Makino S, van Putten J P, Meyer T F
Max-Planck-Institut für Biologie, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Tübingen, FRG.
EMBO J. 1991 Jun;10(6):1307-15. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1991.tb07649.x.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a facultative intracellular bacterium capable of penetrating into certain human epithelial cell types. In order to identify gonococcal factors essential for invading Chang human conjunctiva cells, a gentamicin selection assay for the quantification of viable intracellular bacteria was used in conjunction with microscopy. The results demonstrate a correlation between the invasive behaviour of gonococci and the expression of Opa proteins, a family of variable outer membrane proteins present in all pathogenic Neisseria species. However, only particular Opa proteins supported invasion into Chang cells as indicated by the use of two unrelated gonococcal strains. Invasion was sensitive to cytochalasin D, and strong adherence mediated by the Opa proteins appeared to be essential for the internalization of gonococci. In contrast pili, which also conferred binding to Chang conjunctiva cells, did not support cellular invasion but rather were inhibitory.
淋病奈瑟菌是一种兼性胞内细菌，能够侵入某些人类上皮细胞类型。为了鉴定侵入张氏人结膜细胞所必需的淋球菌因子，将用于定量存活胞内细菌的庆大霉素选择试验与显微镜检查结合使用。结果表明，淋球菌的侵袭行为与Opa蛋白的表达之间存在相关性，Opa蛋白是所有致病性奈瑟菌属物种中存在的一类可变外膜蛋白。然而，如使用两种不相关的淋球菌菌株所示，只有特定的Opa蛋白支持侵入张氏细胞。侵袭对细胞松弛素D敏感，并且由Opa蛋白介导的强粘附似乎是淋球菌内化所必需的。相比之下，菌毛虽然也能使淋球菌与张氏结膜细胞结合，但不支持细胞侵袭，反而具有抑制作用。
