We have characterized an interaction of 20 strains of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B, C, 29E, W-135 and Z with immobilized fibronectin of human plasma. The adhesion of meningococci to fibronectin was determined by the extent of piliated cells and did not depend on the meningococcal serogroup. Binding of non-piliated or weakly piliated strains (2-5% of piliated cells in the stock) was sufficiently greater than those piliated (8-10%), where the adhesion to fibronectin was not at all observed. The examination of two well-piliated strains showed that the loss of pili resulted in the increase of bacterial adhesion to fibronectin. Constants of association and dissociation of piliated and non-piliated strains to fibronectin were calculated. The role of meningococci-fibronectin interaction in the pathogenesis of meningococcal infection is discussed.
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PLoS One
January 2025
School of Mathematics, Manchester University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
The genus Neisseria includes two major human pathogens: N. meningitidis causing bacterial meningitis/septicemia and N. gonorrhoeae causing gonorrhoea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
December 2024
Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire (CSRS), Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
The respiratory tract harbours microorganisms of the normal host microbiota which are also capable of causing invasive disease. Among these, Neisseria meningitidis a commensal bacterium of the oropharynx can cause meningitis, a disease with epidemic potential. The oral microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining respiratory health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol
December 2024
Invasive meningococcal diseases (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis are generally rare. They affect mostly selected age categories and risk groups of patients (in terms of age, comorbidities, or applied therapy), and the immune system and its defects may play an important modifying role. Meningococcal infections could be the first and only clinical sign of unrecognised immunodeficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccine
January 2025
GSK, Emerging Markets, Santiago, Chile.
Background: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a life-threatening disease, primarily affecting infants and children. Argentina introduced routine meningococcal vaccination in infants and adolescents in 2017, with MenACWY vaccination targeting serogroups A, C, W, and Y (current National Immunization Program [cNIP]). Serogroup B, more prevalent since 2015, became predominant in children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeisseria meningitidis is a common commensal bacterium of the nasopharynx that can cause invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). In comparison, N. gonorrhoeae is always a pathogen usually limited to mucosal sites.
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