Genetic analyses of the single-pass transmembrane protein TspA in Neisseria meningitidis - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #TspA
- #bacterial pathogenesis
- #Neisseria meningitidis
- Neisseria meningitidis colonizes human nasopharynges and can invade the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid.
- The study focuses on TspA, an outer membrane protein, revealing it as a single-pass transmembrane protein with an extracellular N-terminus.
- TspA is involved in meningococcal adhesion and invasion to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), independent of pili.
- Mutations or chimeric constructs of TspA lacking the N-terminal extracellular domain did not restore infection ability, indicating its critical role.
- The findings suggest TspA's direct role in meningococcal infection, offering insights into pili-independent pathogenic mechanisms.