Many microorganisms produce pili or firmbriae on their cell surface. The proteins vary in functon depending on the organism. In many cases these surface structures enable the bacterium to adhere to their host or organism they subsequently interact with. Thus these surface structures play a primary role in host-parasite interaction. The pili produced by Neisseria gonorrhoeae are no exception. These pili function in the attachment of the gonococci to the human host and therefore is a primary determinant of pathogenicity, a major factor in cell-cell interaction. The gene(s) encoding pilus synthesis is turned on and off at high frequency. The phenotypes (P+ and P-) can be determined easily by light microscopy. There are at least 50 pili serotypes. The heterogeneity lies at the carboxyterminal end; the amino terminal end for the pilus subunit is very similar if not identical. Very little is known about the genetic regulation of pili expression in N. gonorrhoeae. For these reasons, the pili of the gonococci represent an interesting system for studying the regulation of gene expression. We propose to study the basis for pilus expression in N. gonorrhoeae. Using techniques in genetics (mutagenesis and complementation), DNA biochemistry (recombinant cloning, DNA sequencing, Southern hybridization), protein chemistry (SDS PAGE, 2-dimensional gels, Western blotting) and immunology (immunoprecipitation) we hope to elucidate the mechanism underlying the heterogeneity of pilus type as well as the genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of pili synthesis by the gonococcus.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI020845-10
Application #
3130631
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1983-06-15
Project End
1994-05-31
Budget Start
1992-06-01
Budget End
1994-05-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009584210
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
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Arvidson, C G; So, M (1995) Interaction of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae PilA protein with the pilE promoter involves multiple sites on the DNA. J Bacteriol 177:2497-504
Waldbeser, L S; Ajioka, R S; Merz, A J et al. (1994) The opaH locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11A is involved in epithelial cell invasion. Mol Microbiol 13:919-28
Boyle-Vavra, S; So, M; Seifert, H S (1993) Transcriptional control of gonococcal pilE expression: involvement of an alternate sigma factor. Gene 137:233-6
Stein, D C; Chien, R; Seifert, H S (1992) Construction of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11 derivative deficient in NgoMI restriction and modification. J Bacteriol 174:4899-906
Taha, M K; Dupuy, B; Saurin, W et al. (1991) Control of pilus expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae as an original system in the family of two-component regulators. Mol Microbiol 5:137-48
Parge, H E; Bernstein, S L; Deal, C D et al. (1990) Biochemical purification and crystallographic characterization of the fiber-forming protein pilin from Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Biol Chem 265:2278-85
Seifert, H S; Ajioka, R S; Paruchuri, D et al. (1990) Shuttle mutagenesis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: pilin null mutations lower DNA transformation competence. J Bacteriol 172:40-6
Paruchuri, D K; Seifert, H S; Ajioka, R S et al. (1990) Identification and characterization of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae gene encoding a glycolipid-binding adhesin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 87:333-7
Taha, M K; So, M; Seifert, H S et al. (1988) Pilin expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is under both positive and negative transcriptional control. EMBO J 7:4367-78

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