Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the leading cause of pneumonia in older children and young adults. Fundamental aspects of mycoplasma cell and molecular biology are poorly understood, despite the significant impact of mycoplasmas on public health and agriculture. Development of more effective means of prevention and control requires a clearer understanding of the basic biological processes of these unique, cell wall-less prokaryotes. M. pneumoniae infections in humans are transmitted by aerosol, followed by the binding of mycoplasmas to the host mucosal blanket and respiratory epithelium. Adherence is mediated largely by a differentiated terminal organelle, a membrane-bound extension of the mycoplasma cell defined by the presence of an electron-dense core. Duplication of the attachment organelle precedes cell division. The focus of this proposal is the organization and assembly of the attachment organelle, with a long-term objective of identifying potential targets for more effective control of M. pneumoniae infections.
Aim 1 will examine the structure of the attachment organelle in closer detail, defining the influence of protein HMW2 on the organization of the electron-dense core, examining protein-protein interactions by gel filtration and co-precipitation, and analysing the assembly process using green fluorescent protein fusions.
Aim 2 will address the phenotype of a mutant lacking only the adhesin P1. Mycoplasma adherence will be assessed using polarized normal human bronchial epithelial cell monolayers. Recombinant derivatives of P1 will be engineered with epitope tags to establish membrane topography, and functional domains will be characterized through analysis of deletion derivatives.
Aim 3 will examine the role of the MPN119 gene product in attachment organelle assembly. This protein shares with other novel cytadherence-associated proteins an acidic proline-rich domain and a domain enriched in aromatic amino acids and glycine, but also has a J-domain, the signature motif of the HSP40 family of molecular chaperones. A non-cytadhering mutant in which MPN119 has been insertionally inactivated by Tn4001 will be characterized in greater detail, including genetic complementation, identification and localization of the gene product, and evaluation of its role in attachment organelle assembly and function. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI023362-22
Application #
7212268
Study Section
Bacteriology and Mycology Subcommittee 2 (BM)
Program Officer
Taylor, Christopher E,
Project Start
1986-09-01
Project End
2009-04-30
Budget Start
2007-05-01
Budget End
2008-04-30
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$279,144
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Georgia
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004315578
City
Athens
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30602
Hasselbring, Benjamin M; Sheppard, Edward S; Krause, Duncan C (2012) P65 truncation impacts P30 dynamics during Mycoplasma pneumoniae gliding. J Bacteriol 194:3000-7
Cloward, Jason M; Krause, Duncan C (2011) Loss of co-chaperone TopJ impacts adhesin P1 presentation and terminal organelle maturation in Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Mol Microbiol 81:528-39
Chang, How-Yi; Jordan, Jarrat L; Krause, Duncan C (2011) Domain analysis of protein P30 in Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytadherence and gliding motility. J Bacteriol 193:1726-33
Chang, How-Yi; Prince, Oliver A; Sheppard, Edward S et al. (2011) Processing is required for a fully functional protein P30 in Mycoplasma pneumoniae gliding and cytadherence. J Bacteriol 193:5841-6
Lai, Jen-Feng; Zindl, Carlene L; Duffy, Lynn B et al. (2010) Critical role of macrophages and their activation via MyD88-NF?B signaling in lung innate immunity to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. PLoS One 5:e14417
Cloward, Jason M; Krause, Duncan C (2010) Functional domain analysis of the Mycoplasma pneumoniae co-chaperone TopJ. Mol Microbiol 77:158-69
Cloward, Jason M; Krause, Duncan C (2009) Mycoplasma pneumoniae J-domain protein required for terminal organelle function. Mol Microbiol 71:1296-307
Bose, Stephanie R; Balish, Mitchell F; Krause, Duncan C (2009) Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytoskeletal protein HMW2 and the architecture of the terminal organelle. J Bacteriol 191:6741-8
Waldo 3rd, Robert H; Krause, Duncan C (2006) Synthesis, stability, and function of cytadhesin P1 and accessory protein B/C complex of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. J Bacteriol 188:569-75
Waldo 3rd, Robert H; Jordan, Jarrat L; Krause, Duncan C (2005) Identification and complementation of a mutation associated with loss of Mycoplasma pneumoniae virulence-specific proteins B and C. J Bacteriol 187:747-51

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