Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0348321 (Haemophilus)
 15,372 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Based on the observation that children with a history of atopic disease show significantly increased levels of cleaved secretory IgA in nasopharyngeal secretions, we have previously formulated the hypothesis that bacteria-induced local deficiencies of the immune barrier of the upper respiratory tract may be a contributing factor in the development and perpetuation of atopic diseases. To evaluate this hypothesis, 25 infants were subjected to clinical, bacteriologic, and immunologic examination at the age of 18 mo, 30 mo, and 5 y. The 11 infants, who showed clinical and immunologic evidence of atopic disease at the age of 18 mo, harbored significantly higher proportions of IgA1 protease-producing bacteria (median, 36%; range, 14-64%) than the 14 healthy infants (median, 5%; range, 0.4-14%). No statistically significant differences were observed at the two subsequent examinations, but healthy children showed a statistically significant increase in proportions of IgA1 protease-producing bacteria in the pharynx with increasing age. IgA1 protease-producing bacteria detected included Streptococcus mitis biovar 1, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parahaemolyticus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis, of which the first mentioned species was mainly responsible for the difference observed at the 18-mo examination. Percentage proportions of IgA1 protease-producing bacteria were significantly related to passive smoking which may stimulate the premature and more pronounced pharyngeal colonization of the atopic infants with the IgA1 protease-producing variant of S. mitis biovar 1. The results of the study support the hypothesis that IgA1 protease-producing bacteria colonizing the upper respiratory tract jeopardize the local immune barrier and, thereby, may facilitate the penetration of potential allergens resulting in atopic disease.
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PMID:Increased proportions of bacteria capable of cleaving IgA1 in the pharynx of infants with atopic disease. 747 13

All examined Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius isolates of the clone associated with Brazilian purpuric fever (the BPF clone) produced type 2 immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) proteases encoded by identical iga genes that were distinct from the iga genes of other Brazilian H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius isolates. A partial nucleotide sequence analysis revealed close similarities to the iga genes of H. influenzae serotype c and one noncapsular H. influenzae biotype III strain isolated from a case of conjunctivitis in Tunisia, suggesting an evolutionary relationship. Epitopes recognized by neutralizing antibodies differed for the IgA1 proteases of the BPF clone and of other H. influenzae strains, including Brazilian H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius isolates from patients with noninvasive conjunctivitis. The low probability of developing cross-reacting neutralizing antibodies to the IgA1 protease of the BPF clone may contribute to the pathogenic potential of this virulent phenotype in Brazil.
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PMID:Distinct antigenic and genetic properties of the immunoglobulin A1 protease produced by Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius associated with Brazilian purpuric fever in Brazil. 759 Oct 75

Haemophilus influenzae can be demonstrated as a saprophyte in more than two-thirds of children, and almost as frequently in adults. Noncapsulated strains are more frequent than capsulated type b strains which are found in 5% of the samples. Other capsulated strains are rare. Transmission is made easier with close contact (daycare nurseries, home). Colonization is the result of adherence to nasopharyngeal epithelial cells, although characterized adhesion factors cannot be demonstrated for all strains (pili, adhesins, secretory IgA1 protease). Systemic infection is the result of the invasion of pharyngeal epithelium, made easier by upper respiratory tract infection. There is a risk of meningitis for high level bacteremia (> or = 10(5) CFU/ml). Risk factors are: age (child < 5 years), alteration of reticuloendothelial system, agammaglobulinemia. Anti-Haemophilus type b vaccine prevents nearly all infections, and suppresses or sharply reduces colonization.
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PMID:[Haemophilus influenzae: colonization and infection]. 774 11

Cloning and sequencing of the IgA1 protease gene (iga) from Neisseria meningitidis strain HF13 showed an overall structure equivalent to iga genes from Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus influenzae, although no region corresponding to the gonococcal alpha-peptide was evident. An additional 18 N. meningitidis and 3 H. influenzae iga genes were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction technique and sequenced corresponding approximately to the N-terminal half of the mature enzyme. Comparative analyses of a total of 29 iga genes showed that pathogenic Neisseria have iga genes with a significantly lower degree of heterogeneity than H. influenzae iga genes. Recombinational events indicated by mosaic-like structures corresponding to those found among N. gonorrhoeae protease genes were detected among N. meningitidis iga genes. One region showed characteristic differences in sequence and length which correlated with each of the different cleavage specificities. Meningococci were extremely conserved in this region with no evidence of recombination between isolates of different cleavage specificities. Sequences further downstream showed no obvious relationship with enzyme cleavage type. This region consisted of conserved areas interspersed with highly variable areas. Amino acid sequence homologies in the variable regions of meningococci reflected the antigenic types defined by using polyclonal neutralizing antibodies.
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PMID:Comparative characterization of the iga gene encoding IgA1 protease in Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus influenzae. 778 20

The human gastric bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori has been implicated in type B gastritis, peptic ulceration and gastric adenocarcinoma. Here we report on the cloning and genetic characterization of an H. pylori gene named vacA, which encodes the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA, a novel type of antigenic bacterial toxin that induces the formation of intracellular vacuoles in epithelial cells. The vacuolating cytotoxin activity is expressed by a subset of clinical isolates (Vac+), all of which produce the 87 kDa cytotoxin antigen, but strains which produce neither the activity nor the cytotoxin protein (Vac-) also carry the gene. Isogenic H. pylori mutants in vacA generated by transposon shuttle mutagenesis produce neither the VacA antigen nor a vacuolating activity in a cell culture model. The vacA gene itself encodes a precursor protein of 139.6 kDa consisting of a 33-amino acid signal sequence, the 87 kDa cytotoxin and a 50 kDa C-terminal domain with features typical of a bacterial outer membrane protein. The VacA precursor shows no significant primary sequence homology with any previously reported protein, but its structural organization closely resembles the IgA protease-type of exoprotein produced by pathogenic Neisseriae and Haemophilus species. Our current data support a model for secretion of the cytotoxin through the two bacterial membranes which involves the 50 kDa domain for outer membrane translocation with subsequent proteolytic cleavage and release of the mature 87 kDa cytotoxin into the extracellular environment.
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PMID:Genetic analysis of the Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin: structural similarities with the IgA protease type of exported protein. 805 55

The pathogenic, Gram-negative bacteria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae, secrete immunoglobulin A1 proteases into their extracellular surroundings. An extraordinary feature in the secretory pathway of these putative virulence factors is a self-directed outer membrane transport step allowing the proteins to be secreted autonomously, even from foreign Gram-negative host cells like Escherichia coli. Here we summarize recent achievements in the understanding of IgA protease outer membrane translocation.
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PMID:The secretion pathway of IgA protease-type proteins in gram-negative bacteria. 814 98

Extracellular transport of Neisseria IgA proteases across the bacterial outer membrane is accomplished by the translocation function contained within the C-terminal Iga beta domain of IgA protease precursor proteins. Recently, we reported that Iga beta from N. gonorrhoeae MS11 (Val1097 to Phe1505), fused to a periplasmic passenger protein, facilitated its transport across the outer membrane, leading to surface exposure of the passenger. In the present work we show, by systematic N-terminal truncation of Iga beta, that the functional and structural unit, termed Iga beta-core, corresponds to the C-terminal approximately 274 amino acid residues (Ser1231 to Phe1505). This minimal region retains all the essential features necessary for the translocation of an N-terminally attached passenger across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, and for its own correct integration into the outer membrane, even in the absence of a passenger protein. The membrane-integrated Iga beta-core constitutes a conserved entity found in the C-terminal regions of Iga beta domains of different N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae strains. In contrast, the surface-exposed N termini of the Iga beta domains vary in size and sequence. Based on secondary structure predictions, the key structural feature of the core is a beta-barrel (amphipathic, antiparallel transmembrane beta-strands, interspersed by hairpin turns and loops) which is common to many integral outer membrane proteins of Gram-negative bacteria. We propose that the core has been conserved in evolution, to provide a selective outer membrane export channel for covalently attached polypeptides.
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PMID:Characterization of the Neisseria Iga beta-core. The essential unit for outer membrane targeting and extracellular protein secretion. 825 61

Considerable antigenic heterogeneity has been identified among Haemophilus influenzae immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) proteases, and this study increases the number of antigenic types to more than 30. To address the role played in vivo by this polymorphism, sequential H. influenzae isolates from three healthy children and three patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were examined. Healthy children showed a frequent clonal exchange, with each replacing clone expressing an antigenic type of IgA1 protease not previously encountered. In contrast, COPD patients were colonized by a single clone for a significantly longer period. In one COPD clone, a change occurred in IgA1 protease cleavage specificity and antigenic properties. In conclusion, frequent exchange of clones expressing antigenically different IgA1 proteases seems to be the principal mechanism by which H. influenzae evades the immune response of healthy children against IgA1 protease. The results support the view that IgA1 protease activity is important for successful colonization of H. influenzae on mucosal membranes.
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PMID:Antigenic variation of immunoglobulin A1 proteases among sequential isolates of Haemophilus influenzae from healthy children and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 840 54

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) proteases are bacterial enzymes with substrate specificity for human serum and secretory IgAs. To further define the basis of this specificity, we examined the ability of IgA proteases of Clostridium ramosum, Streptococcus pneumoniae (EC 3.4.24.13), Neisseria meningitidis (EC 3.4.21.72), and Haemophilus influenzae (EC 3.4.21.72) to cleave serum IgAs of gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans. All enzymes cleaved the IgAs of the three apes despite differences in ape IgA1 hinge sequence relative to the human prototype. To directly compare the ape and human hinge cleavage sites, the sites were identified in eight ape IgA digests. This analysis confirmed that ape proteins were all cleaved in the IgA hinge region, in all but one case after proline residues. The exception, C. ramosum protease, cleaved gorilla and chimpanzee IgAs at peptide bonds having no proline, but the scissile bonds were in the same hinge location as the Pro-221-Val-222 cleaved in human IgA1. These data indicate that proline is not an invariant substrate requirement for all IgA proteases and that the location of the scissile bond, in addition to its composition, is a critical determinant of cleavage specificity.
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PMID:Analysis of the specificity of bacterial immunoglobulin A (IgA) proteases by a comparative study of ape serum IgAs as substrates. 864 3

IgA1 protease activity, which allows bacteria to cleave human IgA1 in the hinge region, represents a striking example of convergent evolution of a specific property in bacteria. Although it has been known since 1979 that IgA1 protease is produced by the three leading causes of bacterial meningitis in addition to important urogenital pathogens and some members of the oropharyngeal flora, the exact role of this enzyme in bacterial pathogenesis is still incompletely understood owing to lack of a satisfactory animal model. Cleavage of IgA1 by these post-proline endopeptidases efficiently separates the monomeric antigen-binding fragments from the secondary effector functions of the IgA1 antibody molecule. Several in vivo and in vitro observations indicate that the enzymes are important for the ability of bacteria to colonize mucosal membranes in the presence of S-IgA antibodies. Furthermore, the extensive cleavage of IgA sometimes observed in vivo, suggests that IgA1 protease activity results in a local functional IgA deficiency that may facilitate colonization of other microorganisms and the penetration of potential allergens. It has been hypothesized that IgA1 protease activity of Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, under special immunological circumstances, allows these bacteria to take advantage of specific IgA1 antibodies in a strategy to evade other immune factors of the human body. The decisive factor is the balance between IgA antibodies against surface antigens of the respective bacteria and their IgA1 protease. Recent studies have shown that serine-type IgA1 proteases of H. influenzae, meningococci, and gonococci belong to a family of proteins used by a diverse group of Gram-negative bacteria for colonization and invasion.
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PMID:Biological significance of IgA1 proteases in bacterial colonization and pathogenesis: critical evaluation of experimental evidence. 870 38


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