Complement interactions with the pathogenic Neisseriae: clinical features, deficiency states, and evasion mechanisms

FEBS Letters

article

Lisa A. Lewis¹  Sanjay Ram¹ 

[1] Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School

关键词: alternative pathway;    antibody;    C4b-binding protein;    classical pathway;    complement;    factor H;    lectin pathway;    Neisseria gonorrhoeae;    Neisseria meningitidis;   

DOI  :  10.1002/1873-3468.13760

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea, while Neisseria meningitidis is an important cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis. Complement is a central arm of innate immune defenses and plays an important role in combating Neisserial infections. Persons with congenital and acquired defects in complement are at a significantly higher risk for invasive Neisserial infections such as invasive meningococcal disease and disseminated gonococcal infection compared to the general population. Of note, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis can only infect humans, which in part may be related to their ability to evade only human complement. This review summarizes the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of Neisserial infections in persons with defects in the complement system. Mechanisms used by these pathogens to subvert killing by complement and preclinical studies showing how these complement evasion strategies may be used to counteract the global threat of meningococcal and gonococcal infections are discussed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown