Comparative proteomic analysis of biofilm and planktonic cells of Neisseria meningitidis.

Neisseria meningitidis is a commensal of the human nasopharynx occasionally causing invasive disease. In vitro biofilms have been employed to model meningococcal carriage. A proteomic analysis of meningococcal biofilms was conducted and metabolic changes related to oxygen and nutrient limitation and upregulation of proteins involved in ROS defense were observed.

A dual role of extracellular DNA during biofilm formation of Neisseria meningitidis.

Major pathogenic clonal complexes (cc) of Neisseria meningitidis differ substantially in their point prevalence among healthy carriers. We show that frequently carried pathogenic cc (e.g.

Modulation of transcription and characterization of the promoter organization of the autotransporter adhesin heptosyltransferase and the autotransporter adhesin AIDA-I.

In Gram-negative bacteria, autotransporter proteins constitute the largest family of secreted proteins, and exhibit many different functions. In recent years, research has largely focused on mechanisms of autotransporter protein translocation, where several alternative models are still being discussed. In contrast, the biogenesis of only a few autotransporters has been studied and, likewise, regulation of expression has received only very limited attention.