02:10Z
• Authors: Asaomi Kuwae; Hong Sjölinder; Jens Eriksson; Sara Eriksson; Yao Chen; Ann-Beth Jonsson
• Keywords: Wild type; Strain (injury)

Bacterial auto-aggregation is a critical step during adhesion of N. meningitidis to host cells. The precise mechanisms and functions bacterial still remain be fully elucidated. In this work, we characterize the role meningococcal hypothetical protein, NMB0995/NMC0982, show that here denoted NafA, acts as an anti-aggregation factor. NafA was confirmed surface exposed found induced at late stage adherence epithelial A deficient mutant hyperpiliated formed bundles pili. Further, displayed increased cells when compared wild-type strain. absence cells, more aggregative than in vivo sepsis studied murine model disease. Challenge with resulted lower bacteremia levels mortality present study reveals factor strong impact on disease outcome. These data also suggest appropriate controlled by both aggregation factors Neisseria infection vivo.