This grant proposal focuses on four distinct yet interrelated aspects of the molecular pathogenesis of human mycoplasma disease, emphasizing surface membrane properties of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium. The first describes our attempts to understand cytadherence by characterizing the mycoplasma adhesins implicated in host cell parasitism. Various techniques will be employed including column chromatography, amino acid sequencing, oligonucleotide determinations, recombinant DNA methodology, mutant analysis, and gene transfer systems. The second focuses on specific lactoferrin-binding membrane components (receptors) of M. pneumoniae and their possible role in tissue colonization and/or virulence. These are recent observations, and data suggest the potentially important role of the lactoferrin-M. pneumoniae interaction in the metabolic integrity of these pathogens. The third will utilize a variety of already generated (and to be generated) immunological probes to study ultrastructural relationships among the mycoplasma adhesins and lactoferrin- binding membrane components by immunoelectron microscopic analysis using antibody-colloidal gold reagents. The fourth attempts of develop models for assessing virulence of M. genitalium. The current dependence on humans and non-human primates severely restricts virulence testing of wild-type strains and potential avirulent mutants of M. genitalium.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI018540-06
Application #
3128007
Study Section
Bacteriology and Mycology Subcommittee 1 (BM)
Project Start
1983-12-01
Project End
1990-11-30
Budget Start
1988-12-01
Budget End
1990-11-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Department
Type
Overall Medical
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Dallo, S F; Baseman, J B (1990) Cross-hybridization between the cytadhesin genes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium and genomic DNA of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Microb Pathog 8:371-5
Dallo, S F; Horton, J R; Su, C J et al. (1990) Restriction fragment length polymorphism in the cytadhesin P1 gene of human clinical isolates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Infect Immun 58:2017-20
Su, C J; Dallo, S F; Baseman, J B (1990) Molecular distinctions among clinical isolates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. J Clin Microbiol 28:1538-40
Su, C J; Chavoya, A; Baseman, J B (1989) Spontaneous mutation results in loss of the cytadhesin (P1) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Infect Immun 57:3237-9
Dallo, S F; Chavoya, A; Su, C J et al. (1989) DNA and protein sequence homologies between the adhesins of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Infect Immun 57:1059-65
Dallo, S F; Horton, J R; Su, C J et al. (1989) Homologous regions shared by adhesin genes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium. Microb Pathog 6:69-73
Baseman, J B; Dallo, S F; Tully, J G et al. (1988) Isolation and characterization of Mycoplasma genitalium strains from the human respiratory tract. J Clin Microbiol 26:2266-9
Dallo, S F; Su, C J; Horton, J R et al. (1988) Identification of P1 gene domain containing epitope(s) mediating Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytoadherence. J Exp Med 167:718-23
Su, C J; Chavoya, A; Baseman, J B (1988) Regions of Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytadhesin P1 structural gene exist as multiple copies. Infect Immun 56:3157-61
Morrison-Plummer, J; Jones, D H; Daly, K et al. (1987) Molecular characterization of Mycoplasma genitalium species-specific and cross-reactive determinants: identification of an immunodominant protein of M. genitalium. Isr J Med Sci 23:453-7

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